This is the third article about the Smith Morra Gambit, the fascinating Sicilian Beating Opening.  Today we talk about the line where black develops Bc8- d7.  Last week we discussed the Classical Main Line, where black can achieve equal play after a long struggle, with not much hope for better. Therefore, blackplayers searched for a defence with more possibilities for active counterplay.  One of these systems is the early development of Bc8-d7.

As an example, we'll look at the game Albert Hoogendoorn - Chuck Ventimiglia (CC game 2002).

1.e4 c5 2.d4 Nc6 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Bd7 9.Rd1 ...

Playing ... Bd7 has a number of motivations. Firstly the d- file is blocked. Also, in some lines, the bolstering of the a4- e8 diagonal increases the security of the black King. Clearing the 8th rank gives black's major
pieces some extra possibilities. The dark side of ... Bd7 is also clear. The
black d-pawn is less defended and the Bishop becomes a target for the white Rook(s) on the d-file.

Most of the time the Bd7 variation is played like this :  1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 d6 7.O-O Be7 8.Qe2 a6 9.Rd1 Bd7

With this exact move order, black has the following aims:

• Avoiding early tactical problems

• The Bishop on d7 blocks the d-file

• When the Queen remains on d8, it wil not become a target of white Rooks

• With Be7 (and the Knight still on g8) the white move Bg5 is not possible

• a6 secures the important square b5

• With the blocked d-file and the Knight still on g8, the white move e5 is not effective

Though some players claimed this setup was the refutation of the gambit,
this variation has not become very popular. But it's very instructive to
search for white's best continuation. The considerations above suggest
that white should make one or two waiting moves like a3 or h3, but then
the white initiative will be gone after the black moves Rc8 and Nf6.
So what must white do?  His best changes for succes are:

• Provoking the black move ... e5, weakening the d5 square

• followed by a3 and b4

• then doubling the rooks on the c-file

Now let's compare diagram 1 and diagram 2. In our example game Albert Hoogendoorn - Chuck Ventimiglia the black player has developed Nf6 instead of Be7, so the move e4-e5 is still in the game.  Furthermore he has not played a6, so the b5 square is still available for the white pieces.  However black has his 9th move still to go.  He played 9. ... Qb8. Qc7 is an alternative move.  10. Bf4 ... Time for a diagram ...

Here the move 10. Bg5 is a strong alternative.

10. Bg5 Be7 11. Nb5 (11. Rd2 a6 12. Rad1 might be even stronger!) 11... O-O 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Rd3 Na5 14. Ne5 14... fxe5 15. Qh5 Rc8 16. Rg3+ Bg5 17. Qxg5+ Kf8 18. Qf6 Bxb5 19. Rg7 Qc7 20. Rxh7 Ke8 21. Rh8+ Kd7 1-0 mate in two. Game : Stoltefuss-Komljenovic 1989

10. ... a6 secures the square b5.

10... e5 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Rd2 followed by Rd1 gives white good opportunities.

Or 10... Ne5 is most forcefully met by capturing with the Bishop 11. Bxe5 dxe5  12. Bb5 a6 13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14. Rac1 Be7 15. Nb5 Nc5 (15...axb5 16. Rxd7 Kxd7 17. Qxb5+ Kd8 18. Nxe5) 16. b4 O-O 17. Nc3

11. e5

A standard move. Leaves black the difficult decision : .. dxe5 or .. Nxe5 or .. d5

11... Nh5 12. Be3 b5

12... dxe5 from the game Rosing-Schoenherr was followed by
13. Rxd7 Kxd7 14. Ng5 Nf6 15. Nxf7 Rg8 16. Rd1+ Ke7 17. Ng5 Nd8 18. Bb6 1-0

Or 12... d5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Bxd5 Nd8 15. Ng5 g6 16. Nxf7 Nxf7 17. Bxf7+ Kxf7 18. Rxd7+ 1-0

Or 12... Nxe5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Qxh5 1-0

13. Bb3 dxe5

14. Rxd7 Kxd7 15. Ng5 Nf6 16. Nxf7 Rg8 17. Rd1+ Ke7 18. Ng5
White offered a Rook and a Pawn for a Bishop, but the game is over!
The black King is trapped in the center and all his major pieces are inactive.

There can follow : 18. ... Nd8 19. Nce4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Qc7 21. Qh5
1-0