The Delayed Smith Morra Gambit

This is a common favorite opening on the club level most especially on faster time controls like rapid and blitz. I will attempt to start an open discussion on how should a Sicilian club player should meet this kind of anti-Sicilian sideline. ( Note: I understand that Smith Morra Gambit is one of the respected gambits that exist in chess today. However, this is not the main line hence the term "sideline". ). I shall attempt to equip the Sicilian club players such as myself with the need-to-know stuff on how to survive this tricky move-order transposition opening device.

Against the Sicilian Dragon

6...g6!

Black will now does best if he transposes to the Dragon where white's pieces are not on their optimal squares.

7. 0-0 Bg7 8. Rd1 ...

White can also play 8.c3 directly here and we will also meet it with the same plan. 8...dxc3 is also playable though it will still give him a temporary initiative.

( Diagram )

 A sample game runs

9... d3!

This is the point of the whole preparation. Black returns the pawn and makes sure that white does not have a strong pawn center and just in time to prepare his queenside operations as a normal Sicilian Dragon player does.

10. Bxd3!    ...

Considered best. Let's take a look at the 2 other captures.

10... Nd7 Black's strategy centers around the e5 square.

11. Bc2 Nde5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Na3 a6 15.f4 Nd7 with a balanced game.