The following game has a funny mix of things that were "new" to me and things that were "old" friends. After yesterday's challenging loss, it was nice to return to winning ways.
perrypawnpusher - gmann
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
4.Nc3
I've always played 4.0-0 here, as in an earlier game against my opponent, perrypawnpusher - gmann, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39), but recent posts on this blog got me thinking about trying something new. Nothing came of it this time, however.
4...Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5
The game has transposed to the not-so-new Semi-Italian Four Knights Game, something that I have played over 45 times.
6.Bxf7+
6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4
An interesting idea was 8...Ng6, which I saw in perrypawnpusher - richardachatz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20) and later in perrypawnpusher - gmann, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 21).
9.Qxd4
9...Nc6 10.Qd3
An old decision. The computers prefer 10.Qc4+, but I have had mixed results with the move: perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1,26), perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 19), and perrypawnpusher - transilvania, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 12).
10...d6 11.f4 g6
This was new to me. It was hard to look at the pawn pair at g6 and h6 and think that at least one of them should have stayed on its original square. This is not a major error, nothing to upset the fact the Black is better; but one way that Black loses in the Jerome Gambit is by the accumulation of small disadvantages.
12.Bd2 Nb4
Ah, yes, an old friend again... I am almost over feeling guilty when my opponents play this kind of move (When in doubt, harass the Queen!).
13.Qc4+ Be6
After the game Houdini showed a preference for 13...d5 14.Qxb4 dxe4 followed by 15.Nb5 a6 16.Qc4+ Be6 17.Qxc7+ Qxc7 18.Nxc7 Rac8 19.Nxe6 Kxe6 when White was a bit better.
14.Qxb4 Rb8 15.e5 Nd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Qd4
This centralizing move is okay, but after the game Houdini recommended the more aggressive 17.f5. Now Black should retreat his Bishop.
17...c6 18.c4 Bxc4 19.Qxc4+ d5 20.Qd3 Kg7
Reaching the sanctuary he prepared on move 11, but it is too late.
21.Bc3 Kh7 22.f5 Qg5 23.fxg6+ Qxg6 24.Qxg6+
An old habit: simplify to an ending (missing 24.Rf7+ Kg8 25.Qxg6 checkmate).
24...Kxg6 25.Rf6+ Kg7 26.Raf1
26...Rhf8 27.Rxf8 Rxf8 28.e6+ Kg8 29.e7 Re8 30.Re1 Kf7 31.Bb4 b6 32.Bd6 b5
33.Rf1+ Ke6 34.Rf8 Rxe7 35.Bxe7 Kxe7 36.Ra8 Black resigned
Sometimes my games end with a puzzle, leaving me to wonder what has happened. Often, this is because of what has gone on in the game. However, in the following contest I had to wonder what had gone on outside the game.
perrypawnpusher - transilvania
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Game.
6.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6 10.Qc4+
The correct response to the attack on the Queen.
I have won two games with 10.Qd3, perrypawnpusher - LeChinois, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15)) and perrypawnpusher - javipangea, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 19), nonetheless.
10...Kf8
Correct, again, although I have lost two games to 10...Kg6, perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 26) and perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 19).
Go figure.
11.f4 d6 12.Be3
Here, Black stands well.
However, with over 5 minutes left on his clock, he let them all run our and forfeited on time.
I hope nothing bad happened. Perhaps, as they say, he "had bigger fish to fry."
Dear Readers,
Look at the following diagram.
What move would you play for White?
If it takes more than 10 seconds to decide, read further...
perrypawnpusher - javipangea
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
4.O-O Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5
As noted elsewhere, Black's best here is the "fork trick" 4...Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5. This equalizes for Black, but, as with many of the Jerome Gambit refutations, the game does not "play itself" from there, as one of my recent opponents discovered: 6.Bd3 (best) dxe4 7.Bxe4 Bg4 (interesting) 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.0-0 e4 10.Re1 Bc5 (huh?) 11.Rxe4+ Black resigned (a bit early, but perhaps disappointed in the game), perrypawnpusher - NN, blitz, FICS, 2011.
6.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6
10.Qd3
Twice before I played, instead, 11.Qc4+, but was not happy with the results: perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 26) and perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 19).
