Morra gambit
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Morra gambit
The Morra Gambit (also: Smith-Morra Gambit or Sicilian center game ) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense , a the semi-open games scoring Opening of chess . The ECO code is B20.
It arises after the trains
1. e2-e4 c7-c5
2. d2-d4 c5xd4
3. c2-c3 .
In this gambit , White's aim is to complete his development as quickly as possible and to exert pressure on the opposing position via the lines. If Black defeats the pawn, White takes it back with the queen knight and will continue to build up through moves Nf3, Bc4 and short castling . White gains a slight lead in development and, in most variants, pressure on the d-file, partly also on the opposing queenside through Qe2, Rfd1 with the pawn advances e4 – e5 and b2 – b4.
The principle of the Morra Gambit is less to strive for a sharp game, although this can also happen after incorrect replies by Black. Rather, White receives long-term positional compensation for the pawn , as is typical for modern gambit games (e.g. the Volga gambit ). However, it is questionable whether White receives sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawn, because, unlike in the Volga gambit, White sacrifices a valuable central pawn and not an edge pawn in the Morra gambit, for which the gain of a single pace (striking with the queen's knight on c3) generally not considered sufficient. If the game is inaccurate, Black can have big problems. Therefore this gambit enjoys a certain popularity, especially in amateur circles.
A typical position arises after the further moves 3.… d4xc3 4. Nb1xc3 Nb8 – c6 5. Ng1 – f3 e7 – e6 6. Bf1 – c4 d7 – d6 7. 0–0 Ng8 – f6 8. Qd1 – e2 Bf8 – e7 9. Rf1 – d1 e6 – e5 with compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
After 5.… e7 – e6 6. Bf1 – c4 Ng8 – f6 7. 0–0 Qd8 – c7 8. Qd1 – e2 ?! Nf6 – g4! 9. h2 – h3 ?? (or 9. Bc4 – b3 ??) Nc6 – d4! White falls into the " Siberian trap ".
After 5.… d7 – d6 6. Bf1 – c4 Ng8 – f6 we already have 7. e4 – e5. 7.… d6xe5 8. Qd1xd8 + Nc6xd8 9. Nc3 – b5 Rb8 10. Nf3xe5 White gets the initiative.
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Standard position of the accepted Morra gambit after 9. Rf1 – d1
If Black is not very knowledgeable, it is advisable to reject the gambit. After 3.… d7 – d5 or 3.… Ng8 – f6 the opening changes into variations, as they usually arise in the Sicilian Defense with 2. c3. If Black rejects the Morra Gambit with 3.… d4 – d3, there are independent variants, but Black can also try to transition to a hedgehog position .
The Morra Gambit has already been played sporadically by Tartakower . However, it was only analyzed in more detail in the 1940s by its French namesake, Pierre Morra (1900–1969). However, the Gambit owes its testing in the tournament halls of the grandmasters to the Yugoslav Milan Matulović , which is why it was occasionally named after him in Eastern Europe in the early 1960s.
In the USA, Ken Smith made a name for himself in popularization, which is why it is called the Smith-Morra-Gambit there. In the recent past, grandmasters like Adams, Chandler, Minasjan or Illescas have ensured that the Morra-Gambit weapon is not forgotten.
General considerations and game principles
In the assumed Morra Gambit, White tries to place his pieces on the positionally most favorable squares. After Ng1 – f3 the knight can attack the squares e6 and f7 via g5, after Bf1 – c4 the bishop supports him. The towers are usually placed on the open or half-open c and d lines. When in doubt, White should attack the opposing queen, who rarely has a good square. If it stays on d8, it can be attacked with Rd1. On c7 she is susceptible to Nc3 – b5, Lc1 – f4 or Rc1. After another Qc7 – b8 it can only be attacked by the bishop f4; but it is very bad there and hampers the rook on a8. After Qd8 – a5 / b6 it can be attacked by pawn advances or bishops. In many variations it is possible and sometimes necessary for White to sacrifice a minor piece on d5. Marc Esserman gives rules of thumb when to sacrifice a jumper or runner:
- If possible, the black d-pawn should not be on d6 so that he can play d5 – d6 himself after… exd5 and white e4xd5. The farmer often paralyzes the entire queenside there.
- If a black knight is on c6, white e4xd5 is associated with an attack on the knight, which increases the strength of the victim. After that, White may be able to play d5 – d6 immediately.
