As an addendum to yesterday's post (see "Do Not Wander Too Far From Home"), when considering a risky line (for Black) in the Jerome-ized Italian Gambit, White, too, must make the right move.
augmented - MAHG
standard, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.d4 Nxd4 6.Nxe5+ Ke6
The same adventurous stroll as in Darrenshome - WildErmine, blitz, FICS, 2006.
7.Bf4
The direct route to the finish line is 7.Qg4+, as we saw yesterday.
7...d6
Instead, backing the King away with 7...Ke7, or preparing for that move with 7...Nf6, each let Black keep his advantage.
Now White can checkmate.
8.Qg4+ Ke7
8...Kf6 9.Bg5+ Kxe5 10.f4+ Kxe4 11.Nc3+ Ke3 12.f5+ Qxg5 13.Qxg5#
9.Qxg7+ Ke8 10.Qf7 checkmate
Yesterday's post (see "Still An InterestingGame") got me thinking about an early d2-d4 for White in the Jerome Gambit and related openings. That, in turn, got me thinking about the Italian Gambit (see "Brilliant but not sound" too) and helped me turn up the following game.
Darrenshome - WildErmine
blitz, FICS, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4
The Italian Gambit.
All three of Black's captures of the d-pawn can lead to a roughly equal game, but the second player should remain attentive.
4...Nxd4 5.Bxf7+
Transposing to the Jerome Gambit, i.e. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 Nxd4.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke6
Black either does not believe in what he sees, or he is careless and does not watch where he is going. In either event, it is risky to wander too far from home...
7.Qg4+ Kxe5 8.Bf4+ Kxe4 9.Nc3 checkmate
Although I have occasionally been accused of having the demeanor of Mr. Rogers on muscle relaxants, I do have times when I am serious, or even downright gloomy – take the "Update: 8...Qf6" post, for example.
Here is another cautionary tale.
Teterow - geneve
lightning, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4
This move, rather than 6.Qh5+, was originally Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's preference.
6...Bb4+
This is an odd move, but it reflects an inconvenient fact, that Black has many ways of dealing with the Jerome Gambit, including choosing which piece(s) he wants to return – and in what way.
The move deserves a look, if only because it has been played by dismissive humans ("sure, why not?") and calculating computers.
7.c3 Qh4
How's that for a kick in the head? Just when you were saying to yourself, "Well, at least he didn't play 6...Qh4!?"
By the way, as long as I am mentioning 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf6+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4, it is necessary to correct and update some of what I wrote in "A Pie-in-the-Face Variation" about a year and a half ago.
Today The Database contains 167 games with the 6.d4 Qh4 line. That's 26 games less than I thought that I had in November 2009, but perhaps that is a result of subsequently cleaning up my databases.
Also, 50 of the current games – about 30% of the 6.d4 Qh4 line – are now human-vs-human encounters, as opposed to only 8 (4%) in the original post. White's scoring has dropped from 50% to 29% amongst humans, which is in the right direction, but it is the ridiculously high 74% for all of the games in The Database. (Again, that is the impact of computer-vs-computer games largely selected by the source for White wins.)
8.cxb4
The dynamics of the current position are very similar to that of the position without 6...Bb4+ 7.c3. What that means is that White's best move here after 7...Qh4 has to be 8.0-0. Rybka 3, given 5 minutes per move in "blunder check" mode, further suggested 8...Nc6 9.cxb4 Qxe4 10.b5 Nce7 11.Re1 Qf5 12.Re3 Qxb5 13.Nc3 Qb6 14.Qh5+ Qg6 15.Qc5 b6 16.Qxc7 Qc6 17.Qe5 d6 18.Qg5 h6 when Black has an edge (about 3/4 of a pawn).
analysis diagram
I am not convinced that this is the best path for Black to take, however.
If I were playing the defense, after 6...Bb4+ 7.c3 Qh4 8.0-0. I would prefer the as-yet-unplayed 8...Ng4, answering 9.h3 with 9...Be7. Perhaps Rybka downgrades this line a bit because White can exchange Queens with 10.Qxg4.
