Smith-Morra Gambit

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

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3

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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.

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.

⚠ Trap to know: Accepted lines where Black plays a natural …Nf6 and …d6 walk into e5! dxe5 Qxd8+ and Ng5 hitting f7 — natural moves lose here.

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