Saturday, August 18, 2012

Follow the Yellow Brick Road...


Here is a recent Jerome Gambit game with overtones from the movie "The Wizard of Oz".

frizerkaHR - KnightWorker
blitz, FICS, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

Originally Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's choice over 6.Qh5+.

6...Bb4+ 7.c3

This is an interesting sideline, explored in "Here... No, There... No, Here... No, There..." and earlier. The second player often seems uncomfortable, which is odd, as he is two pieces up. If he follows the idea of returning a piece and continuing his game (if he stays on the "yellow brick road") he will maintain his advantage.

7...Nc6 

As good a move as any, although I don't think that it has been looked at before on this site.

8.cxb4 Nf6 

This is a bit too casual and qualifies as one step off of the "yellow brick road". Probably 8... d5 9.b5 Nce7 was the right idea.

9.e5 Ne8 10.Qb3+

White steps off the bricks, too. Here Houdini prefers 10.b5 Ne7 11.Qb3+ Kf8 12.O-O h6 13.f4 d6 with a messy position that it considers equal.

10...Kf8

Again, 10... d5 was probably the right idea.

11.O-O 

Of course, 11.b5 was possible as well.

11...Nxd4

12.Qc3 

Ooof! The kind of a move that leaves Dorothy at risk of mischief by the flying monkeys!

Houdini, a bit of a wizard itself, suggests, instead, 12.Qd1 Nc6 13.Qf3+ Kg8 14.Qd5+ Kf8 15.b5 Ne7 16.Qf3+ Kg8 17.Qb3+ Kf8 and a likely draw by repetition.

12... Ne2+ Black resigned



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