Jerome Gambit: Silicon Miniature (Part 1)

                                   

Last year we took a look at the chess program Boris-Trapsky ("see Jerome Gambit: Boris-Trapsky [Parts 1 & 2]") and I thought it was time to see what it has been up to.

Here is a miniature that shows the silicon monster closing out a game in under a dozen moves.

Boris-Trapsky - supermanslim

Casual classical game, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 

The Abrahams Jerome Gambit., a Jerome Gambit relative.

3...Kf8 

Declining the sacrifice, perhaps out of caution, perhaps not willing to cooperate with White's line of play.

This decision moves the  position evaluation (35 ply), according to Stockfish 16.1, from about 2 1/2 pawns better for Black, to 2 pawns for White.

4.Qh5 

Interesting. I do not know how deep Boris-Trapsky's "book" is, but that may be one reason that it avoids the simple retreat, 4.Bb3. 

4...Bxf2+

Trying to "upset" the program. The position is now equal.

5.Kxf2 Qf6+ 

This allows Black to win the Bishop at f7.

Safer was 5...Nf6 6.Qh4 Kxf7. 

6.Nf3 Qxf7 7.Qxf7+ Kxf7

Things have settled down, and, in a move, White will simply be a pawn ahead.

8.Nxe5+ Ke7 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Nf3 d6 11.d3 Black resigned

The second player sees no future for his game.