Beating the Smith-Morra Gambit

It's weekend and after copy editing the presentation for my November 13 seminar-lecture for the Day Care Workers of the Imus Municipal Social Welfare and Development, it is chess time for me.

Having played 1 minute games for almost an hour, I thought of playing longer time controls and I found someone at chess.com willing to play with 15 minute games with an increment of 10 seconds per move. My opponent surprised me with the Smith-Morra Gambit and I faltered with my first 10 moves. Thankfully I recovered and after several more moves I got into a good position and launched a King side attack against my opponent.  

Much has been said about Gambits for chess openings and if one is caught by surprise, youre in for a difficult game. Although I learned about the name of the opening only today, I think I will be careful next time when I play against this chess opening once again. 

Beating the Smith-Morra Gambit @ ChessDotCom.   

The game below: 

[Event "Live Chess"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2010.11.06"]
[White "aarmin"] [Black "Me"] [Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1585"] [BlackElo "1580"] [TimeControl "15|10"]
[Termination "Black won by resignation"]

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Nf3 e5 7.Ng5 d5 8.exd5 Nd4 9.d6 Ne6 10.d7+ Bxd7 11.Bxe6 Bxe6 12.Nxe6 Qxd1+ 13.Nxd1 fxe6 14.O-O Bd6 15.Nc3 a6 16.Re1 Kf7 17.Be3 Rac8 18.a3 Nd5 19.Ne4 Be7 20.Bg5 Rc2 21.b4 Bf6 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nd6+ Ke7 24.Nxb7 Rg8 25.Nc5 Nf4 26.g3 Nh3+ 27.Kh1 Nxf2+ 28.Kg1 Ng4 29.Ne4 Nxh2 30.Nf2 Nf3+ 31.Kf1 Rxg3 0-1


Here is the final position, white resigned on his 32nd move: