SMG is the best weapon against the sicilian.  There are some players who claim the open sicilian or alapin are better but looking at the results white does not score any better in these openings either.  Why spending hundreds of hours to study the open sicilian lines and alapin when one can achieve the same result with SMG which doesn't need huge memorisation of various lines arising out of the open sicilian or other systems.  SMG is simply the best choice and what black is most reluctant to see.

"but looking at the results"...

The results of what? Grandmaster games, right? How often do you face a grandmaster? 

Against non-Grandmaster (i.e. most everyone here), any opening is playable, even the Alapin. 

If the SMG is "simply the best choice", as you say, then there would obviously be no need for the Alapin or any other variation due to their inferiority. 

The mere existence of other variations being used shows the SMG is not "simply the best choice." 

If you're saying it's a good opening, sure, it's good. As are all other openings. If you know how to play them.

(Emphasis my own!)

Sorry, you seem to be implying that the Alapin is a horrible variation to play against the Sicilian. I can assure you it is a totally respectable opening, it even had a showing at the recent U.S. Women's Championship! 

lol "even the alapin".  It's not unheard of for a high level GM to use the alapin you know.  I really dont think black is that worried about the smg.  They're probably quite happy to see it.  Plenty of sicilian players I've met though have serious trouble with the Alapin. 

Also, the Alapin is to an extent a theory dodge, since 2.Nf3 is likely better.  There's really not that much in the way of critical stuff you have to know.  Probably far less than there is in the smg. 

Yes, the Alapin seems to have rather more high-level-adherents than the SMG.

Apart from that, I really like to face the SMG as Black and have a good record against it, too.

What strikes me as the most funny point in this discussion, though, is the idea there's no need to learn the Alapin due to your preference of the SMG. So, what exactly do you play after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d5 or 3...Nf6?

I'm just curious, because most sensible white moves are bound to lead to an Alapin Sicilian mainline. Actually, back when I didn't know much about how to counter the SMG but was playing the Alapin as White, I used these move orders to get into positions I was sure to be on more familiar ground than my opponents

The SMG is interesting and can lead to exciting games, but then there are systems that black can employ which are pretty easy to learn and white seems to be really struggling to justify the pawn sacrifice.  Especially in online chess, the book will lead black to safety.

Most Black players are happy to see the Morra.

GMs use SMG as well.  Check Adams vs Watson.  For anyone under master level, almost everyone here, it doesn't really matter what sort of opening they play.  It's purely a matter of taste.  SMG can be as good as any other.  The minute subteties of different openings are felt at master levels not by the people on here who are at best only class players.

The smith morra is a great way to meet the Sicilian so is the alapin. They give white good attacking chances. I played the morra smith/alapin for a while before switching to the open Sicilian. I think theoretically black is better in both lines, but that isn't really important at our level. 

I'm not saying the Alapin is bad. Sorry, I seemed to imply it. I used to play it all the time after I read Schiller's First Chess Openings.

In addition to 2.c3 and 2.d4 there is also 2.f4 as well as 3.Bb5.  MCO 15 states "In clmns 11-12 we cover the Smith-Mora Gambit. 2.d4, cxd4, 3. c3.  This is entertaining, but Black can gain the advantage with proper(my emphasis) play.

2.c3 has seen a surge of interest in recent years.  This is a safe continuation that avoids all the theory of the open lines, yet allows White to play an active game....

3.Bb5 is White's best theoretical alternative to the open variations."

Most of the Sicilian lines in MCO15 are evaluated by Nick deFirmian, its editor.  Nick is known for his knowledge of the Sicilian.

But it must be remembered that his observations are those of one who reaches any of the master catagories.  How many times have you followed a book line to a += evaluation to only go astray in the middle game.  So comments by pvmike, zukertort70 et all are correct and to the point.  You play what is comforatable for you, not what your currrent icon plays.  I love the games of Tal but I sure do not play his openings.

All very interesting, and good posts from many.

The point I was trying to make earlier is just that you can't play the SMG instead of the Alapin, since Black can virtually force an Alapin main line by 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6. The only reason why he doesn't do that too often is that his chances against the SMG are supposed to be equal or better, while countering the Alapin can be somewhat of a hard toil for him...

You are correct up to a point.  You must also remember that it's much eaiser to play a good position than a bad one.  Also that a large part of chess is improving your position, and accumulating advantages.  It's clearly not a good idea to give your opponent an advantage right out of the opening then if you can help it, just because "you might not be able to use the advantage anyway". 

If you want to get out of Sicilian theory just play 2 b4.  Black's head will explode :-)

The Wing Gambit is still dubious, whether black is familiar with the opening or not. I've used it too many times trying to get an opening edge but that pawn sacrifice is just too much. Maybe if it were one of his center pawns (d or e) that gets doubled with the c or f pawns, then it would be better. But then it would be a different opening.

First time i ever played against that opening i actually won in an OTB tournament way back in 2000 against a player of 1500+ i believe. It was nice to get my revenge against the player too. The year before that same player smashed me in 14moves! hahaha.