Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Declined
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6 · B21
Part of Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 14
The gambit can transpose into an Alapin
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The idea
Black refuses the pawn and develops instead, meeting c3 with ...Nf6 — the most reliable way to take the sting out of the Morra.
Main line: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O d6
What White wants
- Push e5 and gain space while Black's knight is unstable on d5
- Develop with Nf3, Bc4 and O-O and hold the extra space
- Accept a sound, slightly better middlegame rather than a sharp attack
What Black wants
- Develop and decide when to release the pawn tension on d4
- Move or exchange the knight on d5 according to White's pressure
- Use ...d6 to challenge e5 and reach an Alapin-type structure
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
The gambit can transpose into an Alapin
...Nf6 declines the capture on c3 and attacks e4. After e5 Nd5, Black's pawn is on d4, not c4, and White can later recover it with cxd4. This is an Alapin-type central structure rather than the accepted Morra's open-file attack.
Common mistake
Continuing as if a pawn sacrifice has already bought an open c-file. White's c-pawn is still on c3 and Black's pawn on d4 keeps the tension alive; coordinate development and the recovery of d4 instead of launching an unsupported queen raid.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bqkb1r/pp3ppp/2npp3/3nP3/2Bp4/2P2N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 8
Analyze this position