I chose the objectively weaker text because I was feeling lucky... (As they warn in those television commercials: Closed course. Professional Driver. Do not attempt.)
10...Nb4
Played without much thought, attacking the Queen – and returning a piece.
11.Qc4+ Nfd5
Unnecessarily generous. After 11...d5 12.Qxb4 dxe4 White would be only a pawn up.
12.exd5 Nxc2
And so we have the position given in the introductory diagram. Material is even, but Black's Knight is threatening White's Rook. More to the point, though, White's Queen is threatening Black's King.
What to move?
13.d6+
Of course.
Not only does White open a line to the enemy King, more importantly he blocks Black's d-pawn, which in turn block's Black's Bishop, which in turn block's Black's Rook...
13...Kf8 14.Rb1
Boooooooo!
The move, saving the Rook, is of course just fine.
However, White's 13th move begs to be followed by the thematic 14.Nd5. Unless Black moves his Knight, he will lose it, yet 14...Nxa1 allows White to mate: 15.Qf4+ Qf6 (15... Ke8 16. Re1+ Qe7 17. Rxe7+ Kd8 18. dxc7#; 15...Kg8 16.Ne7+ Qxe7 17.dxe7 d5 18.e8=Q+ Kh7 19.Qef7 h5 20.Qh6#) 16.Nxf6 gxf6 17.Qxf6+ Kg8 18.Qg6+ Kf8 19.Re1 Nc2 20.Re8 checkmate.
Readers with sharp tactical skills probably found 13.d6+ and 14.Nd5 in under 10 seconds.
14...cxd6 15.Ne4 d5 16.Qxd5 Nb4
That pesky Knight is escaping!
17.Qf5+
After the game Rybka suggested the "simple" 17.Qc5+ Kg8 18.Qxb4, collecting the Knight. Was it really that easy?
What about 17...Qe7, blocking the check and protecting the Knight?
Well, it turns out that White can answer with 18.Nd6 (you probably saw that coming) and then answer 18...Na6 with 19.Qd4.
analysis diagram
I was fascinated to see that Rybka rates this position about four and a half pawns better for White. Think about it: material is even and White has one more piece developed than Black (if you count the Rook at f1, but not the Rook at b1). None of Black's pieces are hanging.
What will happen? White will put his Bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal with either Bc1-d2-c3 or b2-b3 & Bc1-b2 and then he will move a Rook to e1. Eventually something will shake loose...
In an 8-game "shootout" match from this position between Rybka 3 Dynamic and Rybka 3 Human, White won all of the games. Likewise, in a "shootout" between Rybka 3 and Houdini 1.5a.
17...Qf6
A slip. Sometimes it seems that defending against the Jerome Gambit isn't worth my opponents' full attentions.
Of course, after the much better 17...Kg8 White again has 18.Nd6. Understanding that position, as with the earlier one, will open a few more doors in the mystery that is chess.
18.Nxf6 gxf6 19.Qxf6+ Black resigned.
This game is the latest in a series of my attempts to understand a move that Rybka has recommended in various post mortems. Although I still quite don't understand it, I played it – and my opponent responded as if he didn't understand it, either – and suddenly the game was over.
perrypawnpusher - LeChinois
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4
8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6
More frequently seen is 9...d6 10.f4 Nc6, but I do not see a problem with the text.
10.Qd3
I've lost a couple of games with the alternative, 10.Qc4+, e.g.: 10...Kg6 11.f4 Re8 (11...Rf8 12.f5+ Kh7 perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 26)) 12.f5+ Kh7 perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 19)
10...Qe7
11.f4
After the game I fed the moves to Rybka in blundercheck mode, and here (and for subsequent moves) it recommended instead 11.Nd5.
I know that Nd5 is the kind of move that you play here (at least according to Rybka, which has made that recommendation several times in past games) but I did not like what would happen with Black's Queen at e7: 11...Qxe4 12.Qxe4 Nxe4 13.Nxc7 Rb8. I was hoping for more than exchanging my e-pawn for my opponent's c-pawn.
11...d6 12.Bd2
Again, Rybka preferred 12.Nd5 Qxe4 13.Qxe4 Nxe4 14.Nxc7 Rb8.
12...Bd7 13.Rae1
Okay, with my e-pawn protected with this move, now I'm ready for Nd5.
