Ian,

I like the choice of the smith-morra gambit, its a great attacking line. However, I don't like how you traded queens in this game. When you gambit a pawn, you want to keep pieces on the board so you can maintain the attack. Once you've traded queens, your compensation for the pawn is almost nil. Black was just better in the position, and could've consolidated more easily if he had played Ke8 instead of Ke7. Instead of 7.e5 which led to the queen trade, 7.Bg5 may have maintained the pressure better (although maybe you had an even better move).

The point is, after the queen trade you dont have pressure against black's king unless he plays poorly with moves like Ke7 which block in his bishop and give him an awkward position. Even then, black was just better until he threw away a piece by allowing you to play b4, winning a knight.

Just remember, in gambit lines, its unusual to trade queens early unless you'r gaining something very concrete (like destroying your opponents pawn structure, winning the pawn back, or setting up a massive attack). You weren't really gaining anything. In fact, a queen trade is exactly what black wants there.

That being said, you kept the pressure nicely after the queen trade and that ultimately won you the game.

I think 0-0, Qe2 and Rd1 are usually played before e5. Sometimes, without e6 being played, you can do e5 and if black captures you take on f7 with the Bishop and win the queen. (Yes, I have lost a queen that way.) I like the Smith-Morra because it is fun and aggressive. There is an article on Chesscafe (Tim Harding) covering some lines on the Smith-Morra. Nice game.

wouldn't 19...Ne5 be better than 19...dxf2? 19...Ne5 at least would trade off the knight for the bishop or allow it to escape rather than trade it off for a pawn...let me know

never mind, didn't see the pawn attacking the other knight ><