The Morra Gambit | AAlmeidaTX vs Kevin Glosser | online rapid 2024

[@PowerPlayChess]

So interesting how the Morra divides opinion - even the name! I speak from my own experience: I played it when I was around 12 years old and, after winning some games with the standard tricks, I realised that against stronger players it wasn't effective. If I wanted to make progress, it was time to move on and play a sound opening.

[@JJ-kl7eq]

🎵🎵When white sacs a pawn And the advantage is gone That’s a Morra🎵🎵

[@PowerPlayChess]

:) Bravo! 😆

[@sebszab76]

I love the Morra with white, I even won classical games with it in the past.

[@joseraulcapablanca8564]

I play the Smith Morra at my level it can be tricky i am threehundred rating points lower than Kevin. I play in a little wrong move order and this often sows confusion. Great analysis. Thanks Daniel.

[@Ebobster]

Good fighting chess; excellent analysis & commentary.

[@NiallMurphy]

Very fond of the Smith-Morra (as I learned it). It got me my only GM scalp, albeit in a simul

[@PowerPlayChess]

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[@LateCloser]

The odd thing about this game is I considered Na5 but didn't play it. I knew about it, because it's shown in GM King's Chessable course, I believe, in one of the lines. The strange concept of baiting your opponent to take your pawn WITH CHECK, making your king LESS safe, but ultimately winning a piece and the game because of it. Yet, something made me not do it. The tilt factor, I believe. It's like a combination of being annoyed by your opponents constant prodding and a desire to play moves you want to play. I used to be a Scheveningen player, comfortable with e6 and d6 pawn moves. I can't rationalize why one makes these mistakes, but I make them from time to time. :) It's a good lesson though. The Morra is tricky, but well covered in GM King's Chessable course and I'm sure in the upcoming book. Thanks again!

[@PowerPlayChess]

All's well that ends well.

[@arkadiuszjandylewski152]

I will study in detail this Morra opening.

[@advandepol7537]

Wondering why white didn't castle at 8:40 to connect the rooks.

[@timkokesh1968]

As someone who has played the Morra a lot, I’ve played the same Bg5 in the past, but only after 6. Bc4 a6 7. Bg5 (after which 7. … h6 8. Qb3 is just rotten for Black). I’ve had spectacularly good results with it, including a 45m/45s online league win against a NM in 13 (!) moves. In addition, Esserman, in his book “Mayhem in the Morra” champions 7. O-O Nf6 8. Bf4, which also appears to offer White excellent chances.

[@thomaskember3412]

Daniel you haven’t mentioned another anti Sicilian variation, the Wing Gambit. I have used it occasionally with some success. Could you say something about it, please.

[@PowerPlayChess]

I covered the Wing Gambit in my Anti-Sicilians course for Chessable. It's not very good. In a way, there are similarities with the Morra: against a weaker player you might score a nice win, but against any decent player - good luck.

[@SuperJuiceman11]

What is the line called where white lets black take one more Pawn on b2... even stronger for white if black gets greedy and takes both pawns?

[@LloydM-oh4uk]

The danish gambit?

[@malcolmmckean9388]

If we’re talking about psychology in chess, I like the morra because the opponent is immediately playing my game. It also gives the chance for some spectacular games.

[@melrakan]

Basically, unless you are Marc Esserman himself, the Morra is somewhat difficult to make work well at a decent level of play. Though if you know your stuff and your opponent doesn't, any opening will do the job. Don't underestimate the Morra!

[@photopro28]

IM Marc Esserman is the world's leading expert on the Smith Morra. Give him a game or two and see how you get on!

[@markrobertson3054]

No videos from poland rapid/blitz? 10 games in a row streak

[@PowerPlayChess]

Normally, yes, but I am working elsewhere at the moment - on the Greek island of Kos giving tuition and lectures. A tournament I can highly recommend!

[@Uerdue]

I've always thought the Smith-Morra gambit makes no sense to play for either side. For black, because he can respond to c3 with Nf6, transposing to the Alapin and cutting down on his repertoire. And for white, because the fact black can avoid it so easily means that he will only get to play it against well-prepared opponents. The move-order in this game is quite interesting. White waits for Nc6 until comitting to the gambit, which means that if black tries to transpose to the Alapin with Nf6, he'll get an inferior version where the queen's knight is misplaced (it usually goes to d7 there). At the same time, white avoids the Sveshnikov / Kalashnikov, which this channel has proven again and again to be a good idea...

[@prussianblue14]

I dont know where some people read their stuff ,but this is a serious gambit. White has enough for the pawn,but not more. My response is always e4 c5 d4 cdx c3 and nf6 decline this and transpose into an alapin

[@claudiomicheli3863]

A bit dogmatic this Kevin guy, throwing around all this "garbage" and "what he deserved" terminology just because he was presented with some unorthodox moves. Very entertaining and insightful game nonetheless, thanks very much as usual for everything Mr. King!!

[@DarkSideChess]

This game is an advertisement for the Morra. Every club player on earth is playing e6.

[@robinesperoza]

This video is kinda of funny contrast of the video covering Noridibek - Grandelius of a week ago; where you argued that (on top level) often players try to get a game going; rather than play for quick opening wins. I feel many IMs (and even GMs) are afraid they are playing a chessable course/engine; rather than a human opponent. I'd like to see data how successful it is too diverge just to get (lower rated) opponent out of book. In this particular game Bg5 was rubbish; but it was the missed tactic that decided the game. Thanks alot for the videos.

[@ElColombre27360]

From a theoretical point of view, the Morra is considered trash... But, from a practical point of view, it can be dangerous, even in classical chess and against prepared opponents. Ask Van Wely...

[@witcher-86]

I agree, in blitz esp it can be deadly, black has to know more, so sometimes transpo to alapin is an option if you want a calmer game

[@seppscheaschn1084]

Trash? Wtf, this is a sound gambit! There is a reason why most masters decline it.

[@PowerPlayChess]

@@seppscheaschn1084 lol

[@chrisiver8506]

Isn't it just equal?

[@prussianblue14]

I have to add i wondering a 2300 player even in a rapid game think about amove like d6. Ita obvious crap,even if white not grab the pawn back at once

[@LateCloser]

Since it was MY game, I feel qualified to comment on it. I generally look forward to games against titled players. It's like receiving a free lesson, when or if you lose. However, when they play something like Bg5 like this IM did, it shows they don't really care about playing a "real game of chess" in my opinion. That affects me, although it shouldn't. I tend to relax or get tilted as I am disappointed. I lose interest in the game. My mind strays. I drop my guard. And then I play one really bad move and one unnecessary move and I'm in trouble. It happens. It also happens in classical chess. Sometimes people play odd openings to either sidestep theory(2024 Candidates anyone?) or to gain a psychological advantage. Wasn't that rumored to be the case with Karpov-Miles in their famous game? This game was chaotic. I will bet anything the next time we play, he's not gonna play Bg5 in a Morra against me. When you beat a master, they remember you. I recall beating one of Gary Kasparov's seconds and almost a year passed between our first and second game. At the start of the second game he kibitizes "Oh, this guy." Yeah, I had beaten him in the first game, a completely meaningless online game. I got his tournament prep in the rest of our games.

[@PowerPlayChess]

@@LateCloser Your comments are very relatable!