Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Cure



White starts off the following game in typical Giuoco Piano fashion, and he seems to be looking for a quiet game – until Black gives him the opportunity to become very loud.




shepherd - garouss
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 h6


This position is at least as old as Home - Puller, Cambridge, 1860, where White continued in cautious fashion with 5.Be3 d6 6.h3 Qf6 7.a3 (1-0, 25).

5.Nc3 Na5

No doubt looking for more piano after 6.Bb3 Nxb3, but this move allows White to deliver some magna instead. 

6.Bxf7+

Another example of the "Jerome cure."

Sadly, for Black, Fritz suggests that the best now is to not take the piece, but continue with 6...Kf8 7.Nxe5 Bxf2+ 8.Kf1 (a bizarre example of what Yury V. Bukayev might call "the Jerome-Jerome exchange" declined) when 8...Bb6 9.Ng6+ Kxf7 10.Nxh8+ Kf8 gives White a pawn and the exchange advantage. 

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Ke8

"Best" for Black was 7...Ke6, when White has a strong attack after 8.Qg4+ Kxe5 9.Bf4+ although he lost his way, and, eventually, the game, in chumbo - KvanHouten, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 32).

8.Qh5+ Ke7 9.Ng6+ Kd6 10.Qd5 checkmate

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