The Jerome Gambit: Blunder Check

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Blunder Check

When I finish a chess game, especially one with the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), I often turn it over to Deep Rybka to analyze, using the "blunder check" mode set at 5 minutes per move. Usually the computer gives me variations that show where I missed an opportunity to win a pawn, or where I unnecessarily gave up a piece, or where I overlooked giving or receiving a checkmate...

I thought I played pretty well in the following game, so I was totally unprepared for the comments from my electronic partner.

perrypawnpusher - saltos

blitz, FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

Ah, the Semi-Italian Opening. See here, here, and here for more information.

4.0–0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ng6

The 7...Ng6 defense (as opposed to, say, 7...Ke6) is not "bad", but I wonder if it is "best", as it allows White to capture the Bishop at c5, which was doing a good job of pinning the White f-pawn and preventing its advance.

8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qe3 Qf6

This is a new move in this position, but it is a good one. In fact, throughout the game Black seems to be making good moves and having a good position. Then he loses.

11.f4 N8e7 12.Nc3 c6

Now it's time for a series of moves, a kind that we've seen before (see "I apologize, Jerome Gambit" and "Diagnosis: Misplaced Knight").

13.f5 Ne5 14.d4 Nc4 15.Qd3 b5 16.b3 Nb6

17.Bf4

This leads to a small advantage, Rybka says. Instead, the computer recommends: 17.e5 Qh4 18.Ne4 Nxf5 19.g3 Qe7 20.exd6 Qf7 21.Nc5 Qd5 22.Bb2 Kd8 23.d7 Bxd7 24.Nxd7 Nxg3 25.hxg3 Qxd7 26.Qg6 Re8 27.Rf7 Qe6 28.Rxg7 Qxg6 29.Rxg6 Kc7 30.Rg7+ Kd6 31.Rf1 Rg8 32.Rf6+.

analysis diagram

Um, sure, er, well, yes – that's exactly the other line I was considering...

17...Nd7

Not good enough. Rybka suggests: 17...b4 18.Ne2 a5 19.Qg3 Ba6 20.Rae1 d5 21.Bc7 Nd7 22.Qe3 Ra7 23.Bg3 Kd8 24.e5 Qg5 25.Qf2 Rh7 26.Bh4 Qd2 27.Nf4 Qxf2+ 28.Rxf2 Nf8 29.e6 Bb5 30.Rc1 with only a small advantage for White.

analysis diagram

Yes, I'm sure I heard my opponent muttering: Rooks on Rook two! Rooks on Rook two! What a fool I was! (Not really.)

18.Rae1 Qf7

Looking at this diagram, would you figure that Black was more than a piece worse than White? Rybka would.

19.Bxd6 Nf6

Going down the equivalent of a Rook, according to Rybka, which suggests the following, instead: 19...Nb6 20.d5 b4 21.Bxb4 a5 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.d6 Qe5 24.Nd5 Rb8 25.Ne7 Qc5+ 26.Rf2 Rb7 27.Ng6 Rg8 28.e5 Rd7 29.Qe4 Qb4 30.c4.