Recently Bill Wall sent me 16 of his Jerome Gambit games that were Human + Computer vs Computer encounters. Such teamwork is sometimes referred to as advanced chess, or cyborg chess, or centaur chess.
Over the years, I have posted games from Human vs Computer matches (including the legendary 1993 Fisher-Kirshner - Knight Stalker battles, and the rolling 2006 RevvedUp - Fritz 8 - Crafty 19.19 - Hiarcs 8 - Shredder 8 - Yace Paderborn mayhem) as well as many Computer vs Computer games, but I think this is the first centaur chess I have presented.
The results are interesting - even if it is difficult to assign the relative impact that the human had on the play. Also, the time controls, which affect the strength of computer programs, are not known.
Over all, White scored 4 - 9 - 3 (34%), which would be unimpressive for a normal opening under normal circumstances, but which seems - as with all Jerome Gambit matches - a bit "high" for a many-times-refuted opening.
A little more insight is available by breaking the games down into 4-game matches.
Crafty vs Stockfish + Wall, for example, yielded 2 wins for Black when played by the team; and, likewise, 2 wins for White when played by the team. With all due respect to Dr. Robert Hyatt's computer engine, it appears it could have been simply outplayed by its stronger computer opponent. Who played what color did not seem to matter.
On the other hand, the Komodo 5 vs Rybka + Wall match, which ended with a score of 2 - 2 - 0, was composed of 4 wins by Black. Neither engine, it appears, was able to ovecome the "handicap" of playing the Jerome Gambit.
The Hiarcs 9 vs Critter + Wall match seemed a reflection of the comparative strengths of the computer programs, as Hiarcs 9 lost 2 games as White, and could only manage a draw as Black.
Interesting, also, was the Fritz 12 vs Houdini + Wall match. The team was 1 - 0 - 1 as White, and 1 - 0 - 1 as Black, suggesting that Houdini was the brighter computer program.
Looking at a couple of lines of play, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 scored 2 - 5 - 1, while 6.Qh5+ scored 2 - 4 - 2, not much of a difference.
I will be sharing some of the games, taking a look at what "theoretical" enlightenment they bring.
Sometimes I run into a line in the Jerome Gambit that I don't (yet) know what to do with. A good (bad) example is in the following game. I have alluded to Black's 7th move in several posts (see here and here for examples). Here are the games from The Database where the move appears. Maybe readers have some ideas.
chessmanjeff - sergbond
blitz, FICS, 2013
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+ 7.c3 Qh4
Black's counter-attack appears manic, but is quite strong. He does not bother saving either his Knight or his Bishop, but develops another piece.
8.Qb3+
Also seen are:
8.O-O Nc6 9.cxb4 (9.Qf3+ Qf6 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qd5+ Qe6 12.Qxe6+ dxe6 13.cxb4 Nxd4 14.Na3 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Nf6 16.Re1 Nxc1 17.Raxc1 c6 18.Nc4 Rd8 19.e5 Nd5 20.Nd6+ Ke7 21.Re4 a5 22.b5 cxb5 23.Rh4 h5 24.Nxb5 Nb4 25.Nd6 Bd7 26.Nxb7 Rdc8 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28.h3 Rc2 29.Nxa5 Rxb2 30.a3 Nd3 31.f4 Ne1 32.Nc4 Rxg2 33.Nb6 Rc2 34.Nd5+ exd5 35.f5 Nf3 White resigned, Gamin - JumpNMustangII, FICS, 2001) 9...Qxe4 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Nc3 Qf5 12.b5 (12.Qb3+ d5 13.Nb5 Ne8 14.Nc3 Be6 15.b5 Ne7 16.Rae1 Nd6 17.Qb4 Rhc8 18.Re2 Ng6 19.Rfe1 Nh4 20.f3 Kg8 21.Bf2 Nxg2 22.Kxg2 Rf8 23.Bg3 Qxf3+ 24.Kg1 Nf5 25.Rxe6 Nxg3 26.hxg3 Qxg3+ 27.Kh1 Qh4+ 28.Kg1 h6 29.R6e2 Qg3+ 30.Rg2 Qxe1+ 31.Kh2 Rf1 32.Rxg7+ Kh8 33.Rh7+ Kxh7 34.Qe7+ Qxe7 35.Kg2 Qf7 36.Kh2 Qf3 37.Nxd5 Rh1 checkmate, Deep Sjeng 1.5 - Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience 2003) 12...Nb4 13.Rc1 c6 14.a3 Nbd5 15.Qb3 Re8 16.Rce1 b6 17.h3 Bb7 18.g4 Qf3 19.g5 Ne4 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Qd3 Nxg5 White resigned, RevvedUp - Crafty 19.19, blitz, 2006;
8.Qe2 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3 Nc6 10.g3 Qe7 11.Qc4+ d5 12.Qxd5+ Be6 13.Qh5+ g6 14.Qf3+ Kg7 15.d5 Ne5 16.Qd1 Bg4 17.Qd4 Nf6 18.Bg5 Nf3+ White resigned, Maza - aqeel, FICS, 2003;
8.dxe5 Qxe4+ 9.Be3 (9.Kf1 Bc5 10.h4 Qxe5 11.Rh3 Nf6 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Rf3 d5 15.Nd2 Bg4 16.Rxf6+ Kxf6 17.Nf3 Qe4 18.Ng5 Qc4+ 19.Kg1 Bxd1 20.Rxd1 Re2 21.Nxh7+ Kg7 22.Ng5 Rxf2 23.Kh1 Rf1+ 24.Rxf1 Qxf1+ 25.Kh2 Bd6+ 26.g3 Qf2+ 27.Kh1 Bxg3 28.Ne6+ Kh6 29.Nxc7 Qh2 checkmate, HauntedKnight - hellg, FICS, 2010) 9...Bc5 (9...Qxg2 10.Rf1 Be7 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qe2 Ke8 13.Nd2 Qxh2 14.O-O-O Qxe5 15.Rfe1 Kd8 16.Qc4 Qg7 17.Bd4 Nf6 18.Ne4 h6 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nxf6 Qxf6 21.f4 d6 22.Re4 Bf5 23.Red4 Qe6 24.Qb4 Qxa2 25.Qxb7 Qb1+ 26.Kd2 Qc2+ 27.Ke3 Re8+ 28.Kf3 Qe2+ 29.Kg3 Re3+ 30.Kh4 Qf2 checkmate, HauntedKnight - Makaroni, FICS, 2011) 10.O-O Bxe3 11.fxe3+ Ke8 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qg5 h6 14.Qg3 Ne7 15.Nd2 Qd3 16.Rad1 Qd5 17.b3 d6 18.e4 Qxe5 19.Qf3 Be6 20.Nc4 Qc5+ 21.Kh1 Kd7 22.Rfe1 h5 23.e5 Bg4 24.e6+ Bxe6 25.Qxb7 Bd5 26.Rxd5 Nxd5 27.a4 Rab8 28.Qa6 Qf2 29.Ne5+ dxe5 30.Rf1 Rb6 31.Qd3 Qc5 32.c4 Qd4 33.Qh3+ Ke7 34.cxd5 Qg4 35.Qc3 Qd4 36.Qxc7+ Ke8 37.Qf7+ Kd8 38.Rc1 e4 39.Qc7+ Ke8 40.h3 Qxd5 41.Qc8+ Qd8 42.Qc2 Re6 43.Re1 Rf8 44.Rxe4 Rf1+ 45.Kh2 Qd6+ 46.g3 Rf2+ 47.Qxf2 Rxe4 48.h4 Qd3 49.Kh3 Re2 50.Qf6 Qd7+ White resigned, HauntedKnight - dwws, FICS, 2012;
8.cxb4 Qxe4+ 9.Qe2 (9.Be3 Qxg2 10.Rf1 Nf3+ 11.Ke2 d5 12.Nc3 Bg4 13.Qb3 Nxd4+ White resigned, jfhumphrey - hvutrong, FICS, 2010) 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 Nc2+ 19.Ke2 Nxa1 White resigned, Teterow - geneve, FICS, 2011.
