Sunday, January 15, 2023

Jerome Gambit: I Should Have Stood In Bed



Reflecting on an unfortunate day, boxing manager Joe Jacobs got it about right when he said "I should have stood in bed".

Nobody could blame the first player in the following game for feeling the same way. 

(By the way, both players are rated over 2500 at the online playing site.)


Jzs2003 - Revan_2002

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.O-O

Pausing to reflect? Moving too quickly (blitz game)?

This move is a novelty, according to The Database. Of course, 7.Qxe5 was the standard choice.

7...d6 

At this point warnings should be going off in White's camp, similar to this clip from the 1960s TV show "Lost in Space"

8.Kh1

White calmly prepares to play f2-f4 by unpinning the pawn.

8...Bg4 White resigned


The wayward Queen is trapped.

It is no consolation to realize that to retreat a move earlier with 8.Qd1 would not have saved Her Majesty, e.g. 8...Bg4 and the consistent 9.Qe1 would allow checkmate 9...Nf3+ 10.Kh1 Qh4 11.h3 Bxh3 12.gxf3 Bg4+ 13.Kg2 Bh3+ 14.Kg1 Qg3+ 15.Kh1 Qg2# .

While I am a bit suprised that we have not seen 7.O-O before, I suspect that after this game we may not see it again.


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