Any Smith-Morra Gambit Experts Here? Sound?

Looking at this against the Sicilian.  They say it strikes fear into Sicilian players.  (if they go 1...e5, I'll just go Urusov, if they 1...c5, then the Morra Gambit is supposed to really take them out of their game and lots of traps they can fall into.   Supposed to be very tactical? 

Main line is Morra Gambit Accepted... (below is an example.  To me, Black looks pretty good here and is a pawn up; though jammed up, hasn't castled yet  and white has more space, already castled, can own that d file soon)

Is this opening for White sound and quite good for against under 1700-1800 players? 

No, it is not refuted. It is a sound gambit, specially at your level. If you like the positions then go ahead, play it.

I think it is even played in correspondence games so that should give you a clue regarding if it is sound or not.

However you should be ok with the positions after Black declines the pawn.

For example after Nf6 you have to enter an Alapin and not a Morra anymore.

In chess there is no easy road, everything requires hard work.

If you want an answer to all variations of the Sicilian play the Closed Sicilian or the Grand Prix, there is not so much theory as in other variations, altough hard work is still required. This lines will save you time for more important things to improve like endgames/tactics and annotated games.

If possible try to get your hands on the "Starting out" series of the Closed and Grand Prix, I like the format, they quickly explain the theory and pass on to sample games which will benefit every player, even if he doesnt play those lines as the authors do a good job on explaining the position and games in general.

I hope that helped you.

Have a wonderful day m8!

I forgot mentioning that Black isnt really that good after dxc3, I have faced the Morra sometimes and the pressure along the c-d-e files is annoying. Black should know his theory well to survive and get a better position. However that is not easy, and even GMs have fallen into the Morra claws.

That is why I decline the Morra with Nf6 and just play a game of chess .

  Privet. 

     I'm thinking most of the time Black WILL refuse the dxc3, suspecting some trap, and play Nf6, but then white can shove e5 and then grab the pawn.   So I just ordered a book, Mayhem in the Morra.  That ought to do it.    Spasiba. 

  Did you ever meet any super GM's in Russia?

It's fine against low elo. I have a pet line that works quite well against it, however.

When I played this (at around 1600 rating) most people answered 3...d5 or 3....Nf6, both leading to 2.c3 Sicilian mainlines. The remainder generally played the Siberian trap, which you MUST know as White.

I think e4 c5 c3 is better opening and even used my gms, smith morra good maybe for under 2000 USCF rating only

Agreed, I have had a lot of difficulty facing the Morra accepted, ..Nf6 has worked better for me,too.

I certainly don't consider myself an expert, but I usually play the Smith Morra gambit against the Sicilian defense with some good results against the B class crowd.

For an investment of a pawn, White gets some initiative and Black has to be on the defense. It's generally harder for Black to defend than White to attack. I think it's an OK opening that bypasses a lot of theory.

The normal variations give a stronger attack without the need to lose a pawn

3...Nf6 just made me look elsewhere. Avoiding this opening is far more practical for Black since he's gotta play the Alapin anyway. 

@slowdeath22   "normal var's give stronger attack w/o losing a pawn" 

What normal vars. are you talking about?  You mean just other than the Morra? 

check

No, it signals that no one wants to waste their time with all that theory when other moves do the job just fine. The only people that will take the pawn are people that either don't know about it and those that want to try and prove something. That's their prerogative but in my view it's just a waste of time better spent on other things. 

If not for 3...Nf6 I'd give the Smith Morra a whirl but if Black can just sidestep it then I feel like I'm just playing something that isn't practical regardless of whatever chances there are.  

The Alapin 2. c3 is a better atternative than the Morra in avoiding the open Sicilian. Many Sicilian players would not accept the c3 pawn in the Morra and transpose to the Alspin with 3.... Nf6. Im one of them.

The smith-morra isn't sound and easy to play against as a Sicilian player. In the Sicilian, you are already down in development, in the most popular variation, the Najdorf, black is three tempos down in development, but it is perfectly playable and the best response to e4. Why is this? The Sicilian structure is super solid, it can be broken but with best play, you are fine even down 3 tempos. The smith-morra tries to get development but this is true in the mainline the only difference is that white is down a pawn. I recommend as a Sicilian player to get comfortable with the Scheveningen setups, this will be the structure you will most likely get in the smith morra. Against the smith-morra simply accept, play Nc6, d6, e6, Be7, 0-0, a6, b5 and go on from there. You will have to be careful with move orders, a basic rule is that whenever you need to play Qc7 play a6 before playing Qc7. Do this and make sure not to go into auto mode and react to whites threats and you will be fine. If white goes for Bf4, Qd2 and Rd1 make sure to use your tempos wisely, try and castle, play Qc7 and get your rook on d8.

Why revive a 4 year old thread on the unsound Smith-Moron Gambit?

As an average of 1400 player, I play it all the time. I do ok with it against other 1400 players. My best win was with this against a 1711 player.