- The white, white-squared bishop should have already moved Bc4 – b3 if possible. On the one hand, he is then no longer as vulnerable to attacks as… Nc6 – a5, since the bishop on b3 is defended by the pawn a2. On the other hand, the c-line is faster for a tower.
- Black should be at least one, preferably two, moves away from castling. After… 0–0 a sacrifice on d5 is seldom good.
- If Black wastes a tempo with b5 – b4 to attack the knight on c3, Nc3 – d5 gains strength.
- After… Nc6 – a5, the chances of success for Bb3 – d5 increase.
Variant overview
Black can either accept or reject the gambit:
Acceptance with 3.… d4xc3 4. Nb1xc3
With 3.… d4xc3 4. Nb1xc3 Black accepts the gambit. Since White has no concrete threats, Black has many setups at his disposal, which are often based on variants of the open Sicilian (2. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6 / e7e6 / Nb8 – c6 3. d2 – d4 cxd4 4. Nf3xd4). Unless otherwise stated, White plays 5. Ng1 – f3, 6. Bf1 – c4, 7. 0–0 8. Qd1 – e2, 9. Rf1 – d1 followed by 10. Bc1 – e3 / f4 / g5 (depending on black structure) and 11. Ta1 – c1 .
Siberian trap
A structure based on the Taimanow variant , which is characterized by … e7 – e6,… Qd8 – c7 and … Nb8 – c6 , can lead to the Siberian trap . White should attack the queen on c7 with an early Nc3 – b5 and thereby gain further tempos.
Scheveningen variants
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The Scheveningen variant of the Morra gambit after 4.… Nb8 – c6 5. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6 6. Bf1 – c4 e7 – e6 7. 0–0.
Superstructures with … e7 – e6 followed by … d7 – d6 are based on the Scheveningen variant . There are several sub-variants:
- after 4.… Nb8 – c6 5. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6 6. Bf1 – c4 e7 – e6 7. 0–0
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7.… Ng8 – f6 8. Qd1 – e2 8. Bf8 – e7 9. Rf1 – d1 White 10. e4 – e5 threatens to attack the knight f6 and the pawn d6, who cannot capture (10.… dxe5 Rxd8 loss of the queen ). So Black plays 9.… e6 – e5 to block the square, but gives bishop c4 a view of the weak point f7.
- 9.… Qc7? (Before that Black should play… a6 to prevent the next move) 10. Nb5! Qb8 11. Bf4 The bishop now ties the d-pawn to the black queen.
- 9.… Bd7 10. Nb5 with a slight advantage for White
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9.… e5 This is the classic main variation of the gambit and its positional continuation. Many authors recommend 10. h3 to prevent… Bg4 which would tie the knight f3. After another… Bxf3 Black could conquer the weak d4-square with… Nd4. 10. Be3! 0-0 11. Tac1
- 11.… Bg4 12. h3!
- 12.… Bh5 13. g4! Bg6 14.Nh4! with little white advantage
- 12.… Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Rc8 14. Qe2! and white is also a little better
- 11.… Be6 12. b4! (12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Qc4 Qd7!)
- Nxb4 13.Nxe5 with attack
- 12.… a6 13. a3! Rc8 ?! 14. Bxe6!
- 11.… Bd7 12. a3 with compensation for the sacrificed pawn
- 11.… Bg4 12. h3!
- after systems with … a7 – a6 the black queen can move to c7, as she can no longer be attacked there with Nc3 – b5.
- 7.… Be7 8. De2 a6 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Bf4! Ne5 ?! 11. Bxe5! dxe5 12. Rac1 with White's advantage
- 7.… Nf6 8. Qe2 a6 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Bf4!
- 10.… Ne5 ?! 11. Bb5 +! with advantage for white
- 10.… Be7 11. e5!? (?!) Nh5! 12. Bg5! and Black is a little better 11.… dxe5? 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 with an advantage for White
- 10.… Be7 11. Rac1! 0-0 12. Bb3
- 12.… Rd8 / Re8 / Bd7 13.Nd5!
- 12.… Qb8 13. e5! Nh5
- 14. Bg5 dxe5 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Nxe5 with compensation for the sacrificed pawn
- 14. Be3 !? dxe5 15. Bb6! with an unclear position
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7.… Ng8 – f6 8. Qd1 – e2 8. Bf8 – e7 9. Rf1 – d1 White 10. e4 – e5 threatens to attack the knight f6 and the pawn d6, who cannot capture (10.… dxe5 Rxd8 loss of the queen ). So Black plays 9.… e6 – e5 to block the square, but gives bishop c4 a view of the weak point f7.
