The Jerome Gambit: Monty Python

Sunday, December 21, 2008

The Black Knight

I feel kind of bad about this game. My opponent was rated less than 70 points below me, which was a perfect spread for giving "Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) odds" – but the game was pretty one-sided. TheChessInnovator was brave, but in the battle he fell apart.

I felt better when I remembered the Black Knight in the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Gadzooks! That was my opponent!

perrypawnpusher - TheChessInnovator
FICS rated blitz 10 5, 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Ne7

Black Knight: None shall pass!

An interesting novelty, returning a piece for some development, but not one likely to overturn the Jerome Gambit. Either 8...Qh4+ or 8...Qf6 would serve better.

9.Qxe5+ Kc6 10.d4

After the game Fritz 8 suggested: 10.Qc3 Nf5 11.b4 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qe7 13.Qxc5+ Qxc5 14.bxc5 Nd4 15.Na3 Ne6 16.d3 Nxc5 with White's advantage. I really like that move 10.Qc3; I wish I'd thought of it.

10...Bb4+

Black's chance was to get in 10...d6 now.

11.Nc3

Demonstrating no depth of thought. The idea: the Knight can help the Queen checkmate the King. The reality: 11.c3 Bd6 12.d5+ Kb6 13.Be3+ with the attack on the hapless King is better.

11...b6

Black wishes to castle-by-hand on the Queenside, but an advantage was his with the thematic 11...d5.

12.Qb5+ Kb7 13.Qxb4

Black Knight: 'Tis but a scratch

13...Nc6 14.Qc4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qh3 16.Qf1

A little too panicky, willing to give up a pawn to swap Queens, when there was 16.d5 Na5 17.Qe2.

16...d6 17.Qxh3

Mission accomplished; but stronger was 17.Be3 Re8 18.d5 Ne7 19.0-0-0.

17...Bxh3 18.Be3 Nb4 19.0-0-0 Kc8 20.e5 Bg4 21.Rd2 Re8 22.h3 Bf3 23.Rf1 Bg2 24.Rxg2

Black Knight: I've had worse.

24...a5 25.Re2 b5 26.Rfe1

King Arthur: Victory is mine.

26...a4 27.a3 Kd7 28.axb4

King Arthur: You are indeed brave, Sir Knight, but the fight is mine.

Black Knight: It's just a flesh wound.

28...a3 29.bxa3 Rxa3 30.Kd2 Kc6 31.d5+ Kb7 32.e6 c6 33.dxc6+ Kxc6 34.f5 Ra4 35.Bf4