{
  "pack_format_version": 3,
  "slug": "smith-morra-gambit-essentials-black",
  "title": "The Smith-Morra Gambit: Essentials (Black Repertoire)",
  "author_name": "Theo van Stratum",
  "version": 1,
  "description": "A Black repertoire against the Smith-Morra Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3, White's offer of a second pawn against the Sicilian for a lead in development), organised by Black's own choice of reply. Includes accepting the gambit outright (3...dxc3), two solid ways of declining it (3...Nf6 and 3...d3), and a flexible ...a6 system within the accepted line.",
  "content_types": [
    "lines"
  ],
  "price_cents": null,
  "lines": [
    {
      "name": "Smith-Morra Gambit: Accepting with 3...dxc3",
      "side": "black",
      "eco": "B21",
      "moves": [
        "e2e4",
        "c7c5",
        "d2d4",
        "c5d4",
        "c2c3",
        "d4c3",
        "b1c3",
        "b8c6",
        "g1f3",
        "d7d6",
        "f1c4",
        "e7e6",
        "e1g1",
        "a7a6",
        "d1e2",
        "g8f6",
        "f1d1",
        "d8c7",
        "c1g5"
      ],
      "annotations": {
        "1": {
          "note": "The Sicilian Defence, inviting White's main gambit try.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "3": {
          "note": "Taking the first pawn on offer.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "5": {
          "note": "Taking the second pawn too -- the main, most tested way of meeting the gambit, banking the extra pawn and aiming to survive White's initiative.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "7": {
          "note": "Developing naturally, ready to meet White's own development with solid, standard Sicilian moves.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "9": {
          "note": "A flexible central move, keeping options open for either ...e5 or ...e6 next.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "11": {
          "note": "A solid, slightly passive choice, happy to give back some central space in return for a safe, well defended structure.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "13": {
          "note": "Ruling out any Nb5 ideas and preparing a later ...b5 of Black's own.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "15": {
          "note": "Completing development.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "17": {
          "note": "A useful developing move, adding central control and stepping off the d-file before White's rook arrives there.",
          "format": "markdown"
        }
      },
      "variations": [
        {
          "branch_ply": 8,
          "moves": [
            "f1c4",
            "g8f6"
          ],
          "annotations": {
            "1": {
              "note": "Meeting White's alternative development order the same way.",
              "format": "markdown"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Smith-Morra Gambit: Declining with 3...Nf6",
      "side": "black",
      "eco": "B21",
      "moves": [
        "e2e4",
        "c7c5",
        "d2d4",
        "c5d4",
        "c2c3",
        "g8f6",
        "c3d4",
        "f6e4",
        "f1d3",
        "e4f6",
        "g1f3",
        "d7d6",
        "e1g1",
        "b8c6",
        "d1e2",
        "e7e6",
        "f1d1",
        "f8e7",
        "c1g5"
      ],
      "annotations": {
        "1": {
          "note": "The Sicilian Defence, inviting White's main gambit try.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "3": {
          "note": "Taking the first pawn on offer.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "5": {
          "note": "Declining the second pawn and developing instead: the pawn on d4 isn't going anywhere just yet, so there's no rush to take it.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "7": {
          "note": "Snatching the undefended e4 pawn now that White has spent a move recapturing on d4 -- a pawn is a pawn, even if the knight will have to hop back out again.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "9": {
          "note": "Retreating to safety rather than clinging to the extra pawn and falling behind in development.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "11": {
          "note": "A solid, slightly passive choice for the centre.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "13": {
          "note": "Developing naturally.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "15": {
          "note": "A flexible central move.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "17": {
          "note": "Completing development, out of any pin along the c-file or e-file.",
          "format": "markdown"
        }
      },
      "variations": [
        {
          "branch_ply": 8,
          "moves": [
            "d1e2",
            "e4f6"
          ],
          "annotations": {
            "1": {
              "note": "Meeting White's alternative development order the same way.",
              "format": "markdown"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Smith-Morra Gambit: Declining with 3...d3",
      "side": "black",
      "eco": "B21",
      "moves": [
        "e2e4",
        "c7c5",
        "d2d4",
        "c5d4",
        "c2c3",
        "d4d3",
        "d1d3",
        "b8c6",
        "g1f3",
        "d7d6",
        "f1e2",
        "e7e6",
        "e1g1",
        "g8f6",
        "f1d1",
        "f8e7",
        "b1d2",
        "e8g8"
      ],
      "annotations": {
        "1": {
          "note": "The Sicilian Defence, inviting White's main gambit try.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "3": {
          "note": "Taking the first pawn on offer.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "5": {
          "note": "The simplest way of declining the second pawn: rather than hold onto the extra material, the pawn simply runs on, well out of reach of White's c-pawn, and gets itself recaptured by the queen instead of a developing piece -- a small, practical concession Black is happy to make for a quiet, simple position.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "7": {
          "note": "Developing naturally.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "9": {
          "note": "A flexible central move.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "11": {
          "note": "A solid, slightly passive choice for the centre.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "13": {
          "note": "Developing naturally.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "15": {
          "note": "Completing development.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "17": {
          "note": "Castling into safety.",
          "format": "markdown"
        }
      },
      "variations": [
        {
          "branch_ply": 8,
          "moves": [
            "f1e2",
            "e7e6"
          ],
          "annotations": {
            "1": {
              "note": "Meeting White's bishop-first move order with the same solid central reply.",
              "format": "markdown"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Smith-Morra Gambit: The ...a6 System",
      "side": "black",
      "eco": "B21",
      "moves": [
        "e2e4",
        "c7c5",
        "d2d4",
        "c5d4",
        "c2c3",
        "d4c3",
        "b1c3",
        "a7a6",
        "g1f3",
        "b8c6",
        "f1c4",
        "d7d6",
        "e1g1",
        "g8f6",
        "d1e2",
        "e7e6",
        "f1d1",
        "f8e7",
        "c1f4"
      ],
      "annotations": {
        "1": {
          "note": "The Sicilian Defence, inviting White's main gambit try.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "3": {
          "note": "Taking the first pawn on offer.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "5": {
          "note": "Taking the second pawn too -- the main, most tested way of meeting the gambit.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "7": {
          "note": "A flexible alternative to the immediate ...Nc6: ruling out any Nb5 tricks and preparing ...b5 of Black's own before committing the king's knight.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "9": {
          "note": "Developing naturally; the extra tempo spent on ...a6 is never wasted in this structure.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "11": {
          "note": "A solid, slightly passive choice for the centre.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "13": {
          "note": "Developing naturally.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "15": {
          "note": "A flexible central move.",
          "format": "markdown"
        },
        "17": {
          "note": "Completing development, out of any awkward pin.",
          "format": "markdown"
        }
      },
      "variations": [
        {
          "branch_ply": 8,
          "moves": [
            "f1c4",
            "e7e6"
          ],
          "annotations": {
            "1": {
              "note": "Meeting White's bishop-first move order the same way.",
              "format": "markdown"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "woodpecker_sets": [],
  "endgame_positions": []
}