Same, Different, Same

Same.

Looking for precedents in the play of Wall - Guest2507113, PlayChess.com, 2013 (see "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"), I found the game Sir Osis of the Liver - Piratepaul, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2009, in The Database.

The play began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 d6 6.O-O h6 7.h3 Nf6 8.Be3 Bb6 9.c4 Rf8 10.Nc3 Kg8 reaching an identical position to Wall - Guest 2507113.

This is not surprising: Bill is always the first to get the updated versions of The Database, and he likes to mine the nearly 29,000 games for inspiration for future play.

Different.

As play continued, however, Sir Osis (love that name!) had greater difficulties in the game, fell behind, and found himself in dire straits, as can be seen in the following position, where he is down a piece and a couple of passed pawns.

Play continued

30.Qxe5 

When, instead of exchanging Rooks, Black pressed his attack with

30...Nf4?

White quickly noted the difference, and offered the swap himself with 

31.Rxf6

Not wanting to drop  a piece with 31...gxf6 and slide into what would most likely be a drawn ending, Black now played

31...Nxd3

Same.

Allowing the enjoyable win

32.Rxh6 checkmate 

You don't tug on Superman's cape,

You don't spit into the wind,

You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger,

And you don't mess around with Slim.

                                  -- "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" by Jim Croce

If Bill Wall does you the favor of giving you "Jerome Gambit odds," do yourself a favor and try not to match tactics with him. It can only turn out one way...

billwall - mukak
Chess.com, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.0-0

One of the "modern" Jerome Gambit variations. White decides to offer only one piece, and then see what he can do with what Black eventually gives him.

5...Nf6 6.d3 h6 7.Be3 Be7 8.c4

Locking down the square d5. Often the watchwords of the "modern" variations are: no hurry, no error.

Also seen: 8.Nc3 a6 9.a3 Rf8 10.d4 exd4 11.e5 dxe3 12.exf6 exf2+ 13.Kxf2 Bxf6 14.Kg1 Kg8 15.Qd5+ Kh8 16.Ne4 Bxb2 17.Rae1 d6 18.Qh5 Black resigned, drewbear - Piratepaul, JG4 thematic, Chessworld, 2008.

8...d6 9.Nc3

Or, in an exhibition of computer play: 9.h3 Rf8 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Qb3 Na5 12.Qa4 c5 13.b4 cxb4 14.Qxb4 Kg8 15.Qa4 b6 16.Rab1 Rc8 17.Rfe1 Rf7 18.Nb5 Bd7 19.Qd1 a6 20.Nc3 Rb8 21.Re2 b5 22.cxb5 axb5 23.Reb2 b4 24.Rxb4 Rxb4 25.Rxb4 Qa8 26.Rb2 Rf8 27.Nb5 Qc8 28.a4 Nc6 29.Bb6 d5 30.Bc7 Be6 31.exd5 Bxd5 32.Nxe5 Nxe5 33.Bxe5 Nd7 34.Rc2 Qd8 35.Bc7 Qe8 36.Qg4 Bc5 37.d4 Nf6 38.Qe2 Bb4 39.Qxe8 Rxe8 40.Be5 Ra8 41.Bxf6 gxf6 42.Nc7 Be4 43.Re2 Rxa4 44.Rxe4 Bd6 45.g3 Bxc7 46.Rg4+ Kh7 47.Kg2 f5 48.Rh4 Bd6 49.Kf3 Ra3+ 50.Ke2 Kg7 51.Rh5 Kg6 52.g4 f4 53.Rd5 f3+ 54.Kd1 Bb4 55.Kc2 Be1 56.Rd6+ Kg7 57.Rd7+ Kf8 58.Kb2 Ra5 59.Rd6 Kg7 60.Rd7+ Kf6 61.Rd6+ Kg5 62.Rd7 Bxf2 63.Kc3 Be1+ 64.Kd3 Ra3+ 65.Ke4 f2 66.Rd5+ Kh4 67.Rh5+ Kg3 68.Rf5 Kg2 69.g5 hxg5 70.Rxg5+ Rg3 71.Rf5 Bd2 72.Rf8 Re3+ 73.Kd5 Rf3 White resigned, Hiarcs 9 - Junior 7, The Jeroen Experience, 2003.

