Hoist by my own petard...

I had just completed the previous post (see "Back at me") when I decided to log onto the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS) for a quick game or two.

I use slower blitz time controls when I play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) but sometimes when I'm due to have the Black pieces, I'm willing to move a bit faster.

(By the way, this post's title means "to be undone by one's own devices" according to the American Heritage Dictionary.)

Castled - perrypawnpusher
blitz game 3 0, FICS, 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4

The Evans Gambit. I don't think I've ever faced that before.

4...Bb6 5.b5 Na5

The last two moves are certainly not the best way to defend.

6.Bxf7+

The Evans Jerome Gambit! Wow! Why not? My opponent is rated 200 points above me, perfect for offering "Evans Jerome Gambit odds"!

Wait a minute – I'm defending... So much for a relaxing game with the Black pieces.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Kf8 8.Qf3+

Stronger, but still better for Black, is 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.0-0.

8...Qf6 9.Qxf6+

I'm not sure that this is what White wants. Perhaps 9.Bb2 Qxf3 10.Nxf3 Nf6 helps him out more.

9...Nxf6 10.d3 d6

With only three minutes for the game, we were both moving quickly – too quickly. It should not have been too hard for me to find the sequence 10...Bd4 11.c3 Bxe5 12.f4 Bd6 13.e5 Be7 14.exf6 Bxf6.

11.Nf3 Bg4 12.Nfd2 Re8 13.0-0 Ke7

Missing the trick (now and later) 13...Be2 14.Re1 Bxd3 15.cxd3 Bd4.

14.h3 Be6

15.Nc3 Kd8 16.a4 Nd7 17.Nf3 Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Bg5+ Kc8

Castling by hand to the Queenside. With a piece for two pawns, Black has the edge; but his pieces on the Queenside are jumbled.

20.Kh1 h6 21.Bd2 g5 22.g4 Rhf8

Starting aggression toward the King with 22...h5 was a more dynamic idea.

23.Ne2 Rxf2

A mistake: my opponent was low on time and I wanted to "pressure" him. Instead, this gives Castled a chance to get an edge.

24.Bxa5

Getting part of the idea right: If he played 24.Rxf2, it would have worked out – Black has to play 24...Nb3 (if 24...Bxf2 then 25.Bxa5) 25.cxb3 Bxf2 26.Rf1 Bc5.

24...Rxf1+ 25.Rxf1 Bxa5 26.Ng3 Kd7 27.Nh5 Ke7 28.Ng7 Kd7

Playing faster and faster... This move loses the exchange, but if I can avoid catastrophic errors then my ally, The Clock, will win the game for me.

29.Nxe8 Kxe8 30.Rf6 Ke7 31.Rxh6 Bf7 32.Rh8 Bb6 33.Rb8 Ba2 34.Rxb7 Bb1 35.Rb8 Bxc2 36.Rg8 Bxd3 37.Rxg5 Bxe4+ 38.Kh2 Be3

Horrid, but see the above note. Tick... tick... tick...

39.Rxe5+ Kf6 40.Rxe4 Bc5 41.Rc4 Bd6+ 42.Kg2 Ke6 White forfeits on time

Ugly, ugly, ugly!

But for once in a quick game, time was on my side, even if the Jerome Gambit was not.