Sicilian Defence, Smith–Morra Gambit

The Morra Gambit (also: Smith - Morra Gambit or Sicilian Gambit means ) is a variation of the Sicilian defense, one of which must be an opening half-open games of chess. The ECO code is B21.

It arises after the moves 1 e2 -e4 c7 - c5 2 d2 -d4 c5xd4 3 c2 c3.

In this gambit it's white matter to complete its development as soon as possible and put pressure on the opponent's position on the lines. Strikes Black farmers, takes it to the White queen's knight again and will build up by the trains Nf3, Bc4 and the short castling on. White gained slight lead in development as well as in most variants pressure on the d-line, and partly also on the opponent's queenside by De2, tFd1 with the peasant advances e4 e5 and b2- b4.

The principle of the Morra Gambit there is less to seek sharp game, although this may happen for bad black replies also. Rather gets white for the farmers a long-term positional compensation as for modern Gambit games (such as the Volga Gambit ) is typical. However, it is questionable whether white for the sacrificed pawn receives adequate compensation, because unlike the Volga Gambit sacrifices white in the Morra Gambit a valuable central and not marginal farmers, for which the gain of a single tempo ( hitting with the queen's knight on c3 ) is generally not considered sufficient. In imprecise game but Black can get big problems. Therefore, this Gambit delighted especially in amateur circles, some popularity.

A typical position arises after the other trains 3 ... d4xc3 4 Sb1xc3 Sb8 - c6 5 Sg1 -f3 e7 - e6 6 Lf1 - c4 d7 - d6 7 0-0 Ng8 - f6 8 Dd1 - e2 Bf8 e7 - 9 Tf1 -d1 e6 - e5 with compensation for the sacrificed pawn.

After 5 ... e7 - e6 6 Lf1 - c4 Ng8 - f6 7 0-0 Qd8 - c7 - 8 Dd1 e2? Nf6 - g4! 9 h2 - h3? (or 9 Bc4 -b3? ) Nc6 -d4! Pats White in the " Siberian Trap".

After 5 ... d7 - d6 6 Lf1 - c4 Ng8 f6 - e4 - e5 is already 7. 7 ... 8 d6xe5 Dd1xd8 Sc6xd8 9 Nc3 - b5 Rb8 10 Sf3xe5 receives White the initiative.

If black is not particularly well versed, it is advisable to decline the gambit. After 3 ... d7 -d5 or 3 ... f6 Ng8 - opening passes into variants, as they usually occur in the Sicilian Defense with 2.c3. Rejects the Black Morra Gambit by 3 ... d4 -d3 from so arise independent variants, but Black can therefore also the reconciliation aspire to a hedgehog position.

The Morra Gambit was played sporadically already by Tartakower. Closer analysis however, it was only in the forties by its French namesake Pierre Morra ( 1900-1969 ). The testing in the tournament halls of the Grand Master owes the gambit but the Yugoslavs Milan Matulović, so it was occasionally named in Eastern Europe in the early sixties after him.

In the U.S., Ken Smith made worthy to popularize, so it is there called Smith - Morra Gambit. In the recent past grandmaster like Adams, Chandler, Minasjan or Illescas have ensured that the weapon Morra Gambit not forgotten.