9...Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6

12.Nh4 Rf8 13.Qb3

13...Nxg4

Uncovering an attack on White's Knight on h4. White has an uncovered attack of his own, although for now Black is okay.

14.c5+ Kf6

Suddenly Black is much worse.

Rybka suggests a roughly equal game after 14...d5 15.exd5 Na5 16.Qa4 Bxh4 17.Qxg4 Qf6 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4.

analysis diagram







15.Nd5+ Kf7 16.Nxe7+ Kxe7 17.Nxg6+ Kd7 18.Nxf8+ Qxf8

19.hxg4

A nice touch: finally capturing the Knight puts White a Rook ahead.

19...Rb8 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.f4 exf4 22.Rxf4 Qd8 23.Rf7+ Kc8 24.Qe6+ Black resigned

It is mate next move.

Final: JGTourney4 ChessWorld 2009

JGTourney4 ChessWorld 2009

----------------------1--2--3--4--5--6--7--8--9-10-11-12-13-14-15

1 Piratepaul --------** 01 10 11 11 10 11 01 11 11 01 11 11 10 11 -22.0/28
2 stampyshortlegs ---10 ** 11 01 01 11 01 10 10 1½ 11 11 11 10 11 -20.5/28
3 Sir Osis ----------01 00 ** 00 11 11 11 11 11 00 01 11 01 11 11 -19.0/28
4 DREWBEAR63---------00 10 11 ** 11 01 01 01 00 00 11 11 01 11 11 -17.0/28
5 GladtoMateYou------00 10 00 00 ** 01 01 01 11 01 11 11 11 11 11 -17.0/28
6 Luke Warm ---------01 00 00 10 10 ** 10 01 ½1 11 01 01 ½1 11 01 -15.0/28
7 Haroldlee123-------00 10 00 10 10 01 ** 11 11 00 0½ ½0 11 11 11 -15.0/28
8 eddie43------------10 01 00 10 10 10 00 ** 11 1½ 10 00 01 11 11 -14.5/28
9 TWODOGS------------00 01 00 11 00 ½0 00 00 ** ½1 11 11 01 11 11 -14.0/28
10 Black Puma--------00 0½ 11 11 10 00 11 0½ ½0 ** 01 00 01 01 11 -13.5/28
11 blackburne--------10 00 10 00 00 10 1½ 01 00 10 ** 11 11 01 11 -13.5/28
12 gwyn1-------------00 00 00 00 00 10 ½1 11 00 11 00 ** 01 00 11 -9.5/28
13 metalwarrior1969--00 00 10 10 00 ½0 00 10 10 10 00 10 ** 01 11 -9.5/28
14 Crusader Rabbit---01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 10 11 10 ** 00 -7.0/28
15 calchess10--------00 00 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 11 ** -3.0/28

Prized Players

Prizes have been mailed to the top three finishers of the Chessworld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament: Piratepaul, stampyshortlegs and Sir Osis of the Liver.

I would like to express my thanks to blackburne, who hosted the tournament, and to all of the other players who combined to produce 210 interesting Jerome Gambit games: DREWBEAR 63, GladtoMateYou, Luke Warm, Haroldlee123, eddie43, TWODOGS, Black Puma, gwyn1, metalwarrior1969, Crusader Rabbit and calchess10.

Rough Weather

Pete Banks ("blackburne"), likely the top contemporary across-the-board Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) player this blog is aware of, will finish the current 15-player ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Chess Tournament tied for 10th place, a bit of a disappointment. Some of his games show a bit of rust – just enough that, barring a few unfortunate slips, he could have actually finished 5 or 6 places higher. The following is an example of things suddenly going haywire.

blackburne - Piratepaul
JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

A very reasonable defense, considered one of the refutations of the Jerome Gambit.

