Monday, February 1, 2010

Shillings: One Found, Two Lost (Part 2)

Applying the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) treatment to the Blackburne Shilling Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4) has become a standard plan when my favorite opening meets someone's favorite defense. So far I have scored 13 wins against 2 losses and 1 draw, so I'm not likely to change my play any time soon.

perrypawnpusher - xenoglot
blitz 2 12, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4



4.Bxf7+


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8


Checking the New Year's Database (which I have been updating regularly) I note that the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit has scored 56% (based on 2,292 games),  but that the per centage jumps to 61% (based on 1,076 games) in the 5...Ke6 line. (All cautions about statistics, of course, apply.) 

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 Nf6


A good look at this line can be found in "Please, don't do that..." and "It's a good thing I read this blog".

Rybka says that developing the King's Knight gives White a small advantage, and instead recommends: 7...hxg6 8.Qxg6+ Ke7 9.Qg5+ Nf6 (for 9...Ke8 see perrypawnpusher - adamzzzz, blitz FICS, 2009)10.Qc5+ Kf7 11.Qxd4 d5 when Black has an edge.

8.Qe5+ Ne6



At this point in one game, my opponent resigned: perrypawnpusher - fintrade, blitz FICS, 2009.


9.Nxh8 Bg7 10.d4


10...c6 11.Bg5 Bxh8


Black has two pieces for a Rook and three pawns – but these are "Jerome pawns"!

12.Bxf6

After the game Rybka preferred straight development with 12.Nc3. I think that is because it did not see going into an endgame as strong as staying in the middle game.

12...Bxf6

Better, according to the computer, was 12...Qxf6 13.Qxf6 Bxf6
when White has only an edge. I would have been happy to follow that line, though.

13.Qh5+

On revient toujours à ses premières amours...

13...Ke7 14.Qxh7+ Ke8 15.e5 Be7


With three connected passed pawns and a Rook for Black's two Bishops, White is better – but how to convert the advantage?

16.Qh5+ Kf8 17.Qf5+ Ke8 18.Qg6+ Kf8 19.Qf5+ Kg7


I was checking the King and even repeating the position in order to pick up some time to think a bit deeper. My opponent apparently took this as indecision or confusion on my part. This kind of thought process can lead to over-confidence, which is not good. 

Xenoglot should have returned his King to e8 and seen if I really wanted a draw – which would have been a favorable outcome for him at this point.

20.0-0 Nxd4

See what I mean? Over-confidence can allow one to fall into the shallowest of traps.

21.Qg4+ Kf8 22.Qxd4 Ke8


From here, Black's position slowly disintegrates.

23.Nc3 d6 24.exd6 Bxd6 25.Rfe1+ Kd7 26.Rad1


Even stronger was 26.Qg7+.

26...Qf8 27.Ne4 c5 28.Qxd6+ Qxd6 29.Nxd6 


29...Kc6 30.Nxc8 Rxc8 31.h4 b5



32.h5 a5 33.Re6+ Kb7 34.Rd7+ Ka8 35.Ree7 Rc6 36.Re8+ Rc8 37.Rxc8 checkmate


My opponent immediately challenged me to a rematch...


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