Tuesday, September 16, 2014

An Interesting Contrast



After looking at perrypawnpusher - hicks, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2014 in the last post, I was playing over Philidor 1792 - Sauron 2005, 3 0 blitz, 2014, when I noticed an interesting contrast.


In the previous game, Black was done in by the fact that all but one of his pieces were on the back rank - a positional concession that had a tremendously negative impact. Here, the situation is completely different: Black can hold off White's attack by retreating - 18...Nh8 19.Kb1 Qd8.



analysis diagram






Instead, Sauron 2005 counter-attacked, and lost.

18.Qxa2 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.Qxf6 Bg7 21.Qxg6 Bd7 22.Nh5 Re7 23.Nf6+ Kf8 24.Rh8+ Bxh8 25.Qg8 checkmate



Sunday, September 14, 2014

Professor Houdini (Part 2)


Here we continue the lessons from my last Jerome Gambit, a 2 12 blitz game. Tacticians are encouraged to follow along and discover what I and my opponent missed, and what Houdini later pointed out.

perrypawnpusher - ficshicks

blitz 2 12, FICS, 2014

Here I had just played 13.Nc4+, but, instead, after 13.Qc3!, Houdini rates White over a Rook ahead! 





analysis diagram



White is threatening mate, starting with Qb3+. Black can cover the checkmate square at b5, create "luft" (for his King or Bishop), as well as attack White's center with 13...c6 - if he needs to return a piece, this would make ...Nxd5 more do-able, allowing the Bishop to retreat along the a3-f8 diagonal.

White can then press on with 14.Be3+ Ka6 (if 14...Kc7 then 15.Nb5+ Kb8 16.Nxd6 with a two pawn advantage and an overwhelming position for White) 15.Nc4 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bf8 17.0-0-0





analysis diagram




While on the board White has one more pawn, Houdini rates the first player to be about a Queen ahead. I can not figure all that out, but it has to be due to all those undeveloped Black pieces! Mate or the win of a major piece is not yet apparent, but White clearly is better...

13...Kb5


Because of White's inaccuracy on the previous move (12.Nc4+ instead of 12.Qc3!), Black has the option of 13...Ka6 when after 14.Nxd6 cxd6 15.Qxd6+ b6 White has to make use of his 3 extra pawns against Black's extra piece, a relatively more difficult assignment.


14.a4+


A fitting cheapo - that works.


14...Kxc4


Once again, a6 is the safer square for the Black King to retreat to, when c3 would be the right square for the White Queen. It is hard not to point out that after 14...Ka6 15.Qc3 b6 (best) White would have the hilarious 16.Na5!?, when Black would have to find 16...c6 just to stave off - temporarily - disaster.


15.Qc3 checkmate



Friday, September 12, 2014

Professor Houdini (Part 1)


The other day I played a 2 12 blitz Jerome Gambit game, checkmating my opponent in 15 moves. A simple thing? Hardly. With the help of Houdini, afterwards, I discovered that my opponent and I had missed a whole lot.

perrypawnpusher - ficshicks

blitz 2 12, FICS, 2014

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




4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Ne7




This is not Black's strongest defense.


An error by the defender, especially in an opening as sketchy as the Jerome Gambit, is a gift. The attacker should know what kind of gift that it is, and respond accordingly. In this case, it is important to realize that White can regain his sacrificed material, but that Black can find safety for his King.


9.Qxe5+


At this point, Black resigned in perrypawnpusher - ktonthat, blitz 10 5, FICS, 2009.


9...Kc6


Here, Black resigned in perrypawnpusher - Greystroke, blitz, FICS, 2012.


10.d4


I had forgotten that 10.Qc3 is the right move here, because a past opponent and I quickly left the path with 10...Qf8 11.d4 Qf6 12.Qxc5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - nicolasalk, blitz, FICS, 2009.


Instead of expanding his pawn center, and dreaming of checkmate, White should think of pinning and winning the Black Bishop after 10...b6 11.b4 d6 12.d4 Kb7 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.dxc5 Nc6 when Black's King is safe, and White is ahead a couple of pawns.