7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qe3 Nf6

9.0-0 Rf8 10.d4 Kg8

Black has castled-by-hand. White's task is to use his center pawns (d-, e- and f-pawns) to begin an attack on the enemy King. Black will strike back in the center.

11.Nc3 c6 12.f4 Ng4 13.Qg3 Nf6 14.f5

14...Ne7 15.Bh6 Nh5

Protecting the g7 pawn and attacking the White Queen, although the more "boring" 15...Rf7 might have been a better move.

16.Qg4

This is one of the moves that I referred to as "rusty." The Queen moves to a square which is on the same diagonal as Black's Bishop. One step further would have gotten White the attack he wanted: 16.Qg5. Now 16...Qe8 allows White a smashing attack, for example: 17.f6 Ng6 18.fxg7 Nxg7 19.h4 Rxf1+ 20.Rxf1 Qe7 21.Rf6 Nf8 22.d5 Bd7 23.e5 +-;






analysis diagram






Leading to a bit of an edge for White would have been 16. Qg5 Rf7 17.Qxh5 gxh6 18.Qxh6 +/=.

Best for Black would have been to give back his piece to achieve a drawish endgame: 16...Nxf5 17.exf5 Qxg5 18.Bxg5 Bxf5.

analysis diagram






Returning the piece is a theme in Jerome Gambits that does not get attended to enough; doing it correctly, even moreso.

16...Qe8 17.Rf3 Rf6

Stronger was the thematic 17...d5

18.Rh3

White needed to mix it up with 18.Bg5 when one possible line is 18...d5 19.Qh4 dxe4 20.Bxf6 exf3 21.Bxe7 fxg2 (Hungry, hungry pawn!) and then 22.f6 gives White the edge because of his initiative.







analysis diagram





18...Rxh6 19.f6

Ouch. Rusty.

19...Bxg4 20.fxg7 Bxh3 21.gxh3 Nxg7 22.Rf1 Rxh3 White resigns

This game hardly shows blackburne at his best.

To the winners go the awards

As mentioned in yesterday's post it is possible to identify the three top finishers in the soon-to-be-completed (one game unfinished) ChessWorld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament:

1st Place: Piratepaul
2nd Place: stampyshortlegs
3rd Place: Sir Osis of the Liver

Congratulations, all!

The tournament, sponsored by blackburne, has light-hearted prizes (sponsored by jeromegambit.blogspot.com) for the first three finishers. For Piratepaul, in case he wants to expand his attacking openings, there is An Opening Repertoire for the Attacking Player by Raymond Keene and David Levy. For stampyshortlegs, who showed skill in playing the offbeat Jerome Gambit, there is Baroque Chess Openings by Richard Wincor – containing a whole new set off unorthodox openings. For Sir Osis of the Liver, there is The Basis of Combination in Chess by Julius Du Mont, so that he can continue his tactical ways.

All three are asked to contact me (richardfkennedy@hotmail.com) to provide mailing addresses.

And the winner is...

With two games left to be played in the ChessWorld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Chess Tournament, it appears that Piratepaul will take top honors, with 22 points out of 28 games (a winning percentage of 79%).

Second place stampyshortlegs has one game not yet completed, but with 20.5 points out of 27 games, even a win in that final encounter would give him only 21.5 points, .5 points behind Piratepaul.

Third place belongs to Sir Osis of the Liver, with 19 out of 28 points.

Stampyshortlegs leads the number of points from the Jerome Gambit with 9.5, followed by Piratepaul and Sir Osis of the Liver with 9.0

In the hands of a "spoiler"

With only four games left to complete in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament at Chessworld, Piratepaul holds a slim .5 point lead (21.0 out of 26 games) over stampyshortlegs (20.5 out of 27 games). All three of their games are against Crusader Rabbit (5.0 out of 25 games), who has secured 14th place, but who clearly can play the role of spoiler. If Crusader Rabbit wins all his games, or loses all his games, Piratepaul will hang onto first place; but the proper distribution of wins, losses and draws could put stampyshortlegs on top. This exciting tournament of 210 games could come down to the final move!

