98_B21_Morra Mayhem Gambit vs Sicily Mob || 2.f4

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98_B21_Morra Mayhem Gambit vs Sicily Mob || 2.f4
Compiled by whiteshark

In chess, the Smith–Morra Gambit (or simply Morra Gambit) is an opening gambit against the Sicilian Defence distinguished by the moves:

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3

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Opening Explorer

White sacrifices a pawn to develop quickly and create attacking chances. In exchange for the gambit pawn, White has a piece developed after 4.Nxc3 and a pawn in the center, while Black has an extra pawn and a central pawn majority. The plan for White is straightforward and consists of placing the bishop on c4 to attack the f7-square, and controlling both the c- and d-files with rooks, taking advantage of the fact that Black can hardly find a suitable place to post their queen.

The Smith–Morra is uncommon in grandmaster games, but is popular at club level.

History

The Smith–Morra is named after Pierre Morra (1900–1969) from France, and Ken Smith (1930–1999) of the Dallas Chess Club. Hence in Europe the name Morra Gambit is preferred; names like Tartakower Gambit and Matulovic Gambit have disappeared.

Morra published a booklet and several articles about the Smith–Morra around 1950. Smith wrote a total of nine books and forty-nine articles about the gambit. When Smith participated in an international tournament against several top grandmasters in San Antonio in 1972, he essayed the opening three times, against Donald Byrne, Larry Evans, and Henrique Mecking, but lost all three games.

Continuations overview

Black has a wide choice of reasonable defences after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3. White sometimes plays 2.Nf3 and 3.c3, which depending on Black's response may rule out certain lines.

<Morra Gambit Accepted: 3...dxc3

< 4.Nxc3

Classical Main line: 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 Be7 9.Rd1 e5 10.h3 or 10.Be3

Scheveningen setup: 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Nf6 (or Be7) 8.Qe2 a6 9.Rd1 Qc7 (probably inferior Qa5) 10.Bf4 (10.Bg5) Be7

Siberian Variation: 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Nf6 and 7...Qc7, with the idea being after 7.0-0 Qc7 8.Qe2 Ng4!, 9.h3?? loses to the famous "Siberian Trap" 9...Nd4!, winning the queen. If instead White plays 9.Rd1, preventing 9...Nd4, black can continue with 9...Bc5 with a clearly better game.

Nge7 variations: 4...Nc6 (or 4...e6) 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 a6 (Nge7) 7.0-0 Nge7 (d6 8.Qe2 Nge7 9.Bg5 h6) 8.Bg5 f6 9.Be3

6...a6 Defence: 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 a6 eventually 7...Bg4

Fianchetto: 4...g6 (4...Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 allows 6.h4!?) 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bc4 Nc6

Chicago Defence: 4...e6 5.Bc4 a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.0-0 and Black plays ...Ra7 at some stage

Early queenside fianchetto: 4...e6 5.Bc4 a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bb3 Bb7

< 4.Bc4edit This line is similar to the Danish Gambit: 4...cxb2 5.Bxb2 >>

Morra Gambit Declined

< Advance Variation: 3...d3

First transposition to the Alapin: 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5

Second transposition to the Alapin: 3...d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 (Nf6) 5.cxd4

The latter has a bad reputation, as square c3 is free for the knight. Still 5...Nf6 (5...e5; 5...Nc6 6.Nf3 e5) 6.Nf3 e6 7.Nc3 Qd6 is likely to transpose to a main line of the Alapin: 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 e6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Be7 9.Nc3 Qd6. >

Wikipedia article: Sicilian Defence, Smith%E2%80%93Morra Gambit

check also: Game Collection: Smith-Morra Gambit games ; Game Collection: SMITH-MORRA GAMBIT ;

