Showing posts with label nmuffjgp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nmuffjgp. Show all posts

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Jerome Gambit: The Science of the Draw?! (Part 1)



I just completed my second Jerome Gambit game in the ongoing "Italian Battleground" tournament at Chess.com. It put me very much in mind of the questions raised in the recent post "Jerome Gambit: The Eternal Question of Draws".

It felt, at first, like I was dropping 1/2 a point, but by the end of the game it appeared like I had won 1/2 a point. In any event, it is appropriate to speak well of my opponent, Krisstianes_017, whose scientific approach to defending against the opening was successful - if you call achieving a draw against a "refuted" opening a success. (Another "eternal question".)

(Although my "escape" into a drawn endgame a pawn down was very much "scientific" as well, as it involved knowledge and experience with Bishops-of-opposite-colors.)  


perrypawnpusher - Krisstianes_017
"Italian Battleground", Chess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 



The same line chosen by Abhishek29 in my other Jerome Gambit (so far) in the same tournament. For a short while I was worried that I would be playing the same game, twice.

7.Qd5+

Again, the "nudge".

7...Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.O-O Be6


Black is developing his minor pieces, but this move is probably not best, as it summons the move f2-f4 (threatening a pawn fork with f4-f5) from White.

After the game, in preparing this blog post, I asked Stockfish 9 to evaluate the move 10...Be6. At a depth of 30 ply, it saw the resulting position as equal. That is worth thinking about. Should Black be happy? Should White be happy?

It is funny to note, however, that after White plays 11.f4, Stockfish 9 - again, at 30 ply analysis depth - recommends returning the Bishop with 11...Bc8!? and evaluates the result as a slight edge to Black!

I have just recently begun using version 9 of Stockfish to help me understand my completed games, and this is not the only quirky output it has provide me.  

In any event, the computer prefers 10...Nh5!? (preventing f2-f4?) instead of the text.

11.f4 Ne7 

Interesting and good.

I faced 11...Bc4 in perrypawnpusher - avgur, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 43) as well as 11...Ng4 in perrypawnpusher - Verlen, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 23) and 11...Kd7 in perrypawnpusher - dirceu, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 16).

12.d4

Stockfish 9's recommendation is 12.f5 Bc8 13.c4 Nc6 14.d3, apparently seeing ...d7-d5 as worth preventing.

12...Kd7 

Courageously planning to castle-by-hand on the queenside. I can see why my opponent would not want to strike at the center until his King was safe.

Still, the computer's suggestion is 12...d5, and I faced that move in perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 22).

13.d5 Bf7 14.c4 Kc8 

15.e5 

My plan was to open the center and use my "Jerome pawns" to cause havoc amongst Black's minor pieces.

Amazingly, after the game Stockfish 9 recommended the line 15.Bd2 Kb8 16.Nc3 h5 17.Rae1 a5I was reminded of my ancient Fidelity Chess Challenger 7, that, when it assessed its King to be safe (wherever it was) and the position balanced, couldn't "think" of what to do, and so would advance its Rook pawns...  

15...dxe5 

This seems natural to me, but the computer doesn't like it, and prefers 15...Ng4 with an even game.

16.fxe5 Nfxd5 

Again, in the post mortem Stockfish 9 had a fit with this idea. I thought it was rather "scientific" to give back the sacrificed material and leave me with an isolated pawn.

17.cxd5 

Sigh. After the game, the compter had a fit with this move, too. I am glad I wasn't working with the old "talking" Fritz computer program that had a whole CD full of insults and sarcasm!


[to be continued] 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Again the Nightmare


In light of the earlier "The Pawns! The Pawns!", alternate titles for this post easily came to mind, such as "Nothing Succeeds Like Excess" or "Too Much is Not Enough" - but whatever you call it, today we see more bad dreams for Black, thanks to the "Jerome pawns."

Wall, Bill - Atacan

PlayChess.com, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 




4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 



7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 




9...Be6


Also seen is 9...N8e7, from perrypawnpusher - rsiemon, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0,23).


10.f4


Or 10.O-O, as in Wall,B - Parsom, Chess.com, 2010, (1-0, 25).


10...Bd7


The Bishop can  also go the other way, 10...Bf7, as in perrypawnpusher - Kingsmeal, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 25) and perrypawnpusher - GabrielChime, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33).


A more spirited reply is 10...Qh4+, as in perrypawnpusher - udofink, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 29). 


11.O-O N8e7 12.d4


Or 12.f5 as in perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 23).


12...h5


Black looks like he wants to join in the pawn fun, but he soon is out-played.


