Morra Gambiteers

After 1e4 c5 2d4 cxd 3c3 dxc 4Nxc3 e6 5Nf3 Watson & Schiller suggest ... Bc5.  Who has developed a White scheme for dealing with this?

I would deal with it much the same as I would had black played d6 and kept the bishop back on e2. I really like playing the white side of the Morra.

In the Morra, black has to play very accurately. Black has a number of well-defined and respectable counters to the Smith-Morra, however. Some are probably drawn with best play but there's one that may be a forced win for black. That's the one with 6. ... Ne7. White is struggling to draw that one.

1. e4 ...c5
2. d4 ...cd
3. c3 ...dc
4. Nxc3 ...e6
5. Nf3 ...Nc6
6. Bc4 ...Nge7
7. Bg5 ...f6

and black is better. If a move other than 7. Bg5 then normally 7. ...Ng6 and black is better.

Thank you Optimissed.  I've been baffled as to which scheme to use as Black.  I'll go with your line.

Ignore it and continue normally. Blacks c5B is misplaced.

One players evaluation. 7.   f6 creates a permanent light square weakness that will be exploited.

Most all top players avoid the Gambit and decline 3. ...Nf6 as it gives better winning results. Expert Morra players can always force a draw by winning back the backwards d pawn.

I once played 6. ... Bc5 without thinking and followed it with ... Ne7. I kept a poker face and my opponent probably thought it was theory and I went on to win convincingly but I could feel my face going red and I was sure it was a blunder. I haven't played it since. I wasn't sure what was the refutation though.

Incidentally, Saint_Anne, if after 7. Bg5 in the line I gave, black plays 7. ... a6, black is lost within about three moves. 7 ... f6 must be played.

Another point to the Morra not in the Books.

After 4. ...d6  Do not play the usual 5.Nf3 but instead Bc4. Usually 5. .... e6 follows.

The reason being 5. Nf3 Bg4 is perfectly fine and good for Black, contrary to many references.

Optimissed writes: Black is "better" after only 7 moves. This evaluation is overly optimistic, often leading to his demise. Many forced moves remain to be made for Black. Sicilian players often are not accustomed to playing defense for 20 moves.

<<<One players evaluation. 7.   f6 creates a permanent light square weakness that will be exploited.>>>

It is far from easy. Also, the variation I speak of is becoming well-known. And of course Sicilian players are used to defending. Didn't Capablanca claim that it's full of holes? As for GMs wimping out, how many GMs play the Morra these days? If they do, it's a surprise weapon only. Hence many players dodge it with the perfectly reasonable Alapin conversion with Nf6.

Incidentally, if three tempi in the opening are worth a pawn, as many GMs have assessed the balance to consist of, all things being equal, then the Morra gives white about a 2 1/2 tempi start and white is slightly worse. In practice often white wins back the pawn and achieves equality. Black often cooperates with this strategy. However, the line I gave is thought to be a legitimate and serious attempt by black to win the game by equalising positionally.

As for the good professor's assessment of "One players evaluation. 7.   f6 creates a permanent light square weakness that will be exploited." .... that in itself is one player's assessment.

Perhaps there is one rule for others and one rule for Pownall? I was forgetting that some people here are Chess Gods. Sorry.

"As for the good professor's assessment of "One players evaluation. 7.   f6 creates a permanent light square weakness that will be exploited." .... that in itself is one player's assessment." Optimissed

Of course it is my assessment. 6.... Nge7  and 7. ...f6 is but the latest fashion in a long list of so-called "refutations" of the Morra. I have played it ever since Ken Smith published his pamphlet eons ago. Such exotic attempts as The Chicago Defense come and go, but the fact remains the Gambit is sound. True, top GM's as White do not play it. This is because in their evaluation 2. Nf3 offers better winning chanches. On the flip side, most decline the pawn with the Alapin knowing that accepting the pawn is a major headache.

Optimissed made the claim his line is a forced win for Black.

Let's see the pudding !

Suggest reading your post again

The 1/2 tempi means Black is on the move. If it were Whites move one could say the position was winning for White. Just to much development to overcome without any for Black.

Incorrect. If it were the case then GMs would play it often.

Aizen89 Dose this deep dive included playing the Morra, or is it primarily a computer analysis?

Aizen89 Dose this deep dive included playing the Morra, or is it primarily a computer analysis?