Caught Out

Despite the fact that I devote a lot of time to this blog, I am always worried that I won't remember enough of its information, and that I will be caught out in my next game. Luckily, as the following game shows, even when I forget particular lines, my sense of "what is going on" is sometimes enough for me to prevail over my opponent.


perrypawnpusher - michon
blitz, FICS,2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. Accepted.

My opponent and I contested a couple of Declineds, 4...Ke7 (see "Jedi Mind Tricks"), last year: perrypawnpusher - michon, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 8) and perrypawnpusher - michon, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 41).

5.Nxe5+ Ke6

Or the related 5...Ke7 as in perrypawnpusher - michon, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 18).

6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxd4

A dangerous meal. Safer is heading for home with 7...Ke6.

8.d3

Equally playable are 8.Nc3 and 8.Qb3.

8...d5

Instead, 8...Ke5 is the safest way to go, although White still keeps the pressure on with 9.Qh5+ as in perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 27).

Alternately, 8...Bb4+ was seen in perrypawnpusher - AdamRou, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28); and 8...Nf6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - RVLY, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 26). 

9.Be3+ Ke5

10.d4+

The proper continuation was 10.Qh5+! as in an earlier game 10...Ke6 (better 10...g5 11.Bxg5 Nf6 12.f4+ Ke6 13.f5+ Kd7 14.Qf7+ Qe7 15.Qxf6) 11.Qf5+ Ke7 (better 11...Kd6 12.Qxd5+ Ke7 13.Bc5+ Ke8 14.Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.Bxf8) 12.Bg5+? (Losing the thread. Correct: 12.Bc5+! Ke8 13.Qxf8+ Kd7 14.Qxg7+ Ne7 15.Bxe7) 12...Nf6 13.Qe5+ Be6 14.exd5 Qxd5 15.Qxc7+ Ke8 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.0-0 Qxd3 18.Re1 Qd7 19.Qc4 Kf7 20.Qh4 Rd8 21.Nc3 Bb4 22.Qxb4 Qd6 23.Qxb7+ Rd7 24.Qe4 f5 25.Qh4 Qd2 26.Rad1 Qxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 28.Nxd1 Bxa2 29.Ne3 Be6 White forfeited on time, ghosty - smenke, FICS, 2004. 

10...Kd6 11.e5+

Concentrating on development (11.Nc3 or 11.0-0) looks better in retrospect. I had to figure out a plan at this point, and decided to go with the "Jerome pawns"

11...Kc6 

12.Qc2+ Kd7 13.Nc3 c6 14.0-0 Kc7 15.f4 Ne7 16.f5 Bxf5 17.Rxf5 Nxf5 18.Qxf5

Black has the extra exchange, but White's lead in development gives him chances.

18...Qd7 

A slip we both overlooked.

19.Qf3

After the game Houdini pointed out that 19.Nb5+!? cxb5 20.Rc1+ Kd8 21.e6 with threats against the King and Queen was crushing. 

19...c5

Nerves. Better was 19...Bb4. 

20.Nxd5+ Kd8 21.dxc5 Rc8 22.Rd1 Qa4

Black is in trouble, and this does not help. 

23.Nc3+ 

Winning Black's Queen, and Black resigned.

After the game Houdini recommended a direct attack on the Black King instead: 23.Bg5+ Be7 24.Bxe7+ Ke8 25.e6!? Qxd1+ 26.Qxd1 Rc6 27.Qh5+ g6 28.Qe5 Rxe6 29.Qxe6 Rf8 30.Bh4 checkmate.