Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Scandinavian Formation

Rather than capturing on c3, Black meets the Smith-Morra Gambit with 3...d5. This strikes at e4 in the manner of the Scandinavian Defense while keeping the extra pawn on d4 for the moment. The aim is to avoid the lead in development that White obtains after the accepted gambit. Black opens the center before White's pieces are out, and the pawn on c3 still occupies the square White's queen knight would like to use. The game frequently transposes to the Barman line of the Alapin Sicilian, 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5. The difference is that Black has already played ...cxd4, so the option of delaying that capture until White commits to Na3, which keeps c3 closed to the knight, is gone.

4. exd5 is the usual reply, played in about half of all games, and it is also the engine's first choice. The main alternatives are 4. cxd4, which restores a pawn to d4, and 4. e5, which closes the center and gains space. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced. Online, Black's results are marginally better than White's overall and noticeably better against 4. cxd4 and 4. e5.