How to Beat the Smith-Morra Gambit

What you're facing: Anti-Sicilian venom: White gives a pawn for open c- and d-files and pieces that arrive three moves early to the fight.

The moves you'll see

Your counter-plans

• Decline with 3…Nf6! (transposing to an Alapin) and White's whole surprise evaporates.
• If accepting, know the …a6/…Qc7/…Nge7 setup that blunts both files — one setup neutralizes everything.
• The extra pawn wins endgames: trade queens whenever offered and White's compensation attends the funeral.

What your opponent is trying to do

• After 3…dxc3 4. Nxc3, the setup writes itself: Nf3, Bc4, 0-0, Qe2, Rd1, Rc1 — every piece on its dream square.
• The battery Qe2+Rd1 makes …d6 backward and …e5 loose — Nd5 and Nb5 sacrifices hang in the air permanently.
• Sicilian players study Najdorf theory, not this — your prep advantage is the real gambit dividend.

Rehearse your defense against the computer until the counter-plans are muscle memory — free, in your browser.