I am taking time out from my "passionate" savoring of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) to offer congratulations to my son, Matt, and his bride, Melanie, as they marry today. My heart swells, and my eyes overflow.
Readers who are familiar with the "Kennedy Kids" know that "big brother Matt" has grown from "A Fool Proof Plan" through "Little Capablanca".
As I have shifted to writing about Mary, Jon, and Matt in their "older" years, I guess that I owe my new daughter-in-law, Dr. Melanie, a story as well.
Yesterday's post, "Special Delivery From Russia", featured a game between Philidor 1792 and Endeavornick, where, at the end, I suggested that Black might have played on, to investigate the drawing possibilities of a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame.
Interestingly enough, the following position, with Philidor 1792 as White to move, is from another game between the two same opponents, although I do not know if it was played earlier or later.
Here, too, White's advantage is an isolated c-pawn.
The game should be drawn with proper play.
Then, again, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) should be won for Black with proper play, too.
51.Bh2 Kc6 52.Kd4 Bf5
Unthinkable. Clearly, time must have been very, very short.
53.Ke5
Ditto. Instead, 53.g8/Q leads to a forced mate.
However, here either Black resigned or Black lost on time, before he could level the game with 53...Bh7.
I have recently received a whole new selection of Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games from Philidor1792 (aka Филидор1792), whose earlier contributions (see "Where Do Ideas Come From?" Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) were good for a lot of new thinking.
This first game is a reminder to the defender of the old saying "Act in haste, repent at leisure."
Филидор1792 (1932) - Endeavornick (1934)
Internet online game, blitz, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4
How much thought did Black put into this move?
Was he simply taking one piece away from the pawn fork?
Was he setting up a pin on the Knight on c3?
8.dxe5 Nxe4 9.Qd5+ Black resigned
My guess is that White's 9th move surprised Black, and hence the resignation. A more phlegmatic opponent might have hung around and seen if 9...Ke8 10.Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 d5 12.exd6 Qxd6 was worth some attention, as White's advantage would have been one doubled, isolated pawn; and a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame might develop.
On the other hand, maybe it was more fun to just set up the pieces again!
I looked at Bill Wall's 10th move in this game and just shook my head. Where does he get this stuff? A "Theoretical Novelty", Black immediately makes an error, and the game is effectively over...
Wall,B - Guest215111
playchess.com, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bd6 9.dxe5 Bxe5 10.Nd5
Apparently an improvement on 10.f4, which I have played in a few games previously: perrypawnpusher-KnightRoyal, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 21); perrypawnpusher - drandika, blitz, FICS, 2010 (½-½, 31); and perrypawnpusher - grunf, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 15).
10...Nxd5?
The right response was 10...Bd6.
Curiously enough, Bill once faced 10...h5 11.f4 Bd4+ 12.Qxd4 c5 13.Qxc5 d6 14.Qb5 Nxe4 15.Qc4 Nf6 16.Nxf6+ Kxf6 17.Be3 d5 18.Bd4+ Kf7 19.Qd3 Re8 20.Qh7 Rg8 21.Qxh5+ Kf8 22.Bc5+ in Wall,B - Mol,E, Chess.com, 2010.
11.Qxd5+ Kf6?
Trying to hold onto the Bishop compounds Black's problems.
12.f4 Kg6 13.fxe5 Kh7
This castling-by-hand does not bring safety, as White's lead in development is too great..
14.Rf7 Qh4 15.Be3 Re8 16.e6 dxe6 17.Qe5 Rg8
18.Bd4 Qg4 19.Rxc7 b6 20.Rf1 Ba6 21.Rff7
Black now has a series of checks on White's King, but it does not change the out come of the game.
21...Qd1+ 22.Kf2 Qd2+ 23.Kf3 Be2+ 24.Kg3 Qg5+ 25.Kf2 Qxe5 26.Bxe5 Black resigned
Black and White clash in the following game, each with his own tactical ideas. At critical periods, they seem to be ignoring each other. Such things usually bring a game to an abrupt halt.
TraceAnon - DragonZardoz
blitz, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 8.f4
This line was investigated in "Attitude" and "Where Do Ideas Come From?" Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
8...Bb4 9.0-0
This allows Black the opportunity to withdraw his Knight to c6 with advantage.
9...Bxc3 10.bxc3
Black follows his plans, and White follows his. Better for White was 10.dxe5.
10...Nxe4 11.fxe5+ Kg8 12.Qf3 d5 Black resigned
The new batch of games that I collected from FICS continues to puzzle me. Here's a game that has to be an example of the "shock and awe" that the Jerome Gambit engenders.
marcialm - Nbella
blitz, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3
A Delayed Jerome Gambit, transposing into a Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.
4...h6 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ng6 8.Qxc5 Black resigned
Black has the traditional piece-for-two-pawns edge in material, but apparently the ferocity of the Jerome has been enough for him for one game..
If yesterday's game was a bit of surprise, take a look at today's.
Is there a virus going around?
coolnicksin - MiloBot
standard. FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 White Resigned
(White can withdraw his Bishop and simply have a better game.)
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