Even at that point, White should modestly play 15.0-0, instead of grabbing more matrial with 15.cxb6 axb6 16.Qxg7 because of 16...Rg8 17.Qc3 Rxg2 when Black would be winning!


10...Bd6


Stronger was 10...d6, as in perrypawnpusher - vypux, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 20). In that game I was able to get away with 11.Qxg7  because my opponent missed 11...Nf5! 12.exf5 Qe8+ 13.Kd1 Bxf5 after which, if anything, Black would have an edge, despite his two-pawn deficit. Note that 14.dxc5? now would be crushed by  14...Qh5+ Instead White should try the sharp 14.d5+!? 
when Black would be prudent to reply 14...Kb6,



analysis diagram





with in an unclear position where White's King is in more danger than his counterpart, and Black's 2 Bishops and better Rooks give him the more threatening prospects. 

Also, 10...Bb4+ 11.Nc3 (11.c3 is better) appeared in perrypawnpusher - TheChessInnovator, blitz, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 43).

(Having played the line 5 times previously, and apparently having learned very little in the process, I am reminded of the Firesign Theater album, "Everything You Know Is Wrong"!) 

11.d5+ Kb5 


Safer was 11...Kb6 when after 12.Qc3 White has to develop and make threats against the enemy King while taking advantage of Black's trapped (thanks to the Knight on e7) Bishop. Black can, in some situations, consider returning his Knight instead with a well-timed ...Nxd5 followed by a Bishop retreat. Houdini puts White's advantage at less than a pawn, and shows no direct checkmates. 

12.Na3+


This move was based on the simple idea 12...Bxa3 13.bxa3 and then White will have the use of the b-file for a winning attack on the enemy King.


However, after the game Houdini pointed out that after 13...Ka6 there is no "winning attack on the enemy King" and that all White has left is 14.Qxg7 Rg8 15.Qd4 b6 (Not 15...Rxg2 right off because 16.Qa4+ Kb6 17.Rb1+ Kc5 18.Qb4#) 16.0-0 when Black's King escapes with 16...Kb7 and the game is about even.


Instead 12.Qd4 was the move to make, and then White's threats against Black's Bishop and King would give him the advantage, although it would still be a long time before the game would be decided.


12...Kb6 


As suggested above, 12...Ka6 would again leave White with little more than 13.Qxg7 when 13...b6, 13...Ng6 or 13...Re8 (followed by 14.0-0) all look about even. 

13.Nc4+ 



[to be continued]

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Being Helpful Hurts


The following Jerome Gambit game features a couple of "helpful" moves by Black, "encouraging" White to go ahead and make the moves he was already planning on making. White is helped by this, but Black is harmed.

Wall,B - Guest1105387
PlayChess.com, 2014

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


There are 141 games with this position in The Database. White scores a pleasant 68%.

10.f3 

Bill's idea.

10...Kf7 11.0-0 

Instead, 11.d4 Re8 12.0-0 was seen in Wall,B - Guest3544144, PlayChess.com, 2013 (1-0, 35). 

11...Be6 12.Nc3 Rf8 13.f4 Ne7 14.f5 Bd7 15.d4 Kg8


Black has castled-by-hand. White has his broad pawn center.

16.Qd3 Nc6

Bill suggests, instead, the center strike 16...d5

17.Bg5 Qe8

Black slips out of the pin. As an alternative, Bill mentions 17...Kh8

18.Rae1 h6

This move seems to encourage White to make a move he already planned on making. Again, Bill suggests 18...Kh8

After the game, Houdini found 18...Qh5!?, with the wild continuation 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Nd5 Rac8 21.Re3 Kh8 22.Rh3 Qf7 23.Rf4 Ne7 24.Rxh7+ Qxh7 25.Nxe7 Qxe7 26.Rh4+ Kg8 27.Qg3+ Qg7 28.Rg4 Qxg4 29.Qxg4+ Kf7 30.e5 dxe5 31.dxe5 fxe5 32.Qg6+ Ke7 33.Qg5+ and a draw by repetition. Typical computer: it sees White as worse off at the start of the line, and therefore the first player should be happy with a draw.

