B21: Smith-Morra Accepted...compensation?

What makes you think both sides made the best possible moves?

I looked at the game. White made a big mistake when he played

Bb5?

Yes I meant to say white

 Because it's an established book gambit. My question is...why? How can this gambit be justified? Even the engine shows it as -0.12 (slight advantage to black).

I was surprised to see that ht opening registered as a book opening with the title: Sicilian; Smith-Morra Accepted, Fianchetto Defense

White has a good lead in development and open files. Thats often the case in gambits. Black needs alot of time to even get his bishops into play, while whites Bishops are ready to jump in action and crossfire on blacks position. also after white castles bringing the rooks into the centre will set alot of pressure

Best moves?

Actually 6.Bb5 is inconsistent (6.Bc4 is much better) and 7.Bxc6 a lemon.

You shouldn't trust the engines's evaluations at an early opening stage.

This is what i interpret as a common line. Correct me if there are any mistakes here.

It's rather evident that I'm talking about the engine moves up to my fianchetto, otherwise I would have posted the entire game and not stopped at my fianchetto move on g7.

I don't understand why I have to type these things so explicitly. I'm the "Chess Opening" section of the forums, NOT the full "game analysis" section.

I was surprised to see that these opening 5-6 moves were considered a book opening and I wish only to know what is white's compensation.

One poster claims that the freedom of white's bishop's and earlier castling for white is the compensation for the pawn. Those are the types of answer I'm looking for.

Thank for this. This opening for white actually appears quite formidable. I knew it was wrong for my opponent to trade off his white-square bishop. Ty

the morra is more alive than ever yay

A long time ago I used to play the Smith Morra and had many of my games published in his writings.  

I can tell you from years of experience and looking at some lines--The Smith Morra is a sub optical opening for White.  I do not know if it is a theoretical loss but Black should get some advantage.

However a few strong players have played this opening.  

marc esserman revived it, nobody wants to accept the pawn anymore^^

The position after game 6 is very close to a win for Black as White made the very bad move of 6. Bb5??

After viewing the entire game again, I believe his played this gambit by accident. The fact that he allowed my mate in 1 after I took a minute and twenty seconds to play Qh5 is rather telling.

That being said, he played like a true 1200-1400 player (I always tend to win these), instead of the 2k+ sandbaggers that normally troll my bracket lol

The Smith-Morra gives lots of fun to amateur/blitz players, white gets a lead in development, two open columns for its rooks and initiative. As said earlier, is suboptimal from a theoretical point of view, yet still playable.