How to Trick the Trickster

I ran across a copy of GM Lev Alburt's "Back to Basics" column in Chess Life, titled "How to Trick the Trickster", featuring my Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+) blitz game against PunisherABD, on FICS.

I want to quote from GM Alburt, as it could be applied to the Jerome Gambit, as well.

When is it OK to use traps that may be somewhat unsound? First, the potential punishment your well-prepared opponent can mete out to you should be relatively mild, while your reward (should he fall into your trap) should be much bigger. Two, at least three out of ten (30%) of your current opponents should go wrong! (When you are faced with the unenviable task of repeatedly defending a worse position rather than enjoying the fruits of your cleverness, it's time to quit. You've outgrown this particular trap.) 

From my students' experience, the trap below (3...Nd4) works well up to the 1400 level. (Even higher in blitz: your opponent might be able to recall/find the right way, but it may cost him too much time for his comfort.)

Something to think about.

Caught Out

Despite the fact that I devote a lot of time to this blog, I am always worried that I won't remember enough of its information, and that I will be caught out in my next game. Luckily, as the following game shows, even when I forget particular lines, my sense of "what is going on" is sometimes enough for me to prevail over my opponent.


perrypawnpusher - michon
blitz, FICS,2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. Accepted.

My opponent and I contested a couple of Declineds, 4...Ke7 (see "Jedi Mind Tricks"), last year: perrypawnpusher - michon, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 8) and perrypawnpusher - michon, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 41).

5.Nxe5+ Ke6

Or the related 5...Ke7 as in perrypawnpusher - michon, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 18).

6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxd4

A dangerous meal. Safer is heading for home with 7...Ke6.

8.d3

Equally playable are 8.Nc3 and 8.Qb3.

8...d5

Instead, 8...Ke5 is the safest way to go, although White still keeps the pressure on with 9.Qh5+ as in perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 27).

Alternately, 8...Bb4+ was seen in perrypawnpusher - AdamRou, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28); and 8...Nf6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - RVLY, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 26). 

9.Be3+ Ke5

10.d4+

The proper continuation was 10.Qh5+! as in an earlier game 10...Ke6 (better 10...g5 11.Bxg5 Nf6 12.f4+ Ke6 13.f5+ Kd7 14.Qf7+ Qe7 15.Qxf6) 11.Qf5+ Ke7 (better 11...Kd6 12.Qxd5+ Ke7 13.Bc5+ Ke8 14.Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.Bxf8) 12.Bg5+? (Losing the thread. Correct: 12.Bc5+! Ke8 13.Qxf8+ Kd7 14.Qxg7+ Ne7 15.Bxe7) 12...Nf6 13.Qe5+ Be6 14.exd5 Qxd5 15.Qxc7+ Ke8 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.0-0 Qxd3 18.Re1 Qd7 19.Qc4 Kf7 20.Qh4 Rd8 21.Nc3 Bb4 22.Qxb4 Qd6 23.Qxb7+ Rd7 24.Qe4 f5 25.Qh4 Qd2 26.Rad1 Qxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 28.Nxd1 Bxa2 29.Ne3 Be6 White forfeited on time, ghosty - smenke, FICS, 2004. 

10...Kd6 11.e5+

Concentrating on development (11.Nc3 or 11.0-0) looks better in retrospect. I had to figure out a plan at this point, and decided to go with the "Jerome pawns"

11...Kc6 

12.Qc2+ Kd7 13.Nc3 c6 14.0-0 Kc7 15.f4 Ne7 16.f5 Bxf5 17.Rxf5 Nxf5 18.Qxf5

Black has the extra exchange, but White's lead in development gives him chances.

18...Qd7 

A slip we both overlooked.

19.Qf3

After the game Houdini pointed out that 19.Nb5+!? cxb5 20.Rc1+ Kd8 21.e6 with threats against the King and Queen was crushing. 

19...c5

Nerves. Better was 19...Bb4. 

20.Nxd5+ Kd8 21.dxc5 Rc8 22.Rd1 Qa4

Black is in trouble, and this does not help. 

23.Nc3+ 

Winning Black's Queen, and Black resigned.

After the game Houdini recommended a direct attack on the Black King instead: 23.Bg5+ Be7 24.Bxe7+ Ke8 25.e6!? Qxd1+ 26.Qxd1 Rc6 27.Qh5+ g6 28.Qe5 Rxe6 29.Qxe6 Rf8 30.Bh4 checkmate. 

Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit: Don't Feed the Greed

When a defender plays the Blackburne Shilling gambit he or she is alreading taking on a certain level of risk. When White responds with the "Jerome treatment", this riskiness increases. When Black's King goes wandering in search of winning material, he must know when to turn back, or the level of risk becomes fatal.
 
rrjuly - aLmaLja
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxd4 

More prudent Kings have tip-toed away with 7...Ke6.

8.d3 Bb4+

Instead, 8...Ke5 is the safest way to go, although White still keeps the pressure on with 9.Qh5+, perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0,27).

9.Nc3 c6 

Again, heading toward home with 9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3+ Ke5 is the most prudent course (beware of 10...Kxc3 11.Qb3+ Kd4 12.Qd5+ Kc3 13.Qc4#) although again, White is better with 11.Qh5+, perrypawnpusher - AdamRou, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28).

10.Bf4

Even stronger was 10.Qh5 Nf6 11.Be3+ Kxd3 12.Qe2# Wall,B - apollyon2010, Chess.com, 2010. 

10...Bxc3+ 11.bxc3+ 

11...Kxc3 

At this point 11...Kc5 12.Qa4 Qa5 13.Qxa5+ b5 14.Bc7 d6 15.Qb4 checkmate, is not much of an alternative. 

12.Qb3+ Kd4 13.Qc4 checkmate

Ad Ridiculum

Earlier this year I mentioned that the March 2011 issue of Chess Life contained Grandmaster Lev Alburt's "Back to Basics" column titled "How to Trick the Trickster", featuring my Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game against PunisherABD.

Readers who are members of the United States Chess Federation, or those who have access to Chess Life, may have noticed that the May 2011 "Back to Basics" column, focusing on "Transposing Into Your Pet Line", also referenced my work on the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

The desire to get "your own" pet position is quite understandable; if such an attept is good, bad, or in-between, depends on circumstances.

Here is an example ad ridiculum:

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 there is a well-known trap, 3...Nd4 hoping for 4.Nxe5? Qg5, with advantage for Black. In the March 2011 issue, Rick Kennedy submitted his game, where he played 4.Bxf7+, which should lead to approximate equality after 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ (Several "normal" moves: 4.Nxd4!; 4.c3; and 4.0-0 give White an edge).

Writes Rick:

"I have actually faced 4...Ke7? with the idea that after White's bishop retreats Black can play 5...Ke8, hoping again for 6.Nxe5?, when 6...Qg5! would again stir things up in Black's favor.

However, White answers 5...Ke8 with 6.Nxd4 exd4 7.Qh5+ and a strong attack."

More Updating

Following "Checking Back", it is time to use a recent Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game to look at one of its more exciting variations.

 

pigsfeet - jantonacci
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxd4

Black's King has gone far afield to grab extra material. Why did he do that? Some chess players see the board as an all-you-can-eat buffet, and chow down on everything. Others might compare development, White vs Black, and as the first player has no pieces developed compared to the second player's one (the King) what appears to be the problem?

Safer was heading for home with 7...Ke6 as in richiehill - RVLY, FICS, 2009 (1-0,24).

8.d3

This is the recommended move, although White has also played 8.b3 (8.b4 is a variant) in jonyfin - jantonacci, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 16).

For 8.Nc3, see perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0,14) and billwall - apollyon2010, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0,12).

DragonTail scored quickly with 8.Qc2 Qg5 9.Qc3+ Kxe4 10.0-0 Bd6 11.d3+ Kf5 12.Bxg5 Kxg5 13.Qxg7+ Black resigned, DragonTail - tcharge, FICS, 2009.

8.Qa4+ is an interesting idea which will be covered in a later post. 

8...Bb4+

Retreats such as 8...Ke5 in perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 27) and 8...Nf6 9.Be3+ Ke5 from perrypawnpusher - RVLY, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 26) have been seen.

Best for Black seems to be 8...Kc5 with only a slight disadvantage.

9.Nc3

Playable also is 9.Kf1!? or 9.Ke2!? although the text is natural and even allows Black further gluttony, if he wishes.

9...d5

"Luft!" says the Queen.

Also played has been 9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3+ when taking the c-pawn is fatal after 10...Kxc3 11.Qb3+ (The Database does not have any examples, but Edisce - nkm, FICS, 2005 came close with 11.0-0 Qf6 12.Be3 Kb4 13.Rb1+ Ka5 14.Qb3 c5 15.Qa3 checkmate).

perrypawnpusher-AdamRou, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28) saw 9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3+ Ke5 11.Qh5+ Ke6. 

10.Be3+

Again, a very reasonable move, although White may try to weave a mating net by putting his Queen on b3 and his Bishop on f4. Black might give up his Bishop to buy White off.

