Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined

The Smith-Morra Declined arises from the Alapin main line 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4. It can also be reached from the Smith-Morra Gambit, 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5. In that move order Black ignores the offered pawn and counterattacks e4, so the gambit is turned into an Alapin. The exchange on d4 removes the threat of c4 and d5, which would drive the knight away and leave Black cramped. Black is only temporarily a pawn up, and White decides how to restore the balance.

The usual choice is 5. cxd4, which keeps a pawn pair on d4 and e5 and leaves the c-file half-open. Black then usually undermines e5 with ...d6 or plays the more solid ...e6. The main alternative is 5. Nf3, which postpones the recapture and develops first. The rarer 5. Qxd4 centralizes the queen at once, and White's results with it are slightly better than with the other moves. The engine also gives 5. Bc4. Its evaluation is level, and online results are almost even.