8...Ke8 9.O-O Ng4 10.h3 Be7 11.hxg4 h5 12.g3
White kicks the enemy Queen. For better or for worse he had to try 12.g5.
12...Qh3 13.g5 h4 14.g4 Qxg4+15.Kh2 h3 16.Rg1 Qxe4 17.Na3
It is hard to find a good move here. This one leads to checkmate.
17...Qf3 18.Be3 Bd6+ 19.Rg3 Qg2 checkmate
Wowzer.
Here is another look at the 6...Qh4 defense in the Jerome Gambit, discussed in the previous blog post. Again, Bill Wall has the White pieces. This is pretty heavy going, and there is plenty to study in the notes, too. Or, you can just enjoy the main game, as, after a dozen moves, Bill decides enough is enough and goes after the enemy monarch.
Wall, Bill - IraHaru
lichess.org, 2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4
7.O-O Qxe4
The text can be contrasted with 7...Ng4 8.h3 Bb6 (8...Bd6 9.e5 Bxe5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Qd5+ Kf6 12.f4 Ng6 13.Nc3 d6 14.Be3 Ke7 15.Rae1 Kd8 16.Nb5 Nf6 17.Qc4 Ne8 18.Bf2 Qf6 19.Bd4 Qh4 20.Rxe8+ Kxe8 21.Nxc7+ Kf8 22.f5 Ne5 23.f6 gxf6 24.Qd5 Kg7 25.Qxd6 Rg8 26.Rxf6 Qxf6 27.Bxe5, and White won, Sorensen,S - X, Denmark, 1888) 9.hxg4 (9.Qf3+ N4f6 10.e5 Bxd4 11.exf6 Nxf6 12.c3 Bb6 13.Nd2 Rf8 14.Ne4 Qxe4 15.Qd1 d5 16.Re1 Qf5 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Rxe3 Bd7 19.Rf3 Qe5 20.Qd2 Rae8 21.Re3 Qd6 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.b3 Qe5 24.Rf1 Bc6 25.Kh1 Qe2 26.Qc1 d4 27.cxd4 Qe4 28.d5 Qxd5 29.f3 Kg8 30.Rd1 Qe6 31.Qf4 Nd5 32.Qd4 Ne3 33.Rc1 Bxf3 34.Kg1 Nxg2 35.Rxc7 Qe3+ 36.Qxe3 Nxe3 37.Kf2 Bc6 38.b4 Nd5 White resigned, Sir Osis of the Liver - perrypawnpusher, JG3 thematic, ChessWorld.net 2008) 9...d6 10.f3 Be6 11.Be3 Bc4 12.Re1 Ne7 13.f4 Rhe8 14.Nd2 Ba6 15.Nf3 Qg3 16.a4 Ba5 17.c3 Kf8 18.b4 Ng6 19.f5 Nf4 20.Bxf4 Qxf4 21.Qc2 c5 22.bxa5 Qxg4 23.Rad1 cxd4 24.Rxd4 Qg3 25.Qb3 Qf4 26.Qb1 Qg3 27.e5 g6 28.Rxd6 Re7 29.f6 Ree8 30.Qb4 Bb5 31.Rd8+ Kf7 32.e6+ Kxf6 33.Qd4+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Rajiv, Chess.com, 2010.
