you can.
a better question is:
Am I a good enough player to be 2 pawns down from the very beginning of the game just to avoid the open Sicilian?
if the answer is yes, then go for it and know everything one can know about the Smith morra gambit.
if the answer is no, or I'm not sure, then maybe the closed Sicilian or the Alipan is for you.
the other option is to just face the open Sicilian. if you play 1.e4, you can not avoid the Sicilian. you will play one of these choices. good luck👍.
The Morra gambit will still get results up to 1800 but beyond this odds are then stacked against you, its worth pointing out though black has several ways to decline this gambit one is the early ... Nf6! The other being returning the pawn and avoiding the open c=file 1.e4,c5 2.d4,cxd4 3.c3, and now ...d3!? After 4.Bxd3 blacks plan would be to play a type of pirc setup with ...d6 followed by ...Nf6 and ...g6, white will still hold an edge but without the dangerous open c file!!?
No. Instead play the Alapin 2 c3. On the theoretical level the Smith-Morra Gambit is not really sound: a central pawn down for vague compensation. On a practical level if black declines the Smith-Morra Gambit with either 3...d5 or 3...Nf6, then it transposes to the Alapin Variation. So you can just play the objectively better Alapin Variation right away.
Yes, I highly recommend learning the morra. It works like wonder below 16/1700. After that if you find it's not working,then you can simply migrate to alapin.
I used to play alapin but I found later in the endgame I had a disavantage
It probably was nothing to do with the opening and more to do with the way I play. I play very aggressively and prefer open games to closed ones. My opponents often managed to close the postion and slowly picked off my pawns.
If you won't mind the transposition to the Alapin then yes, play Smith-Morra.
I have already been playing smith-morra And my opponents have always accepted it rather than play what you showed
It probably was nothing to do with the opening and more to do with the way I play. I play very aggressively and prefer open games to closed ones. My opponents often managed to close the postion and slowly picked off my pawns.
the alapin isnt likely for you then. Try the open sicilian.
As a reply to sicillian?
i recommend delaying the alapin and only playing it if they play 2.d6 in order to avoid the paulsen kan setup (which is very annoying to face)
Why not try it? You dont need a lot of study to play it.
It's a system where, if accepted, you know where your pieces go, need to learn a small number of thematic traps (rather than learning theory 20 moves deep for an open Sicilian). I think you'll find that you will reach a point where you'll start losing to people at your rating because of the opening (but not for a while). Then you switch.
Alternately, if you're thinking about Smth-Morra, you should also consider Grand-Prix which doesnt sac a pawn , is very aggressive and also a system with similar features (and limitations).
Why not try it? You dont need a lot of study to play it.
It's a system where, if accepted, you know where your pieces go, need to learn a small number of thematic traps (rather than learning theory 20 moves deep for an open Sicilian).
the thing about the open sicilian at the club level is that nobody actually knows it as well as a GM, so forcing yourself to learn 20 moves of it over just learning the basic attacking ideas and plans for checkmate would be much better. You guys really gotta stop trying to scare people into not playing the open sicilian.
@19
The open Sicilian becomes an arms race. You know 5 moves? I know 6. You know 7? I know 8. Etc. etc. It drains so much time and energy much better spent on endgames.
The Alapin, the Closed Sicilian or the Grand Prix Attack are better for non-professionals.
Even professionals. Sveshnikov played the Alapin. Smyslov and Spassky played the Closed Sicilian. Hebden played the Grand Prix Attack.
The alapin is a bit dry in my opinion. It isn't a bad opening, but it does lack complications and firepower. I think that's the reason you don't like it. I don't like it much for myself as well but hey, it's solid.
@19
The open Sicilian becomes an arms race. You know 5 moves? I know 6. You know 7? I know 8. Etc. etc.
not online, most people at his level and/or above deviate out of theory quickly and it becomes in actual game. What you said only applies to master level otb matches
@19
the Closed Sicilian or the Grand Prix Attack are better for non-professionals.
Even professionals. Sveshnikov played the Alapin. Smyslov and Spassky played the Closed Sicilian. Hebden played the Grand Prix Attack.
Carlsen played the sodium attack. Does that mean its good?
@21
Sveshnikov was of the opinion that the Alapin is theoretically superior to the Open Sicilian, as it does not trade a central pawn d4 for a wing pawn c5.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1140426
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070874
As said before: declining Smith-Morra with 3...Nf6 or 3...d5 transposes to the Alapin.
Why not try it? You dont need a lot of study to play it.
It's a system where, if accepted, you know where your pieces go, need to learn a small number of thematic traps (rather than learning theory 20 moves deep for an open Sicilian).
the thing about the open sicilian at the club level is that nobody actually knows it as well as a GM, so forcing yourself to learn 20 moves of it over just learning the basic attacking ideas and plans for checkmate would be much better. You guys really gotta stop trying to scare people into not playing the open sicilian.
Hey now! You are absolutely right that at whatever level, you only have to know enough theory as your opponent. After that it's understanding and tactics. I do love the open Sicilian for both sides but the poster asked about S-M.
If he'd asked about playing the open Sicilian as white I'd just say that he only needs to know more than his opponents and suggest he go thru Levy's old book 'Sacrifices in the Sicilian' then go for it.
Since he did ask about S-M, it does have advantages until opponent is about a class A player-and it is an open Sicilian. At that point he'd take the SM experience attacking into the open Sicilian and go from there.
Bill
As a reply to sicillian?