Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred

Instead of meeting 3...cxd4 with the usual 4. Nxd4, White offers the Smith-Morra pawn one move later than in the standard 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 move order. The position differs only in that White's knight already stands on f3 and Black's pawn is on e6. After 4...dxc3 5. Nxc3 Nc6 play transposes to the main line of the Smith-Morra Gambit, also called the Morra Gambit. The compensation is the familiar one. White has a lead in development and an e-pawn in the center, and aims to open the c-file fully so that Black's influence along it is neutralized. A bishop on c4 pressing against f7 and rooks on the c- and d-files complete the picture.

Accepting with 4...dxc3 is by far the most common reply. Black also often keeps the d4-pawn for the moment with 4...Nc6 or 4...a6. The engine additionally favors 4...Nf6, which attacks e4, and 4...d5, which strikes at the center at once. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and online results are close to even, with White slightly ahead.