Cliff Hardy Returns

"Cliff Hardy" is back with another hard-fought Jerome Gambit battle that shows that the life of a P.I. is never boring, even if it is at times a bit painful. There are lessons to be learned from the following game.

I still struggle with my 3 days per move games. I have no idea how anyone plays 3 minutes per game! (Guess I'm not hero material.)

Notes are by "Hardy". (Occasional note by me, in red - Rick)

"Hardy, Cliff" - NN
3 0 blitz, FICS, 2016

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 Bd6

(I was shocked to find 867 games in The Database with this slightly strategically suspect move - the Bishop blocks the d-pawn which blocks the light-squared Bishop which blocks the Rook - but there are tactical reasons for its success, as White scores only 42% against it. - Rick)

8.Qc3 Qe7 9.f3?

Not the best move to defend the e-pawn and Stockfish
prefers 9.Qe3. 9.d3?? Bb4 would have been an absolute disaster, however.

9...c6

9...Qh4 would be even better.

10.O-O Qh4?!

10...Qe5 to swap queens was better.

11.e5 Bc7 12.d4 Ne7 13.g3 Qh3 14.f4?

14.Nd2 was much better and if black had continued, as he did in the
game with 14...h5 15.Ne4 h4?? 16.g4, he would then lose his queen to 17.Ng5

14...h5 15.Nd2 h4 16.Rf3 hxg3 17.Rxg3 Qxh2

(Ah, yes, the femme fatale, weakness of many a private eye. - Rick)

18.Kf1 Nf5 19.Rg2 Qxf4+ 20.Rf2 Ne3+??

(The Jerome Gambit player must hang on against all odds, waiting for an opportunity to strike back. Here it is. - Rick)

21.Ke2??

Whoops, missed 21.Qxe3, as black's queen is now pinned :).

21...Rh2??

21...Qxf2! 22. Kxf2 Nd1. 

22.Qxe3 Rxf2+ 23.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 24.Kxf2 d6

The position is equal now, but I was down to 22 seconds versus 1 minute 26 seconds on the clock for my opponent so I had to start moving instantly. 

25.Nc4 dxe5 26.dxe5 Bf5 27.Bf4 Bxc2 28.Rh1 

28...Kf7?? 29.Ne3??

29.e6! Kxe6 30.Bxc7 

29...Be4

The rest of the game is not really worth going through! (That's "Cliff's" comment, not mine. - Rick)

30.Rh4 Rf8 31.Bg3 Ke6+ 32.Ke2 Bf3+ 33.Kd2 Bxe5 34.Bxe5 Kxe5 35.Rb4 b6 36.Kc3 Bd5 37.Ra4 Rf3 38.Kd2 a5 39.Rh4 g5 40.Rh5 Rg3 41.Ke2 Bxa2 42.Rh8 Bd5 43.Re8+ Kf4 44.Rb8 Rxe3+ 45.Kd2 Re7 46.Rxb6 g4 47.Rb8 g3 48.Rf8+ Rf7 49.Rg8 g2 50.Rg6 Kf3 51.Kc3 Kf2 52.Rg7 Rxg7 White lost on time