Marc Esserman has beaten GM Loek van Wely and other strong players with the Smith Morra gambit, it can be effective in capable hands. He even got a winning position against former world champion Vishy Anand with it!
Smith-Morra
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ThrillerFan wrote:
If the OP plays a better opening, he wouldn't have the problem he's having. The Smith-Moron Gambit is trash!
The Morra is not only objectively fine and extremely practically dangerous, but it is also incredibly rich with both tactical and strategic ideas and an excellent opening for improving your chess.
I don't know what angle the Morra could possibly be looked at where it is "trash" for someone like the OP.
Falkentyne wrote:
I consider an opening "unsound" if it's White, who has the first move, who is trying to get equality, rather than Black.
...but that's not how the rest of the chess world uses the term, so it doesn't really matter what you "consider" the definition to be.
GYG wrote:
Falkentyne wrote:
I consider an opening "unsound" if it's White, who has the first move, who is trying to get equality, rather than Black.
...but that's not how the rest of the chess world uses the term, so it doesn't really matter what you "consider" the definition to be.
Moreover, in the Smith-Morra white isn't "trying to get equality". White is trying to crush black. And in good gambits that's a very real possibility, even if black is a strong GM. Just look at that Esserman - van Wely game that was mentioned before.
magipi wrote:
GYG wrote:
Falkentyne wrote:
I consider an opening "unsound" if it's White, who has the first move, who is trying to get equality, rather than Black.
...but that's not how the rest of the chess world uses the term, so it doesn't really matter what you "consider" the definition to be.
Moreover, in the Smith-Morra white isn't "trying to get equality". White is trying to crush black. And in good gambits that's a very real possibility, even if black is a strong GM. Just look at that Esserman - van Wely game that was mentioned before.
I don't care about that game. I care about what Stockfish says. Stockfish is miles stronger than any Esserman player will ever be. But you can keep thinking whatever you want to think about marginal gambits. It's your chess and your life.
“Stockfish is miles stronger than any Esserman player will ever be.” Why would you let a machine dictate your game? I would rather play a game in the style of Esserman or Tal. An interesting game with tactics that are unclear to humans but inferior to the machine. Programs are turning chess into a mathematical exercise. The game is more than winning.
If the OP plays a better opening, he wouldn't have the problem he's having. The Smith-Moron Gambit is trash!
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