Yesterday's post, "Special Delivery From Russia", featured a game between Philidor 1792 and Endeavornick, where, at the end, I suggested that Black might have played on, to investigate the drawing possibilities of a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame.
Interestingly enough, the following position, with Philidor 1792 as White to move, is from another game between the two same opponents, although I do not know if it was played earlier or later.
Here, too, White's advantage is an isolated c-pawn.
The game should be drawn with proper play.
Then, again, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) should be won for Black with proper play, too.
51.Bh2 Kc6 52.Kd4 Bf5
Unthinkable. Clearly, time must have been very, very short.
53.Ke5
Ditto. Instead, 53.g8/Q leads to a forced mate.
However, here either Black resigned or Black lost on time, before he could level the game with 53...Bh7.
I have recently received a whole new selection of Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games from Philidor1792 (aka Филидор1792), whose earlier contributions (see "Where Do Ideas Come From?" Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) were good for a lot of new thinking.
This first game is a reminder to the defender of the old saying "Act in haste, repent at leisure."
Филидор1792 (1932) - Endeavornick (1934)
Internet online game, blitz, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4
How much thought did Black put into this move?
Was he simply taking one piece away from the pawn fork?
Was he setting up a pin on the Knight on c3?
8.dxe5 Nxe4 9.Qd5+ Black resigned
My guess is that White's 9th move surprised Black, and hence the resignation. A more phlegmatic opponent might have hung around and seen if 9...Ke8 10.Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 d5 12.exd6 Qxd6 was worth some attention, as White's advantage would have been one doubled, isolated pawn; and a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame might develop.
On the other hand, maybe it was more fun to just set up the pieces again!
