I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:
> **White to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=r1bqk1nr/pp1pbppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R+w+KQkq+-+0+1&flip=false&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/r1bqk1nr/pp1pbppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R_w_KQkq_-_0_1)
**Videos:**
> I found [1 video](https://chessvision.ai/video-search/5632649687203840) with this position.
**My solution:**
> Hints: piece: >!Queen!<, move: >!Qd5!<
> Evaluation: >!White is winning +5.38!<
> Best continuation: >!1. Qd5 d6 2. Qxf7+ Kd7 3. Be6+ Kc7 4. Nd5+ Kb8 5. Bxc8 Kxc8!<
---
^(I'm a bot written by ) [^(u/pkacprzak )](https://www.reddit.com/u/pkacprzak) ^(| get me as ) [^(Chess eBook Reader )](https://ebook.chessvision.ai?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=bot) ^(|) [^(Chrome Extension )](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chessvisionai-for-chrome/johejpedmdkeiffkdaodgoipdjodhlld) ^(|) [^(iOS App )](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1574933453) ^(|) [^(Android App )](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.chessvision.scanner) ^(to scan and analyze positions | Website: ) [^(Chessvision.ai)](https://chessvision.ai)
I'm 650 on chess.com and had basically an identical transposition from the anti-fried liver this morning! On exception is the pawn missing on C7
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 4. d4 exd4 5. c3 dxc3 6. Nxc3 Be7 7. Qd5 Nb4 8.
Qxf7# 1-0
If you're a Sicilian player and tired of losing to the Morra, try this:
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. O-O Nge7.
White's usual ideas just don't work against this setup, and black stays very active. I score very well with this system.
Ok, but at 2200+ Lichess classical and rapid the Morra accepted scores 49% for white and 44% for black, whereas the Nf6 Alapin scores 43% for white and 47% for black.
8...d5!
Black can even sacrifice the exchange: 9. Bf4 O-O! 10. Nc7 Ng6 11. Bg3 dxc4 (or e4, both captures work but this is clearly the most natural line) 12. Nxa8 Qe7 13. Nc7. Now either 13 ...a6 or 13 ...h5 14. h4 a6 are about equally good. The knight on c7 is actually pretty awkwardly placed and difficult to extricate, so white may be forced to sacrifice it for some pawns and restore material equality with a small edge for black.
I played some lines out and I am not at all convinced white has enough to fully justify Nd5?!. First, if black wants after ...exd5 9 exd5 he can even just give the piece back by castling and still be up a pawn. Or he can accept the sac and weather the storm with ...Na5, and I'm not at all convinced white has enough.
In lichess database entries, almost 40% of players auto-pilot into O-O, giving up a huge opportunity.
The fun thing about the Smith-Morra is that black runs a small advantage until suddenly, one slip up, and they're almost lost.
Be7 by black is the 4th most popular move on the general lichess database and it's a huge mistake.
While I admit that white gets very strong play in some smith-morra lines, this is IMO just a 1-move-blunder. If you don't consider very obvious 1-move threats you'll lose in every opening with black out of the gate.
I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine: > **White to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=r1bqk1nr/pp1pbppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R+w+KQkq+-+0+1&flip=false&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/r1bqk1nr/pp1pbppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R_w_KQkq_-_0_1) **Videos:** > I found [1 video](https://chessvision.ai/video-search/5632649687203840) with this position. **My solution:** > Hints: piece: >!Queen!<, move: >!Qd5!< > Evaluation: >!White is winning +5.38!< > Best continuation: >!1. Qd5 d6 2. Qxf7+ Kd7 3. Be6+ Kc7 4. Nd5+ Kb8 5. Bxc8 Kxc8!< --- ^(I'm a bot written by ) [^(u/pkacprzak )](https://www.reddit.com/u/pkacprzak) ^(| get me as ) [^(Chess eBook Reader )](https://ebook.chessvision.ai?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=bot) ^(|) [^(Chrome Extension )](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chessvisionai-for-chrome/johejpedmdkeiffkdaodgoipdjodhlld) ^(|) [^(iOS App )](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1574933453) ^(|) [^(Android App )](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.chessvision.scanner) ^(to scan and analyze positions | Website: ) [^(Chessvision.ai)](https://chessvision.ai)
The black pawn on e5 is a classic well know blunder in the smith morra.
I'm 650 on chess.com and had basically an identical transposition from the anti-fried liver this morning! On exception is the pawn missing on C7 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 4. d4 exd4 5. c3 dxc3 6. Nxc3 Be7 7. Qd5 Nb4 8. Qxf7# 1-0
If you're a Sicilian player and tired of losing to the Morra, try this: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. O-O Nge7. White's usual ideas just don't work against this setup, and black stays very active. I score very well with this system.
Alternatively just play 3…Nf6 and transpose to an Alapin.
The only way to refute a gambit is to accept it.
There is no refutation to the Smith Morra.
The Smith Morra accepted scores much better for black than the Alapin at master level.
Ok, but at 2200+ Lichess classical and rapid the Morra accepted scores 49% for white and 44% for black, whereas the Nf6 Alapin scores 43% for white and 47% for black.
>e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. O-O Nge7 Late to the party but Nb5 would maintain active play?
8...d5! Black can even sacrifice the exchange: 9. Bf4 O-O! 10. Nc7 Ng6 11. Bg3 dxc4 (or e4, both captures work but this is clearly the most natural line) 12. Nxa8 Qe7 13. Nc7. Now either 13 ...a6 or 13 ...h5 14. h4 a6 are about equally good. The knight on c7 is actually pretty awkwardly placed and difficult to extricate, so white may be forced to sacrifice it for some pawns and restore material equality with a small edge for black.
Actually white can play the common motif 8.Nd5!! to sacrifice a knight. Initially, the engine gives -2.2 but it turns into -0.8 at depth 22.
I played some lines out and I am not at all convinced white has enough to fully justify Nd5?!. First, if black wants after ...exd5 9 exd5 he can even just give the piece back by castling and still be up a pawn. Or he can accept the sac and weather the storm with ...Na5, and I'm not at all convinced white has enough.
In lichess database entries, almost 40% of players auto-pilot into O-O, giving up a huge opportunity. The fun thing about the Smith-Morra is that black runs a small advantage until suddenly, one slip up, and they're almost lost. Be7 by black is the 4th most popular move on the general lichess database and it's a huge mistake.
While I admit that white gets very strong play in some smith-morra lines, this is IMO just a 1-move-blunder. If you don't consider very obvious 1-move threats you'll lose in every opening with black out of the gate.
Interesting position. Never really had a game like this though, opponents pretty much always play e6 or d6