Photo Finish?

It's beginning to look like the 15-player, double-round robin Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament at ChessWorld will go down to the wire before a winner is determined.

Currently, stampyshortlegs holds the lead, with 20.5 points out of 26 games completed. He has leap-frogged over Piratepaul, who has 20 points out of 25 games completed.

Sir Osis of the Liver (19 points out of 28 games completed), is secure in third place.

Fourth place is occupied by DREWBEAR 63 (17 points out of 28 games); although he could be joined there by GladtoMateYou (16 points out of 27 games) or Haroldlee123 (14 points out of 25 games) – but not both, as they are playing a game against each other.

Luke Warm is sitting still with 15 points out of 28 games, as is Eddie43 with 14.5 points out of 28 games.

The Jerome Gambit has kept its score of 39%. stampyshortlegs has gained 9.5 points with the gambit, while PiratePaul and Sir Osis of the Liver have gained 9 points.

Fifteen Games to Go: Much Unsettled

With only 15 of the games in the 15-player, double-round robin Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament at ChessWorld left to be completed, the Jerome Gambit has scored an almost-credible 39%.

The tournament leader Piratepaul (20 points out of 25 games completed) has 9 points from the Jerome. Second place is held by Sir Osis of the Liver (19 points out of 28 games completed), who has 8 points from the Gambit.

stampyshortlegs (18.5 points out of 24 games) is in third place, with 8.5 points from the Jerome Gambit .

Fourth place is occupied by DREWBEAR 63 (17 points out of 28 games, 7 JG points); fifth by GladtoMateYou (16 points out of 27 games, 8 JG points); and sixth by LukeWarm (15 points out of 28 games, 3 JG points).

Piratepaul Tops Wild Muzio Tournament

Some time back (see "Wild!") I mentioned that Chessworld was holding a Lolli / Wild Muzio (1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+) Gambit Thematic Tournament (for some Wild Muzio's see "Wilder!", "Wildest!", and ""And Yet Wilder Still...") that might be of interest to Jerome Gambiteers.

The tournament is now complete, and Piratepaul – who is also leading the current Chessworld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament – was the winner, with 24 wins out of 28 games. Second place, on a tie-break, was blackburne, nudging out BigFace888 and Crusader Rabbit, all scoring 18 points out of 28.

Here are a few of the short games – one by the tournament winner, one by the runner-up, and one (his sole win, but always fighting) by the tail-ender, brain50.

Piratepaul - Macken
Chessworld, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+

5...Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke8

7.Qxg4 d6

Black needed to play 7...Nf6, and according to old analysis after 8.Qxf4 d6 9.Nf3 Rg8 10.0-0 Rg4 11.Qe3 Rxe4 he would be much better.

8.Qh5+ Ke7 9.Qf7 checkmate




TWODOGS - blackburne
Chessworld, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+

5...Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke6 7.Qxg4+ Kxe5

8.d4+ Kxd4


Here, Black claimed a win on time – just when the game was getting interesting.

White had the crafty move 9.b4, and play could have continued 9...Bxb4+ 10.c3+ Kc5 – instead, 10...Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3 Kxc3 12.Bb2+ Kxb2 13.Qe2+ Kxa1 14.Kf2 checkmate was played by Spencer (see "And Yet Wilder Still...") – 11.cxb4+ Kb6 12.Bb2 and White had a chance for advantage.



brain50 - DREWBEAR 63
Chessworld, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+

5...Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke6 7.d4 White's best was, instead, 7.Qxg4+ so that after 7...Kxe5 he would be able to force a draw by repeatedly checking Black's King.

Now Black can play 7...Qh4+ (a move familiar to those who play the Jerome Gambit) with advantage. Instead, he plays a quieter move.

