MNb wrote on 10/16/09 at 01:41:41:

Hence my preference, when I played it, for 4.Bc4, and if 4...Nf6, then 5.Qe2, with c3 to come

TN wrote on 10/15/09 at 11:04:22:


Did a little bit of research and how about:
4.Nf3 Nc6 5.b4 Qc7 6.b5 Ne5 - maybe whites pawns will be a little loose?
Or maybe get away with the greedy:
4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 dxc3 6.Nc3 Ne4

Doubt I'd play these in a serious game, but maybe worth a punt in blitz?

I haven't subjected this sideline to close attention, but after 4.Nf3 White seems to have an improved Morra Gambit, e.g. 4...Nc6 5.b4 Qb6 (5...Nb4 6.cb4 Bb4 7.Bd2 favours White) 6.b5 Nce7 7.cd4 and White is definitely better, or 4...dc3 5.Nc3 when the queen is misplaced, e.g. 5...e6 6.Bd3 (6.Bd2 Qc7 is less convincing) 6...Bb4 7.0-0 Bc3?! (probably not best but otherwise Black's position makes a sad impression) 8.bc3 Qc3 9.Bf4 and even without a board in front of me, White's position seems extremely appealing.

If you want to 'avoid' the Morra Accepted, 3...Nf6, 3...g6 and even 3...d3 seem more logical choices to me. There is also 3...d5, but I have little faith in that particular variation.

If White tries to avoid some of these anti lines with 3.Nf3, then transposing to the O'Kelly Variation with 3...a6 is strong since ...a6 is a common move in the Morra and the 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 has a dubious reputation for White.

Finally, there is 2...cd4 3.c3 b6!? which probably isn't entirely sound, but is precisely the sort of line that will irritate Morra Gambit players.