8.dxc5 Nf6
8...Qg6 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Qxd5+ Qe6 12.Qe4 d5 13.cxd6 cxd6 14.Bd2 Qg6 15.Qd5+ Qe6 16.Qe4 Rf8 17.Bc3 Kg8 18.Rae1 Qg6 19.Qd5+ Be6 20.Qxb7 Nf3+ 21.Kh1 Nxe1 22.Rxe1 Rab8 23.Qe4 Qxe4 24.Rxe4 Bd5 25.Rd4 Rxf2 26.Rd1 Rbf8 27.h3 Bxg2+ 28.Kg1 Bxh3 29.Rxd6 Rxc2 30.Ra6 Rf1 checkmate, Petasluk - ElFuriozo, FICS, 2011
9.Nc3
Bill likes this move. An alternative is 9.Re1 Qf5 10.Qd4 (10.f4 Nc6 11.Be3 Re8 12.Nc3 b6 13.Nb5 Nd5 14.Qd2 a6 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Rxe1+ 17.Rxe1 bxc5 18.Bxc5 d6 19.c4 Nxf4 20.Bxd6 cxd6 21.Rf1 g5 22.g3 Qc5+ 23.Kh1 Bb7+ White resigned, Proudfoot - JLeee, FICS, 2008; 10.Nd2 Rf8 11.Nf1 Nc6 12.Be3 b6 13.Ng3 Qd5 14.Qe2 Kg8 15.c4 Qf7 16.b3 Bb7 17.a4 Rae8 18.cxb6 axb6 19.f3 Nh5 20.Qc2 Ne5 21.Bd4 Nxf3+ 22.gxf3 Nxg3 23.hxg3 Qxf3 24.Qh2 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Rf5 26.Qh3 c5 27.Rf1 Qxf1+ 28.Qxf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 cxd4 30.g4 g5 31.b4 h5 White resigned, 10 0, Gambit Fruit1 Beta4bx - Deep Fritz 8, 2006) 10...Re8 11.Kh1 Qxc2 12.Na3 Nf3 13.Qxf6+ gxf6 14.Nxc2 Nxe1 15.Nxe1 Rxe1 checkmate, wolfpack123 - blackscorpion, GameKnot.com, 2009
9...Qc4
Also seen: 9...Qc6 10.Qd4 (10.Re1 d6 11.cxd6 Qxd6 [11...cxd6 12.Bg5 Bg4 13.Qd2 Bh3 14.f3 Bxg2 15.Rxe5 dxe5 16.Kxg2 h6 17.Be3 Rhd8 18.Qe2 Rac8 19.Bxa7 b6 20.Qe3 Rd7 21.Bxb6 Rb7 22.Ba5 Rxb2 23.Rc1 Qc5 24.Nd1 Rxc2+ 25.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 26.Nf2 Qxa2 27.Qxe5 Re8 28.Qb5 Re2 29.Bb6 h5 30.Bd4 Qd2 31.h3 Kg6 32.Qb6 Kh7 33.Bxf6 gxf6 34.h4 Qe1 35.Qc5 Kg7 36.f4 Ra2 37.Qc7+ Kh6 38.Qc5 Qe8 39.Kf3 Qa8+ 40.Ne4 Ra3+ 41.Kf2 Rh3 42.Qd4 Qa2+ 43.Nd2 Rh2+ 44.Kg3 Rxd2 45.Qxf6+ Kh7 46.Qf5+ Kg8 47.Qg5+ Kf8 48.Qc5+ Ke8 49.Qe5+ Kd7 50.Qb5+ Kd6 51.Qb6+ Kd5 52.Qb5+ Kd4 53.Qe5+ Kc4 54.Qe4+ Kc3 55.Qe5+ Kc2 56.Qc5+ Kd1 57.Qxh5+ Ke1 58.Qe5+ Re2 59.Qc3+ Kf1 60.Qf3+ Kg1 61.Kh3 Rh2+ White resigned, Shredder Paderborn - Junior 7, Utrecht, 2002] 12.Bf4 Nf3+ 13.Qxf3 Qb6 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.Bxc7+ Qf6 16.Qxd5+ Be6 17.Qxb7 Rhe8 18.Bd8+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Gorodetsky,D, Chess.com, 2010; or 10.Bg5 Qxc5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.a4 Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qa3 15.Rb3 Qe7 16.f4 Ng6 17.Re3 Kg7 18.Rfe1 d6 19.Ng3 Qd7 20.Nh5+ Kh6 21.Nxf6 Qd8 22.Qh5+ Kg7 23.Ne8+ Rxe8 24.Rxe8 Qf6 25.f5 Ne5 26.Re3 Bxf5 27.Rg3+ Ng6 28.Rxa8 Qd4+ 29.Kf1 Qf4+ 30.Ke1 Bxc2 31.Qd5 c6 32.Qg8+ Kh6 33.Rh3+ Kg5 34.Rg3+ Kh6 35.Rh3+ Kg5 36.Re8 Bf5 37.Rg3+ Bg4 38.Ree3 Kh6 39.h3 Bh5 40.Qb8 Qb4+ 41.Kf1 a5 42.Qd8 Qf4+ 43.Kg1 d5 44.Kh2 Bd1 45.Re6 Kg7 46.Re7+ Kh6 47.Rxb7 Bc2 48.Qg8 Nh4 49.Rxh7+ Bxh7 50.Qg7+ Kh5 51.Qxh7+ Qh6 52.Qe7 Qg6 53.Qe2+ Kh6 54.Qe3+ Kh5 55.Qe2+ Kh6 56.Qe3+ Kh5 57.Rxg6 Kxg6 58.Qg3+ Kf5 59.Qxh4 Ke5 60.Qe7+ Kf5 61.g4+ Kg6 62.Qe6+ Kg7 63.g5 c5 64.Qf6+ Kh7 65.Qf7+ Kh8 66.g6 d4 67.Qf8 checkmate, Deep Shredder 10 UCI-HIARCS 11.1 UCI, jeromegambit, 2008) 10...Ng6 (10...Re8 11.f4 Ng6 12.f5 Ne5 13.Bf4 d6 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Bg5 Qc5 16.Qxc5 dxc5 17.Nb5 Re7 18.Rae1 a6 19.Nd6+ Kf8 20.Bf4 Nc6 21.Nxc8 Rxe1 22.Bd6+ Kf7 23.Rxe1 Rxc8 24.Bxc5 Re8 25.Rxe8 Nxe8 26.Kf2 Kf6 27.g4 Ne5 28.Kg3 Nf7 29.Kf4 Ned6 30.Bd4+ Ke7 31.Bxg7 Nc4 32.g5 Nfd6 33.g6 hxg6 34.fxg6 Ne8 35.Bc3 Ncd6 36.h4 Kf8 37.h5 Ng7 38.Kg5 Ne4+ 39.Kh6 Nxc3 40.bxc3 Black resigned, iconsisonline - IgorBohar, FICS, 2010) 11.f3 Re8 12.Be3 b6 13.b4 bxc5 14.bxc5 Nf8 15.a4 Ne6 16.Qc4 d6 17.Rfd1 dxc5 18.Bg5 Black forfeited by disconnection, Wall,B - felineMMXI, blitz FICS, 2011; and
9...Qb4 10.Be3 d6 11.Bd4 Re8 12.a3 Qc4 13.cxd6 cxd6 14.f4 Nc6 15.Bxf6 Qc5+ 16.Rf2 Black resigned, GazzaT - Yigor, Chess.com, 2011.
10.Be3
An improvement over 10.Re1 Qxc5 11.Be3 Qc6 12.Bxa7 d6 13.Bd4 Re8 14.Bxe5 Rxe5 15.Rxe5 dxe5 16.Qe2 a5 17.Re1 b6 18.Qd3 Bb7 19.Qg3 Nh5 20.Qg5 Nf4 21.f3 Qc5+ 22.Kh1 Qf2 23.Rd1 Bc8 24.Rc1 h6 25.Qg3 Qd2 26.Rf1 Qxc2 27.Qf2 Qxf2 28.Rxf2 Nd5 29.Nxd5 Rxd5 30.Kg1 Rd1+ 31.Rf1 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 g5 33.a3 Ke6 34.Ke2 e4 35.fxe4 Ke5 36.Kd3 Ba6+ 37.Ke3 Bb5 38.h3 Bc6 39.g3 h5 40.h4 gxh4 41.gxh4 Bxe4 42.b3 Bc2 43.b4 Ba4 44.Kf3 Kf5 45.Kg3 Bc6 46.Kf2 Kg4 White resigned, Deep Sjeng 1.5 -Junior 7, The Jeroen Experience, 2003.