- The Chicago defense is characterized by the rook maneuver Ra8 – a7 – d7, where it protects the black queen against the white rook on d1, and arises after 4.… e7 – e6, 5.… a7 – a6, 6.… d7– d6, 7.… Nb8 – c6, 8.… b7 – b5 (with a gain in tempo on Bc4) and then … Ra8 – a7 and … Ra7 – d7
- The Finegold defense arises after 4.… d7 – d6, 5.… e7 – e6, 6.… a7 – a6, 7.… Bf8 – e7, 8.… Ng8 – f6 another 9.… b7 – b5 10 is planned Bc4 – b3 Nb8d7 White can deviate by 10. e4 – e5.
Systems with an early… e7 – e6,… Ng8 – e7
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Position after 4.… Nb8 – c6 5. Ng1 – f3 e7 – e6 6. Bf1 – c4 with planned… Ng8 – e7 or… Bf8 – c5 / b4
Systems with an early … e7 – e6,… Ng8 – e7 want to prevent the knight from being attacked after… Ng8 – f6 by e4 – e5, as in the Scheveningen variants. The plan is to move the knight to g6. White can prevent this with Bc1 – g5. After… h7 – h6 or… f7 – f6 the bishop is attacked and must move away again; but the black pawn formation is weakened. 4.… Nb8 – c6 5. Ng1 – f3 e7 – e6 6. Bf1 – c4
- 6.… Ng8 – e7 7. Bc1 – g5! with attack
- 6.… a7 – a6 7. 0–0 Ng8 – e7 8. Bf1 – g5!
- 8.… f7 – f6 9. Bg5 – e3
- 9.… Ne7 – g6 10. Bc4 – b3 with attack
- 9.… b7 – b5 10. Bc4 – b3!
- 10.… Bc8 – b7 11. Nc3d5 !?
- 10.… Nc6 – a5 11. Nf3 – d4!
- 8. h7 – h6 9. Bg5 – e3
- 9.… Ne7 – g6 10. Bc4 – b3
- 9.… b7 – b5 10. Bc4 – b3
- 8.… f7 – f6 9. Bg5 – e3
Systems with an early… e7 – e6,… Bf8 – c5 / b4
Systems with an early … e7 – e6,… Bf8 – c5 / b4 try to develop the bishop before the knight, since after Ng8 – e7 it is blocked by the knight.
- 5.… Bb4? 6. Qd4!
- 5.… Bc5 6. Bc4 Ne7 (d6 or a6 !?) 7. 0–0 a6 8. e5! and white is a little better
- 5.… Nc6 6. Bc4
- 6.… Bc5 7. 0–0
- 7.… Nge7 8. e5! with a slight white advantage
- 7.… a6 and now 8. e5 ?! with counterplay or 8. Bf4! with attack
- 6.… Bb4 7. 0–0 Nge7 8. Qc2! with compensation for the sacrificed farmer
- 6.… a6 7. 0–0 Qc7 (d6 !?) and now 8. Re1! with attack or 8. Nd5 !!
- 6.… Bc5 7. 0–0
Dragon variants
Variants with … g7 – g6 are based on the dragon variant or the accelerated dragon . White should continue after Bf1 – c4, if possible before castling with Qd1 – b3, as the pawns on f7 and b7 are now attacked.
- 4.… g7 – g6 5. Ng1 – f3 Bf8 – g7 6. Bf1 – c4 d7 – d6 ?! 7. Qd1 – b3!
- 4.… Nb8 – c6 5. Ng1 – f3 g7 – g6 6. Bf1 – c4 (6. h4 ?! Nf6 [6.… h5 ?! 7. Bc4])
- 6.… d7 – d6 7. Qd1 – b3!
- 6.… Bf8 – g7 7. e4 – e5! (7. 0–0 ?! d7 – d6 !, 7. Qb3 ?! Sa5!) 7.… Nc6xe5 8. Nf3xe5 Bb7xe5 9. Bc4xf7 + Ke8xf7 10. Qd1 – d5 +
- 10.… e6?
- 10.… Kg7!
