I was put on the white side of the pieces twice today and came out on top 2-0. My first game went out of my prep really quick. After 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 (trying to head into the Scorpion Horus Gambit) my opponent played b5!? Technically not a losing move (+1.0) but obviously going against all opening principles that say to play in the center. At this moment I took a breath and modified my game plan striking with 3.d4 myself taking firm control of the center and eventually winning the game with my space advantage. Game 2 was added to my Lichess study and it was a Smith-Morra Gambit Declined game. I feel that I have at times struggled a bit with the 3...d3 push by black in this line but I buckled down and made solid developing moves. My opponent again ignored a key early game principle of "Castling your King to Safety Quickly" and because of this allowed for my bishop and knight to coordinate on the dark squares to deliver a fork on c7 winning a clean rook and eventually the game. Check out this game in the study to see where our pieces like to develop in this declined variation of the Smith-Morra.

My own commentary has been added to Chapter 14. You can follow along my thought process at the time of the game and reflections after going over the game with an engine.