Anyhow, the text move is very dangerous and Black takes charge.
8...Qxe4+ 9.Qe2
A bit better is 9.Kf1, covering the g2 pawn, but after 9...Qd3+ 10.Qe2 Qxe2+ 11.Kxe2 Nc6 Black is clearly better in an uncomplicated game. As it it, the game transposes into this line.
9...Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 Nc6
11.Rd1 Nxb4 12.Na3 Nf6 13.Re1 Re8+ 14.Kf1 Rxe1+ 15.Kxe1 d5
16.Be3 Bf5 17.Nb5 c6 18.Nc3
A final slip.
18...Nc2+ 19.Ke2 Nxa1 Black resigned
Looks like there is more work to be done on the 6...Bb4+ variation. With wins in The Database by Jerome Gambit Gemeinde members Darrenshome, HauntedKnight, jfhumphrey, stretto, Teterow, yorgos and, of course, Bill Wall – there is plenty of hope.
About a year ago (see "King of the Hill") I took a look into The Database to see which player had the most games in there – Jerome Gambits, Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambits, Semi-Italian Jerome Gambits, etc.
The leader, by far, was DragonTail.
This year, as my total approached 350 games, I see that I am only about 35 games behind Darrenshome. I would need about 200 more games to catch yorgos, though.
kingmaple has not added a lot of games, but I would still need about 270 more games to catch him.
Of course, the past, present, and future King of the Hill, DragonTail, is over 1,000 games ahead of me!
(He would be even further ahead, if the database contained 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.Bxf7+ games, too.)
I had another encounter with what I have called a Blackburne Shilling Gambit "Jedi Mind Trick". My opponent was PlatinumKnight, so perhaps I should refer to it as a "Platinum Mind Trick".
perrypawnpusher - PlatinumKnight
blitz, FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
The updated New Year's Database has 60 examples of games by my opponent in this line: 58 with Black, 2 with White. Two have already appeared on this blog, one against darrenshome and another against richiehill.
4...Ke7
Messing with my mind (4...Kxf7 was just fine)...
After our game I learned that PlatinumKnight is a bit of a specialist with this strategy, as the Database has 30 of his games with 4...Ke7, starting in 2005.
5.Bc4
Also possible, of course, are 5.Bxg8 or 5.Bb3.
5...Ke8
A striking move, played, I imagine, to allow Black's Queen to regain access to the d8-h4 diagonal. Indeed, we have the original Blackburne Shilling Gambit position, except that Black's f-pawn is missing and Black's King cannot castle – neither will be important if he can pull off the usual BSG shenanigans.
6.Nxd4
I suspect that PlatinumKnight was hoping for 6.Nxe5, which he could answer with 6...Qg5 (and a roughly equal position) but I've learned my lesson from Master zadox.
I don't think that my opponent has faced 6.Nxd4 in this position before. Perhaps it will help him give up attempts at "mind tricks".
6...exd4
It is sad that after the game all Rybka had to recommend instead of this recapture was: 6...Qh4 7.Nf3 Qxe4+ 8.Be2 Qf5 when White is much better.
7.Qh5+
7...g6 8.Qe5+ Ne7
Or 8...Qe7, as in perrypawnpusher - zadox, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 14).
9.Qxh8 Black resigned
I noticed today that I (perrypawnpusher) have almost 170 Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and related games in the updated New Year's Database.
That's not quite as many as Petasluk (175). We're both getting closer to UNPREDICTABLE (213).
Still, I have a good way to go before catching drumme (248) and stretto (270). For the time being, Darrenshome (376) and yorgos (534) are out of reach.
I have no idea how kingmaple can have 619 games in the Database and not have been mentioned on this blog (until now).
Of course, we all trail DragonTail, the "king of the hill" with 1,213 games included.