Taylor Defense
The Taylor defense arises after 4.… Nb8 – c6, 5.… d7 – d6, 6.… a7 – a6, 7.… Ng8 – f6 . The plan is to swap the knight on f3 for Bc8 – g4 and then Bg4xf3. White can choose between 8. Be3, 8. b4 and 8. Bf4.
Systems with an early… Bc8 – b7
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4.… a7 – a6 5. Bf1 – c4 e7 – e6 6. Ng1 – f3 b7 – b5 7. Bc4 – b3 Bf8 – b7 8. 0–0
After an early … Bc8 – b7 Black often threatens to win the e4 pawn. For example 4.… a7 – a6 5. Bf1 – c4 e7 – e6 (b5? 6. Bxf7 + Kxf7 7. Qd5 + plus Qxa8) 6. Ng1 – f3 b7 – b5 7. Bc4 – b3 Bf8 – b7 after 8.… b5– b4 the knight c3 is attacked and must move away. After that the e4-pawn is no longer defended: 9.… Bb7xe4. White can defend the pawn with 8. Qd1 – e2 or offer a sacrifice with 8. 0–0. 8. 0-0
- 8.… d7 – d6 9. Nf3 – g5! a move that is not available in the open variants of the Sicilian because the knight has already moved to d4. A piece sacrifice is planned on e6 / f7. After 9.… Nf6? for example, 10. e5! dxe5? 11. Qxd8 + Kxd8 12. Nxf7 +
- 8.… b5 – b4 9. Nc3 – d5! exd5 10. exd5 The white pawn d5 now inhibits the entire black queenside. There is also a threat of d5 – d6 which will further restrict the king
- 10.… Bd6 11. Re1 +
- 11.… Ne7 12. Ng5! 0–0 13. Qh5! with a decisive advantage
- 11.… Kf8 12. Qd4! with advantage for white
- 10.… d6
- 11.Qd4 !? with an unclear position
- 11. Re1 +! Be7 followed by 12. Qd4 !? or 12.Nd4 !? with attack
- 10.… Bd6 11. Re1 +
Rejections
Rejections in the second move are not recommended: 1. e2 – e4 c7 – c5 2. d2 – d4: After 2.… e7 – e6 3. d4 – d5 and 2.… d7 – d6 3. dxc5 White is better.
After 2.… c5xd4 3. c2 – c3 Black can move on to the accepted line with 3.… dxc3 or with 3.… d7 – d6, 3.… Qd8 – a5 !? 4. Bc1 – d2 !, 3.… e7 – e5 !? and 3.… g7 – g6 !? choose independent variants.
More familiar after 2.… c5xd4 3. c2 – c3 are:
- 3.… d4 – d3 4. Bf1xd3 . White now often builds up a Maróczy structure with c3 – c4, as can occur in the accelerated kite. On 4th… d5? however, 5. Bb5 + follows! with pawn profit. 4.… a6 5. c4! d6 6. h3! g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 and now either 8. Nc3 ?! Bxc3 +! with an unclear position or 8. 0–0 Nc6 9. a3 with White space advantage
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3.… Ng8 – f6! 4. e4 – e5 Nf6 – d5 goes over to the Alapin variant .
- 5. cxd4 leads to the main line of the Alapin line
- 5. Qxd4 e6 6. Nf3 brings the queen into play very early
- 5. Nf3 !? The sharpest sequel. White can take his time recapturing the pawn.
- 5.… d6 6. Qxd4 !? with the threat of Bb5 + (6. cxd4 leads to the main line of the Alapin variant: 6.… Nc6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5 dxe5 9. Nxe5 Bd7)
- 5.… e6 6. cxd4
- 6.… d6 and now 7. a3 !? with a slight white advantage or 7. Bc4 !? with a balanced position
- 6.… b6
- 5.… Nc6 6. Bc4 !? Nb6 7. Bb3
- 7.… g6 8. Ng5! with attack
- 7.… d5 (or d6) 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. 0–0 with attack
- 3.… d7 – d5 4. e4xd5 Qd8xd5 goes over to the Alapin variant .
literature
- Hannes Langrock : The Modern Morra Gambit . Russell Enterprises, Milford 2006. ISBN 1-888690-32-1 .
- József Pálkövi: Morra Gambit . Caissa, Kecskemét 2000.
- Lawrence Trent : The Smith-Morra Gambit , training DVD from Chessbase
- Marc Esserman: Mayhem in the Morra , Quality Chess, 2012, ISBN 978-1-907982-20-0 .