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Mr. Langlois writes:
I'm a big fan of your books, but today I'm emailing you a question that is prompted by Richard Palliser's book FIGHTING THE ANTI-SICILIAN.
I've rarely seen such breadth and depth (sorry if I tediously emulate this “depth” virtue, here!). In the Gambits chapter, I especially liked the treatment of the Smith-Morra with ...e6, ...a6, and ...b5 for Black. However, I have been having great success with the Smith-Morra, and I think you might be interested in how this is possible?
Here is a representative example -- the position is from the (absolutely excellent) book, except White's eighth move is my own novelty:
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.Nd5!
JS: Now Mr. Langlois analyses 8...Bg4, which he loves for White, and 8...Nxe4 10.Be3 Nc5 11.b4 Nd7 (Against 11...e6, he gives 11.Bg5 which he thinks favors White) 11.0-0 e6 12.Re1 exd5 13.Bb6+ which he also felt was highly favorable for White.
Leaving out his full analysis, we’ll settle for my reply:
Silman replies: I don't have time to do this justice, but since I really hate the Mora I felt this was a sort of challenge. However, it was done in haste so mistakes are more than possible!
Nevertheless, I can say with some confidence that, although you found many nice ideas and showed a lot of imagination, White is struggling in all the main lines.
I'll stick to your suggestions -- again, no time to do more.
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.Nd5 Nxe4 (You are right about 8...Bg4. It is a poor move giving White many attractive possibilities.) 9.Be3 Nc5 10.b4 and we'll use this position as the starting point.
A) After 10...e6 11.Bg5 f6 12.bxc5 you don't give anything after 12...fxg5 but this seems to lead to positions where White is fighting to draw. I found many lines where White finally equalized (after many insane complications) but there might easily be ways for Black to improve while I don't see much way for White to deviate. The main line goes 13.0-0 (13.Nb6 Rb8 also favors Black) 13...dxc5 14.Re1 b5 15.Bb3 c4 16.Nxg5 Qxg5 17.Nc7+ Kf7 18.Qf3+ and now 18…Qf5 seems to give White enough to hold, but 18...Kg8 might allow black to play for a little something. His position seems out of whack, but he might be able to unwind.
B) The real test (as you correctly point out) is 10...Nd7 11.0-0 e6 12.Re1 and now Black has two ways to go:
THE SAFE WAY: 12...Be7!? 13.Nxe7 Qxe7 and White's swimming upstream. Even if he gets one pawn back, he's still one down. White is fighting for equality with Black having all the winning chances. The immediate attempt is 14.Bg5 Nf6 15.Bxf6 (probably silly, but I honestly can't find any way for White to get close to compensation) 15...Qxf6 (15...gxf6 is even stronger) 16.Qxd6 Qe7 17.Qg3 0-0 and Black has all the chances. This is what I would do if I faced this over the board for the first time: safe, material up, white on his knees with BS attacking chances.
THE GREEDY WAY: Even better for Black is 10...Nd7 11.0-0 e6 12.Re1 exd5 13.Bb6+ Qe7 14.Rxe7+ Nxe7 15.Bxa6 (Langlois’ suggestion) 15...Rxa6 and I think White is in serious trouble. However, if you like these positions then by all means play them. Perhaps I'm wrong, or perhaps they will prove too much for your opponents in over the board play.
Good luck!
Mr. Langlois Responds: You hate the Smith-Morra? For my part I don't go in for just any gambit line, like the Sicilian Wing Gambit (garbage) or even the Evans Gambit or King's Gambit. I'm genuinely rattled by the Smith-Morra.
I'm sure this is a real imposition, but I have answered your points below:
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.Nd5 Nxe4 9.Be3 Nc5 10.b4 e6 11.Bg5 f6 12.bxc5 fxg5 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.Nxc8 and the trouble that Black is in is announced by the fact that he cannot simply recapture 14...Qxc8 15.cxd6 Qd8 (15...b5 16.Bb3 Qd7 17.O-O Bxd6 18.Nxg5 +-) 16.O-O Bxd6 17.Bxe6 Kf8 18.Qb3+-.
He might try 14...d5 first but White ignores the threat 15.Qe2 Qxc8 (not 15...dxc5 16.Qxe6+ Black resigns) 16.Bxd5 (16...g4? 17.Ng5) 16…Bxc5 17.O-O Qd7 18.Bxe6 Qe7 19.Qc4 +-.
Regarding 10...Nd7 11.0-0 e6 12.Re1 Be7 13.Nxe7 Qxe7 14.Bg5 Nf6 I had smacked my forehead when I discovered this myself -- it's grim --but I had counted on this bit for a draw 15.b5 axb5 16.Bxb5 O-O 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Nd4 Bb7 19.Nf5 Qd7 20.Bxf6 exf5 21.Re7 Qc8 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qb3+ it's perpetual check.
You claim that 11...e6 is even better for Black: 12.Re1 exd5
13.Bb6+ Qe7 14.Rxe7+ Nxe7 and now, instead of my previous recommendation of 15.Bxa6, 15.Qxd5! is winning: 15...Nxb6 16.Qxf7+ Kd8 17.Qxg7 Rf8 18.Bb3 Black is still sporting a rook and two minor pieces for a queen, but yes, I think I do like these positions.
Silman replies:
I guess I have the wrong position since 15.Qxd5 appears to fail to 15...Nxd5 but who knows, perhaps I'm senile? If you meant 14.Qxd5 then 14...Nde5 is winning.
Ah, since you are taking on g7, I think you tried 14.Rxe7+ Bxe7(??), forgetting that 14...Nxe7 is correct. Perhaps a few less beers during analysis would create more accuracy, but then it also wouldn't be as much fun!
In the line with 10.b4 e6 11.Bg5 f6 12.bxc5 fxg5 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.Nxc8 d5! 15.Qe2 Black retains an advantage with 15...Qf6! 16.Rd1 dxc4. For example: 17.Nb6 (17.Nd6+ Bxd6 followed by 18...0-0) 17...Rd8 18.Nd5 Rxd5 19.Rxd5 Nb4 when Black is the attacker (20.Rd4 Nd3+ 21.Kf1 Bxc5 22.Rxc4 Qa1+ 23.Ne1 0-0).
As for the Safe Line (...Be7), good luck. I wouldn't want to touch white's position with a stick (not any fun at all for White).
I don't "hate" the Smith-Mora Gambit in a serious way. It's just fun to hate it and show that it sucks. I take this attitude to most gambits -- my stance is to try and refute them on principle.
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