Chess Openings- Smith Morra Gambit

The Smith Morra Gambit is a sharp and aggressive line for white against the very popular Sicilian Defense. Most players that play e4 run into the Sicilian and if they want to get out of book lines and take an aggressive approach the Smith Morra Gambit is a great way to go.
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[@enyart91]

love the way you describe openings. don't give us book lines, give us goals and objectives. brilliant teaching for fluid on-board play.

[@Dog3D]

By far the best way to teach openings. The bad tutorials are the ones that basically just constantly say “move this to this” instead of, here are the weaknesses and goals of this opening

[@Spudst3r]

You nailed exactly why I go to his videos over others when I need to brush up on openings. You can learn all the books and variations, but the true way of learning these things is through understanding the general themes and objectives as you described.

[@theaccordian9377]

"and at the same time," classic!!

[@tamarind91]

Thanks a lot Kevin! another very instructive video. I have been playing this gambit quite succesfully but more important it creates a very intresting game. Cheers!

[@Darxsys]

ive been using this ever since i watched your video and literally every time i face sicilian on the other side.and had much success with it because of that passive defense of black. thx again Kev.

[@Mstrmiyagi1]

Thanks for all these chess videos. They are a great help and are appreciated.

[@hackman1911]

i too like the e5 opening and have seen the sicilian a lot. so this is an excellent lesson. thanks a lot, of all the chess videos i think yours are easily the best, keep up the good work.

[@yebogogaz]

love it that you explain with such enthusiasm. thnx for defence against sicilian...couldn't figure it out

[@noellnilsson4028]

it's insane that i'm watching this 13 years after it's been uploaded and it's given me the best advise so far haha. Gr8 video mah man

[@baconsogood454]

I really enjoy these videos, thanks for posting. For those saying the Smith-Morra Gambit is unsound and "statistically inferior" you need to remember that only applies at the GM levels and unless you are a GM it makes no sense for you to simply dismiss this gambit. I have met no Sicilian player who enjoys defending against this. Also, just so you know, the line you present isn't really the Chicago defense although it is similar. The Chicago defense is 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O a6 8. Qe2 b5 9. Bb3 Ra7 and you come close to transposing into it but not quite: you're missing the white Q on e2 and black's rook and knight on a7 and c6 respectively.

[@fireheart1026]

I tried the Smith morra gambit and it's frankly useless I'm only rated 1300 and so was the opponent but the main issue is it gives you no significant advantage at all!

[@Pokarface7]

@@fireheart1026 it's not the Gambit, it's the player! Just kidding. I play Alapin variation vs. Sicilian to speed up things and get them out of theoretical lines

[@mysterysecret6815]

@@Pokarface7 btw do you know how Black can even defend against the Alapin? Apparently there are people who say that the Alapin straight up refutes the Sicilian.

[@Pokarface7]

@@mysterysecret6815 I use the Alapin as white! I don't play sicilian vs. E4, I play Alekhine Defense. I reached 1900 classic and 1800 rapid at lichens.org. I haven't really studied Alapin, but I like to keep the classic center :-)

[@mysterysecret6815]

@@Pokarface7 I know the Alapin is played by white. But can Black defend it? On Chess.com there is a huge discussion that the Alapin straight up refutes the Sicilian as in as long as you play the Alapin, Black will always lose. I don’t really know how Black can really handle the Alapin.

[@haroldh6678]

Very good explanation of the objectives of the gambit from the offset.

[@zzanmato123]

Agreed. Kevin "at the same time" is the best!

[@sugarkang]

started playing this today. love it.

[@Darxsys]

i am pretty much a beginner but trying to improve my game and i can tell you that thechesswebsite is the best chess video maker on the net. thank you very much, helps a lot.

[@Pseidof]

This is absolutley my favourite gambit!

[@lyngualy]

I can only say this:Nice,Very good opening! Really for aggressive players is very nice. Thanks for posting.

[@batman4784]

Enjoyed this video... thanks alot !!!

[@chesswebsite]

@CollinGoldman to be honest i have not. Looks like black would give up not only the material advantage but concede the middle to white as well. While it's not horrible, I think black should take the pawn on c3 first and then play g6 if he wanted to.

[@m0skit0]

@little3ndler You're right. But in fact Houdini recommends 4.Nf3 which I think is more positional and still accord with the idea of rapid development and center control (which is what most gambits aim for). That pawn can be recaptured later and maybe Black is gonna go for the mistake of defending it.

[@arturocampos562]

great vids! been playing this gambit with a lot of success yet….. what if he doesn't take on d4? I have seen this from time to time.