M Esserman vs V Martirosov, 2008
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 25 moves, 1-0
M Esserman vs J Sarkar, 2008
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 16 moves, 1-0
M Esserman vs Van Wely, 2011
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 26 moves, 1-0
J Frankle vs de Firmian, 1980
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 41 moves, 1-0
Dutch vs J N Sugden, 1964
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 11 moves, 0-1
The Siberian trap
Kolenbet vs B Schipkov, 1987
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 9 moves, 0-1
R Krogius vs A Ojanen, 1944
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 14 moves, 1-0
F Rechi Perez vs E Grassi, 1986
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 7 moves, 1-0
S Titova vs D Koveshnikova, 2002
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 10 moves, 1-0
Morphy vs J L Preti, 1858
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 25 moves, 1-0
K Hjortstam vs Genestier, 1995
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 21 moves, 1-0
J Shipman vs H Beutel, 1992
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 38 moves, 1-0
A Chretien vs S Charmeteau, 2000
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 32 moves, 1-0
S Sunyasakta vs S Gour, 2008
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 36 moves, 1-0
D Zardus vs A Steventon, 1986
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 7 moves, 1-0
B Wall vs J Friedrichsen, 1974
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 9 moves, 1-0
B Wall vs K Saint Amant, 1991
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 10 moves, 1-0
G Welling vs Brinkhorst, 1980
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 9 moves, 1-0
S Crakanthorp vs H N Maddox, 1933
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 10 moves, 1-0
L Kurtesch vs Berta, 1958
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 10 moves, 1-0
Fischer vs Auner, 1960
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 10 moves, 1-0
Matulovic vs V Sokolov, 1953
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 29 moves, 1-0
Matulovic vs L Segi, 1953
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 35 moves, 1-0
Petterson vs E Larsson, 1963
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 10 moves, 0-1
A Diaz Alonso vs M R Bernaldo De Quiros Lopez, 2001
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 18 moves, 1-0
Moller vs Krasborg, 1987
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 9 moves, 0-1
The Siberian Trap
G Rohit vs K Szabo, 2001
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 9 moves, 0-1
better is 9...e5 10.Be3! 0-0 11.Rac1
Lenderman vs Gulko, 2007
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 37 moves, 0-1
J G Nicholson vs S Ledger, 2006
(B30) Sicilian, 12 moves, 0-1
K Grivainis vs F Palmiotto, 1958
(B22) Sicilian, Alapin, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2
R Malpert vs B Rind, 1992
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 23 moves, 1-0
M Beilin vs A Roshal, 1966
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 22 moves, 0-1
Tiviakov vs Van der Wiel, 2006
(B22) Sicilian, Alapin, 53 moves, 1-0
V Jensen vs E Mortensen, 1981
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 59 moves, 0-1
4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.e5!
J Freyre Forest vs A Rittiphunyawong, 1984
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 19 moves, 1-0
TAL's SMG
Tal vs M Neibults, 1991
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 24 moves, 1-0
8...Bg4?
Bondarevsky vs Kasparian, 1937
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 24 moves, 1-0
K Smith vs Evans, 1972
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 40 moves, 0-1
P Baran vs O Vacek, 2000
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 32 moves, 0-1
I A Horowitz vs C W Hrissikopoulos, 1941
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 20 moves, 1-0
C Boo Martin vs P Gutierrez Barrientos, 2001
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 38 moves, 1-0
Danish S/M
J Canal Oliveras vs J Rosell Palau, 1983
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 50 moves, 1-0
Danish S/M
G Negro Frer vs J Maurin, 1983
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 15 moves, 1-0
Danish S/M
McShane vs G Hassabis, 1990
(B32) Sicilian, 23 moves, 1-0
Danish S/M
B Wall vs R Monahan, 1972
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 9 moves, 1-0
I Rogers vs Shirov, 1991
(B22) Sicilian, Alapin, 67 moves, 1/2-1/2
S Chanawangsa vs G Kearse, 1984
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 11 moves, 1-0
The Morra the Merrier
J Torres Santiago vs T Kahn, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 24 moves, 1-0
J Torres Santiago vs Moheb Ameir, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 29 moves, 0-1
