Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation

With 3...d3 Black sidesteps the Smith-Morra Gambit by advancing the extra pawn rather than defending it or striking with 3...d5. The pawn cannot be held, so Black gives back the material at once and denies White the open lines and quick development the gambit is meant to produce. The point is practical. Players who rely on the Dragon, Najdorf, Kan or O'Kelly can often keep their usual fianchetto or flexible setups instead of facing a gambit they may not have studied. The cost is some passivity, since White keeps a pawn on e4 against none of Black's in the center.

White usually recaptures at once with 4. Bxd3, by far the most common reply. 4. Nf3 is the second choice. 4. c4, the Dubois Variation, delays the recapture until after the c-pawn has reached c4. White then takes on d3 later and ends up with a Maróczy Bind and extra space. The engine gives White a slight edge, but on Lichess the results are almost exactly even.