Thursday, May 25, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Frank Sinatra?


What do you think about when you play a game, or play over a game, or annotate a game?

My mind tends to wander, at times far afield...


Hipernight - rival8

Chess.com iPhone, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.O-O Ng4 


When I saw this move, I suddenly thought of a lyric from one of Frank Sinatra's songs

And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "I love you"

The Knight was doing fine where it was, next to its wingman. But - no, it had to approach the enemy Queen. Always tempting, but frequently not best.

11.Qb3 

Allowing her rival to proceed. More prudent was 11.Qg3.

11...Qh4 12.h3 

12...N4e5 

Black might have missed the stronger 12...Nf4 because he saw that White had 13.Qf3, with a pin, as a response. However, then 13...N4e5 would have continued the deadly attack, as there is too much firepower (some of it sacrificial) focused on the pawn at h3. 

Or, maybe he just missed it.

13.f4 Nxf4 

Still tempting, but now White has a response. The humble alternative, leading to an even game, was 13...Nc6.

14.d4 Neg6 

15.Nc3 

Working to catch up in development. Yet, there was a piece to be had with 15.Bxf4 Nxf4 16.g3, due to the pin on the f-file. Still, it is a bit harsh to criticize the Knight that will win the game.

15...Ke8 16.Nb5 Kd8 17.Qf7 


White's pieces are swarming. His opponent overlooks the threat.

17...Rf8 18.Qxc7+ Ke8 19.Nxd6 checkmate


Frankly, the Knight at g6 laments its fate

And if we go some place to danceI know that there's a chanceYou won't be leaving with me

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