Opening Basics #6: Sicilian defense - Smith-Morra gambit and Alapin Sicilian

A look at some interesting sidelines in the Sicilian defense, featuring the Smith-Morra gambit. I also check out the Alapin sicilian and the Chekhover variation. The book I refer to is “Mayhem in the Morra“ by Marc Esserman, and the game I go over at the end is Esserman-Bartell 2009 (