Saturday, March 26, 2011

Casually

The Italian Four Knights Game is a pretty tame beast, and when White livens it up (actually, "deadens" it up might be more accurate in terms of his chances) with a couple of piece sacrifices, it can be hard for Black to develop a sense of urgency or to even take things other than casually.

perrypawnpusher - Aerandir
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5



The Italian Four Knights Game.

5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4


An interesting defense that seems, on the surface, to have a number of things going for it, although it reduces Black's game from "won" to "equal". The line was well-explored in "Coffee Break".

8.dxe5 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nxe4

All according to short-sighted plan: bust up White's pawns and then gobble one. Black would keep the game even with 9...Re8 10.exf6 Rxe4+ 11.Be3 Qxf6.

10.Qd5+ Ke8 11.Qxe4 Qe7 12.0-0 d6



Black is not distressed: White's extra pawn is doubled, and there are enough open lines to trade off the heavy pieces and slide into the infamous Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame where a draw can be found.

13.Bf4 dxe5 14.Rfe1 Bd7



This move, however, is a bit too casual.

15.Qxb7 Black resigned.

It's not just the b-pawn, or the e-pawn and c-pawn that will follow it in capture: Black's King will be too exposed after 15...Kf7 16.Rxe5 Qf6 17.Qxc7 for the second player to hope any more for a draw.

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