Saturday, December 14, 2013

Jerome Gambit-Inspired Play (Part 2)

Here we have another game from Philidor 1792 which appears to have been inspired by the Jerome Gambit. After a balanced opening, things suddenly shift - against White. Only by complicating - by attacking - is the first player able to turn things around and in his favor. Violent 3-minute chess.


Philidor 1792 - guest4211
3 0 blitz, www.bereg.ru, 2013

1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 Nxe4 3.Bxf7+ 




The Krejcik Gambit against Alekhine's Defense. Here's a bit of information about it at the Hanging Pawn blog site. It's been touched on a couple of times earlier in this blog - see "I want my Jerome Gambit!" and "Another Krejcik".


3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxe4 Bg7 




7.Qf4+ Kg8 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.d4 d6 10.Nc3 Qf6 11.Qe4 Nxd4 12.Be3 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 d5 


14.Qa4 Qxf3 15.Kd2 c6 16.Rag1 Bd7 17.h4 e5 18.Qb3 b5 19.h5 Qf7 


20.Bc5 a5 21.h6 Bf6 22.Rg3 Qe6 23.Rhg1 Kf7 24.Rf3 e4 




Here, White now has a crazy, equalizing attack with 25.Nxe4 dxe4 26.Rxf6!?, but such things are easier to find in the calmness after the game.


25.Rf4 Qe5 26.Ne2 Bf5 27.Bd4 Qe7 28.Qc3 Rac8 




Black feels sufficiently defended (he is mistaken), and begins to attack again.


29.Rxf5 gxf5 30.Bxf6 Qxf6 31.Rg7+ Ke6 32.Nf4+ Black resigned




Black is losing his Queen and will soon be checkmated.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Jerome Gambit-Inspired Play (Part 1)

Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Philidor 1792 is back with a whole passle of attacking 3-minute chess games, with tactical themes inspired by the Jerome Gambit. Of course, at such a time limit, the first rule almost always has to be: Attack! Attack! Attack!

guest34 - Philidor 1792

3 0 blitz, www.bereg.ru, 2013

1.d4 e5


The Englund Gambit, sometimes referred to as the Charlick Gambit, the latter being an Australian player with a connection to the Jerome Gambit.


2.c4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nf6


The game has transposed into a Budapest Gambit.


4.Nxd4 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bc5 6.Nb3 Bxf2+ 




Just when the game was becoming a bit "normal", Black stirs it up again, Jerome Gambit-style.


7.Kxf2 Ne4+ 8.Kg1 Qf6 9.Be3 Qxb2



A bit of a bluff, which 10.Bd4 would call - but, remember this is a 3-minute game, and one of the best ways to stifle an attack is to swap Queens...


10.Qd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 0-0 12.Nc3 Re8 13.e3 




What a difference a move-order change makes: best was 13.Nxe4 Rxe4 and then 14.e3 


13...Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Rxe3 15.Bd4 Re6 16.Bd3 Nc6 17.Kf2 a5



In blitz, whenever you can, make a threat.


18.Bc3 d6 19.Nd4 Rf6+ 20.Kg3 Ne5 21.Rhd1 Nxd3 22.Rxd3 b6




23.Nc6 Rg6+ 24.Kf2 Kf8 25.g3 Bb7 26.Nd4 Re8 27.Nb5 Rg5



28.Nd4 Rc5 29.Re1 Rxe1 30.Bxe1 Rxc4 31.Nf5 Rc2+ 32.Rd2 Rc5 and here White's time expired. 




Black's four extra pawns are probably better than White's extra Knight. 


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Lost in the Maze; Then Just Lost


If, occasionally, both my opponent and I get lost in the maze of the Jerome Gambit, I feel reassured that it is my maze, and that I will still be able to find my way out, safely.

perrypawnpusher - tjaksi
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 




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


7.Qd5+ Kf6 

Alert! Possible trouble on the d8-h4 diagonal!

8.d4 

Interestingly enough, Houdini shows about a half-pawn preference for 8.Qxc5 over the text. That is not immediately obvious, although both  MrJoker and I have generally had success with that move - perrypawnpusher - zsilber, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); perrypawnpusher - useche, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 22); perrypawnpusher - wbrandl, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 28); MrJoker - ipon, Internet Chess Club, 2011 (1-0, 33); and MrJoker -vicwill, Internet Chess Club, 2011 (1-0, 12).

