Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Paulsen Formation

After 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4, the main tabiya of the accepted Smith-Morra Gambit (often just the Morra Gambit), 6...a6 adopts a scheme associated with Louis Paulsen. In the Open Sicilian a similar ...e6 and ...a6 setup is known both as the Kan and as the Paulsen. The pawn on e6 already blunts White's bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal against f7 and opens a path for the f8-bishop. The move 6...a6 takes b5 away from White's pieces, and in particular keeps a knight off that square. It also prepares ...b5, which gains queenside space with tempo against the c4-bishop and clears b7 for Black's light-squared bishop.

White usually replies 7. O-O, which is chosen in the large majority of games and is also the engine's first preference. The alternative 7. Qe2 gets ready for a rook to come to d1 on the half-open d-file. With 7. a4 White stops ...b5 at once, but Black has scored better against this move than against the main options. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and Lichess results are close to level, with White slightly ahead.