Crime and Punisher

One nice thing about this blog is that people around the world read it.

Another nice thing is that not everybody reads it.

So, less than a week ago I played, analyzed, and posted a Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game (see "Gorilla Chess") and today I played the same opponent in the same line and used my "improvement" – which readers would be aware of – confidently.

perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD

blitz FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6

6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxd4

We've been here before, PunisherABD and I.

8.d3

This is my improvement over 8.Nc3, which my opponent had answered with the uncomfortable 8...Qg5.

The next few moves were pretty easy to work out.

8...Ke5 9.Qh5+ Ke6 10.Qf5+ Ke7 11.Bg5+ Nf6 12.e5

Black's King has returned safely from his journey, and now, after 12...Kf7 13.exf6 gxf6 White will have a small edge in the position – not much larger than if the first player had played the more traditional 4.0-0, 4.d3, 4.Nc3 or 4.Nxd4. 

The difference is one of comfort. When a player is uneasy about a position, he is more likely to make an error, regardless of the "objective" evaluation of his situation.

12...Ke8

This is what I mean. Trouble follows quickly.

13.exf6 Kf7

Black could have chosen to go down swinging with 13...Bb4+ 14.Kd1 Rf8, although if White has faith in his advanced pawn and supports it with his Queen, all will be well: 15.Qe4+ Kf7 16.Qxh7 Rg8 17.Qh5+ g6 18.Qh7+ Ke6 19.f7, etc.

analysis diagram





Back to the game...

14.fxg7+ Kf7 15.Bxd8

I thought that this would be enough to end the game, but PunisherABD is made of stronger stuff. I kept collecting material and he kept playing on.

15...Kg8 16. Bf6 Bg7 17.Qg5 Kf7 18.Qxg7+ Ke6 19.Qxh8

19...b6 20.0-0 Bb7 21.Re1+ Kd6 22.Be5+ Kc6 23.Qf6+ d6

24.Na3 Re8 25.Rac1+ Kd7 26.Qf5+ Kd8 27.Bf6+ Black resigned

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, The Wizard of Draws