The Smith-Morra Gambit

The Smith-Morra Gambit

What do you do against the Sicilian Defense? Do you play a main line, safe in the knowledge that despite being the most reliable way to gain an opening advantage, you could be condemned to spending years studying a huge body of opening theory - or do you choose an Anti-Sicilian as a way to sidestep the main lines at the risk of allowing Black to have a sneaking chance to achieve equality?

The Smith-Morra Gambit, characterized by the moves 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3, is one of the least played, yet according to IM Trent most underrated Anti-Sicilians that White has at his disposal. By sacrificing a pawn, White aims to rapidly develop his pieces with the objective of delivering a swift knockout blow to the unprepared Black camp. Objectively speaking, Trent emphasizes, if Black knows his stuff he has various ways to achieve a perfectly reasonable position.

The beauty of this opening, Trent explains, lies in its practical “over-the-board” potential. Black players will have trouble coping with unknown positions and being put on the back foot from the start. It should be of no surprise that around 50% of players with Black decide to decline the gambit, but even in this case Trent presents a host of tricky variations which allow White to play with venom and great attacking possibilities, not to mention a number of previously unseen theoretical novelties!

Video running time: 5 h 25 min.

Lawrence Trent is an International Master from England. He has represented England as a player and as a coach and has been a 3-time winner of the Porto San Giorgio International tournament, finishing ahead of many Grandmasters.

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