Sunday, September 20, 2009

Poisoned by the Jerome Gambit

When I play a chess game with the White pieces, I don't always reach a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), but I am happy if some of those times I can reach the Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit (see"If not a Jerome Gambit..." and "Jerome Gambit... Jerome Gambit... Jerome Gambit...") which I am trying to learn. Sometimes, however, ideas from the Jerome spill over into my thoughts about the Boden-Kieseritzky, and that can lead to a severe case of brain poisoning... 
 perrypawnpusher - anonymous 
blitz, FICS, 2009 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 Oh, well. No Jerome. We'll try for a B-K.

4.0-0 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 d6
This is not the best defense for Black. Pity I couldn't remember the right response...

7.Re1

White gets the advantage, instead, with 7.Ng5 Be6 8.Nxe6 fxe6 9.Bxe6.

7...Bg4
8.Bxf7+

Hey, it works in the Jerome, right? No need to think it through, right?
Wrong.
It's embarassing to have missed the correct execution of the underlying idea: 8.Nxe5 dxe5 (8...Bxd1? 9.Bxf7+ Ke7 10.Bg5 mate) 9.Qxg4 with advantage.

8...Kxf7 9.Ng5+
9...Ke7

Yeow! Instead, Black had 9...Qxg5 (so much for the "protection" of the Bishop), coming out a piece ahead after 10.Bxg5 Bxd1 11.Raxd1.
In truth, after 

10.Qxg4 I went on to win the game in 30 more moves, but it was a lesson learned – I hope. And I still need to brush up on my Boden-Kieseritzky.

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