Sunday, November 9, 2008

Deadly Duel in Denmark


The latest news from our Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member in Denmark, Martin Moller:


I have been experimenting with my various chess computers too [see "A Jerome Gambit 'Challenger'," "A Bagatelle" and "Rematch!" for similar play - Rick], and here is a 5 min. game with the Mephisto Maestro Travel Chess Computer, ca. 1600 ELO.
Martin - Mephisto
Denmark, 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Bd4
[ The "computer choice" is frequently 7...d6, giving back a piece. See "Bright Ideas From Silicon" - Rick]

8.f5+
[Wow! Playing "psychologically" against the computer?? The result is quite complex; ordinary players might have just taken a piece - Rick]

8...Kd6 9.d3 g6 10.Qe2 gxf5 11.c3 Qh4+ 12.g3 Bxc3+
[When a material-loving computer gives something back, you know it's in trouble - Rick]

13.bxc3

[Martin points out that 13.Nxc3 would have been stronger - Rick ]

13...Qg4 14.d4 Nf3+ 15.Kf1

[15.Kf2, mentioned by Martin, would have led to a roughly even game - Rick ]

15...Qh3+

[ Here Mephisto prefers the h-pawn and a check over the much stronger capture of the e-pawn with 15...Qxe4 - Rick]

16.Kf2 Nxh2 17.Bf4+ Ke7 18.exf5+ Kf8

[The kind of position that would make any gambiteer smile. Black's King is in grave danger, and his lack of effective development easily offsets his extra piece - Rick]

19.Nd2 Nh6 20.Bxh6+ Qxh6 21.Kg2
[This is fine for winning back the piece and maintaining the advantage. Going after the King with 21.Rae1 was also an option - Rick.]

21...Qg5 22. Rxh2 Qxf5?
[Another totally unexplainable computer move; a blunder squared. Martin finishes up quickly. - Rick]

23.Rf1 d5 24.Rxf5+ Bxf5 25.Qe5 Kf7 26.Rh5 Bd7 27.Qxd5+ Kg6 28.Ne4 Rae8 29.Qg5+ Kf7 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Rg5 checkmate

No comments: