Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Scandinavian Formation

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined

Definition

The Smith-Morra Gambit arises after the moves 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3, when White offers a pawn to accelerate development and seize the initiative. If Black refuses to capture with 3…dxc3 and instead plays a developing or consolidating move, the line is called the Smith-Morra Gambit Declined. The two most common declining moves are 3…Nf6—attacking the e4-pawn and transposing to an Open Sicilian—and 3…d3, locking the extra pawn on d3.

Typical Move-Orders

• 3…Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Nf3 e6, leading to a Scheveningen-style structure.
• 3…d3 4. Bxd3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6, where Black keeps the pawn but yields the center.
• Less common tries: 3…e5!?, 3…g6, or 3…Qa5, each with distinct strategic ideas.

Strategic Ideas

• Black avoids the theoretical minefield of accepted lines (famous for dangerous piece sacrifices) and keeps the position in more positional channels.
• White still obtains rapid development—especially of the light-squared bishop to c4—and aims for f2–f4 or e4–e5 breaks.
• In the 3…d3 line Black must be ready to play an “extra-isolani” middlegame: the pawn on d3 can become weak if not fortified by …e6, …d6, and …Be7.

Historical & Practical Significance

While the accepted Smith-Morra drew headlines in the 1980s thanks to American IM Ken Smith and later GM Marc Esserman, strong grandmasters often prefer the declined variations to sidestep razor-sharp theory. Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and more recently Fabiano Caruana have all chosen 3…Nf6 at blitz or rapid time controls to keep matters solid.

Illustrative Mini-Game

Esserman – Caruana, Internet Blitz 2020

Caruana’s 3…Nf6 avoided the main gambit theory; after accurate play Black liquidated the center and converted the extra pawn in a queen endgame.

Interesting Tidbits

• The move 3…d3 was once dubbed the “Morosevich System” after GM Alexander Morozevich used it to defeat several Smith-Morra specialists in the late 1990s.
• In many databases, 3…Nf6 is coded B21 while 3…d3 is B22, so the “declined” gambit covers more than one ECO chapter.
• The declined lines give Black statistical results on par with mainstream Sicilian variations, making them a practical weapon at all levels.

Scandinavian Formation

Definition

The term Scandinavian Formation refers to the characteristic pawn structure and piece placement that frequently emerges from the Scandinavian Defense (1. e4 d5). After 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 (or the modern 3…Qd6), Black typically creates a setup featuring pawns on d5, c6, and e6, with minor pieces harmoniously placed behind this “Scandinavian Shield.”

Typical Structure

Core elements of the formation:

• Pawns: d5–c6–e6 for Black; e4 and sometimes d4 for White.
• Black queen on a5 or d6, exerting lateral pressure on the fifth rank.
• Black bishops often on f5 (or g4) and e7; knights on f6 and d7.
• A semi-open c-file and half-open e-file shaping the middlegame plans.

How It Is Used

1. Flexibility: Black can decide between kingside fianchetto (…g6, …Bg7) or classical development (…Be7, …Nf6).
2. Counter-Attack: The queen’s early development discourages premature aggression from White and eyes the a2/e2 squares.
3. Endgame Readiness: A timely …c5 or …e5 may lead to a symmetrical pawn structure where Black’s queen activity compensates for any early time loss.

Strategic Themes

• Minority Advance: White can play c2–c4–c5 to soften d5. Black responds with …b6 and …Ba6 or counter-attacks in the center.
• Piece Play over Pawns: Unlike many e-pawn openings, pawn storms are rarer; instead, both sides maneuver for squares such as d6, e4, c5, and f4.
• Queen Safety: Once maligned as a developmental liability, the early queen sortie is now considered completely sound when backed by accurate moves.

Historical Highlights

The label “Scandinavian” originates from an 1840s correspondence match between Stockholm and Copenhagen. However, the pawn formation received modern legitimacy through the games of Bent Larsen in the 1960s and later by GM Curt Hansen and GM Sergei Tiviakov, the latter famously scoring an undefeated +26 =24 record with it between 2004-2014.

Example Position

After 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. Bc4 Bf5, the pieces stand:

• White: King on e1, queen on d1, bishops on c4 and f1, knights on c3 and f3, pawns on a2, b2, c2, d4, e4, f2, g2, h2.
• Black: King on e8, queen on a5, bishops on f5 and c8, knights on f6 and b8, pawns on a7, b7, c6, d5, e7, f7, g7, h7.

Black has completed development of one bishop, connected the queen to the c2-square, and prepared …e6 followed by …Nbd7 and …Bd6.

Notable Games

• Kamsky – Tiviakov, Wijk aan Zee 2010: Tiviakov’s trademark 3…Qd6 showcased the solidity of the Scandinavian Formation en route to a draw against a world-class grandmaster.
• Larsen – Portisch, Candidates 1965: The Danish legend used the structure as Black to blunt White’s kingside initiative and later won a pawn thanks to the latent strength of the c6-d5-e6 wall.

Fun Facts

• The formation can also arise from the French Exchange (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5) if Black later plays …c6 and …Qd6, proving its transpositional versatility.
• When the queen sits on d6 instead of a5, some analysts dub the setup the “Icelandic Gambit Deferred” structure, honoring Icelandic pioneers Jóhann Hjartarson and Margeir Pétursson.