Not Quite Jerome-Inspired Games (Part 2)

Here we have another manic three-minute game showing the three secrets to winning blitz chess: attack, attack, attack.

Philidor 1792 - guest2151
3-minutes blitz www.bereg.ru, 24.12.2013

1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bb3 a5

After offering an Alekhine Defense, but showing no interest in participating in the Krejcik Gambit, Black finds an interesting way to avoid a Delayed Jerome Gambit.

White goes for a Chicago or Halloween Gambit, sacrificing a Knight on e5 (without having sacrificed the Bishop on f7). Of course, 5.Nc3 would have been just fine for White.

5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.d4 Nc6 7.d5 Ne5 8.f4 Ng6 9.e5 Ng8

10.h4 Nxh4 11.d6 cxd6 12.Qh5 

12...Nxg2+ 13.Kf2 g6 14.Qh3 dxe5 15.Qxg2 exf4

16.Qd5 Qb6+ 17.Kf3 d6 18.Qxf7+ Kd8 19.Qxf8+ Kc7 20.Qg7+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit-Inspired Play (Part 7)

Turn-around is fair play, they say, and the following game is a fun example. Philidor 1792 is off to a solid 3-minute game, when, suddenly... 


Philidor 1792 - guest1416
3 0 blitz, www.bereg.ru, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.a3

Here we have Gunsberg's Variation of the Four Knights Game, explored (among other places), along with other double e-pawn openings, in Hugh Myers' 1977 Reversed King Pawns, Mengarini's Opening.

White prepares to take the "black" side of the positions that
develop, hoping to be helped by his "extra" pawn move. Black prepares to play...

4...Bc5

...a reversed Italian game, and, after...

5.Bc4 Bxf2+ 

...he uncorks a Reversed Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit!

The only "reversed" Jerome Gambit that I can find in The Database at this point are lixuanxuan - Polone, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 27), which began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Bc4 Bxf2+ ; and Diophantos - khangaza, blitz, FICS, 2007 (0-1, 34), which began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.d3 Bxf2+.

Of course, that is not to overlook games like Krejcik, Josef - Baumgartner, Troppau, 1914 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Bc5 3.Nxe5 Bxf2+ 4.Kxf2 Qh4+ 5.g3 Qxe4 6.Qe2 Qxh1 7.Bg2 Black resigns. For a discussion of the Busch - Gass Gambit, see "Worth A Second Look" Parts 1, 2 and 3.

6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7.Nxe4 d5 8.d4

Following along the lines of ideas for Black in the regular Jerome Gambit, White could play 8.Bd3 dxe4 9.Bxe4 or 8.Bxd5 Qxd5 9.d3, but, instead he plays the blow-it-up variation - see perrypawnpusher - Marcym, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20) and perrypawnpusher - NimbusReign, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-0, 26).  Why not, he's ahead a couple of pieces, right?

8...exd4

A better idea, according to Houdini, was 8...dxe4 9.Nxe5 Qf6+ 10.Ke1 Be6 11.Bxe6 Qxe6 12.Nxc6 Qxc6, although, despite White's King's central residence, the first player's extra piece still outweigh's Black's extra pawn.

9.Ng3

Solid, but missing 9.Bg5!? when 9...f6 allows a brutal attack 10.Nxf6+ gxf6 11.Re1+ Kf8 12.Bh6+ Kg8 13.Bxd5+ Qxd5 14.Re8+ Kf7 15.Rxh8, according to the computer. That would be a lot for a person to see in a 3-minute game.

9...dxc4 10.Re1+ Be6 11.Kg1 0-0

White has castled-by-hand and might actually believe that his extra piece is worth more than Black's extra three "Jerome pawns". The psychological reversal might have been difficult, with the Jerome-player facing the Jerome.

12.Ng5 Bd5 13.Nf5 Qf6 14.Qg4 Ne5

Instead, 14...Rad8 or 14...Rae8 would have probably kept the game even.

15.Qh3

White presses his counter-attack against the (reversed) Jerome. In a slower game, he might have risked 15.Rxe5!? Qxe5 16.Bf4 h5 (16...Qf6 17.Nxh7 Kxh7 18.Bg5 Qe6 19.Qh5+ Kg8 {19...Qh6 20.Bxh6 g6 21.Qh4 gxf5 22.Bg5+ Kg7 23.Qh6+ Kg8 24.Bf6 Bc6 25.Qg7#} 20.Ne7+ Qxe7) 17.Bxe5 hxg4 18.Ne7+ Kh8 19.Nxd5 with advantage. 

15...h6 16.Ne4 Qe6 17.Kh1 

Safety first - and an even game. Again, with time to burn, Philidor 1792 would certainly have found 17.Bxh6!? Ng6 (17...gxh6 18.Nxh6+ Kg7 19.Nf5+ Kg8 20.Ng5) 18.Neg3, etc. 

17...Ng6 18.Nxd4 Qxh3 19.gxh3 Rae8

Black is now clearly better.