[@kenyudbzto]

I play this regularly and have a lot of fun with it. One thing I didn't notice you mention though was the 3... Nf6 line. This is one of the more annoying to me because it just transposes into an Alapin after 4. e5 Nd5 5. cxd4 Nc6

[@scionescire]

@classicmusic05: because Pd6 is pinned (by Rd1) to Qd8. If black fails to move 8....e6-e5, e.g., by playing a7-a6 (covering b5) or 0-0 instead, white can nicely continue with 9. e4-e5, which puts heavy pressure on Nf6 and Pd6. Nxe5 is, of course, impossible, so Nf6 had to move (e.g. to g4). If white then takes 10. exd6 then, after Bxd6, black is already in a big mess, e.g. 11. Nb5 (if black has castled; but even after 8....a6, the Nc3 could go on pressing on d6 with 11. Ne4), with great adv.

[@dbrn84]

Played this one for the first time today with my cousin... It ended up with my cousin being very late in development and got his queenside crippled in a few moves... I'll play this opening more often from now on ;)

[@missjessgem]

Kevin, could you do a video on the Chicago Defense? As a huge fan of the Sicilian Defense, I run into the Smith Morra very often and would love to learn more about how to defend it. I haven't been able to find any videos on the internet that show the Chicago Defense.

[@7222raiden]

Thanks Kevin!

[@th3on3thatb3atu]

Hey Kevin, u should start explains how to play against the openings and gambits u do videos on

[@Freddycyrax]

Interesting. I have been unknowingly using this gambit. I learned the Danish gambit from you 3 years ago, and I use it at every opportunity and I feel really strong with it, but I hate the Sicilian Defense so I started pretty much doing the Danish against it not knowing that it is the Smith Morra.

[@FaceManBDSC]

well... i´ll DEFINEDLY give this a try! Thanks! I also loved your vid on the slav defence, because i hate playing against the queens gambit even more than playing against sicilian (being a sicilian player myself)! :)

[@parth1998able]

hey kevin, can u pls make a video on how to play against this gambit?

[@Soper79]

that makes sense. I'll try it next time. Thanks.

[@dreamtheater39]

nice video kevin :) thanks and cheers!

[@little3ndler]

nice vid :) just want to ask you something about 7:19 why does the queen take instead of bishop or is it just your personal preference?

[@beest258]

If D3 is played take with Bf3. Faster development and allows for you to castle king side to get the rooks into the action sooner... kinda the point of the gambit to get the rooks involved early...

[@byakuugan86]

@CollinGoldman 4.cxd4 d5 5.e5 is a slight advantage for White. I think that 3...Nf6 is Black's best move against Morra

[@aeshalaby]

Nice video Kevin. However, I wish you elaborated more on the Classic Variation and the Chicago defense. Besides, you didn't explain what are the aggressive lines that white might have. You didn't show how White can take back his gambit pawn at least. Thank you for your video.

[@badoli1074]

A small question: In the last version with the second, the refused conter-pawn (..d3), isn't it more valid to take with Bxd3?

[@yetdeeplyinept]

You might have said "at the same time" 15 times.

[@Skyscraper21]

Don't be that guy. At the same time, you are right 😀

[@iam774526]

Which is better? Qxd3 or Bxd3 in Smith Morra declined?

[@m0skit0]

I also don't like playing against Sicilian, so I gave this a try. Definitely yields very good results against unprepared Sicilian players, but being a gambit, as you said, you have to play aggressive and think all the time about sharp tactics. I recommend everyone that likes aggressive chess to check Tal's games. He just rips apart defenses.

[@aeshalaby]

Kevin, I've played against the Morra and I think the main weakness Black has is his d6 pawn being lined against a rook and if the Knight moves to d5 as well its a big liability.

[@johnjoshuacarino3089]

can u upload a fight of u ,,by using smith mora vs sicillian defence couse there is a purpose why...i hope u granted my request

[@vdhg_Ant]

I will try it!

[@Soper79]

4:38 When i get into this setup, black usually goes Bishop B4 only to follow up taking my knight no matter what my next move is. This is highly annoying since the knight in the smith morra is apart of so many traps. That and since I'm already down in material, I do not want to just trade away. Any ideas? Thanks.

[@swewunna]

Morra Gambit is good in Blitz or Rapid but not very good in over the board games. Black can also return the pawn with d3. Problem is with proper development and Bishop Fianchetto on King Side, Black can defend but cannot do the usual fire works of Scillian. White's build up is the same whatever position Black plays f1 bishop to c4, Rooks on c1 and d1 and Queen on e2. whether Dark square Bishop should go to e3 or g5 or e4 depends on Black's move. At some point though white lost the tempo gain earlier by having to play h pawn to h3.

