Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Smith-Morra Gambit!

[@TomBrooklyn]

Wow! Dense with information. Will be able to watch this multiple times in order to absorb it all. Thanks, Chess Giant.

[@robertcooper1952]

Excellent video! The instructor has a great voice.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks Robert! Glad you liked it! The Smith-Morra Gambit is a fun way to get those pieces flowing and into action!

[@jiordz]

this has been my favorite white opening vs 1...c5! quite a weapon for a budding gambiteer like me...awesome vid!

[@TheChessGiant]

Respect! Ya it's a super fun opening especially for gambiteers! Glad you enjoyed it - more gambits on the way!

[@abd0-omar420]

May I ask what's your other gambits that you play so I can have it in my repertiore

[@Overkill9991]

as someone who loves gambits I see this video as an absolute win.

[@skyeruddell3196]

Yes, this is outstanding, thank you!

[@TheChessGiant]

Glad you enjoyed it! More chess opening videos on the way!

[@roland.j.ruttledge]

Great channel. Many thanks UK

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you brotha!! Greetings from the US!

[@cobeferraro3464]

Awesome morra video. Great quick overview of some of the plans and ideas for white. Thumbs up 👍

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks Cobe! Glad you liked it brotha. More openings on the way!

[@peterbona1681]

Not only the SMG is nice, but your cool and professional presentation as well.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you Peter! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@roryharvey2727]

Very very good overview!

[@iverson7394]

best smith morra video on the internet!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you Sean!!

[@pepperwestwood]

Great vid as always!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you brotha!

[@monstermagnet3150]

Of the few videos I've watched from your channel, this one's my favorite, very interesting coverage ! Overall, your work is really appreciated, very educational for intermediate level to 2000 and more ! Thx a lot

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you Marc! Super glad to hear that you enjoyed the video, the Smith-Morra Gambit is super fun. And thanks for supporting the channel, much appreciated! More on the way!

[@RyanJFaulk]

I love how crazy this Gambit can get

[@TheChessGiant]

Same here! Things can get crazy really fast

[@jellyfish-hunter428]

amazing video sir

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks brotha, glad you found it helpful!

[@ouerhanibadreedine3370]

Im the first ....do more about openings against scicillian we are suffering loool thanks great one

[@Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol]

On your level (assuming you watch chess videos to learn from them) you can play whatever against sicilian. Even if you deadass play 15 moves of your oponent's prep, they will still somehow self destruct due to how fragile the sicilian positions are. Try the alapin, closed sicilian or this gambit here, since open sicilian is what everyone is studying.

[@TheChessGiant]

You got it! I want to keep making more videos, but I did make one which covers the Top 5 Underrated Chess Openings for White Against the Sicilian Defense and then from there you can select to watch an individual video on each of the opening. I personally fine the Delayed Wing Gambit a ton of fun ESPECIALLY against 2. ...Nc6. Here is the video just in case you want to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqTLlGxvqcx7rZY

[@ouerhanibadreedine3370]

@@Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol of course intressted ...thank you so much keep the good work ...your contenent is by far the most simple and powerful thank you again...

[@glubes]

I was waiting for this🥰

[@TheChessGiant]

Ayy glad I finally got around to it - thanks for watching!

[@Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol]

I believe you let another take sneak into the video about 11:28 Either way, great video and awesome opening. I used it alot, but realized it hasso many lines I have to remember, so I swapped to alapin variation with accelerated beaver gambit, but I will include smith morra in my games sometimes for sure.

[@dorto7779]

Another around 16:00

[@TheChessGiant]

Oops. Sorry about that! But ya glad you enjoyed the video - let me know how it goes for you!

[@jeremaj7513]

Nice one. 😉 Do you have a video on petrov defense modern attack?

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks Jeremaj! I don't yet but I definitely want to get this one out. Thanks for the reminder!

[@hectorgray8542]

In the ... e6 line I really like Shankland's plan - ...Nc6, ...Bb4, ...Ne7, ...O-O, and even ...b6 intending ...Bb7. White's e5 doesn't hit the knight with tempo and a5 is a non-starter, since the b-pawn is on b6 and not b5. Black is harmoniously developed and I don't see any compensation for the pawn.

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Hector! Ya this is another good option which I haven't looked much into but I like the idea behind it! Somewhat similar to the line I shared in which black drops that knight on e7 but even the b6 and Bb7 idea is nice. Ya it's a fun option for white but because of what you just said (and a couple other options) we just aren't seeing this much at the elite GM level and probably never will.

[@2woinfinity718]

a very good teacher

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks my friend! More chess opening videos on the way!

[@johnp845]

GM Ruddell, I have a quick question comparing the difference between the Smith-Morra and Danish gambits. For the Danish gambit, it is common to offer the pawn on b2 as a gambit on the 4th move: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 But for the Smith-Morra, the Knight usually captures the pawn on c3 on the 4th move, rather than offering the b2 pawn as another gambit: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 What is the reason behind the difference? Thank you !

