Sunday, December 31, 2023

Was H.Nakamura Right? Is JG ‘Unbreakable’, Is EG ‘Legendary’ For Beginners’ Games? (Part 3)

 


Was H.Nakamura Right? Is JG ‘Unbreakable’, 

Is EG ‘Legendary’ For Beginners’ Games? (Part 3)

(by Yury V. Bukayev)

If an expert’s appraisal is based on something without real proofs, he can be right or “almost right” here sometimes. That is so, even in the case where he realizes that his appraisal is hasty, or non-serious, or bold, or emotional. Sometimes he is right here for a large per cent (for example, 55, 75 or 95) of cases which he appraises.

We remember Rick Kennedy’s post ‘Jerome Gambit: Which Tier? Unbreakable?’ (September 23, 2020) where the notable dialogue about the standard system of the Jerome gambit (JG) between Top GM Hikaru Nakamura and IM Levy Rozman was shown as the part of their popular video and as its approximate text. Thus, they have discussed there what chess opening tier for beginners’ practice is right for it. The end of this text contains several phrases by Mr. Nakamura where he places the standard system of JG near the top of ‘Unbreakable’. Mr. Nakamura’s words contain no proofs of this very high appraisal. In my opinion, the tier’s name ‘Unbreakable’ is very arguable, because we discuss an opening practice, not an opening theory: each opening can be broken in a game as a result of practical mistakes of a player. But this name plays no role for us, just this very high appraisal of 4.Bxf7+ for beginners’ practice is important for our consideration.

Before writing of my Part 1 of this analytical research (please, look at it: it’s a blog post of October 16, 2022) it was enough difficult for me to prove this Hikaru Nakamura’s appraisal, for a large per cent of cases. It was necessary to choose a certain control of time for beginners’ games, and I have chosen an unlimited one. And in the Part 1, Part 2 of this research I have made some clear proofs of this Mr. Nakamura’s appraisal and some “not absolutely clear proofs” of it. We shouldn’t forget that the word ‘unbreakable’ includes a draw, not only a win.

And here is my new invented trap - no.5 - which is based on a similar ‘natural’ reaction of a beginner.

Trap 5. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 (Black defends his pieces, it is a typical response for an unlimited game.) 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.Nc3 Qf6 (Not every beginner can find this strongest move, but all alternative - less strong - moves lead to White’s traps too.) 9.d4 Bxd4!? 10.Nb5+ Kc5!? (This way of playing - Black’s 9th and 10th moves - is ‘natural’ for a beginner (and also for many other players including very strong ones): “Why would I play 9…Qxf5 10.dxc5+ with 11.exf5, where I should say goodbye to my Bishop with no fight for it?”) 11.Qh3 AN (It is my new trap.) 11…Qxf2+ 12.Kd1 Kxb5?? (It’s a typical reaction for the beginner who tries to get a maximum material advantage. After 12…d6 Black wins.) 13.Qb3+!, and now Black can’t hide his King: 13…Kc6 14.Qd5+! Kb6 15.Qb3+ Kc5 16.Qd5+ Kb6 17.Qb3+!, ½-½. The situation is completely analogous after 11…Kxb5?? 12.Qb3+!.

That is why White will get here also a very large per cent of identical successful results against beginners.

It maybe, the invention of my Trap 1, my Trap 4, my Trap 5 and my approaches (Part 1, Part 2) will cause Mr. Nakamura’s and Mr. Rozman’s wish to replace the standard system of JG into their top tier ‘Legendary’ (on ‘GMHikaru’ YouTube channel).

Contact the author: istinayubukayev@yandex.ru

© 2023 Yury V. Bukayev (Copyright © Bukayev Yury Vyacheslavovich 2023). All rights reserved.

[A legal using of this investigatiation with a reference to it is permitted and doesn’t require author’s consent.]

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Coach (Part 2)


 [continued from the previous post]

As I wrote in the last post

Recently I decided to introduce the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.BXf7+) to the Chess.com bot Coach Mae. I was surprised to find that the Coach used some of my own coaching strategies in our game.

Coach Mae's comments are in purple. I have added diagrams and a few comments of my own.

perrypawnpusher - Coach Mae

Chess.com, 2023



11.Qf3 

Staying out of my reach, a fun choice. 