I showed the line to Bill, who said he probably would have simply met 18...Qh5 with 19.Bf4. Very human.

19.Bxf6 Rxf6

Again, this adds momentum to White's play. Better for Black was 19...gxf6 20.Nd5 Rc8. 

20.Nd5 Rf8

Black's game begins to slide downhill.

21.Nxc7 Qc8 22.Nxa8 Qxa8 23.f6 Rxf6 24.Rxf6 gxf6 25.e5 



A clearance sacrifice to allow White's Queen to approach the Black King. Black's best defense, now, 25...Qf8, is still not enough: 26.Qb3+ Kh8 27.Qxb7 Qe7 28.e6 Be8 29.Qxe7 Nxe7 30.c4. The Rook and three extra pawns will overwhelm the defending Knight and Bishop.

25...fxe5 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Qxh6+ Kg8 28.Rf1 Qe8 29.Qg5+ Kh8 30.Rf6 Black resigned


Monday, September 8, 2014

Okay With The Delay


Lately, not a lot of opponents have answered 3...Bc5, which would give Bill Wall a chance to play the Jerome Gambit. In the following game he shows some patience, and it turns out that he is okay with the delay.

Wall,B - Marz
PlayChess.com, 31.08.2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 


The Two Knights Defense.


4.0-0


This reasonable move was looked at in "Jerome Gambit vs Two Knights Defense (Part 4)".


Bill has also played 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 as in Wall,B - Samvazpr, Chess.com 2010 (0-1, 25); Wall,B - Roberts, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 17); Wall,B - DarkKnight, Cocoa Beach, FL 2012 (1-0, 23); Wall,B - Guest1459913, PlayChess.com, 2013 (1-0, 38);  Wall,B - Hamilton,E, FICS 2011 (1-0, 22); Wall,B - Guest1872464, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 30).


Of course, Philidor1792 has played 4.Bxf7+ here, any way, in 3-minute games.


4...Bc5


Or 4...Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ as in Wall, B - NTLZ, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 42).


Now there is a chance for a Delayed Jerome Gambit.


5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 




This kind of retreat is seen by White in response to the "fork trick" in the Italian Four Knights Game. Here 7...d6 improves.


8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 Nxe4


Looking for more trouble. Instead, 9...Bd6 10.e5 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 d5 12.exf6 gxf6 when White has an edge.


10.fxe5+ Nf6


Defense with 10...Ke8 is best, but after 11.Qg4 Qe7 12.Qxe4 White is a piece up.


11.exf6 g6 


Now the Jerome Gambiteer finishes with style.


12.Qd5+ Kf8 13.Bh6+ Ke8 14.f7+ Ke7 15.Qe5 checkmate




Saturday, September 6, 2014

Always Good To Remember


parischess - timmisiewicz
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Na5



This is not a Jerome Gambit variation, but it will happen often enough in your games that it is worth having an answer to it on hand.

4.Bxf7+ 

Of course, 4.Nxe5 is just fine, too. The text is the answer, though, if you were planning on playing the Jerome.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.d4 d6 



7.Qg4+ 

This is the right way to proceed.

7...Ke7 8.Bg5+ 

This move looks stronger than it is, however. Best is 8.Qg5+ Nf6 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Kf7 12.exf6 Qxf6 with a pawn advantage for White. 

8...Nf6 

9.Bxf6+ 

White goes ahead with his plan, but there is a bug in it. Best play, instead, leads to an unclear position, and, possibly, a draw by repetition. 