[@heysiri3327]

I need to learn how to visualize this on the go.

[@MegaAstrodude]

@2:56, Why does everyone recommend moving the knight here as opposed to moving the bishop to d3?

[@KaushikChoudhury]

Nice piece of work .... can you please tell me the win rate for White with Smith Morra Gambit... looks to be like White needs to be play very aggressive to make use of positional advantage as you have suggested ... I will try this where ever posssible in my games in comming days ....

[@Pyronar]

Calling somebody an idiot and at the same time asking him to explain something... Brilliant logic!!!

[@timothylumsdaine1092]

thanks so much! I just used the more aggressive double gambit and whooped my opponent! it felt great! I have enjoyed your videos a lot! I have also enjoyed playing kings gambit. I have been in a little bit of a chess slump but have found that my real chess skills are aggressive. thx so much!

[@Sunshine246_]

The loss of the dark squared bishop means you might be able to push e5 and get that hole on d6. I've never played Smith Morra (I watched this to counter it), but I thik it might work.

[@ajoco99]

nice video !

[@HeinoRodemund]

This might be the case, like in other accepted gambits. Since chess is nearly computer-solved, it counts what happens between human opponents. As black, you might have some theoretical and computer-analysed advantage. But if you're somewhere between ELO 1500-2100 (like almost all of us), you maybe have a hard time showing this to white.

[@aeshalaby]

I agree.. had the same position. I think we need to find the good lines for black.

[@Friemelkubus]

The last line : Isn't it inferior to the danish because of the e3 possibility (basically blunting alot of your bishops firepower wich is the main point of the danish/variant)

[@mattdrummond3552]

Love a strong American accent from a Chess player hell yeah

[@zealandzen]

Thanks. Why not take the pawn on d3 with the bishop instead of the queen?

[@Hereson]

@TheChessFreaky I think you mispelled 'boss'

[@cferrel09]

@TheTiggerxman Some one Sicilian this on me yesterday and I completely crushed them. However I love playing the Sicilian and can play anything odd as well. I have a PGN file on it though via my monroi.

[@WOGI5M]

someone just owned me with this gambit. took me completely by surprise.

[@zxcvbnm6272]

I play the siclion defence quite often and I play against the smith mora gambit frequently, is there any way to play against the smith mora gambit ?

[@naugiedoggie]

The toughest lines can be the declined variations because a gambit player usually anticipates that you'll take the pawn. I've played this gambit as white for many years, I enjoy the games but it's a tough win against a strong opponent. You must know your tactics but also, a strong player may "give back" the pawn at an opportune moment and leave you with a busted endgame, so you can't ignore your strategical position. It's win or go home with the Smith-Morra.

[@yuanatheist8165]

Still helping in 2021

[@ah93704]

thanks for posting this Kevin.I absolutely ABHOR the siciilian..LOL..this helps a lot

[@izveglic]

Actually this gambit is named by GM Milan Matulovic in all the Russian literature and in Chess Informant anotations of the games they selected. Since the Informant invented the whole system of ECO codes, I suppose it should the correct. Great review , of course:))))

[@zzanmato123]

If you just go Bd2. Bxc3, Bxc3, you have two nice diagonals towards black's king. Not to mention that black has just traded the only piece he developed.

[@SteelPokemonFan]

Can anyone explain why it is better to take on d3 with the Queen instead of the Bishop in the Smith-Morra Gambit Declined lines?

[@DasNasenLP]

But black has not not capture in third move he can play e6 and if u take he will get center controle back

[@b0b0maj0]

I didn't know the Chicago defence but I almost always play it with the smith morra gambit with black. Pawn to d6 after kicking the light bishop back makes absolutely no sense to me. Both bishops are blocked, the queen and dark bishop are tied down to defending d6 and the king is vulnerable for some time.

[@jbennett1618]

at 4:57 after Bb3 Nc6 is black's best move, not d6

[@TheMedwise]

Hello, what happend in 4:53 after b5 white: Ab3 and now black Ab7??? no d6!

[@WholesHere]

We do so many things, at the same time

[@NumbFlynn]

If 4. ...d3, why Qxd3 instead of Bxd3? Wouldn't that get white closer to castling?

[@abdelmajidkansoussi6904]

IS MAYHEMS IN THE MORRA A GOOD BOOK OF THIS AGGRESIVE GAMBIT ?? IF IT IS NOT WHICH BOOK DO YOU RECOMMEND??