I tried the exchange of Queens on e5 against Kevin the fruitbat, 15 years ago.

11...Nf6 

Winning a pawn would be nice. 

12.d3 

Unfortunately for me, you noticed your pawn needed protection. 

It is interesting to note that, except for White's g-pawn being on g3 instead of g2, this is the same position as Jerome - Shinkman, Iowa, 1874 (0-1, 21).

12...Re8 

My queen is lined up with my king... 

The coach gives me a break.

Previously, I saw 12...b6 in perrypawnpusher - jeffgazet, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 31) and 12...Ke7 in perrypawnpusher - Buddy_Thompson, Chess.com, 2014 (0-1, 27).  

13.Bf4 

You got it. You immobilized my queen by pinning it to my king. That was the move! 

Thanks, coach!

13...h6 14.Nc3

You can start to think about castling. 

14...c6 15.O-O-O 

A fine move that connects your rooks!

15...Re6 16.Bxe5+ 

My favorite piece...gone. 

16...Rxe5 

I can take that, what else did you have in mind? 

17.d4 

You got me! Nice fork. 

17...Re8 

Moving my rook to a safer square! 

18.dxc5+ 

And now my king must deal with the discovered check... 

18...Ke7 

It's clearly time for my king to move. 


[to be continued]

Friday, December 29, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Coach (Part 1)



Many years ago, I helped start a few chess clubs in local elementary schools. I made it a practice when I played a student to do a quick assessment of his or her skill level, and then adjust my own play to slightly below theirs - so that paying attention and being careful would bring them a win against me, but sloppiness would not. I was pleased to lose quite a few games.

Recently I decided to introduce the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.BXf7+) to the Chess.com bot Coach Mae. I was surprised to find that the Coach used some of my own coaching strategies in our game.

Coach Mae's comments are in purple. I have added diagrams and a few comments of my own.


perrypawnpusher - Coach Mae bot

Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 

1.e4 can lead to fun, tactical games. 

1...e5 

1.e4 e5, one of the most common ways to start a chess game.

2.Nf3 

Hmm, how should I defend my pawn?

2...Nc6

Let's try the classic, solid Nc6. 

3.Bc4

You've pointed your bishop at my weakest point, the f7 square.

3...Bc5 

The Giuoco Piano. The center is getting quite tense.

4.Bxf7+ 

In the opening, once you move a piece, you should focus on your other pieces.

Somewhat more polite than International Master Eric Rosen's reaction to the Jerome: What is this garbage? 

4...Kxf7 

My king is safe...for now.

5.Nxe5+ 

Hmm... That's an interesting move! 

That sounds like the chess equivalent of Well isn't that special?

5...Nxe5

And of course I take back!

6.Qh5+

You forked me! Nicely spotted.

6...Ke6 

Defending my knight. 

7.Qf5+ 

What an active queen.

The Coach is trying hard to be supportive.

7...Kd6 

What's the best way to kick one of my pieces away?

 8.f4

Great! You're making me dance.

Or ROFL.

8...Qh4+ 

You have something here, I can feel it.

A lost game?

First appearance of this check was in the imaginary telephone chess game between R.F and Nibs, presented in the June 1889 American Chess Magazine.

9.g3

That's the way. Your pawn mightily defends your king - and attacks the attacker! That was the move you needed to play. 

9...Qf6 

Shall we trade?

10.fxe5+ 

Stay away from my queen.

10...Qxe5

How dare you threaten my king.

Here Black resigned in perrypawnpusher - Langan, 8 0 blitz, FICS, 2009  


[to be continued]


Thursday, December 28, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Escaping the Mania (Part 2)

 


[continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - LarryFitzgeraldBot

Chess.com, 2023


At this point it was clear that I was better in my battle against the bot (although little credit can be given to the Jerome Gambit) but my imprecise moves reduced that edge.

22.Re5 Rec8

This move put more pressure on the c-file, and my forward c-pawn at that. Fortunately, I had counterplay.