7...d6 8.Qxg4+ Kf6

Black's best was 8...Ke7 9.Qh4+ Nf6 10.Ng6+ hxg6 11.Qxh8 with an unclear game that is still playable.


9.Qxf4+ Ke7 10.Qf7 checkmate

Nearing the Final Turn

With 86% (180 out of 210) of the games in the 15-player, double-round robin Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament at ChessWorld completed, the Jerome Gambit has kept steady, scoring 37%.

Piratepaul (19 points out of 24 games completed) remains the player to beat. Second place is held by Sir Osis of the Liver (17 points out of 26 games completed) and DREWBEAR 63 (17 points out of 28 games).

Fourth place is occupied by GladtoMateYou (15 points out of 25 games), while fifth place is held by the surging stampyshortlegs (14 points out of 19 games).

Three players are tied for sixth: LukeWarm (13.5 points out of 25 games), eddie43 (13.5 points out of 26 games) and blackburne (13.5 points out of 27 games).

While Piratepaul holds the top winning percentage of 79%, the second highest remains a threat: stampyshortlegs, 74%; and 9 games yet undecided.

Against the Semi-Italian

I've been having second thoughts about the accuracy of my strategy against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) cousin: Jerome-ized play against the Semi-Italian Opening, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0-0 (my choice) Bc5 5.Bxf7+.

Recently, I've collected 138 games which suggest the brute-force method of "no waiting": 4.Bxf7+, anyhow. At first glance, however, that seems a bit blunt to me, even if it's perfectly playable in lightning chess.

So I was happy to receive the following game, from Welton Vaz, (see "Xadrez, Ficção Cientifíca e Paz").


Ghandy - devgru
blitz FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6


4.c3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+

Just like with the Jerome Gambit proper, there has developed a "modern" treatment of the Jerome-ized Semi-Italian opening, one which does not include 6.Nxe5+. Several games in the current Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament at Chessworld have developed that theme:

6.d3 Nf6 ( 6...d6 7.0-0 Bg4 8.a4 Nf6 9.b4 Bxb4 10.cxb4 a6 11.Bd2 b5 12.a5 Bh5 13.Bc3 Rf8 14.Nbd2 Ne7 15.Qb3+ Kg6 16.d4 exd4 17.Bxd4 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Kh7 19.Qh3 Ng6 20.g3 c5 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.Be3 c4 23.Qg2 Qe7 24.f3 Rad8 25.Qf2 Ng4 26.Qe1 h5 27.fxg4 hxg4 28.Rxf8 Rxf8 29.Bd4 Rd8 30.Qe3 b4 31.Nxc4 Qe6 32.Nb6 b3 33.Rb1 Ne7 34.Rxb3 Nc6 35.Bb2 Rd1+ 36.Kg2 Qf7 37.Qf4 Qxb3 38.Qf5+ g6 39.Qf2 Nxa5 40.Nd5 Qd3 41.Qf7+ Kh6 42.Qg7+ Kh5 43.Nf4+ Kg5 44.Bf6 checkmate, Piratepaul - calchess10, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009) 7.0-0 d6 (7...Rf8 8.Kh1 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.b4 Bd6 11.g3 b6 12.Nh4 Kg8 13.Nd2 Nxc3 14.Qb3+ Rf7 15.Qxc3 Nd4 16.Ne4 Bb7 17.Be3 c5 18.bxc5 bxc5 19.Rab1 Bxe4+ 20.dxe4 g5 21.Nf5 Nxf5 22.exf5 Rxf5 23.Rb7 Bc7 24.Qxc5 Qd3 25.Kg1 Qd6 26.Qxc7 Qxc7 27.Rxc7 a5 28.a3 Rf7 29.Rc5 e4 30.Re5 Rd7 31.Rxe4 Rad8 32.Bb6 Ra8 33.Ra4 Ra6 34.Be3 Kf7 35.Rb1 Rd5 36.Kg2 Ke6 37.Rb7 h5 38.Re4+ Kf6 39.Rb6+ Rxb6 40.Bxb6 Rb5 41.Bd8+ Kf5 42.Ra4 g4 43.Bxa5 Kg5 44.Bb4 h4 45.Be7+ Black resigned, Piratepaul - Black Puma, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009) 8.a4 a6 9.b4 Ba7 10.Qb3+ Be6 11.c4 Nd4 12.Qd1 Rf8 13.Nc3 Kg8 14.Kh1 Bg4 15.Be3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5 17.Rg1 Nxf3 18.Rg2 Qh4 19.Ne2 Rf7 20.Bxa7 Rxa7 21.b5 Ra8 22.a5 Raf8 23.Qb3 Nd2 24.Qc2 Rxf2 25.Qxd2 Rxg2 26.Rg1 Rxh2 checkmate, Piratepaul - blackburne, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009;

