An Interesting Smith-Morra Game

chessart(1618) – Kemosabe (1695), 6-7-15

1 e4 c5 2 d4 cd 3 c3 dc 4 Nxc3 d6 5 Bc4 a6 6 Nf3

Whenever black delays playing ...e6, there is always the question of whether he can effectively play ...Bg4. Here, …Bg4 is not yet a threat, because of Bxf7+, followed by Ng5+ and QxB.

6…e6

If black tries 6…Nf6, to prepare …Bg4, then 8 e5! is quite strong, almost winning. If black tries 6…Nc6, then perhaps I need to play 7 h3 to stop …Bg4.                                              

7 0-0 Nc6 8 Qe2 Be7 9 Rd1 Qc7 10 Bf4 Qb8

There is no need for him to play this move now, as I don’t yet have a rook on the c-file. The 365chess database only shows one game with this move, compared to 70 for 10…Nf6 and 57 for …Ne5.

11 Rac1 Bd7 12 a3 Ne5 13 Ba2 NxN+ 14 QxN Nf6 15 Rd2 0-0 16 Rcd1 e5 17 Bg5 Bg4

This wins the exchange for black. What is so amazing about this game is that I still win in a few more moves, despite being the exchange and a pawn down!

18 Qe3 BxR 19 RxB Rd8 20 BxN BxB 21 Nd5!

An incredible dilemma has arisen for black. He cannot prevent me from doubling his f-pawns.

21…Rf8 22 NxN+ gf 23 Qh6 Qd8

Black has nothing better. If 23…Kh8, I simply play 24 Qxf6+, chasing the king back to g8, and then Rd1-d3-g3 ends the game.

24 Rd3

This simple rook lift decides the game. Rarely has the king-side win been easier or faster after the doubling of black’s f-pawns.

24…Kh8 25 Rh3 Black resigns 1-0