Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Fianchetto Defense

With 4...g6 Black answers the Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted by preparing ...Bg7 rather than adopting one of the Open Sicilian formations built around ...e6 or ...d6. On g7 the bishop bears down the long diagonal toward the knight on c3 and the queenside, and it shelters the king once Black castles short. The d- and e-pawns stay at home, so Black keeps the central majority that the extra pawn provides. The cost is another non-developing move while White is already mobilizing.

White's usual plan is unchanged: 5. Nf3 is by far the most frequent reply, and 5. Bc4 is the main alternative, aiming the bishop at f7. The engine also considers 5. h4, an attempt to exploit the weakened kingside, while 5. f4 is rarely seen. The engine rates the position as balanced, so the pawn and White's lead in development are roughly equal assets. In Lichess games White scores somewhat better than Black, about 53% wins against 44%, a result close to that of the gambit as a whole.