6.d4 Bd6 ( 6...exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ ( 7...Bb6 8.Ne5+ Nxe5 9.dxe5 Qe7 10.Qf3+ Ke8 11.0-0 Qxe5 12.Bf4 Qxb2 13.Nc3 Kd8 14.Nb5 Qxb5 15.Rab1 Qa5 16.Rbc1 d6 17.g3 Bh3 18.Rfd1 Kd7 19.e5 h5 20.Qxb7 Nh6 21.Rd5 Qxa2 22.Be3 Bxe3 23.Qxc7+ Ke8 24.Qc6+ Kf7 25.Qc2 Rac8 26.e6+ Ke7 27.Qb1 Qxf2+ 28.Kh1 Qg2 checkmate, yorkypuddn - braken, Chessworld, 2008) 8.Nfd2 Nxd4 9.0-0 d6 10.a3 Ba5 11.b4 Bb6 12.Nc4 Nc6 13.Nc3 Bd4 14.Qf3+ Qf6 15.Qxf6+ Nxf6 16.Kh1 Bxc3 17.Ra2 Be5 18.f4 Bd4 19.b5 Ne7 20.Bb2 Bxb2 21.Rxb2 Nxe4 22.Rb4 Nc5 23.f5 Nd5 24.Rb2 Rf8 25.g4 Nf6 26.h4 Nxg4 27.Rg1 h5 28.Rbg2 Bxf5 29.Nd2 g6 30.Re2 Kg7 31.Kg2 Bd3 32.Re7+ Rf7 33.Rge1 Bxb5 34.Nf3 Bc6 35.Rxf7+ Kxf7 36.Kg3 Bxf3 37.Rf1 Ne5 38.Rxf3+ Nxf3 39.Kxf3 Re8 40.Kf4 Kf6 41.Kg3 Kf5 42.Kf3 Re4 43.Kf2 Kf4 44.a4 Rxa4 White resigned, TWODOGS - Piratepaul, JG2 Chessworld, 2008) 7.d5 ( 7.dxe5 Be7 8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.b4 a6 10.e6 dxe6 11.Qh5+ Kf8 12.c4 Bxb4+ 13.Bd2 Bxd2+ 14.Nbxd2 Qf6 15.0-0 Nge7 16.Qc5 Kg8 17.e5 Qf5 18.Nd4 Qxe5 19.Qxe5 Nxe5 20.f4 Nf7 21.Rae1 g6 22.Nxe6 Bxe6 23.Rxe6 Kf8 24.Rfe1 Re8 25.Ne4 Nc6 26.Rxg6 h5 27.Kf2 Rh6 28.Rg3 h4 29.Rg4 Nd6 30.Nxd6 Rxe1 31.Kxe1 cxd6 32.h3 Kf7 33.Ke2 Kf6 34.Rg5 Na7 35.Kf3 b5 36.cxb5 Nxb5 37.Kg4 Rh7 38.a4 Nc7 39.f5 Rg7 40.Rxg7 Kxg7 41.Kxh4 Kf6 42.g4 Ke5 43.Kg3 Nd5 44.h4 Nf6 45.h5 Nxh5+ 46.gxh5 Kxf5 47.Kh4 a5 48.h6 Kg6 49.Kg4 Black resigned, pawn_starr - astandenuk, Gameknot, 2006) 7...Nce7 8.c4 Ng6 9.a3 Nf6 10.Nbd2 Nf4 11.0-0 Qe7 12.Nb3 Nxe4 13.Bxf4 exf4 14.Re1 Re8 15.Nbd2 Qf6 16.Nxe4 Qg6 17.Nh4 Qh7 18.Nf6 gxf6 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Rxe8+ Bf8 21.Ng6 Kg7 22.Nxf8 Qd3 23.Re7+ Black resigned, TWODOGS - eddie43, JG2 Chessworld, 2008;

