Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Kan Formation

The Kan Formation arises after 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Nf3 a6. Black delays ...Nc6 and borrows the pawn setup of the Kan Variation of the Open Sicilian, which is named after Ilya Kan. The move ...a6 takes b5 from White's knights. In the Morra this matters because a knight landing on b5 could hit d6 and c7 along the half-open files. The move also prepares ...b5, which would gain time against a bishop on c4 and open the long diagonal for ...Bb7 against e4. Leaving the queen's knight undeveloped keeps Black's options open. It can still go to c6, or to d7, and the king's knight may be developed via e7 to avoid an e4-e5 thrust.

White's usual reply is 6. Bc4, chosen in the large majority of games, with 6. Bd3 and 6. Bf4 well behind. The engine's preferences differ. It favors 6. Bf4, aimed at d6, ahead of quieter setups with g3 or Be2. The engine rates the position as balanced, and Lichess results are almost exactly even.