[@davidburcham5038]

what happens if you capture the pawn on the third move with your queen?

[@rajendra332]

Thanks

[@NamgyelRangdolPala]

What if the player leaves the pawn on d4?

[@puxupu]

what if black decline the gambit and play queen to c7 after white play pawn from d2 to d4.

[@BigBear12123]

What is 4) bc4, similar to the danish gambit?

[@TheSwireRob]

Good video; could have covered the Siberian trap and how white can avoid it.

[@koruptxshun]

Can you use the smith gambit on non Sicilian Defense players? For example if black's first move is pawn e5. Thanks a lot!

[@Ganondorf4ever]

A bit late, but better late than never: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 is the Danish Gambit, which is also a very aggressive, high-action opening.

[@handsome_man69]

Why you not post video animor

[@anildevs]

smith morra gambit...is an aggressive anti Sicilian weapon...Its best use comes in blitz and rapid chess.... a must know weapon for tournament players... but never use this against 2300+ players...under standard time controls .. because if black defends well playing sharp lines bearing the attacking pressure ,he can trade pieces and bring it to and end game..where he will be usually a pawn up thereby wining the game...Still I love playing smith morra..its real fun

[@SofS24]

ok guys help me out please. I'm a beginner and i see the smith morra played against me alot and it kills me. What are your opinions for the best defence against the smith morra? Thanks

[@presidentbkg]

6:30 is the goring gambit. And its awesome. won all my 4 games with it. 3 with in 20 moves

[@karthick2229]

@scionescire yeah

[@alexanderalexander7964]

i gonna play it

[@johnvuillemot4805]

4:06 I prefer I funny move, Bb5 with the odea of capturing a pawn via Nxe5

[@jeal5022]

then Nxe5 and you lost your knight

[@johnvuillemot4805]

@@jeal5022 how?

[@Yousojelly]

and at the same time!

[@prem_tamilsiddha8987]

What's the two pawns gambit called?

[@Quirious]

This video doesn't mention black's best option (in my opinion of course) against the Smith-Morra: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cd4 3.c3 dc3 4. Nc3 Nc6 5.Bc4 d6 6.Nf3 a6! . This line nearly refutes the gambit. The idea is to keep open the option of Bg4 for black (which is blocked after the passive e6) while preparing to play 7. ... Nf6. (Notice that 6. ... Nf6 loses to 7. e5!) If White wants to play aggressive against the sicilian there is no good alternative to the mainline (open) sicilians

[@arresterful]

how about at 7. Nb5 attacking Qc7

[@kalebishop6563]

You should probably apply the concepts of the sicilian defense to this gambit.

[@TheTiggerxman]

But how do we play against it

[@zx7siovia213]

"at the same time"

[@chesswebsite]

Yeah I went through a phase where I said that a LOT. I've tried to take it out of my videos completely but I did say it all the time.

[@zx7siovia213]

@@chesswebsite It's all good man, add a bit of fun to your great videos! by the way, can you do some aggressive gambit openings against the caro-kann anytime soon?

[@PaladinswordSaurfang]

i play the sicillian all the time and people always use this gambit on me and i never knew what it was but it never worked on me anyway. I usually ended up a pawn ahead for the entire game

[@Turtlegamer161]

For the first main line you showed, why can't black play e4 imediately?

[@justinarmstrong7532]

Can you be more specific? At what time in the video are you referring to? Black can't play e4 because the white pawn is there. Do you mean e5? e6?

[@pavanrajselvaraju4682]

7:26, why do you have to capture with your queen? Why not with the bishop? Isn't it bad to bring out the queen early into the game?

[@valentinao.3794]

I always take with the bishop :/

[@neyliolol]

+Pavanraj Selvaraju it's also bad to move a minor piece twice at the begin of the game , we wanna bring our bishop to c4 not to d3 , bringing the queen to d3 could help attacking

[@Pinguinsose]

I love this opening. Everytime I play e4 I'm praying for my opponent to play sicilian ^^ ... Are there any traps in this opening?

[@darshanrajmohan7604]

yes

[@vishvaschoudhary3858]

@@darshanrajmohan7604 i think it's late very late

[@jerasong2196]

@@darshanrajmohan7604 Nice. What are the traps? Can you send link? :)

[@Grondorn]

Can this transpose into a Danish Gambit?

[@paulwal222]

"Simple development move. And from here black has many different options."

[@CitizenSnips69]

BUT AT THE SAME TIME

[@peterskully7335]

This Gambit is good for blitz games.