6.a4 Nf6 7.d3 Ng4 8.0-0 d6 9.h3 Nf6 10.b4 Nxb4 11.cxb4 Bd4 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.f4 Re8 14.f5 Ng8 15.Qg4 Nf6 16.Qf3 Kg8 17.Ra2 a5 18.b5 c6 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Rb2 Ba6 21.Re1 c5 22.Rbe2 Rb8 23.Nd2 d5 24.e5 Nh7 25.Qg3 Qc7 26.Nf1 c4 27.f6 g5 28.Nh2 Nxf6 29.Ng4 Nxg4 30.hxg4 cxd3 31.Rd2 Re6 32.Bb2 Rxb2 33.Rxb2 Rc6 34.Qf2 Rc1 35.Rd2 Rc2 36.e6 Rc1 37.e7 Qxe7 38.Rxc1 Bc4 39.Qxd4 Qb4 40.Rb2 d2 41.Qxd2 Qc5+ 42.Kh1 Qd6 43.Rxc4 Qf6 44.Rc8+ Kf7 45.Rb7+ Black resigned, Haroldlee123 - TWODOGS, JGTourney4, Chessworld, 2009;

6.Qb3+ Ke7 ( 6...Kf8 7.0-0 Nf6 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Be7 10.Nh4 d5 11.Ng6+ Kf7 12.Nxh8+ Qxh8 13.exd5 Ne5 14.d6+ Kf8 15.dxe7+ Kxe7 16.dxe5 Nh5 17.Qb4+ Kf7 18.Re1 Kg8 19.Qc4+ Kh7 20.e6 Qe8 21.Nc3 b6 22.Nd5 Bxe6 23.Qxc7 Rc8 24.Qxa7 Qd8 25.Bxh6 Bxd5 26.Re5 Black forfeited on time, majorminor - Entangle, FICS, 2004) 7.0-0 Nf6 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Be3 d6 11.Nbd2 Qe8 12.Rfe1 Kd8 13.e5 dxe5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bxb6 Nxf3+ 16.Nxf3 Qc6 17.Rad1+ Bd7 18.Ne5 Qxb6 19.Nf7+ Kc8 20.Qd3 Rd8 21.Nxd8 Kxd8 22.Qa3 c5 23.Qe3 Kc7 24.Qe5+ Kd8 25.Rxd7+ Nxd7 26.Qe8+ Kc7 27.Qxa8 Nb8 28.Re8 Qxb2 29.Qxb8+ Kb6 30.Re6+ Ka5 31.Qxa7+ Kb4 in progress, Crusader Rabbit - metalwarrior1969, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009;

