After 2.c3 I'd rather see 2...Nf6 than 3...d5 without an early exchange on d4, so that's some sort of justification for playing the Morra. But I think there's another factor too. Sicilian players tend to regard 2.c3 as boring and wimpy. Say what you like about the Morra, but boring and wimpy it isn't. So, if Black declines the Morra, it's Black who has chosen the boring wimpy line. A psychological blow for White?

[quote author=4E4D4741200 link=1340632130/4#4 date=1340698627]What's wrong with 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cd 3 c3 [u]d5[/u]?[/quote]
Normally in the 2.c3 d5 lines Black will delay capturing on d4 until this is forced because, once the exchange has occurred, White has c3 available for his Knight. Sometimes White will try to force Black to take on d4 by playing Be3, which might not be where the Bishop really wants to go, or else Black will delay the exchange until White has committed himself to Na3. So the move order you mention involves Black making something of a concession.

The accepted Morra may be an interesting opening to play for White. But I never gave it a chance, because I always wondered what to play after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6. If play continues 4.e5 Nd5, it transposes to a 2.c3 Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4. Considering that this variation is one of the two most respectable ways to meet the 2.c3 Sicilian, the main advantage to play the Morra over 2.c3 is if you don't like to face 2.c3 d5.

The book presents 3... Nf6 in about 30 pages, which is rather short. Is there another move than 4.e5 for White? I know that it's possible to play 4.e5 Nd5 5.Qxd4!? for White, but this option is also available with 2.c3. Does anybody know what Esserman recommends for White and if there is an advantage to use the Morra move-order over 2.c3?

Sigh, this looks fantastic. I was going to take a break from buying opening books...