10...b6
Or 10...Re8 11.Bd4 d6 12.b3 Qa6 13.cxd6 Qxd6 14.Nb5 Qc6 15.Nxa7 Rxa7 16.Bxa7 b6 17.Qd4 Ba6 18.c4 Nf3+ 19.gxf3 Qxf3 20.Qd1 Re2 21.Qd8 Qg4+ 22.Kh1 Bb7+ White resigned, Wall,B - Guest6296711, PlayChess.com, 2014.
Or 10...Rd8 11.Qd2 Qb4 12.b3 c6 13.a3 Qg4 14.Rae1 d5 15.Kh1 Bf5 16.Bf4 Ng6 17.Bd6 Ne4 18.Nxe4 Black forfeited on time, Bholashankar - HellDenied, FICS, 2014.
11.Bd4 Nc6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qh5+
It is time for White to start putting the pressure on.
Curiously, Stockfish 8 prefers 13.Nd5 and recommends that Black sacrifice the exchange to keep an edge in the game: 13...Rg8!? 14.Nxc7 Ne5 15.Nxa8 Bb7 16.f3 Qxc5+ 17.Kh1 Bxa8.
Going after the King makes more sense to me.
13...Ke7
Now it's time for the Knight to step in.
14.Nd5+ Kd8 15.cxb6 axb6 16 Qf7 Qd4
Centralizing the Queen, stepping out of the possible exposed attacks by White's Queen (after the Knight moves), and protecting the f6 pawn. Alas, it leads to disaster.
17.Rad1 Qxb2 18.Rfe1 Ne5 19.Qe7 checkmate
perrypawnpusher - Nivaethan2000
Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament, Chess.com 2016
In the previous post I suggested that White's last move, 10.Nc3, might not be best, as compared to the direct 10.fxe5, as it allows Black a move to prepare for the capture. Black cannot withdraw his Knight from e5, because of the threat Nd5+, forking King and Queen, but he can either counter-attack on White's Queen, or withdraw his King.
The following illustrative games (there are a lot, but they are worth playing over for a better understanding of the position) primarily feature two players well-known to the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde - MrJoker and Bill Wall - and a player who worked with a series of computers that I introduced years ago in "Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (27)"
In 2006 I heard from Jeroen_61 of the Netherlands, who emailed me
Some time ago when Hiarcs 8 was released after receiving my copy I ran some small tournaments to see how things would go with Hiarcs. Other participants were Junior 7, Shredder Paderdorn (6.02) and Fritz 7. One of the tournaments I conducted with - the Jerome gambit as opening. They are games 40/40' + 40/40' + 40' (round robin two rounds, so 12 games in all). Only two were won by the white side.
...All were posted at a website that Jeroen_61 gave, although an attempt to use the url today got me the message De pagina is niet gevonden, which probably means just what it looks like.
Black uncovers an attack on White's Queen with 10...d6, and White's best is the counter-stroke 11.Nd5+, leading to the following: 11...Kd8 Best (11...Kf7 12.Qb3 (or 12.Qg3 Qd8 13.fxe5+ Ke6 14.Qg4+ Kxe5 15.d4+ Kxd4 16.Qd1+ Kxe4 17.Qf3+ Ke5 18.Bf4+ Ke6 19.O-O-O Kd7 20.Qg4+ Kc6 21.Qf3 Be6 22.Nf6+ Kb6 23.Nd5+ Bxd5 24.Qxd5 Ne7 25.Qb3+ Kc6 26.Qa4+ b5 27.Qe4+ Kb6 28.b4 Bxb4 29.Qxb4 Nd5 30.Qd4+ Kc6 31.Qxd5+ Kb6 Black resigned, MrJoker - AshNazg, Internet Chess Club, 2011) 12...Qh4+ (or 12...Qd8 13.fxe5+ Kg7 14.Nb6 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qxe4+ 16.Kd1 Bg4+ 17.Rf3 Bxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 19.Ke1 Qf2+ 20.Kd1 Qf1 checkmate, MrJoker - goesoef, Internet Chess Club 2011) 13.g3 Qg4 14.fxe5+ Kg7 15.d3 dxe5 16.Nxc7 Rb8 17.Ne8 checkmate, Wall,B - Guest5541035, PlayChess.com, 2014) 12.Qg3 Best (or 12.Qc3 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qxh2 14.fxe5 Bg4 15.Qd3 Ne7 16.Nf4 Nc6 17.Ne6+ Bxe6 18.exd6 Ne5 19.Qe2 Qxg3+ White resigned, Fritz 8 - Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 12...Nd3+ Best (or 12...Qe6 13.fxe5 dxe5 (or 13...Ne7 