Wei Roux: Level 73 Chess Rival (2234 ELO)

Rook tier · Universal · plays the Smith-Morra Gambit

• Level: 73 of 100
• Tier: Rook
• Rating: 2234 ELO
• Opening: Smith-Morra Gambit
• Style: Universal
• From: Japan
• Age: 50
• Plays: Black (you have White)

How Wei plays

Wei has no favourite kind of position, and at 50 he considers that his biggest asset. He reads each game on its own terms. Accepting the Smith-Morra is typical of him: he takes the pawn not out of greed but because it gives him a clear long-term trump, and he is just as willing to hand it back if that ends White's initiative.

That flexibility is the main thing to respect. If you press too slowly, he consolidates and the pawn decides. If you overextend, he returns material at the right moment and points to the holes you left. What he likes least is a position that offers only one sensible plan and that plan is passive, because a universal player loses his edge when there is nothing to choose between. White's job is to narrow his choices: fix his structure, take away the freeing ...d5 break, and make every useful square cost him a concession.

At 2234 ELO, Wei plays at master strength. Outright blunders are rare, so you need a sound opening, a clear plan and accurate calculation in sharp moments. A draw against him is a good result; a win means you played a very good game.

Smith-Morra Gambit: the line Wei plays

Wei plays the Black side of the Smith-Morra Gambit: after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 they take the pawn with ...dxc3 and then develop with ...Nc6, ...d6, ...e6 and ...Nf6. Black keeps the extra pawn and tries to survive White's lead in development.

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Be7

• 3...dxc3: ...dxc3 accepts the gambit. Black is a pawn up.
• 4...Nc6: ...Nc6 develops and covers d4 and e5.
• 6...e6: ...e6 blunts your Bc4 and keeps the d5 square under control.
• 8...Be7: ...Be7 prepares castling. Black is cramped but solid.

Learn it move by move: Smith-Morra Gambit walkthrough

How to beat Wei

1. Keep the ...d5 break under control. It is how Black returns the pawn on good terms, so keep your knight on c3, your e4 pawn supported and pieces bearing on d5.
2. When he offers the pawn back, look at the structure before taking it. Recovering material with a broken queenside or a lost initiative can leave you equal at best against a player who handles those positions well.
3. Hold on to your light-squared bishop. If ...Ne5 or ...Na5 comes for it, retreat to b3, where it keeps pressure on e6 and the a2-g8 diagonal, your best long-term compensation.
4. If you gambit the pawn, play for activity, not material: castle, put a rook on d1 and the queen on e2, and look for Nd5 or e5 to rip open the d-file. If you would rather not gambit, 2.Nf3 leads to an Open Sicilian where they reply ...d6 and ...a6.
5. The book answers 1.e4 (including the Alapin 2.c3 and the Open Sicilian 2.Nf3). Open 1.d4 and he is out of book immediately.

What beating Wei teaches you

Wei's games train you to limit a flexible opponent's options, making each of his choices costly instead of trying to force a single knockout.

Neighbours on the ladder

• Hannah Eriksson: level 72
• Camille Chen: level 74