13.c4 h4 14.b4 h3 15.g3 Bg4 16.f5 Nf8 17.d5



The "Jerome pawns" in all their (initial) glory.


A humorous alternative, pointed out by Bill, is 17.Rf4 Bh5 18.Rh4 winning Black's advanced pawn.


17...c6 18.a4 cxd5 19.exd5 Qc7 20.Rf4 Bd1



Humorous, but Black cannot really afford this levity.


21.Nc3 Bc2 22.f6 gxf6 23.Nb5 Qb6 24.c5 dxc5 25.bxc5 Qa5




Now comes the finish, and the "Jerome pawns" do their part.


26.Rxf6 Qd8 27.Nd6+ Kd7 28.Nxb7 Qe8 29.c6+ Kc7 30.d6+ Kxc6 31.Qc5+ Kxb7 32.Qc7+ Ka6 33.d7+ Black resigned




Sunday, August 4, 2013

The Pawns! The Pawns!


I smiled as I played over this game, and I have to admit to imagining hearing violin music in the background - the kind in the movies that is used to heighten the tension, bit-by-bit... Or - was that the music from "Jaws"?

Or, as Tattoo might have said, "The pawns! The pawns!"

Very funny how the pawns advance to the center - and just sit there. Black does not believe in them, he takes swipes at them, he even thinks at the end that they have abandoned their Knight - but he can't keep his eyes off of them.

Neither could I.

Fun game, killer ending.

Nice game, Mr. Roarke.


(Or should I have said "I think we're going to need a bigger chess board"?)

Wall,B - Guest348906

PlayChess.com, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 




7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 N8e7 9.0-0


Bill has also played 9.Nc3, e.g. 9...b6 10.Qh5 d6 11.f4 Kd7 12.f5 Nf8 13.Qg4 Kc6 14.Qxg7 Nd7 15.f6 Qg8 16.0-0 Qxg7 17.fxg7 Rg8 18.Rf7 Ng6 19.Nd5 Re8 20.d4 Ba6 21.Nb4+ Kb5 22.Bd2 Re7 23.b3 Nc5 24.c4+ Ka5 25.Nd5 checkmate, Wall,B - Andr,T, Chess.com, 2010.


9...Rf8 


This looks like a TN, preparing to castle-by-hand.


Previously: 9...d6, as in perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 23); and 9...b6 as in perrypawnpusher - Lark, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 59) and perrypawnpusher - jdvatty, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28). 


10.d4 Kf7 11.f4 Kg8


The position is just about even.


12.g4 


A bit more prudent would have been 12.f5.


12...d6 


Black would have done better striking at the center, suggests Houdini 3: 12...d5 13.f5 b6 14.Qc3 dxe4 15.fxg6 Rxf1+ 16.Kxf1 Nxg6. 


13.Qh5 Qd7 


Targetting the pawns. Bill suggests instead 13...Nc6 14.Be3 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Nxf4


14.f5 Nh8 15.c4 Rf6 16.Nc3 Nc6 17.Nd5  Rf8 18.Be3



Mesmerising, aren't they?


18...Na5 19. b3 c6 20.Nc3 d5





This move does not stem the tide of pawns.

21.cxd5 cxd5 22.Nxd5 Re8 23.e5


A little bait, that Black goes for.


23...Qxd5 24.Qxe8 checkmate




Saturday, September 3, 2011

One Step Behind



My opponent's play was bold enough to give me trouble, and even if he did not solve all of the mysteries of the Jerome Gambit, he played a game which left me feeling constantly as if I were one step behind. 

 
perrypawnpusher - magza
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+


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


7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Be6

This move provokes f2-f4 by White, but it is only the beginning of Black's sharp play.

10.0-0

Or 10.f4 as in mrjoker - Melbourne, blitz, ICC, 2008 (1-0, 38), mrjoker - tomnoah, ICC, 2009 (0-1, 42), perrypawnpusher - GabrielChime, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33); perrypawnpusher - udofink, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 29), and perrypawnpusher - Kingsmeal, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 25).

10...Kd7



My opponent practically screams "Come and get me!"

Alternatives include 10...Qf6, as in perrypawnpusher - OverwiseMan, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 24); 10...Nf6, as in perrypawnpusher - dirceu, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 16) and perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 22); and 10...h6 as in MrJoker - pds1, ICC, 2011 (1-0, 28).

(All of the games referred to can be found in The Database.)


11.f4 N6e7 12.f5 Bf7 13.d4 Bc4 14.Rd1 Nf6


Black's pieces keep close watch on White's "Jerome pawns."

"Just a couple more moves," I told myself, "and I'll have an even game."

