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Smith-Morra Gambit

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In chess, the Smith-Morra Gambit (or simply Morra Gambit) is a gambit against the Sicilian Defence distinguished by the moves 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 (the moves are given in algebraic notation). It is not common in Grandmaster games, but at club level chess it is an excelent weapon.

How to play it

• 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3

White sacrifices a pawn to develop quickly and create attacking chances. In exchange for the gambit pawn, White has developed a piece and a pawn, while Black has nothing but an empty space on c7.

• 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 d6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 Be7 9.Rd1 e5

It would be nice if White plays h2-h3 now or on the following move to keep Black off of g4. (It should be noted that the above line is just one path of many that the game can take.)

If black wants to refuse the gambit, he can do so with 3... d5 or 3... Nf6, both of which transpose to the Alapin variation of the Sicilian (usually introduced by the move order 1. e4 c5 2. c3). Alternatively, 3... d3 is the Smith-Morra declined proper, and leads to unique lines.

Another gambit against the Sicilian is the Wing Gambit (1. e4 c5 2. b4).