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Bg5 Re8 16.O-O-O Bxe5 17.Qh4 c6 18.Nxe7 Rxe7 19.Qxh7 Bd7 20.Rf8+ Be8 21.Rdf1 Kd7 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.R1f7 Bxf7 24.Rxf7 Re8 25.Qxg6 Kc7 26.Qe6 Kd8 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Qg8+ Kc7 29.g3 Rg7 30.Qf8 a5 31.c3 a4 32.Kc2 a3 33.bxa3 Rh7 34.Qf2 c5 35.a4 Kc6 36.Qe2 Kc7 37.a5 Rh6 38.a4 Rh7 39.Kb3 Rh8 40.Kc4 Ra8 41.Qg4 Rxa5 42.Kb3 c4+ 43.Kb4 Ra6 44.h4 Rb6+ 45.Kxc4 Rc6+ 46.Kd5 Rxc3 47.h5 Rxg3 48.Qf5 Rd3+ 49.Ke6 Kc6 50.h6 Rd2 51.h7 Rh2 52.Qf7 b6 53.Qd7+ Kc5 54.Qb5+ Kd4 55.Qxb6+ Kxe4 56.Qb7+ Kd4 57.a5 Rh6+ 58.Kf5 Rf6+ 59.Kg5 Rf8 60.a6 Black resigned, mrjoker - igort, Internet Chess Club, 2010) 14.d4 Ne7 15.dxc5 Nxd5 16.Bg5+ Ke8 17.exd5 Qxd5 18.Rf2 Be6 19.Rd2 Qxc5 20.O-O-O Rf8 21.Qh4 h5 22.Bh6 Rf5 23.Rd8+ Rxd8 24.Rxd8+ Kf7 25.Rf8+ Qxf8 26.Bxf8 Kxf8 27.Qd8+ Kg7 28.Qxc7+ Kh6 29.h4 Rf1+ 30.Kd2 Rf2+ 31.Ke3 Rf5 32.Qd8 a6 33.Qh8 checkmate, Wall, B - Aburasian, Chess.com, 2010) 13.Qxd3 Best (or 13.cxd3 Qf7 14.Qg5+ White resigned, cliang - parrot, FICS, 2009) 13...Qg7 14.c3 Ne7 15.b4 Bb6 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Qc2 Qh6 18.h3 Qh4+ 19.Rf2 Be6 20.d3 Rf8 21.a4 Qg3 22.Kf1 Qh2 23.Rf3 Qh1+ 24.Kf2 Bd7 25.b5 Be6 26.c4 Kd7 27.Qc3 Rg8 28.Bd2 Qh2 29.d4 Bf7 30.e5 Nf5 31.d5 Rge8 32.Re1 Nh4 33.e6+ Kc8 34.Rg3 Bxe6 35.dxe6 Rxa4 36.Qb3 Ra8 37.Qb2 Kb8 38.e7 Nf5 39.Rg5 d5 40.Rxf5 gxf5 41.cxd5 Ra4 42.Qe5 Ra2 43.Qd4 h5 44.d6 cxd6 45.Qxd6+ Ka8 46.Re6 Rc2 47.Qd8+ Rc8 48.Qxb6 Rg8 49.Rg6 Rxg6 50.Qxg6 h4 51.e8=Q Black resigned, Wall,B - BBchess engine, Lahore, 2015}
Instead, 10...Kd8 allows White to capture the Knight at e5 after all, and the game is roughly balanced: 11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.d4 (or 12.d3 Bb4 13.Qh4+ Ne7 14.Bd2 d5 15.O-O-O d4 16.Bf4 Qe6 17.Nd5 Bd6 18.Bxd6 cxd6 19.Rf6 Qe5 20.Nxe7 g5 21.Qh6 Qxe7 22.Rxd6+ Bd7 23.Rxd4 Kc7 24.Rc4+ Bc6 25.Qh3 b5 26.Rc3 Kb7 27.d4 Bxe4 28.Re1 Rad8 29.Qd3 Rhe8 30.Qxb5+ Ka8 31.Rce3 Qd6 32.Rxe4 Rxe4 33.Rxe4 Qxh2 34.Qf1 h5 35.c3 g4 36.Qe2 Rc8 37.Re8 Rxe8 38.Qxe8+ Kb7 39.Qe4+ Kb6 40.c4 Qg1+ 41.Kd2 Qf2+ 42.Kc3 Qg3+ 43.Kb4 Qf2 44.Qe6+ Kc7 45.Qe7+ Kc8 46.Kc5 Qxb2 47.Qe8+ Kc7 48.Qc6+ Kb8 49.a4 Qb6+ 50.Qxb6+ axb6+ 51.Kd5 h4 52.Ke4 Kc7 53.Kf4 h3 54.gxh3 gxh3 55.Kg3 h2 56.Kxh2 Kd7 57.Kg3 Kc7 58.Kf4 Kc6 59.Ke5 Kc7 60.Ke6 Kb7 61.d5 Kc8 62.Ke7 Kc7 63.d6+ Black resigned, Fritz 5.32 - Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 12...Qxd4 (or 12...Bxd4 13.Rf8+ Ke7 14.Qf3 Qc5 (or 14...g5 15.Rf5 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qg7 17.Rxg5 Qf6 18.Bf4 d6 19.e5 dxe5 20.Qe3 h6 21.Bxe5 Qxg5 22.Bf4+ Kf7 23.Bxg5 hxg5 24.Qxg5 Nf6 25.O-O-O Rh5 26.Qf4 Rc5 27.Rf1 Rf5 28.Qxc7+ Kg6 29.Re1 b6 30.h4 Rc5 31.Qg3+ Kf7 32.Qd6 Bg4 33.Re7+ Kg6 34.Qd3+ Rf5 35.c4 Rh8 36.Qg3 Rc5 37.Re6 Kg7 38.Rxf6 Kxf6 39.Qxg4 Rhc8 40.Qd4+ Ke6 41.Qe4+ Kf6 42.Qf3+ Ke6 43.g4 Rxc4 44.Qf5+ Ke7 45.g5 R4c5 46.Qe4+ Kd6 47.Kb2 b5 48.g6 Rc4 49.Qf5 R4c5 50.Qf6+ Kd7 51.g7 Rxc2+ 52.Kb3 R2c4 53.g8=R Rxg8 54.Qf7+ Kd6 55.Qxg8 a6 56.Qxc4 bxc4+ 57.Kxc4 Ke5 58.Kb4 Kf4 59.a4 Kg4 60.Ka5 Kxh4 61.Kxa6 Kg3 62.Kb5 Kf4 63.a5 Ke5 64.a6 Kd6 65.a7 Ke5 66.Kc5 Ke4 67.a8=Q+ Ke3 68.Qd5 Ke2 69.Kd4 Kf2 70.Qe4 Kf1 71.Ke3 Kg1 72.Kf3 Kh1 73.Qc2 Kg1 74.Qg2 checkmate, Junior 7-Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 15.Nd5+ Kd6 16.c3 Bg7 17.Be3 Qc4 18.e5+ Bxe5 19.Rd1 Bg7 20.Nb6+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Abrok chess engine, Palm Bay, FL, 2015) 13.Bg5+ Ke8 14.Qf3 Qg7 15.Nd5 Bd6 16.O-O-O c6 17.e5 Bb8 18.e6 d6 19.Qf7+ Qxf7 20.exf7+ Kf8 21.fxg8=Q+ Kxg8 22.Rde1 cxd5 23.Re8+ Kg7 24.Re7+ Kg8 25.Bh6 Black resigned, Wall,B - Amyan engine, Palm Bay, FL, 2015.