15.b3

Either 15.e5 or 15.Na3 might have been a tiny bit better.

15...Ba6 16.Nc3

A curious move.

I know that I did not play 16.e5 because I was worried about 16...Nxf5, but that was just poor "analysis", as 17.Qf3 wins back the sacrificed piece with advantage to White. Black does better to answer 16.e5 with 16...Ng4, and after 17.Qg5 he holds his own (or better) in the tactics on the Kingside.

Consistent was 16.c4 followed by 17.Nc3.

16...Re8

This move was my "opportunity", the one that usually comes knocking in the Jerome Gambit. Black's best was 16...Qf8 working against the line given concerning 15.e5. In fact, White's next move should be 17.e5.

17.Qg5 Rg8 18.e5 Nfd5


19.Bb2

Developing the Bishop, protecting the Knight, uniting the Rooks: and it all still feels too slow.

After the game, Houdini suggested 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qg4 (coming soon: c2-c4) with an edge for White.

19...h6 20.Qd2 Nxc3 21.Bxc3 Nxf5


Bleh. A score-and-one moves, and White has little to say about his position, while Black's pieces are beginning to glow again.

22.d5 Qe7

Possible, and better, was 22...dxe5

23.e6+ Kc8 24.Bb2 b6 25.c4 Kb7


Black has castled-by-hand on the Queenside, and his light-squared Bishop looks a little bit odd. White has his dark-squared Bishop on a strong diagonal, and a protected, passed pawn at e6.

Houdini gives Black only a slight edge, but the question is: Where will White get his play? Black's pieces are well-placed to defend against the one plan that suggests itself, infiltrating along the f-file to f7: 26.Rf1 Raf8 27.Rf2 g6 28.Raf1 h5.

26.b4

Opting to stir things up on the Queenside.

26...Bxc4 27.Rdc1

Making the same kind of mistake referred to in the notes to White's 16th move, concerning 16.e5. Here the right move was 27.Qf4, although after 27...Bxd5 28.Rxd5 g6 Black has returned his extra piece for some pawns, and is a pawn ahead.

White's e-pawn would be weak, not strong, and that would give Black the advantage in the long run.

White's game now just flows from bad to worse.

27...b5 28.a4 a6 29.a5 g6 30.Rxc4 bxc4 31.Rc1 Qg5 32.Qxg5 hxg5 33.Rxc4 Ne3

White's sacrifice of the exchange only means that he is now a Rook behind.

34.Re4 Nxd5 35.Rg4 Rae8 36.Rxg5 Nxb4 37.Rg4 Nd3 38.Bc3 Rxe6 39.Rd4 Nc5 40.Rb4+ Kc6 White resigned






Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Given Enough Time...



Given enough time, if Black uses moves to shuttle his pieces here, there, and everywhere
White's "Jerome pawns" can become dangerous and cause Black many headaches...



perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+


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


7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 N8e7


9.0-0 d6

Or 9...b6 10.Qe3 Bb7 (10...Rf8 11.f4 d6 12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Nc4 14.Qg3 Rf7 15.Nc3 Kf8 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bc1 Bb7 18.f6 Rxf6 19.Rxf6+ gxf6 20.Bxh6+ Ke8 21.Qg7 Kd7 22.Qg4+ Ke8 23.Qg7 Nd2 24.Qxf6 Bxe4 25.Nxe4 Nxe4 26.Qh8+ Kd7 27.Qxd8+ Rxd8 28.Re1 Nf5 29.Rxe4 Nxh6 30.Rh4 Nf5 31.Rh7+ Kc6 32.c3 Re8 33.Kf2 a5 34.b3 Rf8 35.Ke2 Re8+ 36.Kd2 Ne3 37.Rg7 Nf1+ 38.Kd3 Nxh2 39.g4 Nf3 40.g5 Nh4 41.c4 Nf5 42.d5+ Kb7 43.Rh7 Re7 44.Rxe7 Nxe7 45.Ke4 Ng6 46.Kf5 Nh4+ 47.Kf6 Kc8 48.g6 Nxg6 49.Kxg6 Kd7 50.Kf6 c6 51.Kf7 cxd5 52.cxd5 b5 53.a3 Kc7 54.Ke7 b4 55.a4 Kb6 56.Kxd6 Ka6 57.Kc6 Ka7 58.Kc7 Ka6 59.d6 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - Lark, blitz, FICS, 2009) 11.f4 Rf8 (11...Kf7 12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Nc4 14.Qf4 Rf8 15.b3 Nd6 16.Nc3 Kg8 17.Ba3 Ng6 18.Qg4 Ne7 19.f6 g6 20.fxe7 Qxe7 21.Rae1 Rxf1+ 22.Rxf1 Nxe4 23.Bxe7 Nxc3 24.Qxd7 Ba6 25.Bf6 Ne2+ 26.Kh1 Ng3+ 27.hxg3 Bxf1 28.Qg7, checkmate, perrypawnpusher - jdvatty, blitz, FICS, 2010) 12.d4 d6 13.f5 Nh8 14.g4 Qd7 15.c4 Nf7 16.Nc3 Kd8 17.b3 h6 18.h4 g5 19.h5 Nc6 20.Ba3 Qe8 21.Rad1 Kd7 22.e5 Nfxe5 23.dxe5 Qxe5 24.Qd3 Rae8 25.Rde1 Qd4+ 26.Qxd4 Nxd4 27.Rxe8 Rxe8 28.Bb2 Nf3+ 29.Kf2 Nh2 30.Rg1 Bf3 31.Rg3 Bxg4 32.Rg2 Bxf5 33.Rxh2 c6 34.Kf3 Rf8 35.Kg3 Be6 36.Ne2 c5 37.Bg7 Rf1 38.Bxh6 Ra1 39.Nc3 Rg1+ 40.Kf2 g4 41.Kxg1 g3 42.Rg2 Bg4 43.Rxg3 Bxh5 44.Ne4 Kc6 45.Rg5 b5 46.Rxh5 bxc4 47.bxc4 a5 48.Bf4 a4 49.Rh6 Kb6 50.Rxd6+ Ka5 51.Bd2 checkmate, guest1730 - guest1656, Internet Chess Club, 2001.