8...h6

My opponent responds to the perceived threat. The computer prefers 8...Bb4+ 9.c3  and then 9...Ke7, allowing for the Black Knight to intervene at f6, e.g. 10.Bg5+ Nf6 when White will recover one of his two sacrificed pieces, but Black will still have the advantage.

Instead, 8...Bb4+ 9.c3 c6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - whitepandora, blitz, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 41); while 8...d6 9.Bg5 checkmate, from mrjoker - Taj, Internet Chess Club, 2009 also has to be mentioned.

9.Qxc5 N8e7 10.e5+ Kf7 11.Qc4+ Kf8 12.0-0 b6 


Black is preparing to take advantage of White's pieces on the a6-f1 diagonal. It was probably better to play the straight-forward 12...d5. 

13.f4 a5 14.f5 Ba6 

Much to my opponent's delight, I have fallen into his trap: the Black Bishop skewers my Queen. However, I've suggested in "BSJG: Don't Try To Out-Think Me", and here is another case of that. Instead, after the game Houdini recommended the related 14...Nxe5 15.dxe5 Ba6 when 16.Qe4 Bxf1 17.Kxf1 d5 18.exd6 cxd6 19.Nc3 d5 would be about equal, White having a pawn for the exchange.

While Black was planning his maneuver, I used my moves to allow a discovered check.

15.fxg6+ Ke8 16.Qf7 checkmate


Sunday, December 8, 2013

What You Don't See CAN Hurt You (on the dark diagonals)


After the previously posted game, my opponent challenged me to a game with White, and, after I introduced him to "the cheapo defense to the Scotch Opening", we went back at it again with the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

There are some howlers in the following game, but there are some points of interest, as well.

perrypawnpusher  - michon
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 




The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7 6.c3 



Again, Black's King ends up on e7 - but that is okay for this variation.

My move is more accurate than the 6.Qh5 in perrypawnpusher - vlas, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 26). 

6...d6 

In turn, this is an improvment over 6...Ne6 seen in perrypawnpusher - Macgregr, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 56). 

7.cxd4 dxe5 8.dxe5 

Here, the computers now like 8...Qd3 9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 c5 with and edge for Black. White has three "Jerome pawns" for his sacrificed piece.

8... Bg4 9.f3 

Okay, okay, let's just move along here...

I think my opponent just overlooked the fact that his Bishop was unprotected. I've noticed that I have a tendency to respond to "impossible" moves (impossible in my deliberations) with knee-jerk, stereotypical moves (Bishop attack; block Bishop).

9...Bh5 10.d4 c5 11.Bg5+ 

The same kind of problem on the same diagonal as last game.

11...Nf6 12.exf6+ gxf6 13.Be3 Kf7 



Black's two Bishops don't make up for his two (soon three) lost pawns.

14.Nc3 Bg7 15.dxc5 f5 16.0-0 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qf6 



Played too quickly. Now the a1-h8 dark diagonal joins the d8-h4 diagonal as a source of pain.

18.Bd4 Qb6 Black resigned

A mouse-slip on the final, fatal dark diagonal, a7-f2, is enough to turn over his King.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit: Don't Try To Out-Think Me



Instead of trying to find something "new" in the Jerome Gambit variations (in this case, the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit) it is far simpler - and far more important - for Black to simply play the established lines and go for the win.

My opponent in the following game tries to get ahead of me in terms of thinking - this was wasted effort.


perrypawnpusher - michon
blitz, FICS, 2013

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



The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.


4...Ke7


Black was hoping for 4.Nxe5?!, so that he could play the thematic 4...Qg5!?.


White White has a number of 4th moves that give him an advantage (e.g. 4.Nxd4, 4.0-0, 4.c3) I have always been partial to 4.Bxf7+, which, objectively leads to an even game, but which, subjectively, leads to a lot of fun play for White.


I have referred to Black's refusal of the piece on move 4 as some kind of "Jedi mind trick" but The Force is not strong in this one...


Black should try to out-play me, not try to out-think me.