10...c6 11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.d3
White supports his e-pawn, plans to unleash his dark-squared Bishop, and castle Queenside. This slow idea is probably more effective than 12.Qf3, even if the idea is computer-generated, e.g. 12...Nf6 13.Ne2 (13.d3 Bb4 14.Bd2 d6 15.d4 Qe6 16.O-O-O Ng4 17.d5 Qg8 18.Qg3 Ke8 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Nb5 cxb5 21.Bxb4 Ne5 22.Rxd6 Nc4 23.Qg5 Nxd6 24.Qe5+ Qe6 25.Qxh8+ Kd7 26.Rd1 h5 27.Rxd6+ Qxd6 28.Bxd6 Kxd6 29.Qd8+ Black resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, D1N5TWD1, 2008) 13...Rf8 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Bf4 Qc5 16.O-O-O Be5 17.b4 Bxf4+ 18.Qxf4 Qxb4 19.Qe5+ Kd8 20.Rxf6 Re8 21.Re6 Rxe6 22.Qxe6 Qf8 23.Qe5 Qe7 24.Qd4 b6 25.e5 Bb7 26.Nc3 c5 27.Qg4 Bc6 28.Qf4 h5 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 Rc8 31.Qa4 Rc7 32.Qe4 Rc6 33.Qa4 Qe6 34.c4 Rc7 35.Qd1 a6 36.Qe2 Rc6 37.g3 b5 38.h4 bxc4 39.Qxc4 Qf7 40.Qb3 Kc7 41.Qd3 Kc8 42.Rd6 Rxd6 43.Qxd6 Qf1+ 44.Kd2 Qg2+ 45.Kc1 Qc6 46.Qd2 Kc7 47.Qa5+ Kb7 48.Qd2 Qe6 49.Qb2+ Kc6 50.Qg2+ Kb5 51.Qb7+ Ka5 52.Qc7+ Kb4 53.Qb7+ Kc3 54.Qb2+ Kd3 55.Qc2+ Kd4 56.Qb2+ Kd5 57.a3 Qg4 58.Qb7+ Kxe5 59.Qc7+ d6 60.Qe7+ Kd5 61.Qb7+ Ke6 62.Qb3+ Ke5 63.Qb2+ Qd4 64.Qe2+ Kd5 65.Qg2+ Qe4 66.Qd2+ Ke5 67.Qb2+ Kf5 68.Qb8 Qd3 69.Qc8+ Ke5 70.a4 Qc4+ 71.Kd2 Qxa4 72.Qc7 Qd4+ 73.Ke2 Qe4+ 74.Kf2 Qd3 75.Qe7+ Kd5 76.Qe8 Qf5+ 77.Kg1 Kd4 78.Qb8 Ke3 79.Qb3+ Qd3 80.Qf7 Kd2 81.Qa2+ Ke1 82.Qa5+ Qd2 83.Qa1+ Qd1 84.Qc3+ Ke2+ 85.Kh2 Qd4 86.Qa3 Qf2+ White resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, D1N5TWD1, 2008.
12...d6
Alternately: 12...d5 13.Qh4+ (13.Qf3!?) Ke8 14.Bf4 Qe6 (or 14...Qe7 15.Bg5 Qe6 16.O-O-O d4 17.Ne2 Qg4 18.Nf4 Qxh4 19.Bxh4 Ne7 20.Bf6 Rf8 21.Ne2 Bg4 22.Rd2 Bb4 23.c3 dxc3 24.bxc3 Bxe2 25.Rxe2 Ba3+ 26.Kc2 Kd7 27.Ref2 a5 28.Kb3 Bd6 29.e5 Bc7 30.e6+ Ke8 31.Bg7 Rxf2 32.Rxf2 a4+ 33.Kc2 Nf5 34.Bf6 Bd8 35.Bxd8 Rxd8 36.g4 Ng7 37.Rf7 Nxe6 38.Rxb7 Rd7 39.Rb4 Ra7 40.Rc4 Kd7 41.a3 Kd6 42.h4 Ra5 43.g5 Nc7 44.Rf4 Ne6 45.Rf7 Rf5 46.Rxh7 Rf2+ 47.Kb1 Nf4 48.Ra7 Nxd3 49.Rxa4 Ne5 50.Rd4+ Kc5 51.Re4 Nc4 52.Re6 Nxa3+ 53.Ka1 Rh2 54.Rxg6 Rxh4 55.Rh6 Rg4 56.g6 Rg2 57.Rh5+ Kd6 58.Ra5 Nb5 59.c4 Nd4 60.Ra8 Rxg6 61.Rd8+ Kc5 White resigned, mrjoker - far, Internet Chess Club, 2008) 15.O-O-O d4 16.Qf2 (or 16.Bc7 Be7 17.Qe1 dxc3 18.Qxc3 Nf6 19.Kb1 Rf8 20.h3 b5 21.g4 c5 22.Qd2 Bb7 23.Rde1 c4 24.Qa5 cxd3 25.cxd3 Qd7 26.Rf3 Rc8 27.Bh2 h5 28.gxh5 Nxh5 29.Rxf8+ Bxf8 30.Qd2 Rd8 31.Rd1 Bxe4 32.Qe3 Qe6 33.Ka1 Bf5 34.Qg1 Bb4 35.a3 Qb3 36.Qe3+ Be6 White resigned, sackville - jayking, GameKnot.com, 2007) 16...b5 (or 16...Ne7 17.Bh6 Bb6 18.Na4 c5 19.Nxb6 axb6 20.a3 Bd7 21.Qf8+ Black resigned, mrjoker - tomnoah, Internet Chess Club, 2010) 17.Kb1 Bb6 18.Ne2 c5 19.Bg5 Ne7 20.Nf4 Qf7 21.Qe2 Qg7 22.Nd5 Bd8 23.Nf6+ Black resigned, Topper76 - mrdenetop, Chess.com, 2011
Or 12...Bd4 13.Ne2 Bxb2 14.Qf3 Nf6 15.d4 Bxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxe4+ 17.Be3 Qxf3 18.Rxf3 Ne4 19.O-O-O a6 20.Rf4 d5 21.c4 Be6 22.cxd5 Bxd5 23.Nf3 Nc3 24.Re1 Nxa2+ 25.Kb2 Kd7 26.Bc5 Rhe8 27.Rd1 Re2+ 28.Rd2 Rxd2+ 29.Nxd2 Re8 White resigned, tapirus - Yigor, Chess.com, 2011.