20.Kg1 Rxe4 21.Rxe4 Bxe4 22.Nb5 c6 23.Nd6 Bxc2 24.Nxc4 Rd8 25.Be3 b6 White lost on time

Another Jerome victory!

(Another Random Note: May, 2011, had been the month, so far, with the most page views for this blog since it started in June, 2008 . However, last month November, 2013, overtook it, becoming the month with the most views - until December 2013, which has surpassed both to become Number 1! My "Welcome!" and "Thank You! to everyone stopping by. - Rick) 

Jerome Gambit-Inspired Play (Part 6)

The Bishop sacrifice at f7, the Queen checks followed by the capture of Black's Knight - if the following game wasn't inspired by the Jerome Gambit, it should have been. (Of course, Philidor 1792 plays the Jerome Gambit!)

The tactical mayhem at the end is as entertaining as it is bewildering.

Philidor 1792 -guest343
3 0 blitz, www.bereg.ru, 2013

1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 

Philidor 1792 returns to the Krejcik Gambit in Alekhine's Defense (see an earlier example). As I've mentioned, it's Jerome-ish enough to have been touched on a couple of times earlier in this blog, in "I want my Jerome Gambit!" and "Another Krejcik".

The Krejcik might be a bit unorthodox, but in 3-minute games it can be deadly.

2...Nxe4 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxe4 Bg7

The position may or may not be balanced - but how much time did each player take to get here?

7.Qf4+ Qf6 8.Qxc7 Nc6 9.Nf3 Rf8

Black prepares to castle-by-hand, an idea always in vogue in Bxf7+ openings, but in doing so he misses the tactical shot 9...Qxf3!?, when 10.gxf3 Be5 would force 11.Qxe5 Nxe5. Either the idea did not appeal to the second player, or he overlooked it. In any event, the opportunity is available for the next 4 moves, as well.

10.O-O Kg8 11.Nc3 d5 12.d3 Qf5 13.Bd2 Ne5 

14.Nd4 Qg4 15.f4 Nxd3 16.Nxe6 Bxe6 17.cxd3 Bd4+ 18.Kh1 Rf5

Black adds a Rook to the aggressive actions of his Queen and two Bishops, so his intentions are clear. He is even willing to let White snipe another  pawn, in order to get the other Rook into play.

19.Qxb7 Raf8 20.Rae1

Houdini prefers 20.Qb4, as the start of a difficult defense that eventually sees White trade off a lot of the attacking pieces, keeping a pawn advantage. Philidor 1792's move is more "human" and keeps the game in balance.

20...Rh5 

21.Rf3

Houdini also suggests 21.Qe7, "forcing" Black (i.e. the best response it sees) to sacrifice a Rook to obtain a draw, with 21...Rxh7+ 22.Kxh7 Qh5+ 23.Kg3 Qg4+, etc. - but who plays chess like that? Neither player is thinking "draw" at this point.

21...Qh4

Of course, the draw is still there with 21...Rxh2+ 22.Kxh2 Qh4+ 23.Rh3 Bxh3 24.gxh3 Qf2+ 25.Kh1 Qf3+, etc.

22.h3

The only move, says Houdini, to avoid checkmate in 32. How annoying!

22...Rhf5

Black cannot find the best continuation - no doubt, time was short and getting shorter - lets slip a piece, and with it the game. What was there was 22...Bg4!?, although White can afford to give up the exchange with 23.Ref1, when 23...Bxf3 24.Rxf3 still leaves Black searching for a way to break through.

23.Rxe6 g5 24.Nxd5 g4 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26.Nxf5 gxf3 27.Nxh4 f2 28.Re1 

Fun!

28...Rxf4 

Fighting to the end!

29.Qb8+ Black resigned, as mate is unavoidable.

Well played, gentlemen!

Jerome Gambit-Inspired Play (Part 2)

Here we have another game from Philidor 1792 which appears to have been inspired by the Jerome Gambit. After a balanced opening, things suddenly shift - against White. Only by complicating - by attacking - is the first player able to turn things around and in his favor. Violent 3-minute chess.


Philidor 1792 - guest4211
3 0 blitz, www.bereg.ru, 2013

1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 Nxe4 3.Bxf7+ 

The Krejcik Gambit against Alekhine's Defense. Here's a bit of information about it at the Hanging Pawn blog site. It's been touched on a couple of times earlier in this blog - see "I want my Jerome Gambit!" and "Another Krejcik".

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxe4 Bg7 

7.Qf4+ Kg8 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.d4 d6 10.Nc3 Qf6 11.Qe4 Nxd4 12.Be3 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 d5 

14.Qa4 Qxf3 15.Kd2 c6 16.Rag1 Bd7 17.h4 e5 18.Qb3 b5 19.h5 Qf7 

20.Bc5 a5 21.h6 Bf6 22.Rg3 Qe6 23.Rhg1 Kf7 24.Rf3 e4 

Here, White now has a crazy, equalizing attack with 25.Nxe4 dxe4 26.Rxf6!?, but such things are easier to find in the calmness after the game.