13...a5
Of course Rybka preferred 13...Rae8 – followed by 14.Nd5 (and 15.Bc3).
14.Nd5
Tah dah!
White also had 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Qd5+ Kg6 17.Qxe5 Qxe5 18.Rxe5 which equalized, but which took much of the dynamism out of the game.
14...Be6
Well, that settles everything...
Rybka pointed out the essential 14...Qd8 and then suggested that White could/should draw with 15.Nxf6 Qxf6 16.Bc3 Qe7 17.e5 Be8 18.Re3 Kg8 19.Qd5+ Kh7 20.Qe3+ Kg8 21.Qd5+ etc.
15.Nxe7 Black resigned
In our previous Jerome Gambit game, my opponent seriously out-played me and well deserved the full point. In this game, I didn't play any better, but my opponent didn't keep pace.
perrypawnpusher - mjmonday
blitz, FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Game
6.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4
8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Re8
Black is very business-like in his play, staying out of mischief and preparing to castle-by-hand.
I also had difficulties after 11...Be6 12.Bd2 Nb4 13.Qg3 Nxc2 14.Rac1 Nd4 15.f5 Bd7 16.Qg6+ Kg8 17.Be3 Be8 18.Qg3 Nc6 19.Bf4 Nh5 20.Qe3 Nxf4 21.Rxf4 Qg5 22.Qf2 Ne5 23.h4 Qh5 24.Rd1 a5 25.f6 Ng4 26.Qg3 Qc5+ 27.Kh1 h5 28.Rxg4 hxg4 29.Qxg4 Rh7 30.Rd5 Qf2 31.h5 Qf1+ 32.Kh2 Qxf6 33.Rf5 Qd4 34.Qf3 Bd7 35.Rd5 Qf6 36.Qxf6 gxf6 37.Kg3 Rg7+ 38.Kf3 Bg4+ 39.Kf4 Be6 40.Rd2 Rg5 White resigned perrypawnpusher - HRoark, blitz FICS, 2010.
12.Bd2 Kg8 13.Rae1 Nb4
All of a sudden my opponent falls for an optical illusion... Attacking that Queen is so tempting.
Instead, 13...Kh8 was just fine for Black, as in perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 24) and perrypawnpusher - JohnBr, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 31)
14.Qc4+ d5
Previously I had seen 14...Be6 in perrypawnpusher - Angstrem, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 35) and perrypawnpusher - amirelattar, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 50).
15.Qxb4 dxe4
16.Bc1 b6 17.Nxe4 Bb7 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Bd2 c5 20.Qc4+ Kh8 21.Bc3 Qg6
22.g3
The Bishops-of-opposite-colors are not yet drawish; instead, the player with the attack has the advantage. The move played is a blunder. White should not have further weakened the a8-h1 diagonal, and instead focused upon protecting g2.
22...Qg4
A missed chance: 22...Qc6 is deadly.
23.Qd3 Rxe1 24.Rxe1 Qh3
This looks like it puts pressure on White's King, but it allows the shot 25.Bxg7+. Too bad I missed it.
25.Qe2 a5
Black continues his play on the light squares, preparing for ...Ba6.
26.Qf2
Totally focused on defending, instead of the mentioned Bxg7+.
26...Kh7
Allowing me to finally bring an end to the game by glueing Black's Rook to g8 and exchanging Queens.
27.Re7 Rg8 28.Rxb7 Qg4 29.Qd2 Qf3 30.Qd3+ Qxd3 31.cxd3 Re8
An oversight.
32.Rxg7+ Black resigned
Here we have another example of that odd cousin of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. I've begun to "just play it" with no more concern than a walk in the park.
perrypawnpusher - Avious
blitz FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5
The Italian Four Knights Game.
5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4
The updated New Year's Database has almost 200 games with this position, with White scoring 46%. (I guess my 3 wins and 2 draws helped.)
7...Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6
This position – with 0-0 and ...h7-h6 added – has appeared twice in my games: perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz FICS 2010 (0-1, 26 ); and perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz FICS 1010 (0-1, 19).