[@TheChessGiant]

This is a GREAT question! I myself have wondered this too back in the day. I think that with the Danish Gambit, it's worth it as you are getting rid of white's e-pawn... however with the Smith-Morra Gambit you are getting rid of black's c-pawn... it's worth it to give up one pawn and get a knight on c3 but not two pawns. Black is able to play e6 in the Smith-Morra and it slows down that Bishop on c4, followed by moves like Nc6 and Nf6 and black is more than okay. Hopefully this helps a little bit.

[@johnp845]

@@TheChessGiant Great explanation (as usual!). Thank you again!

[@barrywuthrich8530]

@@TheChessGiant Yes. Also, with Smith-Morra, white's dark squared bishop is active on the c1-h6 diagonal, usually camping on e3 to help guard the d4 square that was weakened by gambiting the C pawn. If black ever gets his pawn to e5 and knight to d4, the gambit isn't going to go well.

[@Bigboss-nd8st]

After dxc3 what do you think of leaving the b2 pawn and instead you just continue developing a knight or light square bishop to c5 just to play with it like the Danish gambit

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey! Ya this is definitely an interesting idea which I myself have tried multiple times from the white side. I've played Bc4 approaching it like a Danish Gambit just like you mentioned. You can definitely try it out if you want - I've personally found that I don't think it's worth giving up another pawn because unlike the Danish Gambit, here black still has two center pawns and can just continue with a move like e6 after taking on b2 and our bishop isn't putting much pressure on f7 obviously. Of course, this goes for the Smith-Morra Gambit anyways, but not sure the single move is worth a pawn there because of it. Additionally, it's nice having a knight on c3 as eventual Nb5 ideas are in the air against a future d6 pawn. But again, try it out if you'd like. I've done it plenty of times and even though I'm not sure it would work in OTB tournament chess, it's still a fun option in bullet and blitz and can really give you the mental edge. If you do try it, let me know how it goes!

[@jaydub2971]

Awesome, though since I'm an Old Benoni player, I usually see the Morra from the Black side via transposition.

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey J Dub, glad you enjoyed the video! Oh ya that's an interesting transposition I hadn't thought of that before! I play the Old Benoni all the time as well probably over half my games against d4. It's a great system.

[@VladimirPutin-wt5yh]

14:14 xDDDDD your explanations are hilarious

[@TheChessGiant]

Hahaha thank you brotha!

[@VladimirPutin-wt5yh]

@@TheChessGiant also, yesterday I played OTB tournament and dude accepted my smith morra. He played e6 and Bb4 setup, after capturing my Nc3 the game was hard, but I drew somehow

[@TheChessGiant]

@@VladimirPutin-wt5yh Gotchu! Ya that's the "Shankland System" as I've been told after dropping this video. The Smith-Morra Gambit is not a guarantee to get a better position which makes the first few moves a little scary as you hope you are taking your opponent by surprise. Good job on the draw though, sounds like it was hard fought!

[@people0n]

Well done solomon

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you!

[@thatcactus5451]

Awesome, will have to try this out on some sicilian players. If you could cover the queens gambit declined austrian variation that would be cool! I started using it recently and it turns a typical boring queens gambit into some exciting chess (imho). EDIT: It opens as 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c5. You get a beautiful cube of pawns in the center of the board.

[@TheChessGiant]

Just added it to the list!! Thanks for sending this in - looks like a lot of fun I'll have to take a closer look.

[@juvygenius]

One thing I noticed through this discussion of the Smith-Morra is that it doesn't cover what happens if Black has the White Squared Bishop in front of the Queen. Much of these traps are dependent on pieces being pinned. With the bishop protecting the queen, I tried doing pawn to E5 and he just pushed his pawn forward threatening my bishop and of course could actually take it if I did not move it.

[@barrywuthrich8530]

You forced your opponent into a good move. I think the strategy is to leave your pawn on e4 to prevent d5, and target black's d6 pawn in a better way. While black was able to block the pin with Bd7, he also interfered with the queen's guard of d6. You now want to target that weakness with Nb5 or Bf4. You will win the exchange as well as opening up the center even more. Sometimes black will place his knight in front of the queen for the same reason.

[@nikhilr4525]

Looks like you never give your opponents a moment's peace during your games 😂

[@TheChessGiant]

Haha you can't give them an inch!

[@Factsnotfox]

Another great video that you obviously put a lot of work into. You researched variations I've never seen before. Nowadays I play the Czech Pirc as black and the Kings Indian Attack as white, which is almost identical to the Closed Sicilian.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you Dennis! Glad you enjoyed the lines and variations. Ya both of these are great options, need to get that Czech Pirc video out eventually! The KIA as white is great too - sounds like you got a really good repertoire.

[@secondmouse3533]

You sound just like that comedian 'Stu Francis'

[@TheChessGiant]

Haha I'll take that!

[@RayT70]

This is the mainline 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. h3 e6 I think analysis should really start from here.

[@RayT70]

One line might be 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. h3 e6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. Bb3 O-O 12. Bf4 Ne5 13. Rac1 Qb8 14. Nd4 b5 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Nc6 Qc7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks for sharing these lines!!