10.Qe3 Be6


Or 10...Rf8 11.d4 c5 12.c3 Bd7 13.f4 Rc8 14.f5 Bxf5? 15.exf5 Rxf5 16.Rxf5 Qd7 17.Rf1 cxd4 18.cxd4 Rc2 19.Nc3 Qg4 20.Qf3 Qxd4+ 21.Be3 Qe5 22.Rae1 Nh4 23.Qf7+ Kd7 24.Bf2 Qg5 25.Rxe7+ Kc6 26.Rc7 checkmate, guest6567 - guest4702, Internet Chess Club 2004.


11.f4 Bd7 12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 N5c6 14.g4




14...h6


Better was 14...Ng8.


15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Nb4



Instead, Black should be thinking about giving the piece back for two pawns, and taking advantage of his lead in development, for example: 16...Rf8 17.Nc3 Nxf5 18.gxf5 Rxf5 19.Rxf5 Bxf5 with an even game.


 


analysis diagram








17.Qc5 Nbd5


18.f6 gxf6 19.exf6 b6


Black's game suddenly goes to pieces.

After the game Stockfish suggested 19...Bxg4 20.fxe7 Qd6 21.Qxd6 cxd6 which gives White only a small edge, if that. For example, 22.Bxh6!? Kxe7 23.Bg5+ Kd7 24.Nd2 Rag8



analysis diagram








20.Qd4 Nxf6



21.Qxf6 Nf5 22.Qxh8+ Ke7 23.Re1+ Black resigned





Tuesday, July 6, 2010

...and you will enjoy it...

Here is another post-Nemesis Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), and one that I enjoyed, even though I had to pursue my opponent through the opening, the middle game, and the endgame in order to capture the full point.

perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+  Ng6


7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6


10.f4  Qe7

Placing the Black Queen at e7 has been popular, of late.

11.Nc3 Bd7 12.O-O Bc6 13.d3 Rf8


Black has good pressure against White's center ("Jerome pawns") and should continue to castle-by-hand.

14.f5 Ne5 15.Qh3 Qf7


16.Bg5

After the game Rybka recommended: 16. d4 Neg4 17. Qd3 as more energetic for White.

16...Qh5 17.Qxh5+ Nxh5 18.d4 Nf7 19.Bh4 Nf6


This Queenless middle game is about even. With his King on g8, Black would be better.

20.Rae1 h6 21.e5 dxe5 22.dxe5 Nh5


The Knight needed to hunker down at g8, instead.

23.g4 Rd8

An oversight.

24.Bxd8 Kxd8 25.gxh5 Ng5


26. Re3 Ke7 27. f6+ Kf7 28. h4 Ne6 29.fxg7+ Kxg7 30. Rg3+ Kh7 31. Rxf8 Nxf8


The exchange and the passed pawn are enough for White to win.

32. Ne2 Be4 33. c3 Bd5 34. a3 Bf7 35. Nf4


35...Nd7 36. e6 Be8 37. exd7 Black resigned