23.Rhe1 g5 

Stockfish 16 recommends, instead, 23...Re8, although White can meet that with the odd 24.Bf8!? - one way to get rid of the drawish Bishops-of-opposite-colors. Still, after  24...Rxf8 25.Rxe6 Rd8 Black might have enough piece activity - and White, enough pawn weaknesses - that the defender might be able to hold.

The text move, instead, blunders away a piece. I am not sure what the LarryFitzgerald bot was calculating. It could be an example of what I have labelled "artificial ignorance".

24.Rxe6 gxf4 25.Re7+ Kf6 26.Rxc7 Rxc7 27.Bd6 

27...Rg7 

This should have been a game-ending blunder, but I missed it.

28.Bxf4 

This was the reason I played 27.Bd6, so I continued as planned - overlooking the skewer 28.Be5+ winning the exchange. 

28...h5 

Consistent, instead, would have been 28...Rxg2. 

29.g3 

Of course, 29.Be5+ etc. 

29...Re7 30.Rxe7 Kxe7 


We were playing without a clock, which would have been my opponent's only chance.

31.Bb8 a6 32.Ba7 b5 33.Kb3 Kf7 34.Kb4 Kg7


Perhaps the bot cannot resign. Likewise, it cannot suffer, as the rest of the play is uncomfortable, at best. 

35.Ka5 b4 36.cxb4 Kf7 37.Kxa6 Ke6 38.b5 h4 39.gxh4 Ke5 40.b6 Kf5 41.b7 Kg4 42.Bf2 Kf5 43.b8=Q 

43...Ke6 44.Qb5 Kf6 45.h5 Kg7 46.Qc6 Kh8 47.Qd7 Kg8 48.c4 


An example of "no think" chess. There were faster checkmates earlier, but this is what I was aiming for.

48...Kf8 49.c5 Kg8 50.c6 Kf8 51.c7 Kg8 52.c8=Q checkmate




Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Escaping the Mania (Part 1)



I recently took on another bot at Chess.com, and, in time, things became balanced - a bit unusual for an opening that has two pieces sacrificed.

If Readers find the line of play to be interesting, there are many links to other, related Jerome Gambits to check out.


perrypawnpusher - LarryFitzgeraldBot

Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

The Database has 3,343 examples, with White scoring 40%; compared to 33,916 games with the basic Jerome Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, with White scoring 52%

Happily, in my 69 games with the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit, I have scored a more substantial 77%.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 

Once, I met 6...Ke8 in perrypawnpusher - opazovalec, 10 2 blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16). 

7.d4 Bd6


LarryFitzgerald's move is natural enough, although I have met others:

7...Neg4 in perrypawnpusher - xxfred, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 28); 

7...Bxd4 in perrypawnpusher - Fazmeister, 2 12, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36) and perrypawnpusher - spince, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41); 

7...Bb4 in perrypawnpusher - kezientz, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); perrypawnpusher - Abatwa, 12 4 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17); perrypawnpusher - Gibarian, 6 6 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33); perrypawnpusher - obmanovichhh, 14 0 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39); perrypawnpusher - LydenChess, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); perrypawnpusher - Aerandir, 4 12 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); perrypawnpusher - SSGSSGSSG, 5 5 blitz, FICS, 2018 (1-0, 20); 

7...Re8 in perrypawnpusher - strandskatan, 5 5 blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 38); perrypawnpusher - hklett, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 31); 

7...Nd3+ in perrypawnpusher - genericme, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2015 (1-0, 22); and

7...Nf3+ perrypawnpusher - wertu, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20) and perrypawnpusher - catmandu, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 12).

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 

Probably better is 9.Ne2 as in perrypawnpusher - lixuanxuan, 14 0 blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 22);  perrypawnpusher - andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (0-1, 18); perrypawnpusher - LttlePrince, lichess.org, 2020 (0-1, 29); and perrypawnpusher - rusalka, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2023 (1-0, 17) 

9...Bxc3+  10.bxc3 

10...b6

Or 10...d6 as in perrypawnpusher - joseluislopez, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 55). 

11.e5 Ne4 

I wondered if the bot was going to grab the e-pawn on move 10. Instead, he puts his Knight on e4 on move 11 - with equally unfortunate results. Continuing as planned with 11...Bb7 was best; and 11...Qe7 was good, as well.