Or 12...Bb4 13.Qh4+ (13.Bd2!?) Nf6 14.Bd2 Rf8 15.Nd5+ cxd5 16.Bxb4+ d6 17.O-O-O d4 18.Bd2 Be6 19.Bg5 Bxa2 20.b3 h5 21.Rd2 Rf7 22.Rdf2 Raf8 23.Kb2 Bxb3 24.cxb3 b6 25.Bh6 Rg8 26.Bf4 Qe6 27.Bg5 Rgf8 28.Bh6 Qg4 29.Qxg4 hxg4 30.Bxf8+ Rxf8 31.b4 a6 32.Kb3 Ke6 33.Ra1 Ra8 34.Rfa2 Rc8 35.Rc2 Ra8 36.Rc7 g5 37.Kc4 Ne8 38.Rc6 Ke5 39.Kb3 b5 40.Rcxa6 Rc8 41.Rf1 Ke6 42.Kb2 Rc3 43.Ra3 Rxa3 44.Kxa3 Nf6 45.Rc1 Nd7 46.Kb2 d5 47.Rc6+ Ke5 48.exd5 Kxd5 49.Rg6 Ne5 50.Rxg5 Ke6 51.Kc2 Kd5 52.h4 gxh3 53.gxh3 Ke6 54.Rh5 Kd5 55.h4 Ke6 56.Rh6+ Ke7 57.Rb6 Nf3 58.h5 Ne1+ 59.Kd2 Nf3+ 60.Ke2 Ng1+ 61.Kf2 Nh3+ 62.Kg3 Ng1 63.h6 Kf7 64.Rxb5 Black resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, The Jeroen Experience, 2003
Or 12...Nf6 13.Qh4 Bd4 14.Bg5 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxc3+ 16.Ke2 Qxc2+ (16...Rf8 17.Rxf6 Rxf6 18.Rf1 Ke8 19.Bxf6 Qxc2+ 20.Ke3 Qc5+ 21.d4 Qa3+ 22.Kf2 Qxa2+ 23.Kg1 Qf7 24.Bg5 Qg7 25.Rf6 d6 26.Qf4 a6 27.Bh6 Qe7 28.Rf8+ Kd7 29.Rf7 c5 30.Rxe7+ Black resigned, Junior 7 - Fritz 5.32, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 17.Bd2 Qb2 18.Rxf6 Qxf6 19.Bg5 Rf8 20.Bxf6+ Rxf6 21.e5 Black resigned, Wall,B - XCCY, FICS, 2011.
13.Qh4+
A little more attention to the dark squares...
13...Ke8
Black's response is fine, although it is not the only one. For example, 13...Kd7 14.Rf7+ Ke8 15.Rf3 (15.Rxh7 Qd4 16.Ne2 Qf2+ 17.Qxf2 Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Rxh7 19.Bf4 Ke7 20.Bg5+ Nf6 21.Rf1 Bd7 22.Ke1 Rf8 23.Nf4 Be8 24.h4 Bf7 25.d4 Kd7 26.Bxf6 Bc4 27.Nd3 Rhf7 28.e5 c5 29.Rf4 Bxd3 30.cxd3 Ke6 31.Rg4 cxd4 32.Rxg6 Kd5 33.g4 dxe5 34.g5 Rc8 35.h5 Rc1+ 36.Ke2 Rc2+ 37.Kf3 Rd2 38.h6 Rxd3+ 39.Kg4 Rc7 40.Rg7 Rc2 41.h7 Ke4 42.Re7 Rg2+ 43.Kh5 Rh3+ 44.Kg6 Rgh2 45.Rxe5+ Kf3 46.Re7 d3 47.Bc3 d2 48.Bxd2 Rxd2 49.Kg7 Rdh2 50.g6 b5 51.Rxa7 b4 52.a4 Ke3 53.Rb7 Rh5 54.Rxb4 Ra5 55.Rb8 Rxa4 56.b4 Ra6 57.h8=Q Rxh8 58.Rxh8 Kf4 59.Kh7 Kg5 60.g7 Rh6+ 61.Kg8 Rc6 62.Kf7 Rf6+ 63.Ke7 Rf3 64.g8=Q+ Kf4 65.Qc4+ Kg3 66.Rg8+ Kf2 67.Qc2+ Ke3 68.Qc3+ Ke2 69.Rg2+ Rf2 70.Qc2+ Kf3 71.Qxf2+ Ke4 72.Ke6 Kd3 73.Rg3+ Kc4 74.Qc5 checkmate, Fritz 8 - Deep Sjeng 1.5, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 15...Ne7 16.Bg5 Rf8 17.Rxf8+ Kxf8 18.O-O-O Ng8 19.Ne2 Bb6 20.d4 Qe6 21.Qxh7 Qf7 22.Qh8 Bg4 23.Re1 Qxa2 24.d5 Re8 25.Rf1+ Bf5 26.Ng3 Qa1+ 27.Kd2 Ba5+ 28.Ke2 Qa2 29.Kf3 Qc4 30.exf5 gxf5 31.Bh6+ Ke7 32.Qh7+ Kd8 33.Bg5+ Kc8 34.Qxf5+ Kb8 35.Qf7 Rc8 36.Ra1 Bc7 37.Be3 c5 38.c3 Qb3 39.Ne4 Qc2 40.b4 a6 41.bxc5 dxc5 42.d6 Bb6 43.Rc1 Qd3 44.Nf2 Qb5 45.d7 Rd8 46.Bf4+ Ka7 47.Rd1 Qc6+ 48.Ne4 Qa4 49.Rd2 Qc6 50.Rd6 Qc7 51.Kf2 c4+ 52.Ke2 Nh6 53.Bxh6 Bc5 54.Be3 Bxe3 55.Kxe3 a5 56.Qd5 Kb8 57.Nc5 Ka7 58.Ne6 Black resigned, Junior 7 - Deep Sjeng 1.5, The Jeroen Experience, 2003.
14.Bf4 Qe7 15.Bg5 Qg7
White has some positional pressure - on the dark squares, along the f-file - and an advantage in development, although not (yet) full compensation for his sacrificed piece. He can finally castle, then plan to double his Rooks.
16.0-0-0 Be6 17.Rf3 Black forfeited on time
Quite a surprise. As my opponent subsequently forfeited on time his game with the White pieces - and forfeited games to other players as well - something in the "outside world" must have intervened.
By the way, after the game, Stockfish 7 suggested that instead of doubling Rooks, I consider 17.d4!? Bxd4 18.Rxd4!? (eliminating the dark square Bishop) with the following possibility 18...Qxd4 19.Qf4 Qg7 20.Qxd6 Bc4 21.Rd1 when Black is still in a bind, although the computer still puts him ahead by only about 3/4 of a pawn. A deep idea, not anything I had considered.
Here we have another human vs computer game (see "Irrational"), one which turns, curiously, on computer "psychology" and a subtle anti-computer strategy. Again, it is the human who applies brutal tactical force to close out the game.
Wall, Bill - Comet B50 engine
Palm Bay, FL, 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6
Ah, yes, back to the "annoying" or "silicon" defense.
Black will soon be challenged to decide which pawn(s) it wants to protect, and which one(s) it wants to let go. This is something White can take advantage of, if he pushes it.
