Today we talk about the line where black defends with Ng8-e7. In this line I have prepared three games. In the first game Albert Hoogendoorn - Tolga Goze I'm lost around move twenty. Maybe this is not a recommendation for me or the Smith Morra Gambit in general, but this game is very instructive and I will show my mistakes and discuss the better alternatives.

In the second game Mladen Zelic - Miso Cebalo you will see how white must handle the Ng8-e7 defence. The third game is Landa - Kasparov, and this game shows that even world class players must play very accurately against the Smith Morra Gambit.

OK, let's start with the game Albert Hoogendoorn - Tolga Goze (CC game 2002).  1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 a6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O b5 8. Bb3 Nge7

It looks a peculiar idea to move the Knight to e7, as the Knight will have to move again in the near future, and to a square that looks far from perfect. The f6 square looks more natural, but here the Knight is subject to attack from white's e-pawn. The effectiveness of white's d-file play depends on the move e4-e5. So black is investing a tempo to take the edge of this threat.
There are many move orders black can use to employ the Nge7 theme. In most cases it is white's best move to answer with Bg5. As result of this move black must either move his Queen, or play a weakening pawn advance on the Kingside, before the Knight can move to g6 and thus enable the f8 Bishop to develop.  Black continues with either ... f6 or ... h6. Upon ... h6 white can play both the traditional move Bh4 and Be3. Upon ... f6 it is recommended for white to play Be3.

9. Bg5 Bb7 10. Qe2

Not the most accurate move. 10. Re1 is better, with ... Qc7 11. Rc1 Ng6 12. Nd5 exd5 13. exd5+ as the thematic line.

10... h6 11. Bh4 Rc8 12. Rfd1

White must develop Rad1 with Nd4 and f4 in mind. The f- rook must support the advance f2-f4.

12... g5 13. Bg3 Bg7 14. Rac1?

15. ... Ng6 16. h3  not enough to counter the black pawn-attack.

16. ... h5 17. Bd6

This move inhibits 0-0. Here I still underestimated the power of the black Kingside attack. A deadly mistake ....

16. ... g4 17. Nd2

17. hxg4 hxg4 18. Nh2 Nd4 19. Qd3 e5 20. Nxg4 Nf4 is winning for black.

17... gxh3 18. gxh3 Bh6 19. Kf1 Nce5

With the idea Qh4

20. Bxe5 Nxe5 21. Qxh5

21. f4 Qf6 22. Bc2 is no alternative.

21... Qf6 1-0

Let this game be a lesson for us all:

• When you play white with the Smith Morra Gambit, never develop your pieces automatically.  The setup with Bc4, Qe2, Rd1 is good in many lines, but know the exceptions. The Nge7 is such an exception!

• Remember the old wisdom: "When you see a good move, look for a better one!"

Now I will give you a game to show you how the Nge7 defense should be handled.

In the third game we see the Russian GM Landa in action against Garry Kasparov.  Kasparov defends with Nge7 and must play accurately to achieve a draw with the black pieces.

Landa - Kasparov 1988  1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 d6 10. Qd2 g5 11. Bg3 Ng6 12. Rad1 Be7 (Black is happy to return the pawn to achieve a comfortable ending) 13. Bb3 Nge5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qe3 Qa5 16. Nd5! (16. ... exd5 17. exd5 Bc5 18. Qe2 Ne7 19. Bxe6 0-0 20. d6!)
Bd8 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Rc5 b5 19. Qf3 (here Landa misses his changes for more: 19. Rxc6! Bxc6 20. Bxe5 0-0 21. Bxc3 b4 22. Bxb4)

19. ... exd5 20. Bxd5 O-O 21. Qh5 Kh7 22. Bxf7 Ne7 23. Rxe5 Qb6 24. Rxg5 Qf6 25. Bd5! Qxg5 26. Qxg5 hxg5 (and the game ends in a tactical ending with three pawns against a Knight) 27. Bxa8 Bb6 28. Bb7 Bc8 29. Ba8 Be6 30. Bb7 a5 31. b3 Bc8 32. Ba8 Ba6 33. Bd6 Rxa8 34. Bxe7 g4 35. Rd1 Rc8 36. Bh4 Rc2 37. h3 gxh3 38. gxh3 Bc8 39. Rd5 b4 40. Rb5 Bc7 41. Be7 Kg6 42. h4 Rc1+ 43. Kg2 Rc3 44. h5+ Kf7 45. Bg5 Bh3+ 46. Kg1 Bg4 47. Be3 Bh3 48. Rb7 Bd7 49. h6 Kg6 50. Ra7 Rc2 51. Ra6+ Bc6 52. Kg2 Kh7 53. Kf3 Rc3 54. Ra7 Kg6 55. Ra6 Kh7 56. Ra7 1/2-1/2

So far these games. It is clear that both white and black must play very carefully in this Nge7 line.  You can find all games I mentioned in this article here for viewing and downloading.

But I have prepared more materials to study on MyChessSite.  When you click here you will find a list of all games and articles about the Smith Morra Gambit.

When you click here you will find my download files.  One file for free (2150 games) and a big database of over 9600 games for only USD 5.95