The Modern Morra Gambit: A Dynamic Weapon against the Sicilian

The Dynamic Morra
Uncompromising Aggression versus the Sicilian

When the first edition appeared more than five years ago, FM Hannes Langrock's groundbreaking work breathed new life into a gambit that conventional wisdom viewed as no more than a nuisance for Black.

A nuisance?! Au contraire! As noted by German grandmaster Karsten Müller, "The Morra Gambit is well-suited for players striving for tactical and uncompromising play, as White's better development often leads to a dangerous initiative. Furthermore, traditional Sicilian players may be taken by surprise and removed from their main line repertoire."

In this completely revised second edition, the author probes the secrets of this gambit with tactical acuity and strategic objectivity. He concludes that "Most of Black's defensive systems objectively offer acceptable prospects in a complicated battle. Nevertheless, I can promise that every talented attacking player who studies the Morra Gambit will achieve excellent practical results. The positions that arise are extremely difficult to play, especially if the defender is not familiar with them."

Hannes Langrock is a German International Master living in Hamburg. He has played the Morra Gambit successfully against both grandmasters and international masters. He has been a regular contributor to ChessBase and co-author, with Karsten Müller and Matthias Wahls, of The Modern Scandinavian. In 2002, he was the winner of the German Individual Cup.