Instead of 8...Nc6, Black also had 8...Re8: 9.0-0 d6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Kg8 12.Bd2 Nd5, b3 12...a6 13.Rae1 Kh8 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Rxe1 16.Rxe1 Na7 17.Qe4 Bg4 18.h3 Bh5 19.g4 Bf7 20.Bc3 Qe8 21.Qf5 Qf8 22.Qd7 Nb5 23.Re7 Nxc3 24.Rxf7 Qe8 25.Qxe8+ Rxe8 26.bxc3 Kg8 27.Rxc7 b5 28.Kf2 Re4 29.f5 Ra4 30.Rd7 Rxa2 31.Rxd6 Rxc2+ 32.Ke3 Rxc3+ 33.Kd4 Rc4+ 34.Kd3 Rc5 35.Rxa6 Rxd5+ 36.Ke3 Rd1 37.Rb6 Rb1 38.Kd4 Kf7 39.g5 Kg8 40.g6 Rd1+ 41.Ke5 Re1+ 42.Kf4 Re8 43.Rxb5 hxg6 44.fxg6 Rf8+ 45.Rf5 Rxf5+ 46.Kxf5 Kf8 47.Ke6 Kg8 48.Ke7 Kh8 49.h4 Kg8 50.h5 Kh8 51.Ke6 Kg8 52.Kf5 Kh8 53.Kg5 Kg8 54.Kf5 Kh8 55.Ke5 Kg8 56.Ke6 Kh8 57.Kd7 Kg8 58.Ke7 Kh8 59.h6 Kg8 60.h7+ Kh8 61.Kf8, drawn by stalemate, perrypawnpusher - KaZC, blitz FICS, 2010
9.Qc4+ Ke7
Instead, 9...d5 was a bit better.
10.0-0 Re8 11.Bg5 Kf8 12.f4 h6
This should lead to an even game, although it actually introduces a series of misplays by both sides.
After the game Rybka suggested an interesting line for Black, giving up two pieces for a Rook and coming out with a simplified position the exchange ahead: 12...d6 13.e5 Be6 14.Qb5 a6 15.Qxb7 Qd7 16.f5 Bxf5 17.Rxf5 Qxf5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qxc6 Qxe5.
analysis diagram
13.Bh4
Rybka's post mortem suggestion was: 13.Nd5 Rxe4 14.Qxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxd8 Nxd8 16.Nxc7 Rb8 when White has a Rook and a Pawn for Black's Knight and Bishop; about even.
analysis diagram
13...a6
More useful was 13...d6, but Black has decided to strike out on both wings.
14.e5 b5
See "Perhaps the best chess advice that I ever read..."
15.Qd3 g5
This is over-doing it, however, and should lead to disaster.
16.fxg5 Nxe5 17.Rxf6+
A few moves later, I wondered where my attack and advantage had gone. This move is a mistake, while 17.Qh7 would have been very strong.
17...Qxf6 18.gxf6 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Bb7
Black has the exchange for a pawn, and is better.
I couldn't believe that I had lost my way.
20.g4 Kf7 21.g5 hxg5 22.Bxg5 Rg8 23.h4
Establishing the two passed pawns. My plan looks frail, but it was the best that I could come up with.
23...d5 24.Re1 d4
Black has pawns that he wants to start moving, too. This move allows a critical tempo for me to get my Rook into the thick of things, though – something that 24...Rae8 would have prevented.
25.Re7+ Kg6 26.Ne2 Rae8
27.Nf4+ Kf5 28.f7 Rxg5+
29.hxg5 Rf8 30.g6 Kf6
31.Rxc7
After the game, Rybka pointed out that here I had a mate in 12 with 31.Re6+.
At the time I saw how to slowly improve my position, and I decided to grind things out, especially since my opponent was running low on time.
31...Bc8 32.Nd5+
32...Kg7 33.Ne7 Be6 34.Rc6 Bxa2
Readers may notice (I didn't) that this allows a creative mate in 3: 35.Nf5+ Kh8 36.g7+ Kh7 37.Rh6 #
analysis diagram
35.Rxa6
35...Bxf7 36.gxf7 Rxf7
A consequence of my un-hurried strategy, but the game is still well in hand for White.
37.Nd5 Rf3 38.Nb4 Re3 39.Kf2 Re5 40.Rd6
At this point Black lost on time.
