38. Smith-Morra declined with 3...d5
If you don't want to face the gambit, 3...d5 strikes the center: after 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qd8 a position arises with the isolated pawn on d4, similar to the Alapin.
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qd8
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White occupies the center with the king's pawn, controls d5 and f5 and frees the queen and the f1-bishop. This is the move we answer with the Sicilian.
- 1...c5 – The Sicilian Defense: Black controls d4 with a flank pawn instead of occupying the center. If White plays d4, Black will trade c5 for d4 and have two central pawns against one and the half-open c-file.
- 2.d4 – White pushes d4 at once without Nf3: if Black trades, White can offer the Smith-Morra Gambit with c3.
- 2...cxd4 – Black trades, as in every Sicilian: the d4-pawn is now an extra pawn that White must recover or sacrifice.
- 3.c3 – The Smith-Morra Gambit: White offers a pawn for rapid development and the open c- and d-files.
- 3...d5 – Black declines the gambit: it strikes the e4-pawn while White doesn't yet have the knight on c3. It is like an Alapin in which Black has already traded on d4.
- 4.exd5 – White trades on d5: after the recapture with the queen it will retake the d4-pawn.
- 4...Qxd5 – The queen recaptures on d5, where it defends the d4-pawn and controls the center. White cannot attack it at once with Nc3, because the c3 square is occupied by the pawn.
- 5.cxd4 – White retakes the d4-pawn: it has an isolated pawn on d4, typical of Alapin and Panov structures.
- 5...Nf6 – The knight develops and controls d5 and e4. Black prepares ...e6 and ...Nc6 against the d4-pawn.
- 6.Nc3 – The knight develops with tempo, attacking the d5-queen.
- 6...Qd8 – The queen retreats to d8, a safe square from where it eyes the d4-pawn along the d-file.
How to exploit the position
A balanced position: White has an isolated pawn on d4 and active pieces, Black has a healthy structure and the d5 square as an outpost.
- Complete development with ...e6, ...Be7, ...O-O and ...Nc6: king safety first.
- Put a knight on d5: it blockades the isolated pawn and cannot be kicked away by pawns.
- Trade the minor pieces: in the ending the d4-pawn is a weakness.
- Attack d4 with ...Nc6, ...Rd8 and ...Bf6 or ...Qb6.
Master tips
The blockade on d5
Against the isolated pawn on d4 the d5 square is the ideal outpost for the black pieces.