Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Danish Variation

The Danish Variation postpones the routine 4. Nxc3 of the Smith-Morra Gambit and develops the king's knight first. Because the pawn on c3 attacks b2, the move offers Black a third pawn. The name points to the Danish Gambit, which this line resembles after 4...cxb2 5. Bxb2. White then has the bishop on the long diagonal and a lead in development, but only the e4-pawn remains in the center against Black's intact d- and e-pawns.

Capturing on b2 is Black's most frequent choice and the engine's first preference. The quieter 4...Nc6 and 4...e6 develop or prepare development while leaving the c3-pawn in place, so White can still regain material with Nxc3 and steer toward familiar Morra structures. The engine judges the position clearly better for Black, which reflects the general view that two pawns is too steep a price for White's activity. In Lichess games White nonetheless wins slightly more often than Black, so the line keeps practical value at faster time controls. It is far less common than 4. Nxc3.