S Mitusov vs V Bochnicka Jr, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 22 moves, 1-0
L Tal-Shahar vs Noel Bekbauov, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 20 moves, 1-0
R Liaskovich vs L Guliyeva, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 29 moves, 1-0
L Burdot vs Igor Snitsarenko, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 32 moves, 1-0
P Korning vs F Fernandez Aransay, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 33 moves, 1-0
"Game of the Day"
A Kristjansson vs M Spooner, 2002
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 25 moves, 1-0
A Ozsvath vs Taimanov, 1965
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 41 moves, 0-1
development lead
B Kristjansson vs M Roberts, 1967
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 29 moves, 1-0
2.f4 McDonnell Attack
So vs Caruana, 2004
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 27 moves, 1-0
1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. e4 de4 4.Ng5 Nf6 5.Bc4 Bg4 6.Qxg4 Nxg4
A Bryntse vs G Osterling, 1968
(A02) Bird's Opening, 30 moves, 1-0
2. f4 d5 3. ed5 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. Bd7 Qd7 6. c4 e6 7. de6 Qe6 8
Blatny vs J Trapl, 1987
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 66 moves, 1/2-1/2
2. f4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. ed5 Qd5 6. Nc3 Qe6 7. Qe2 Nc6 8
Blatny vs A Pekarek, 1988
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 83 moves, 1/2-1/2
2. f4 d5 3. ed5 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nbd7 5. c4 g6 6. b3 Bg7 7. Bb2 O-O
Blatny vs D Rajkovic, 1988
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 38 moves, 1-0
A Pope vs Chandler, 1977
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 28 moves, 0-1
MGD
A Hashemi vs G Wachinger, 2000
(B22) Sicilian, Alapin, 41 moves, 1-0
B Marchyllie vs T Piceu, 2014
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 36 moves, 0-1
Sehr gefällig
L Dubeck vs R Weinstein, 1958
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 18 moves, 1-0
J P Moret vs Tukmakov, 2000
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 22 moves, 0-1
E Peterson vs C Kuehner, 2007
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 18 moves, 1/2-1/2
O De Abreu vs A Sokolov, 2010
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 33 moves, 0-1
O Simonsen vs S Conquest, 2000
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 18 moves, 0-1
J Lachaux vs Y Yuan, 2008
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 32 moves, 0-1
R Ekstroem vs Golubev, 1999
(B22) Sicilian, Alapin, 36 moves, 1/2-1/2
Flavio Luis Cesar Costa vs Mecking, 2017
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 38 moves, 0-1
I Mrykhin vs R Soffer, 2012
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 35 moves, 0-1
P K Rallabandi vs W Wan Nawawi, 2012
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 27 moves, 0-1
Late Morra transposition
D Charochkina vs Z Shafigullina, 2018
(B31) Sicilian, Rossolimo Variation, 33 moves, 1-0
Zachary Loh vs A Demuth, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 20 moves, 0-1
F Hedke vs E Paehtz, 2001
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 59 moves, 0-1
the famous "Siberian Trap" 9...Nd4!, winning the queen.
Dennis Posocco vs Ezra Terryn, 2017
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 11 moves, 0-1
M A Jensen vs C Holst, 2009
(B40) Sicilian, 27 moves, 1-0
You Really Got a Holt on Me
P Holt vs R Palliser, 1995
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 28 moves, 1-0
B Fleissig vs J Bauer, 1889
(B32) Sicilian, 15 moves, 1-0
MGacc w/ delay
I Dahl vs M Litynska, 1990
(B22) Sicilian, Alapin, 26 moves, 1-0
P Motwani vs P Rockwell, 1974
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 15 moves, 1-0
F Gadzhiev vs I Stoliarenko, 2013
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 13 moves, 1-0
2.f4
Nikola Petrov vs M Todorov, 2001
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 36 moves, 1/2-1/2
J Torres Santiago vs H Darwish, 2016
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 27 moves, 1-0
M de Vleeschauwer vs M Nikolov, 2022
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 32 moves, 0-1
L Day vs D Bailey, 1983
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 37 moves, 1-0
SMG-decl
P Reyes Jara vs M I Oliveira, 2014
(B22) Sicilian, Alapin, 27 moves, 1-0
M Lehaci vs A Nastase, 2021
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 40 moves, 1-0
Ragozin vs L Schmid, 1956
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 28 moves, 1-0
declined
B L Baer vs I Wells, 1981
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2
Morphy Gambit --> Morra accepted
Kashdan vs Newberger, 1924
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 28 moves, 1-0
94 games

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