Is the Smith-Morra playable?

Hi, I'm searching an opening against the Sicilian to avoid all the theory. I know that the Smith-Morra isn't used so much so I'm thinking to use it when my opponent plays c5, it's highly probable that my opponent don't know the Smith-Morra too. What do you think?

I played it for years beating masters and experts. Ken Smith published many of my games. There is also an excellent book out on this gambit.

The main problem as I see it is the declined version with 3. ...Nf6

That is not so fun to play against.

It's certainly playable, even at a fairly high level, but only if you are willing to study a lot of theory (white has to be very precise to keep compensation against the various black defensive setups); playing something like the Be2 open sicilians certainly requires less work.

The second huge problem with the morra is the fact that black can force a trasposition to a sicilian alapin with 3...Nf6 or 3...d5; worse still, since white is already committed to d4, he is not even allowed to play the strongest alapin lines (delaying d4 for a while is considered the relatively best try for an advantage in the alapin). Esserman made an attempt to make these alapin lins interesting for white in his book on the morra, but the general opinion is that he failed and black has a fairly easy game against his suggested lines.

Summing it up, it doesn't make a lot of logical sense to play the morra as a surprise weapon, since it requires a lot of study for very litte reward (black can easily decline and have a good game). On the other hand we are amateurs playing for fun and there is no reason to be "logical" in our choice of openings: the morra gambit accepted is fun to play, pratically dangerous and quite instructive if you're tring to improve your attacking play. If you like the resulting positions there is no reason to stay away from it.

Now I can't study opening theory because I have to study other areas of the game, that's why I asked this question. I want to avoid all the Sicilian theory.

IM Marc Esserman is a specialist in the Morra Gambit, having defeating numerous GM playing it, and he published a really good book on titled Mayhem in the Morra, which shows it's more than just playable.

However, I can confirm that it's just like bresando pointed out: Black has the option to decline and force the Alapin, so you also need at least a basic understanding of the c3 Sicilian. Moreover, Morra takes a lot of study in order to play it efficiently, as the tactics white has at her disposal tend to be quite complicated for a middle club level player (in my view, it's much easier to play, say, the Evan's Gambit without knowing much theory than the Morra). So, it's clearly not suitable for your purpose. You'd be better off learning the basics of the Alapin or the Closed Sicilian instead.

The Alapin come into consideration then. Of course there is a theory on it as well, but at club level you can play it decently relying on general principles alone, since white play in most lines is pretty straightforward. I taught it in about one hour to the only player I've ever coached, and she had great succes with it. 

To avoid theory I find the Bb5 lines (Rossolimo and Moscow) are best.  You can get by just by following general principles in most of the variations.  Also some of the themes are similar to the Ruy Lopez so if you know that opening (if you're a 1. e4 player I assume you have some knowledge of it) you already have some idea of how to play them.

For example, without referring to a database...

This might not be exactly how the theory goes but you can see the type of position is much more straightforward and natural to play than open sicilians or even many anti-sicilians.

The basic plan is always, protect e4 by castling early so you can play Re1 and prepare d4 with c3.  Just like in a Ruy.

In this last line, Black can play 9. cxd4   d5! 

[chess is never easy ]

You're right 9...d5 is the more common move, then white just pushes the pawn with 10. e5 and you get a pretty even game.  I didn't mean to imply that this line is winning for white or anything, just that it is much easier to find the right moves without knowing any theory in most of the variations compared to open sicilians and many anti-sicilians.

Black can avoid the Bb5 lines with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6.

Try d4. I know that transposition to one variation of the Sicilian is possible via the move order 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 if white does play e4 soon after.

In the variation I gave Black has slight advantage.  It is very hard to avoid Sicilian theory even if you play the Rossolimo and Moscow there is a ton of theory.  

After 1. e4  c5  2. Nf3  e6  I play  3.d3 Kings Indian variation.

 There is a lot more theory in these lines than most people realize or want. [unfortunately]

I don't play d4 so much, I prefer e4 to learn open games first, then learn d4

...but there's theory you can't survive the opening without and theory you don't really need to know.  I think the Moscow and Rossolimo variations fall into the latter category.  It's not that hard to find the right moves in those lines OTB, compared to say, the Najdorf or the Dragon.

Combine the Alapin with the Advance against the French, or the Bb5's with the KIA against the French and e6 Sicilians to keep it compact.

The Smith-Morra is a terrible way to evade theory.  Black has tons of good ways to make white's life difficult.  Theory says white can live with them, but he's got to know a bunch of ins and outs to do so.  While black, of course, only needs to know one.

The Morra isn't really any more economical than the open in this sense.

You could also consider playing the open in classical Be2 style (or g3 style) to cut down theory.

Nowadays there is a lot of theory on just about eveything. What matters, however, is the kind of theory we're talking about.

In the Bg5 najdorf, there is a lot of utterly forcing theory which you just have to know; enter the line onprepared and you'll soon stumble in a deadly tactical pitfall. Also in the Morra, ofter white just has to play only moves in very complicated positions to keep the pressure. Knowing where the pieces should go won't be enough. The closed sicilian is less forcing, but positionally quite complex, and you really need to understand what you're doing to play it. Bb5 lines are interesting and not so forcing/tactical too, but they lead to a very broad range of different positions. Mastering the Bb5+ lines and the rossolimo and those lines where Bb5 is impossible (such as the kan) is not such a small amount of work.

The alapin by contrast produces rather easy to understand, and somewhat repetitive positions. There is potentially a lot of theory here too, but you're not risking much by improvising since there are very few pitfalls for white; you may allow black easy equality if you get something wrong but you don't risk being worse/lost at move 15 as may happen in other lines. White positions is easy to play and the onus is on black to prove he is fine. If your attitude is "I just want to survive the opening with a decent position without studying hard theory" the Alapin is really your best bet. If you want to put some effort in learning a small amount of theory, the Be2 open sicilians are a very good alternative.

Plus, you'll be more like Karpov, which automatically makes you more awesome.

King's Indian Attack is another option against 1.e4 c5.

The Closed Sicilian was mentioned above. Do not treat this one lightly; 'natural' moves will not suffice. The opening is highly positional.

It's just about the only playable gambit left, being in an exclusive club with the Benko, From, Marshall Attack, Evan's, and Tal Gambits.  Queen's Gambit isn't a real gambit so I don't count that one.

So many pansies who play 1.e4.  Either start playing 1.d4 or grow a pair and play 2.Nf3/3.d4 against the BIG BAD EVIL SICILIAN.  

THE WAY I PUSH THE LITTLE WOODEN MEN IS WAY MORE MACHO THAN THE WAY YOU PUSH THE LITTLE WOODEN MEN!