How do I counter the Smith-Morra Gambit?

Nb6 dull draw.

Well, my SF sees big advantage for white here too.

The black shelter is simply weak, that is the problem.

It is either my SF that is wrong(under my close monitoring), or the people I am arguing with.

Anyway, I will not anger you more.

I hate people getting high on toxic substances, when we are arguing just about a simple chess position.

My book and the knowledge contained withing, as well as the constant rise in the strength of SF and the increasing value of its opinion were meant to bring progress, scientific conclusions and facilitate learning.

I really don't like how all there positive intentions turn into a sterile struggle.

It is good to stick to one's guns, but that should be done only on substance.

7...Nb6 is what I gave as equal; i.e. the main line (instead of 7...de5!?) after 1 e4 c5 2 c3 Nf6 3 e5 Nd5 4 d4 cd4 5 Nf3 Nc6 6 cd4 d6 7 Bc4. 

Also, I suggested an improvement over "your" "analysis" of 7...de5; that was 19...Qg6!= instead of 19...Qf5, with equality that's been shown both in strong human games and a high level correspondence game.

With regard to ...Rd5-a5-a3, the Rook is """""active"""" in heavy quotes, but we both know it's out of play over there when White's trying to give mate on the Kingside.

e6 restricted the white bishop on c4,the system is solid for black. Later white plays Rd1 threatening e5 so black plays ...e5 himself to deprive white of that possibility. Always keep an eye on e5 if your queen and whites rook are on the same fil,there might be a capture there

A good option to get white out of the book. Black certainly wastes a tempo, but white has to do the same, as the c3 pawn now is misplaced. However, fighting against the Maroczy is not everybody cup of tea.

I dont like that move order for white, Bf4 before castling seems better to me, in order to take rooks quickly to c1 and d1

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3! 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e5?! is very risky and inviting trouble ( much better is 6...e6)  7.Ng5! Nh6  8.0-0

I've always found 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 a6!? 7.O-O Nf6 an interesting way of handling the morra. Daniel King explains it quite well in his anti sicilian dvd.

Nb6 is indeed the best possible defence for black, but white has quite some edge in the endgame after a line like:

SF reaches quite hight score for white, any suggestions for improvement in black's play?

Concerning 19...Qg6, please, post a diagram, I already forgot what position you are referring to.

About the rook on a3, but really this rook will be everywhere out of play, where do you want to put it to defend the king side?

On the d file it does not do so.

On a3, it at least attacks some objects and is active.

Suggest a concrete line, where the rook is better placed.

Stop posting Stockfish one-minute games. Please. I'm not going to attempt to discuss opening lines with someone who provides one main line with zero alternatives for the other side at any point.

Sure you did.

I usually just capture the pawn, like 99.99% of people will.

I agree with Deirdre--if you already know how to play against the Alapin, you simply can transpose to it by playing ...Nf6 after c3. I can just hear my opponent saying (awwwwww) after I spoil their fun.

The computer gives white a sizable advantage in the opening of that game....but lets see Lyudmil find it. C'mon secret chess, lets see your 3500 rating at work....hehehe, this guy is so funny...how long did he say it was going to take him? "seconds"....with that pattern recognition of his. But then he would have already said where white went wrong....or is it a secret? Better to let him live in secret chess fantasy land?

Esserman devotes a lot of space in his book to these lines. One of his innovations in them, that defeated Loek van Wely, was to import the Nd5 sacrifice from the Najdorf to the Morra. I am sure Anand knows this game because it is not often that an IM annihilates a 2700 player with a gambit.

The thing is that black plays e5 once white has defined his intentions,black completes his development and only then plays e5 to secure his position. The problem of playing ...e5 directly is as you can see in the diagram that white has many different options early on such as Ng5. Black has to complete his development before he plays such a move as ...e5 . Of course there are other setups against the  morra-gambit,the g6-setups are popular. The problem with those setups for black might be that white gets his desired play and it is easy to fall for traps early on with ...g6. the e6-d6 formation is very solid and prevents white from disrupting black in the centre,only when black is safe he plays e6-e5. 

is my diagram working?

 Now you have the moves

Back in the day, i played many Smith Morra Gambit games and did well.

But that was about 50 years ago.

My guess now is that the Smith Morra is not sound.

It's only my opening taste but don't find the e6, d6 alapin sicilian of Marc Esserman vs. Viswanathan Anand very easy.  Prefer going into French type positions 1e4 c5 2c3 e6 3d4 d5, not sure what playing against the Morra gambit.

Aagaard is very keen on the line, and Kotronias develops the line further in his anti-sicilian book. Think both prefer 10...Qc7 of Anand game, compared to 10...Qa5 but the positions are quire similar.