Tightrope Walker

When a player is given "odds" he is presented with what is objectively a "winning" or "won" game. All he has to do is walk the proper path to victory – sometimes it's as "easy" as walking a tightrope


Wall,B - Gorodetsky,D
chess.com, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

Bill Wall offers his opponent "Jerome Gambit odds."

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4

Black is off to a good start, playing the sharpest reply to what was once Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's favorite variant, 6.d4.

7.0-0 Qxe4

Not yet a mis-step, but strongest was continuing the attack with 7...Ng4.

8.dxc5 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qc6 10.Re1 d6 11.cxd6 Qxd6 12.Bf4 Nf3+

Thinking to catch his opponent in a surprise tactic (13.gxf3 Qxf4 breaking up White's Kingside), Black overlooks something and slips. He could have continued making his way across the tightrope with 12...Qxd1 13.Raxd1 Ng6 when after 14.Bxc7 he will still have a piece for two pawns.

13.Qxf3 Qb6 14.Nd5

This move gives Black an additional push.

14...Nxd5 15.Bxc7+ Qf6 16.Qxd5+ Be6 17.Qxb7

The prevailing breezes are now too difficult to stand in.

17...Rhe8 18.Bd8+ Black resigned