Saturday, February 27, 2010

Bloodied but Unbowed

I took another shot at the Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit, with mixed results. The surprise and novelty of the line was enough to give me chances in the game, but at critical points I was simply out-played.
Congratulations to my opponent for taking on and overcoming my challenge.

I'll be back.

perrypawnpusher - mjmonday
blitz FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6


The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5


Transposing to the Italian Four Knights.

6.Bxf7+


Transposing to a "modern" variation of the Jerome Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Nc3.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4


8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6


10.Qc4+ Kg6

Provocative.

11.f4 Rf8

After the game Fritz 8 suggested in interesting castle-by-hand: 11...d6 12.b3 Kh7 13.Bb2 Rf8 14.Rae1 Kh8 when Black is better, although all of White's pieces and his "Jerome pawns" are developed and ready to rumble.





analysis diagram






12.f5+

Fritz 8 preferred: 12.e5 Ng8 13.Qd3+ Kf7 14.f5 when Black's advantage is slight. 

12...Kh7 13.g4


Simply an oversight.

13...Nxg4 14.Qe2 Nf6 15.e5 Nd4

Likewise, this is a slip by Black that could have minimized or overturned his advantage. 

16.Qf2

The Queen should have gone to d3.

16...Ng4 17.Qxd4 Qh4


White has recovered his sacrificed material, but his King is now in more danger than Black's.

18.Qf4 d5 19.f6 gxf6 20.Nxd5


White overlooks his last chance to make a game of it: 20.exf6. After 20...Bd7 (if 20...Rxf6 then 21.Qxc7+) 21.f7 Be6 22.Qxc7 d4 23.Ne4 Rac8 24.Qg3 Qxg3+ 25.hxg3 Rxc2 26.Nf6+ Nxf6 27.Rxf6 Bd5 the ending has some drawing chances. 

20...fxe5 21.Qe4+


White has nothing now, and further sacrifices will not change the outcome of the game.

21...Kg7 22.Bxh6+ Qxh6 23.Qg2 Be6 24.h3


Here Rybka calmly announced that Black has a checkmate in 22 moves.

24...Bxd5 25.Qxg4+ Kh8 26.Kh2 Qd2+ White resigned


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