It has been said that in chess "the hardest thing to win is a won game." I'm not sure that I fully agree – it's hard to win a lost game – but I understand the thought. Once you achieve a significant advantage – especially playing a disreputable opening like the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) – there's a tendency to act as like the game will play itself.
perrypawnpusher - sarenn
blitz 5 12, FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6
This move appears frequently, as if by reflex: White has sacrificed recklessly and now brings out his Queen too early? I'll kick it!
Blackburne's Variation.
8.Qxh8 d5
My opponent spent time on his moves, and I wondered if he was familiar with the Jerome Gambit. Was he simply double-checking the lines? His move says "no", but I'm not sure: after the correct 8...Qh4, recommended for White is 9.d4; so perhaps sarenn merely mis-remembered?
9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 dxe4 11.Qxe4 Nf6 12.Qe2
White is ahead the exchange plus four pawns.
Black is about to unleash a counter-attack, but it should be possible to survive it.
12...Bg4 13.f3
13...Bf5
More in the style of Blackburne was 13...Qd7, as 14.fxg4 is met by 14...Re8, and after 15.Nc3 Qxg4 16.d3 Rxe2+ 17.Nxe2 Qxg2 18.Rf1 White's advantage has shrunk considerably.
analysis diagram
14.d3 Nd5
15.Nc3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qh4+
17.g3 Qf6 18.Kd2
Just what my opponent was hoping for.
I was worried about 18...Re8, winning my Queen for a Rook (as in the note to move 13, above). I overlooked the defensive gem 18.d4, which blocks out Black's dark-squared Bishop, allowing me to castle and also to play Bc1-e3 (in response to ...Ra1-e8) to protect my Queen.
For his boldness, Black now has the advantage.
18...Re8 19.Qg2
Approaching panic. Sadly, White's best was to give up his Queen and work on development: 19.Re1 Rxe2+ 20.Rxe2 Bd7 21.Bb2 Qxf3 22.Rae1 Qf6 23.d4 Bd6 24.Kc1 although even then, Black would be better.
analysis diagram
19...Be3+ 20.Kd1 Qxc3
This looks scary, but I was lucky that my opponent missed the shot 20...Bh3.
It's hard to believe, but Rybka now sees the position as even.
21.Rb1 Bxd3
After he finishes destroying me, my opponent can tell his pals that all those Kingside pawns of his were "sacrificed," not "lost".
22.Bxe3 Bxc2+
Since this move loses for Black, the question is: what else did he have?
After the game Rybka suggested 22...Rxe3 23.Qd2 Bxc2+ 24.Qxc2 Rd3+ 25.Kc1 Qa3+ 26.Rb2 Rc3 27.Rf1 Rxc2+ 28.Kxc2. White would have two Rooks and a pawn vs Black's Queen, which looks about equal.
analysis diagram
23.Qxc2 Rd8+
24.Kc1
An error that prolongs Black's attack. Giving back a Rook was the way: 24.Bd2 Qxf3+ 25.Kc1 Qxh1+ 26.Kb2. With White's King safe, the extra piece would be very helpful in attacking Black's King.
analysis diagram
24...Qxe3+ 25.Kb2
25...Qd4+
In the heat of the moment, Black gives up his last chance to keep the game even by settling for a Q vs 2R ending: 25...Rd2 26.Rbc1 Rxc2+ 27.Rxc2 Qxf3.
26.Qc3 Qf2+ 27.Ka1 Qxf3
An error that ended the game, even after my inaccurate reply.
28.Rhf1 Black resigned
After the game Rybka suggested 22...Rxe3 23.Qd2 Bxc2+ 24.Qxc2 Rd3+ 25.Kc1 Qa3+ 26.Rb2 Rc3 27.Rf1 Rxc2+ 28.Kxc2. White would have two Rooks and a pawn vs Black's Queen, which looks about equal.
analysis diagram
23.Qxc2 Rd8+
24.Kc1
An error that prolongs Black's attack. Giving back a Rook was the way: 24.Bd2 Qxf3+ 25.Kc1 Qxh1+ 26.Kb2. With White's King safe, the extra piece would be very helpful in attacking Black's King.
analysis diagram
24...Qxe3+ 25.Kb2
25...Qd4+
In the heat of the moment, Black gives up his last chance to keep the game even by settling for a Q vs 2R ending: 25...Rd2 26.Rbc1 Rxc2+ 27.Rxc2 Qxf3.
26.Qc3 Qf2+ 27.Ka1 Qxf3
An error that ended the game, even after my inaccurate reply.
28.Rhf1 Black resigned
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