Modern Variations, Tartakower

Instead of recapturing on d4, White offers a pawn with 4. c3, aiming for fast development and play on the open c- and d-files. The idea is a move-order trick. The position resembles the Smith-Morra Gambit, but because Black has already spent a tempo on ...d6, the Smith-Morra defenses that avoid an early ...d6 are no longer available. After the most common reply, 4...dxc3, Black must choose a setup built around the d6-pawn, such as a Classical or Scheveningen formation. White scores slightly better than usual in that line, and the engine considers the position roughly balanced.

Black can decline and so avoid letting White dictate the type of Smith-Morra structure. The usual way is 4...Nf6, which attacks e4. One line runs 5. e5 dxe5 6. Nxe5 Nbd7 7. Qxd4 e6 8. Bb5 a6 9. Nxd7 Bxd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Qxd7+ Nxd7, liquidating into a queenless position. Black's results after 4...Nf6 are better than after the acceptance. A rarer option is 4...d3, which returns the pawn while keeping a wedge on d3.