8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7
Ten years ago this position proved uneasy for the computer playing the Jerome Gambit, and it quickly decided to save half a point: 9...Kd6 10.Qd3+ Ke7 11.Qg3 Kd6 12.Qd3+ Ke7 13.Qg3 Kd6 14.Qd3+ drawn, Crafty 19.19 - RevvedUp, blitz 2 12, 2006.
10.Qg3 Kd6 11.Qd3+ Bd4
Again, here, in the human - computer supermatch played a decade ago, the computer, with the Jerome Gambit, decided to bail out: 11...Ke7 12.Qg3 Ke6 13.Qh3+ Kf7 14.Qh5+ Ke6 15.Qh3+ drawn, Hiarcs 8 - RevvedUp, blitz 2 12, 2006).
Upon reflection, the g7 pawn is probably more valuable than the e5 pawn, despite the Comet B50's evaluations and calculations, and ...Kd6 is not Black's strongest continuation. Here it will cost a piece.
(On the other hand, most computers opening with the Jerome Gambit as White would probably love to offer and receive a draw after four moves!)
12.c3 Qg5
Comet B50 goes for wild tactics. It is interesting to recall two historical games that showed the computer (in this case, an early version of Fritz) solidly surrendering the piece: 12...c5 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.b3 Kc7 (14...Nf6 15.Ba3+ Kc7 16.Qg3 Re8 17.Qxg7+ Kb8 18.d3 Qa5+ 19.b4 Qb6 20.O-O Re6 21.Nd2 Qd8 22.Nc4 Qg8 23.Qxg8 Nxg8 24.Rf5 Ne7 25.Rxe5 Rxe5 26.Nxe5 Ng6 27.Nf3 Nf4 28.b5 Kc7 29.Ne5 Ng6 30.Nxg6 hxg6 31.Bc5 Bd7 32.a4 Re8 33.Bxd4 a6 34.bxa6 bxa6 35.a5 Kd6 36.Bb6 Bc6 37.Ba7 Bb5 38.Rd1 Ke5 39.Kf2 Ra8 40.Bb6 Ba4 41.Ra1 Bc6 42.Ke3 Re8 43.d4+ Kd6 44.e5+ Kd7 45.g3 Rf8 46.Rd1 Ke6 47.Rd3 Rf1 48.Rc3 Rf3+ 49.Kd2 Rxc3 50.Kxc3 Kd5 51.h4 Ke4 52.Kc4 Bb5+ 53.Kc5 Kf3 54.d5 Kxg3 55.e6 Kxh4 56.d6 Kg5 57.d7 Kf5 58.d8=Q Kxe6 59.Qg8+ Kf5 60.Qd5+ Kf6 61.Kd6 Kg7 62.Qxb5 axb5 63.a6 b4 64.a7 g5 65.a8=Q g4 66.Qe4 g3 67.Qxb4 Kf7 68.Qf4+ Kg6 69.Qg4+ Kh6 70.Qg8 Kh5 71.Bd8 Kh6 72.Qg5+ Kh7 73.Bf6 g2 74.Qg7 checkmate, Fisher-Kirshner,M - Knight Stalker, Fremont, CA, 1993) 15.Qc4+ Kb8 16.Ba3 Qh4+ 17.Kd1 Qh6 18.Qd5 Bg4+ 19.Ke1 Qh4+ 20.g3 Qg5 21.Bd6+ Kc8 22.Qf7 Bd7 23.Na3 Kd8 24.Rc1 Ne7 25.Rf1 Rc8 26.Rxc8+ Nxc8 27.Nc4 Re8 28.Bb4 Qh6 29.Na5 b6 30.Nc4 Bc6 31.d3 Qc1+ 32.Kf2 Qc2+ 33.Kg1 Qxd3 34.Nd6 Qe3+ 35.Rf2 Nxd6 36.Bxd6 Bd7 37.Kg2 Qxe4+ 38.Kf1 Bh3+ 39.Rg2 Qxg2+ 40.Ke1 Qh1+ 41.Kd2 Qxh2+ 42.Ke1 Qxg3+ 43.Kd2 Qc3+ 44.Ke2 d3+ 45.Kf2 Qb2+ 46.Kg3 Qg2+ 47.Kh4 Qg4 checkmate, Fisher-Kirshner,M - Knight Stalker, Fremont, CA, 1993.
13.cxd4 Qxg2 14.dxe5+
14...Kxe5
The King would be relatively safer on e7.
15.Qd5+ Kf6
The Queen is now lost, but otherwise Black loses her and his King: 15...Kf4 16.d4+ Kf3 17.Nd2+ Kg4 18.h3+ Qxh3 19.Rxh3 Kxh3 20.Qh5+ Kg2 21.Qf3+ Kh2 22.Nf1+ Kg1 23.Be3 checkmate.
analysis diagram
16.e5+ Black resigned
Alonzo Wheeler Jerome developed and defended his gambit in both across-the-board and correspondence games in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He even arranged to play the Jerome Gambit against readers of the Literary Digest.
In modern times, however, the Jerome is most likely to show up in internet games, often blitz; although the occasional face-to-face contest still can be found.
Recently, I received an email from Vlastimil Fejfar, of the Czech Republic, who shared three of his Jerome Gambit correspondence games - a pleasant return to the days of AWJ.
Fejfar,V - Pressl
corr Czech Republic, 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6
White faces what I have called "the annoying defense", where Black calmly gives back a piece and avoids any risky misadventures, remaining up a piece for a pawn.
The idea is at least as old as D'Aumiller, A.D. - A.P., Livorno, 1878 (1-0, 19). It is the choice of many computer programs in games in The Database, including Fritz, Hiarcs, Junior, Rybka, Shredder and Spike; so I have also referred to it as "the silicon defense".
Also, 7...d6 is the move recommended by many authorities, including IM Gary Lane in his The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps.
Vlasta proceeds calmly against it.
8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Kd6 10.Qd3+ Ke7 11.Qg3 Ke6 12.Qb3+ Ke7 13.Qg3 Ke6 14.Qb3+ Ke7 15.Qg3
Drawn
It is not clear who came out "ahead" in this encounter, Black, who was able to split the point, or White, who was able to play a "refuted" opening and not lose.
I am sympathetic. The second round of the Chess.com Italian Game Tournament has concluded for me, again (like in the first round) without being able to contest a single Jerome Gambit, which my opponents dodged. With White I scored two wins (one on time), four draws and no losses. Did more than half of my opponents "succeed" in "winning half a point" against me, or did they miss out on strolling to victory?
[This is blog post number 2,150, for those who might wonder. - Rick]
