My sample of Palkovi's book is in English - but it still has gaps.
Thanks for the link, I had lost it. Your articles on the Morra Gambit are a must for everyone, who wants to delve in this opening. Pity, that there already are so many books on this opening, else I would ask you to write one.

MNb,

Thanks for Palkovi's analysis.  I had not given 8...b5 much consideration, preferring 8...e6 on instinct more than anything else. 8...b5 looks good. It does introduce an a4 lever possiblitiy for White, but I am not strong enough to say if it is any good.  (That's the problem with Kmoch's book -- he teaches you how to see the levers, but not so much how to determine if they are any good!)  I kind of doubt it -- White's chances usually lie in the center in this opening.

I think it is pretty clear, though, that Black would be taking unnecessary risks if he takes the b4 pawn.

BTW, I don't disagree that ...a6 is almost always a useful move for Black, or that 6...a6 is a good defense.  (I think 6...a6 was first popularized in Smith - Evans, San Antonio, 1972 ???  A terrific model game, in any event.)  But in my experience, ...e6 comes early and often as soon as White plays Bc4.  I have 182 games (ICC and OTB) as white with the position after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cd 3.c3 dc 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3, but only 8 with the position after 5...d6 6.Bc4 a6 or 5...a6 6.Bc4 d6 (and 4 of those against the same opponent).

Just a practical observation. 

Personally I think 6...a6 is probably as good as anything else -- I just question whether it's the main line.

IM Palliser - I don't have Burgess's book, and I have not seen it at the book store.  As best I can tell, it is about the best reference on this opening.  (I suppose it's available online somewhere).  Janos Flesch's book does not mention 8...b4.  John Knudsen (?) used to maintain a website dedicated to correspondence chess, and there was a very good series of articles on the Smith-Morra.  Unfortunately, I don't think the website is available any longer

Oops, breaking news:  I also have Ken Smith's 1972 monograph.  I may be mistaken about the Smith - Evans game because it is not mentioned in this monograph.  (However, Smith was always reticent to quote his own games.)  Smith does not mention the possibility of 8...b4.

After 6...a6, Smith writes: "Black is a sharp player and has studied his MCO 10th Edition where this orer of moves is recommended ... Black is simply holding back his KP hoping for a mistake in White's order of moves for now 7.Qe2 is a mistake because of 7...Nf6 8.0-0 Bg4!"

BTW, Ken Smith is still remembered fondly here in Dallas, and was by all accounts an interesting an entertaining fellow.  I never had the pleasure of meeting him -- he was in somewhat ill health and had distanced himself from competitive chess by the time I started playing.  He had also gravitated toward poker by then -- true to his gambiteer's personality.

FWIW,  I do think White *almost* gets enough compensation for the pawn.  It is probably the only opening I look forward to playing with either color!

Actually 6...a6 is one of the best defences against the Morra Gambit. The idea is of course to prepare 7...Nf6 and evt. 8...Bg4.
Palkovi thinks 6...a6 7.o-o Nf6 8.b4 dubious: b5! (Nxb4? 9.e5 d5 10.Qa4+ Nc6 11.Rd1) 9.Bd5 Bd7 10.Be3 e6 11.Bxc6 Bxc6 12.Nd4 Bb7 (Bd7 13.f4 Qb8 also looks playable to me) 13.Qe3 Be7 =+.
The move 8...b5 is far more useful to Black than 8.b4 is to White, so White almost loses a tempo.

What do you think about 8.b4 gambit? Which are the min lines? Is it good or playable for white?
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.b4!?
Thanks
Bye