12.Qd5+ Kf8 

Here, we have a basic choice: which piece to capture?

It is interesting that, after the game, Stockfish 15.1 recommended checking the King and then grabbing the Knight, i.e. 13.Ba3+ Ke8 14.Qxe4, slightly ahead of grabbing the Rook directly with 13.Qxa8. Simply grabbing the Knight with 13.Qxe4 was ranked even below 13.0-0.

So, you can guess my move...

13.Qxe4 

White is still better, with more material, better center control, and a safer King.

13...d5 14.exd6 

Probably 14.Qf3 was better, preserving the advanced, supported d-pawn. 

14...Bd7 15.dxc7 Qe8 16.Ba3+ Kf7 17.Qxe8+ Rhxe8+ 


My tripled, isolated c-pawns look vulnerable on the c-file. Will the Bishops-of-opposite-colors turn the game drawish?

18.Kd2 Rac8 19.Rae1 

It would have made more sense (and been stronger) to play 19.Bd6.

19...Be6 

In turn, 19...Rxc7 was the move. 

20. Kc1 h6 21.Kb2 Rxc7 

Things have turned drawish. I suppose that means that both of us have escaped the mania of the Jerome Gambit.

But there is still more chess to play.

[to be continued]

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Cat-Astrophe


 Continuing my Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) play against chess bots at Chess.com (see my games against DeadLost, Grandpa Gambit, and Antonio), I decided to take on Mittens.

A kitty cat. What could possibly go wrong?

A whole lot, actually, as it turned out.

After the game, I learned that Mittens was rated 3300.

perrypawnpusher - MittensBot

Chess.com, 2023

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Kc6

This is the sillycon defense, with the King moving, instead of the Knight, to the c6 square.

I faced it in a couple of games, a couple of years ago, in perrypawnpusher - jonmather, Giuoco Piano tournament, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 33) and perrypawnpusher - alfil_7, Piano Piano, Chess.com, 2021 (0-1, 13).

The Database has 44 games with the defense, with White scoring 34%.

9.fxe5 

This was something new, according to The Database.

I played 9.Qxe5 in the above-mentioned games.

Stockfish 15.1 (30 ply) prefers the Queen capture by 1/50th of a pawn.

9...b6 10.c3 Nh6 11.Qh5 Ba6 12.d4 Be7 


Black is ahead in development. Still, I figured that if I could castle Queenside, I might have something. 

13.Bxh6 

Planning to grab a pawn.

Looking at the computer's recommendation after the game - 13.b3 Qe8 14.Qxe8 Raxe8 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.c4 Kb7 17.Rf1 d6 18.exd6 Bxd6 - it is easy to see how scary the lead in development might play out. Especially after 19.e5 Rxe5!? Those Bishops!

13...gxh6 14.Qxh6+ Kb7 15.Nd2 Bg5 


Time to make a reference to "cat scratch fever"?

16.Qh3 Qg8 17.O-O-O 

The escape is an illusion.

17...Qxa2 18.Kc2 Qa4+ 19.Kb1 Raf8 

20.Nf3 

This development un-defends the King. The result is immediate.

20...Rxf3 21.gxf3 Bc4 22.Rdg1 Bd3 checkmate


Whew! What a catastrophe.


Sunday, December 24, 2023

Against the Knights

                                               

A cousin of the Jerome Gambit brings home the full point, quickly.


angelcamina - GrainBowl

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights Defense, one way to side-step the Jerome Gambit.

4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ 

The Noa Gambit, otherwise known as the Monck Gambit, otherwise known as the Open Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. White gets his sacrifice, after all.

Also see "Further Explorations" (Part 234, & 5)

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5 7.Neg5+ 

angelcamina also played 7.Nc3 e4 8.Ng1 Bc5 in angelcamina -florianschreib, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 37) 

7...Kf6 

In 1-minute games, aggressive and risky moves like this appear. While it pressures the Knight at g5, it creates a danger for Black along the d8-h4 diagonal.

8.d4 Bg4 

More pressure on a Knight.

Not 8...e4, because of 9.Nxe4+ dxe4 10.Bg5+, an x-ray attack winning the Queen.