When I meet the Blackburne Shilling Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4) I respond in the Jerome Gambit way with 4.Bxf7+. I have confidence in that strategy, but I am often surprised at how much remains either unexplored or unclear. Lines of play get tangled, and it seems that some knowledge of theory is essential for White's success.
Darrenshome - PlatinumKnight
blitz FICS, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
4.Bxf7+
Of course White can also play 4.0-0, 4.Nxd4 or 4.c3 with a good game.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6
6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxd4
Certainly throwing down the gauntlet in front of White by grabbing that extra pawn instead of retreating with 7...Ke6: What are you going to do about it, Gambiteer??
8.Qa4+
This move is seen in 35 games in the New Year's Database, with White scoring 40%. Strongest is 8.d3, with White scoring 73% in 11 games.
8...Ke5 9.f4+
9...Kxf4
Indigestion!
The King has eaten one pawn too many, and now faces checkmate. Retreating would have given Black the advantage.
10.0-0+
This move is good, and it wins, but faster was 10.d4+ Kxe4 (10...Kg4 11.Qd1+ Kh4 12.Qf3 Bb4+ 13.Ke2 d5 14.g3+ Kh3 15.g4+ Kh4 16.Qg3#) 11.0–0 Bb4 12.Qxb4 Qg5 13.Nc3+ Kd3 14.Rd1+ Qd2 15.Rxd2+ Ke3 16.Rd1 checkmate
10...Ke5
Black would put up more resistance with 10...Kg5. Then best play, according to Rybka, would be 11.Qb3 d5 12.d4+ Kh5 13.Qf3+ Bg4 14.Qf7+ g6 15.h3 when Black will lose his Bishop and face aggressive follow-up moves such as Rf5+.
11.d4+
White actually let the position slip away from him and allowed Black to deliver the checkmate in LordMonkey - uko, FICS, 2007: 11.Nc3 Bc5+ 12.d4+ Bxd4+ 13.Kh1 d6 14.Qb5+ c5 15.Bf4+ Ke6 16.Qc4+ Kd7 17.Qb5+ Kc7 18.Nd5+ Kb8 19.Bxd6+ Qxd6 20.Rad1 a6 21.Qb3 Be6 22.Qf3 Ne7 23.Nf4 Ka7 24.Nxe6 Qxe6 25.Rd3 Rhf8 26.Qg3 Rxf1
analysis diagram
11...Kxe4
12.d5+
White sees a checkmate and goes for it, bypassing a few shorter ones (e.g. 12.Nc3+ Kd3 13.Rf3#) in the process.
A win is a win.
12...Kxd5 13.Nc3+
13...Ke6 14.Qe4+ Kd6 15.Bf4+
15...Kc5 16.Qd5+ Kb6 17.Qb5 checkmate
Of course, part of the fun of playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and related lines is that there is often a quick win (see "Eyeblink Chess: Crash" for the alternative) awaiting the attacker (with occasional help from the defender, of course).
PeoKratoR - kirki
blitz FICS, 2000
1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.e4 Nf6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kf8 6.Bc4 Black resigned
Darrenshome - gleyhorizon
blitz FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ Ke7 5.Bxg8 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 Qe8 7.Bb3 Black resigned
UNPREDICTABLE - Sanomis
blitz FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.Qh5+ Black resigned
GOH - imre
blitz FICS, 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 h6 4.d4 Nxd4 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Nxe5 Ne6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Nd5 checkmate
hinders - hober
blitz FICS, 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Qe2 d6 7.Qc4+ Be6 8.Ng5+ Black resigned
thin - rusalka
blitz FICS, 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d3 Nge7 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ng5+ Kg8 7.Qf3 d6 8.Qf7 checkmate
Cherokee - Gepetto
FICS, 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Qg4+ Kxe5 7.f4+ Kxe4 8.Nc3 checkmate
(By the way, the character in the graphic is Perry the Platypus, a nice name in my opinion – but then, I'm perrypawnpusher, and I play the Jerome Gambit, the duck-billed platypus of chess.)