5.Bxg8 d6 


This not an improvement on the more reasonable 5...Rxg8, which was played by my opponent against me a month ago in perrypawnpusher - michon, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 41). Obviously, my 4.Bxf7+ at that time did not make an impression upon him.


6.d3 Be6 


Way too casual. One problem is that there isn't even time to capture the Bishop with 6...Rxg8.


7.Bg5+ Kd7 8.Bxd8 Black resigned




Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Chessic Hurricane


The 6...Ng6 defense to the Jerome Gambit, setting up (after the capture of Black's dark-squared Bishop) the piece vs two pawns conflict, gives White a lot of chance for dynamic play.

Bill Wall's latest Jerome shows Whites game developing into a chessic hurricane.


Wall,B - Guest392045

PlayChess.com, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 




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



7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6



10.d3 Qe7 11.0-0 Bd7 12.f4 Kg8 13.Nc3 h6



Black plans to castle-by-hand, putting his King on h7. This will link his Rooks and help complete his development, but the time spent will help White advance his plans, too.


14.f5 


Bill pointed out that 14.d4 was also possible, and maybe the tiniest bit better than the text. White's advance is pure Jerome, however.


14...Ne5 15.h3 Kh7 16.g4 


 Or 16.b3 with 17.Bb2 to follow. Black is still better.


16...Rhf8 17.b3 Bc6 18.Bb2 Rae8 19.Rae1 b6 20.Ne2 Bb7 21.Nf4 



Both sides have focused on development. White is now threatening 22.Bxe5 and 23.Ng6, forking his opponent's Queen and Rook .


21...Qd7 22.Ne6


White's Knight is powerful enough that Black cannot let it stand.


22...Rxe6 23.fxe6 Qxe6 24.Rf5 Re8




Black's edge is small. White will continue to focus  on the enemy King's position.


25.Ref1 Nfd7 26.g5 Qg6 27.Kh2 Bc8 28.gxh6



28...gxh6


A slip. Bill gives the tactical line to maintain equality: 28...Nf6 29.Bxe5 Bxf5 30.Bxf6 Qxf6 31.Qg3 g6 32.exf5 Re2+ 33.Rf2 Rxf2+ 34.Qxf2 gxf5.


White has a Rook for two Knights. He has time to put the Rook on the g-file.


29.Rg1 Qe6


Black threatens 30... Qxf5 31.exf5 Ng4+ and 32...Rxe3


30.Bc1 Rf8


Missing the threat. He should, instead, as Bill points out, play 30...Rg8 31.Rxg8 Kxg8 32.Qxh6 Qxh6 33.Bxh6. Black would have two pieces vs a Rook and two pawns, but his situation would be better than after the text.


31.Rgf1


Even stronger, according to Bill, is 31.d4, e.g.  31...Nc6 (31...Nf7 32.Qg3; 31...Ng6 32.Qxh6+ Kg8 33.Rxg6+) 32.d5 when Black's need to protect h6 cripples his play.


31...Rg8 




32.Rf6!


Black resigned.


Monday, December 2, 2013

Blitz Can Be So Cruel

It's not always nice to repeat myself, but, here I go, from "Not So Fast There!"

In blitz chess, the moves come fast, but the thoughts come faster.

Much better that way, than the other way around.



My opponent was on his way to one of the most potent refutations of the Jerome Gambit - until he wasn't. Blitz can be so cruel.

perrypawnpusher - paolinoscottino
blitz, FICS, 2013

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



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ 



I always hate it when an opponent rattles off his moves like a machine gun, entering such a deadly line as this one.

9.g3 Qg4 

Okay, either he was bluffing, he forgot how the line plays out, or he was engaging in a bit of you-check-my-King-and-I'll-check-your-King which turns out not to be so harmless.

10.fxe5+

A wicked Zwischenzug, as in the last post.

Here,  Black resigned in perrypawnpusher  - vastatorjf, blitz, FICS, 2013

10...Kc6 11.Qxg4 d6 12.Qxg7 Be6 13.Qxh8 Bg4 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.O-O Bc5+ 16.d4 Bd6 17.e5 Be7 18.Qxh7 Be2 19.Qe4+ Kd7 20.Qxe2 Black resigned