25.Rf4 Qe5 26.Ne2 Bf5 27.Bd4 Qe7 28.Qc3 Rac8 

Black feels sufficiently defended (he is mistaken), and begins to attack again.

29.Rxf5 gxf5 30.Bxf6 Qxf6 31.Rg7+ Ke6 32.Nf4+ Black resigned

Black is losing his Queen and will soon be checkmated.

Another Krejcik

Recently Geoff Chandler ("greenpawn" at redhotpawn) posted an interesting Krejcik Gambit (1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4) game at the RedHotPawn website. As that opening's just been touched upon here (see "I want my Jerome Gambit!") I thought I'd share it with readers. It features another relentless King hunt.

Thalassa - MHT

redhotpawn.com, 2004

1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 2...Nxe4 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+ 4...Kf6

This does not look any wiser than the 4...Ke6 of perrypawnpusher - computer, internet 2009. Better was either 4...Kg8 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxe4 d5 or 4...g6 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxe4 Bg7.

5.Qf3+ Ke5

Hanging onto the Knight! This is not as dangerous as 5...Kg5 6.Qf7 Nf6 7.d4+ Kf5 8.f3 h5 9.Ne2 h4 10.g4+ hxg3 11.Nxg3 checkmate, but; 5...Kg6 was to be preferred (although White still is better).

6.d4+ Kxd4

7.Ne2+

Interestingly, a bit better was 7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.bxc3+ Ke5 9.Nh3 with a serious attack. It's a position worth looking at.

analysis diagram

7...Ke5

A better defence was 7...Kc5, but it's really coming down to which way Black wants to lose.

8.Bf4+ Ke6 9.Nd4+ Kd5
10.Nc3+ Kxd4 11.0-0-0+

White has his choice of checkmates.

11...Kc5 12.Nxe4+

12...Kb6 13.Qb3+ Kc6 14.Qc4+ Kb6 15.Qb4+ Black resigned

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, the Wizard of Draws

"I want my Jerome Gambit!"

The other night I was spending time on my computer, when I decided to go to a website that I'd not visited before, and try out their chess wares. I was having no luck finding an opponent, so I quickly latched onto the resident computer program. I noticed that it was at its default setting, and decided to throw a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) at it.

Bad idea. The silicon warrior did not want to enter a Giuoco Piano, no matter how many times I took the White pieces. Furthermore, it kept insisting that I alternate playing Black. I had to make at least a few moves on defense: once I resigned as my first "move", only to find the computer the next game responding to my 1.e4 with "resigns." Silly computer...

I'd just about given up, and thought about going to bed, when the computer offered to play an Alekhine's Defense. Aha! At least I could go out with Jerome-ish play: I would try the Krejcik Variation!

perrypawnpusher - computer
internet, 2009

1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4

Sources refer to this as the Krejcik Variation, although the only game I've been able to find by Josef Emil Krejcik, against the player Gottlieb in 1922, went 1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 d6 3.Nc3 Nxe4 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe4 e5 6.Qf3+ Kg8 7.Ng5 Black resigned

2...Nxe4 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+



4...Ke6


The best defence for Black is supposed to be 4...Kg8 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxe4 d5, which seems quite playable for White to any Jerome Gambit player.







analysis diagram





5.Qg4+ Kd5

The program foolishly holds onto its material. Certainly 5...Kf7 was an option.

6.Qf5+

Going for the quick knockout.

Later, Rybka 3 recommended: 6.Nf3 d6 7.c4+ Kc6 8.Qxe4+ Kd7 9.0-0 Qe8 10.d4 Kd8 11.Qe3 g6 12.Nc3 Bg7 13.Bd2 Rf8 with a White advantage.

There was also the dangerous (for Black) line 6.d3 Kc6 7.Qxe4+ d5 (7...Kc5 8.Be3+ Kd6 (8...Kb5 9.Nc3+ Ka6 10.Qa4#) 9.Bf4+ e5 (9...Kc5 10.Qc4+ Kb6 11.Nc3 a5 12.Be3+ c5 13.Qxc5+ Ka6 14.Qb5#) 10.Bxe5+ Ke7 11.Bxc7+ Kf7 12.Bxd8 +- ) 8.Qa4+ b5 9.Qa5 e6 10.a4 b4 11.Qb5+ Kd6 12.Nf3 Qf6 13.Qxb4+.

6...Kd4

Stubborn to the very end. Less painful was either 6...e5 7.Nf3 d6 8.c4+ Kc6 9.Qxe4+ Kd7 or 6...Kc6 7.Qxe4+ but both involved surrendering the Knight.

7.Nf3+ Kc4 8.Na3+ Kb4 9.Qb5 checkmate








































graphic by Jeff Bucchino, the Wizard of Draws