Suddenly...Poof!

Let's go over that mental checklist (see yesterday's "I think I have a win, but it will take time...") for playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) again: surprse, inattention, over-confidence, shallow analysis and a well-timed unfortunate blunder...

I was doing fine until that last one.

perrypawnpusher - tschup
blitz FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 a6

Wow. Didn't Karpov play something like this in his match against Korchnoi in 1981? (Actually, he played it on move 5 in one game and move 6 in another. Oh, well.)

4.0-0 h6

Okay.

5.Nc3

From a practical point of view, White might do best to head toward a Scotch Game or Gambit with 5.d4, counting on the tempos gained by Black's Rook pawn moves.

5...Nf6

A few years ago, my patience was rewarded – with a delayed Jerome Gambit – after 5...Bc5 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.Qh5+ Ke6 9.Qf5+ Kd6 10.d4 Bxd4 11.Rd1 c5 12.Ne2 Kc7 13.Nxd4 d6 14.Ne6+ Bxe6 15.Qxe6 Nf6 16.Bf4 Re8 17.Qb3 Nxe4 18.Bxe5 Rxe5 19.Qf7+ Qd7 20.Qf3 Qf5 21.Qxf5 Rxf5 22.f3 Ng5 23.Re1 Kd7 24.Rad1 Re8 25.Rxe8 Kxe8 26.Rxd6 Re5 27.Kf2 Ke7 28.Rb6 Rf5 29.Rxb7+ Kf6 30.Rb6+ Kf7 31.Rxa6 Ne4+ 32.Ke3 Nd6 33.Rxd6 Ke7 34.Rd3 Rh5 35.h3 Re5+ 36.Kf2 g5 37.Re3 Rxe3 38.Kxe3 Kd6 39.Ke4 c4 40.Kd4 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - angelosgoulianos, blitz FICS, 2007.

6.d3 Bc5

Finally! He plays it after I've already played d2-d3...

Wait a minute. If he's "wasted" two moves, can't I afford to "waste" one move myself?

Sure, why not??

7.Bxf7+

Ahhh, that feels better...

I suppose that this is a Delayed Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

7...Kxf7 8.Nxe5+ Nxe5 9.d4

9...d6

Reminiscent of my game against FrankMCMLVII.

10.dxc5 Bg4

Okay, this guy is definitely playing with my head. The text move is good for Black, but the simple 10...dxc5 was even better.

11.f3 Bh5 12.g4 Nexg4

Not unexpected, but after the game Rybka preferred 12...Bg6, suggesting further 13.f4 Nexg4 14.cxd6 Qxd6 15.Qxd6 cxd6 16.h3 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.hxg4 h5 19.g5 Bxc2 with Black better by a pawn.

analysis diagram







13.fxg4 Bg6

14.g5 hxg5 15.Bxg5

I did not see it at the time, but White is better here, especially if he can get in Qd1-d5+, something that Black prevents with his next move.

15...dxc5 16.Qf3

After the game Rybka recommended 16.e5 Qd4+ 17.Qxd4 cxd4 18.Nd5 which wins a piece for White.

16...Qd4+ 17.Kh1 Qe5

Black's centralized Queen now gives him counter-chances and equality.

18.Bxf6

Wow! Speaking of "a well-timed unfortunate blunder..."

The position would wind down after 18.Bf4 Qxe4 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Nxe4 21.Bxc7+ Nf6

analysis diagram







18...Qxh2 checkmate