Computer Ideas in the Jerome Gambit (Part 1)

Chess computer programs continue to get stronger. They make relentless opponents. For Jerome Gambit examples on this blog, check out "Ionman vs the Bots" and "Bots on Our Side (Parts 1, 2 & 3)"

I have employed several programs over the years to help me annotate games for this blog. Most of the time they are helpful (but sometimes I don't understand what they are doing).

Five years ago (see "Jerome Gambit: A Machine Idea") I looked at a human vs computer game that featured a computer-generated novelty in the Jerome Gambit. Recently, the opponents faced off again, and I thought I would update their battle.

The ending is quite unexpected, and causes me to question the first pargraph in this blog. Wait and see. 

Petasluk - GriffyJr

5 0 blitz, FICS, 2021

There are 555 games by Petasluk in The Database. He has scored 63%.

GriffyJr, based on Dr. Roberty Hyatt's program Crafty, has been a very strong defender against the Jerome Gambit. The Database has 65 GriffyJr games, where the program has scored 94% with Black.

GriffySr also roams FICS. Likewise, The Database has 37 of its games, where the program has scored 97% with Black. 

 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Bd4

The earliest example I can find of this odd move in The Database was played in 2002 by the computer program BigBook (another Crafty clone) at FICS.

Komodo 12.1.1 (25 ply) is not impressed, rating the position now as only slightly better for Black (+ 1/4 pawn), but remember that not every novelty is an improvement.  

8.Qf5+ 

First played, as far as I can tell, by the human fehim against the computer program blik online at FICS in 2006 (0-1, 16).

The solution is not 8.c3?, for example, the two aforementioned games megagurka - BigBook, blitz, FICS, 2002: 8...Nd3+ 9.Kf1 (9.Kd1 Nf2+ 10.Ke2 Nf6 11.Qf5+ Kf7 12.cxd4 Nxh1 13.d3 d5 14.e5 Bxf5 White resigned, Petasluk -GriffyJr, FICS, 2017.) Nxc1 10.cxd4 a6 11.Qe5+ Kf7 12.Nc3 Nd3 13.Qf5+ Qf6 14.Qxf6+ Nxf6 15.e5 Ne8 16.f5 Nxb2 17.Rb1 Nd3 18.g3 a5 19.a3 b6 20.Ke2 Ba6 21.Ke3 Bc4 22.Nb5 a4 23.Rhc1 Nxc1 24.Rxc1 Bxb5 25.h4 c6 26.g4 d6 27.g5 dxe5 28.dxe5 c5 29.d4 cxd4+ 30.Kxd4 Be2 31.e6+ Ke7 32.Rc6 b5 33.Rb6 Nd6 34.Rc6 Nxf5+ 35.Ke5 Nxh4 36.Rc7+ Kf8 37.e7+ Ke8 38.Ke6 Ng6 39.Rc2 Bf1 40.Rf2 Bd3 White forfeitsed on time.

Another battle against a bot was joined with 8.f5+?, although the game turned out well for White in Moller,M - Mephisto, Denmark 2008 (1-0, 31).

The strongest continuation appears to come from a human vs human game: 8.fxe5 g6 Qh4 11.h3 Qg3 12.Rf2 Nf6 13.d4 Bxd4 14.Bf4+ Kc6 15.Bxg3 Bxf2+ 16.Bxf2 d6 17.Qa5 Nxe4 18.Qa4+ Kd5 19.Nc3+ Nxc3 20.bxc3 Ke6 21.Re1+ Kf6 22.Qf4+ Kg6 23.Re3 Bf5 24.Rg3+ Kf6 25.Bd4+ Ke6 26.Re3+ Kd7 27.Qxf5+ Kd8 28.Bxg7 Rg8 29.Bf6 checkmate, blackburne - eddie43, Jerome Gambit thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2008.

By the way, "blackburne" is Pete Banks, a long time friend of the Jerome Gambit, who shows up a lot of places, including this blog, his web site, the British Chess Magazine, IM Gary Lane's ChessCafe "Opening Lanes" column and Lane's book The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps (2008). The Jerome gambit hangs around with some pretty interesting people!

8...Kd6 

So, what is going on?

Black's King is in the center, momentarily safe from open files or diagonals. It blocks the d-pawn which stifles the light square Bishop which limits the Rook.

On the other hand, Black has two extra pieces, while White has two extra pawns.

It is not surprising that Komodo 12.1.1 prefers Black's position, but I suspect in a human vs human game, White would be content at this point. 

9.fxe5+ 

Ionman tried the slower and riskier 9.c3 a couple of times: ionman - Fleurybot, 5 0 blitz, FICS, 2005 (0-1, 59) and ionman - FleurybotJr, 5 0 blitz, FICS, 2005 (0-1, 42) 

9...Bxe5 

Oddly materialistic for a modern computer program.

The correct 9...Kc6 was seen in five of the games in the match between Micah Fisher-Kirshner and Knight Stalker (an early version of the Fritz program), Fisher-Kirshner,M - Knight Stalker, Mission San Jose, Fremont, CA, 1993 (1-0, 31); Fisher-Kirshner,M - Knight Stalker, Mission San Jose, Fremont, CA, 1993 (0-1, 38); Fisher-Kirshner,M - Knight Stalker, Mission San Jose, Fremont, CA, 1993 (0-1, 35); Fisher-Kirshner,M - Knight Stalker, Mission San Jose, Fremont, CA, 1993 (0-1, 40); and Fisher-Kirshner,M - Knight Stalker, Mission San Nose, Fremont, CA, 1993 (0-1, 37)

[to be continued]