Best would be 8...exd4, when possible would be 9.O-O h6 10.Re1 Bf5 11.Nh4 hxg5 12.Nxf5 Kf7 (12...Kxf5 13.Qd3+ Kf6 14.Bxg5+ Kxg5 15.Re6 Qf6 16.f4+ Kh6 17.Qh3+ Kg6 18.Rxf6+ Kxf6 19.Qxh8 White is better) 13.h4 gxh4 14.Qg4 Kg8 15.Nh6+ Rxh6 16.Bxh6 White is better

9.dxe5+ Nxe5 10.Qd4 


Pressure on another Knight.

10...Bxf3 11.Nxf3 Qe7 

Overlooking...

12.Bg5+ Black resigned







Saturday, December 23, 2023

Chess.com Awards




Vote For The 2023 Chess.com Awards












 


It is the time of the year when the Chess.com website asks their readers to vote on their Awards - for 

Player of the Year

Woman Player of the Year

Creator of the Year

Game of the Year

Move of the Year

Rising Star of the year

ChessKid of the Year

Commentator of the  Year

Event of the Year

Member of the Year

Book of the Year

Chessable Course of the Year


You might (or might not) consider the Jerome Gambit's "4.Bxf7+" to be the Move of the Year, but you certainly could consider this blog when you look at Creator of the Year.

Just sayin'. 

Write in.

Friday, December 22, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Antonio-bot (Part 3)

 


                                               [continued from the previous post]


perrypawnpusher - Antonio-bot

Chess.com, 2023

This is the conclusion of my game against the Chess.com bot, Antonio.

Antonio's comments are in brown.

31.e7

Someday, my laziness is going to get the best of me. A little thought would have found 31.Rf8+ Qxf8 32.Rxf8+ Kxf8 33.Qg6 h4 34.Qf7 checkmate. 

31...Nxe7 32.Rxe7 Qc8 33.Rff7 Qg4 

34.Qxg4 

There goes the queen. Oh well.

My need to "simplify" allows me to miss the Queen sacrifice at the front of a checkmating sequence: 34.Qxh7+ Kxh7 35.Rxg7+ Kh8 36.Rh7+ Kg8 37.Reg7+ Kf8 38.Be7+ Ke8 39.Rh8+ Kd7 40.Bg5 checkmate 

34...hxg4 

Gotcha! 

35.Rxb7 Rc8 36.Ne4 Rf8 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 


Anthony will hold out until the very end 

38.Nxd6 g6 39.Rxh7 g3 40.hxg3 a5 41.Nb7 Kg8 42.Rc7 Kf8 43.d6

I'm starting to get a bit worried here.

43...a4 44.d7 Kf7 45.d8=Q+

Uh oh. I better find a good defense.

45...Ke6 46.Qd5 checkmate

Wow! You're able to put together some pretty moves. Can I have another try?

Why not? Some players do better against the Jerome Gambit the second time around. - Rick


Thursday, December 21, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Antonio-bot (Part 2)

 


                                            [continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - Antonio-bot

Chess.com, 2023


Continuing my game against the Chess.com Antonio bot, whose comments are in brown.

19...Bxe6 

This return of material does not work.

Stockfish 16, instead, recommends 19...Qf8 20.c4 h6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Qxf6 gxf6 23.Nc3 b6 24.d5 with a congested and largely balanced position.

20.fxe6 

You're a very clever player, but can you finish off the game? 

20...Qc8 21.Bxf6 Ng6 


Not a "fix" for the position, but 21...gxf6 and 21...Qxe6 are equally sad alternatives.

22.Qe4 c5 

Allowing the e6 pawn to be reinforced again.

23.Bg5 

Sharp readers probably saw 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Rf7+ Kg8 25.Nc3 Nf8 26.Qg4+ Ng6 27.Nd5 Qd8 28.Raf1 c4 29.R1f6 c3 30.Rxg6+ hxg6 31.Qxg6 checkmate.

I didn't. 

Just wanted to save the Bishop

23...Qe8 24.d5 

24...h6 25.Bd2 Ne7 26.c4 Qb8 27.Nc3 Qe8 

If the player of the Black pieces were human, I would diagnose anxiety.

28.Rf7 Rh7 29.Raf1 h5 30.Bg5 Nc8 

[to be continued]