6.b4 Bb6 7.a4 ( 7.b5 Nce7 8.Nxe5+ Ke8 ( 8...Ke6 9.d4 d5 10.exd5+ Qxd5 11.Qg4+ Kd6 12.Ba3+ Bc5 13.0-0 Bxa3 14.Nxa3 Bxg4 15.Nxg4 Nf6 16.c4 Qg5 17.c5+ Ke6 18.Rae1+ Kf7 19.Ne5+ Kg8 20.Nf3 Qd5 21.Rxe7 Kh7 22.Rxc7 b6 23.Nc2 bxc5 24.Rxc5 Qxa2 25.Nb4 Qb3 26.Nd5 Nd7 27.Nf6+ gxf6 28.Rc7 Rhd8 29.Re1 Qxb5 30.Re7+ Kg6 31.Nh4+ Kh5 32.Rc5+ Nxc5 33.dxc5 Qb1+ White resigned, majorminor - gamay, FICS, 2007) 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Nxg6 Nf6 11.Qe5 Bxf2+ 12.Kd1 Ng4 13.Qxh8+ Kf7 Black resigned, majorminor - Fugly, FICS, 2007) 7...a6 8.a5 Ba7 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Bb2 Re8 11.Qb3+ d5 12.d4 exd4 13.cxd4 Rxe4 14.Ne5+ Nxe5 15.dxe5 Rxe5 16.Bxe5 Be6 17.Nc3 d4 18.Qd1 dxc3 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Ra3 c2 22.Rf3 Qb2 23.Qg6 Bb3 White forfeited on time, majorminor - boepke, FICS 2004

6.0-0 d6 7.b4 Bb6 8.d4 exd4 9.Nxd4 Ne5 10.Qh5+ Kf8 11.f4 Nd3 12.f5 Nf6 13.Qf3 Ne5 14.Qe2 c5 15.Ne6+ Bxe6 16.fxe6 cxb4+ 17.Kh1 bxc3 18.Nxc3 Qe7 19.Nd5 Qxe6 20.Nxf6 gxf6 21.Ba3 Rg8 22.Rad1 Rd8 23.Qh5 Ng4 24.h3 Rg5 25.Qxg5 hxg5 26.hxg4 Qxe4 27.Rxf6+ Ke7 28.Rff1 Qxg4 29.Rde1+ Kd7 30.Rf7+ Kc8 31.Rc1+ Kb8 32.Rf6 Qh4 checkmate, majorminor - arkascha, FICS 2005

6...Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ke6


8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4 Ne7 Black is surprised, and makes a poor response.

An interesting alternative: 9...Nd3+ 10.Ke2 Nxc1+ 11.Rxc1 Qg5 12.Qxc5+ Qxc5 13.dxc5+ Kxc5 14.b4+ Kb6 15.a4 a5 16.bxa5+ Rxa5 17.Na3 Ka6 18.Nb5 c6 19.c4 Ne7 20.Rcb1 cxb5 21.axb5+ Kb6 22.c5+ Kxc5 23.Rxa5 b6 24.Ra8 Rf8 25.f3 d5 26.exd5 Kxd5 27.Rb8 Rf6 28.Kf2 Bf5 29.Rc1 Ng6 30.Rb7 Nf4 31.Rd1+ Kc4 32.Rxg7 Bd3 33.g3 Bc2 34.Rc7+ Kxb5 35.Rxc2 Ne6 36.Rd6 Kb4 37.Rb2+ Black resigned, kaboes - musix, Gameknot, 2007

10.dxc5+


This move leads to a winning advantage for White, but next time I am sure that Ghandy will take the simpler 10.Qxe5+ Kc6 11.Qxc5#.

10...Kxc5 11.Qxe5+ Kc6
White is up a pawn, but, more importantly, Black's King is not safe.

12.Be3 d6 13.Qd4 Bg4 14.Qa4+ b5 15.Qa6+ Kd7 16.Qxb5+ c6 17.Qd3

Black has some open lines (that he has purchased with his pawns) which he can place his Rooks on, but they are not adequate compensation.

17...d5 18.f3 Bh5 19.Na3 Kc7 20.Qa6 dxe4 21.Rd1 Qb8 22.Nc4


White's position is so overwhelming, he even had Bf4 on this move or the next. Instead, he captures more of Black's army, and that works just fine.
22...exf3 23.Qa5+ Kc8 24.Nd6+ Kd7 25.Nf7+ Ke8 26.Nxh8 fxg2 27.Qxh5+


Now Black has some hope of hanging on a bit longer with 27...g6, but decides instead to end it all quickly.

27...Kf8 28.Qf7 checkmate