Really? Really.

This game was my last pre-break (see "Busted!") Jerome-ish game, and it was a good reminder of what would be in store for me when I returned in, hopefully, better shape.


perrypawnpusher - Raankh
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8

This move often seems safer to Black than the more energetic (and more risky) 5...Ke6. If the second player does not know what he is doing, however, things can become difficult.

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Qxg6+

As I wrote in "BSG: Later on in the Discussion"

Seen most often is 5...Ke8, and after 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6, best play for both sides is 7...hxg6 8.Qxg6+ Ke7 9.Qg5+, when Black can go for the draw-by-repetition with 9...Ke8; or go for an unbalanced (but largely equal) position... with 9...Nf6 10.Qc5+ d6 11.Qxd4 when White has four pawns for a piece and it is unclear if Black has an open King or open lines for development.

8...Ke7 9.Qg5+ Nf6

10.Qc5+

I once got away with 10.e5 vs JokeritT (1-0, 28), but only because my opponent followed up with 10...Nxc2+ 11.Kd1 Nxa1. Instead, 10...Kf7, taking advantage of the fact that he is two pieces ahead and can afford to give one back, would have made all things good for Black.

10...d6 11.Qxd4 Bg7

This seems better than either 11...c5, as in perrypawnpusher - foreverblackman, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 21), or 11...Qd7, as in perrypawnpusher - theferno, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28).

12.d3 Rg8 13.Bg5 Kf7 14.Nc3 Bd7 

After the game Rybka suggested that Black could have played the move that he had apparently prepared, 14...Nxe4, althoug after 15.Qd5+ Be6 16.Bxd8 Bxc3+ 17.bxc3 Bxd5 18.dxe4 Bxe4 19.Bxc7 the game looks like it is racing toward one of those notoriously drawn Bishops-of-opposite-colors endings...


15.f4 Qe8 16.0-0 Nh7 17.Qd5+

Better was the break 17.e5.

17...Be6 18.Qxb7 Nxg5 19.fxg5+ Kg6

Black's King is uncomfortable, and White has 5 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but Black's two Bishops should not be overlooked as they can create pressure on White's Queenside.

After the game Rybka suggested that White begin to consolidate with 20.Ne2. Instead, I was still thinking: grab pawns!

20.Qxc7 Bxc3

Missing his chance for 20...Qb8 and possibly an even game.

21.Qxc3

21...Rf8 22.Qd2

Protecting the advanced g-pawn. Much more dynamic was 22.Rxf8 Qxf8 23.Rf1 with the idea of Rf1-f6. I was thinking about the endgame, not a middle game attack.

22...Qe7 23.Rf3 Rxf3 24.gxf3 Qxg5+ 25.Qxg5+ Kxg5

The practical chances have to lie with White, even if Black has ways to defend.

26.Kf2 Kf4 27.b3 d5 28.Rg1 Rg8

I don't think that exchanging this Rook helps Black's defense.

29.Rxg8 Bxg8

30.c4 d4 31.b4 Be6 32.a4 a6 33.b5 axb5 34.axb5 Bd7 35.b6 Bc6 36.h4 Bb7 37.h5

Decoy.

37...Kg5 38.Kg3 Kxh5 39.Kf4 Kg6 40.Ke5 Kg5 41.f4+ Kg4 42.f5 Kg5 43.Kxd4

Five connected passed pawns. You don't see that every day.

43...Kf6 44.c5 Bc6 45.Ke3 Ke5 Bb7 48.d5 Ke7 49.c6 Black resigned