White should try 9.Qf3, getting his Queen out of the line of fire while focusing more attention on the Knight at f6. In turn, Black has 9...dxe5 10.dxe5 Kf7 11.exf6 gxf6 when White has his Jerome-traditional two pawns for a sacrificed piece. It is here that Houdini suggests 12.Nc3!? with wild play after 12...Kg7 (or 12...Rg8 13.Rd1 Bd6 14.Qh5+ Rg6 15.Qxh7+ Rg7 16.Qh5+ Rg6 drawing) 13.Nd5 fxg5 14.O-O-O!?. 



analysis diagram




Houdini and Stockfish see the position as equal, largely because White - two pieces down - can still work out a draw by repetition.

All in all, it might be better to remember 8.Qg5+.

9...gxf6 10.Qh4 

We can see that there is now too much going on for White to be able to take care of all of it.

10...Ke8 

But Black is still under his opponent's spell! After 10...dxe5 11.dxe5 Bg7) White does not have enough for his two sacrificed pieces. 

11.Qh5+ Ke7 12.Qf7 checkmate



Thursday, September 4, 2014

Complicate, complicate, complicate


The Jerome Gambit player knows that there may be few - maybe one - chances to steer the game out of its "pre-ordained" path to "0-1" and so must be ready for opportunities as they arise. A primary way of creating an opportunity is to complicate play - and hope for the best.

fehim - GibletGrey

blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 




4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+


Whenever I see this "nudge" I suspect the player is familiar with the Jerome Gambit - and, perhaps, this blog.


7...Ke8 8.Qxc5 Nf6 9.d3 d6 10.Qb4 




10.Qe3 is more often seen, as in perrypawnpusher - tejeshwar, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 25) and perrypawnpusher - steelrfan44, GameKnot.com, 2009 (½-½, 25).


10.Qg5 was seen in fehim - polite, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 29).


10.Qa5 was seen in shugart - luisileon, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 39).


10...c5 11.Qc3 b6 12.0-0 Bb7 





13.Bg5 

13.b4!? is an interesting suggestion of Houdini, for example 13...d5 (13...cxb4 14.Qxb4) 14.bxc5 dxe4 15.Re1 Rc8 16.Qb3 Rxc5 17.Nc3 Bd5 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.dxe4 Qxb3 20.axb3 a5 21.c4 Kf7 when Black still holds the advantage of a piece vs two pawns. 


13...h6 14.Be3 Qd7 15.Nd2 Rf8 16.f4 Qg4 






This looks aggressive, but Black might have done better with the center push 16...d5.


17.h3


It might be the time for the thematic pawn push 17.f5, leading to a balanced game. White has a different move, and a pawn break, in mind.


17...Qh5 18.Nf3 Nh4 19.Nxh4 Qxh4 20.e5



White hopes to stir things up.


20...Qg3 21.Rf2 Qxe3


Black is happy to exchange pieces, and avoid further complications, but here he had the winning move 21...Nd5 available. Missing that shot, things turn bad. 


22.exf6 Qd4 23.Re1+ Kd7


The King would have been happier at d8, as we will see. 


24.fxg7


This move is okay, but more refined would be 24.Re7+ Kc6 25.Qxd4 cxd4 26.fxg7. 


24...Qxc3 


 Now if White simply recaptures the Queen, Black has time for 25...Rf7 and can be happy with his piece vs 2 pawns advantage.


25.gxf8N+


Nice underpromotion.


25...Kc6 26.bxc3 Rxf8 27.d4 Kb5 




Black's active King does not compensate for the lost exchange and White's two extra pawns.


28.a4+ Kc4 29.dxc5 dxc5 30.Re7 Bc6 31.Rxa7 Kxc3 32.a5 bxa5 33.Rxa5 c4 34.Ra6 Be4 35.Rxh6 Bxc2



36.Rc6 Bd3 37.g4 Kb4 38.f5 c3 39.f6 c2 40.g5 Kb3 41.h4 Kb2 42.h5 Kb1 43.g6 c1Q+ 44.Rxc1+ Kxc1



45.g7 Ra8 46.f7 Bh7 47.f8Q Ra1 48.Kh2 Ra3 49.Qxa3+ Black resigned