10...Ke5 11.Qh5+

The Queen must commit herself, as the enemy monarch is making his escape.

11...Kf6

Rybka 3 recommends 11...Kd6, when, if Black can survive the scary, pawnful middlegame, he can then take a few swipes at White and enter an endgame, down a pawn and the exchange: 12.Qxd5+ Ke7 13.Qg5+ Nf6 14.Qxg7+ Ke6 15.f4 Rg8 16.f5+ Kd6 17.Qf7 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 b6 19.Bd4 Kc6 20.Qc4+ Kb7 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Qxg8 Qxc3+ 23.Ke2 Qc2+ 24.Ke3 Qc5+ 25.Kf3 Bxf5 26.Qc4 Qxc4 27.dxc4 Be6.

analysis diagram





In the game, Black gives up his Queen, and then his King.

12.Bg5+ Ke6 13.Bxd8 d4 14.Qd5 checkmate

Chess Life

Readers who have access to the March 2011 issue of Chess Life are urged to turn to page 44 and take a look at Grandmaster Lev Alburt's "Back to Basics" column, titled this time around "How to Trick the Trickster". It features my Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game against PunisherABD.

Whose Territory Are We Fighting On?

This game features a battle between a counter-gambit and a gambit response, in lines where frequently one side relies on the advantage of surprise to take its point.

What happens when neither player surprises the other?

perrypawnpusher - RVLY
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. Some defenders play it because they hope that it will confuse their opponent. Others play it because they know that it will confuse their opponent.

4.Bxf7+

Me? I like to Jerome-ize the opening, offering my own gambit and my own surprise.

RVLY responded quickly to this move, however, so I wasn't too surprised to learn after the game that he has played against it before: he has 35 games with this line in the updated New Year's Database, (not counting this one).

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf6

At this point I began to suspect that someone had been reading this blog... specifically the recent "BSG: Later on in the Discussion" where I mentioned that this rare choice led to an even game. Of course, I did not know at the time that RVLY had played this move in 9 previous games. (Me? None.)

6.c3

I had recommended the retreat 6.Nf3 in the above post, but here I decided instead to offer a transposition to the 5...Ke6 line – which I later learned RVLY had also played, over a dozen times. (Me, five times.)

6...Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxd4

I was happy to reach this position, as White has good attacking chances for his sacrificed piece.

Safer was not taking the d-pawn, but preparing a retreat with 7...Ke6 as in richiehill - RVLY, FICS, 2009: 8.Nc3 c6 9.e5 Ne7 10.d3 Kf7 11.Qf3+ Kg8 12.0-0 d5 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Re1 Qf6 15.Qg3 Qxd4 16.Be3 Qf6 17.Rad1 Nf5 18.Qc7 Qf7 19.Qa5 Nxe3 20.Rxe3 b6 21.Qe5 Bb7 22.Rf3 Qe7 23.Qd4 Qd6?? 24.Qc4+ Black resigned.

8.d3

Best.

White got away with 8.Qh5 c6 9.d3 d5 10.Be3+ Kxd3 11.Qe2+ Kxe4 12.Bg5+ Black resigned in kocanda - RVLY, FICS, 2008.

Also playable: 8.Nc3 Qg5 (8...c6 9.d3 Bb4 10.Qh5 Nf6 11.Be3+ Kxd3 12.Qe2 checkmate, billwall - apollyon2010, Chess.com 2010) 9.0-0 Ke5 10.f4+ Qxf4 11.Rxf4 Kxf4 12.Qf3+ Ke5 13.Qf5+ Kd4 14.Qd5, checkmate, perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD, blitz, FICS, 2009.

8...Nf6

This move is designed to keep White's Queen off of h5 (see richiehill - RVLY, FICS, 2009, above). The value of this is seen in a game where Black chose to evacuate his King first: 8...Ke5 9.Qh5+ Ke6 10.Qf5+ Ke7 11.Bg5+ Nf6 12.e5 Ke8 13.exf6 Kf7 14.fxg7+ Kxg7 15.Bxd8 Kg8 16.Bf6 Bg7 17.Qg5 Kf7 18.Qxg7+ Ke6 19.Qxh8 b6 20.0-0 Bb7 21.Re1+ Kd6 22.Be5+ Kc6 23.Qf6+ d6 24.Na3 Re8 25.Rac1+ Kd7 26.Qf5+ Kd8 27.Bf6+ Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD, blitz, FICS, 2009.

After Black's move there are still ways to attack his King – I just didn't remember any of them.

9.Be3+

Right piece, wrong square.

With 9.Bf4, White has cut off escape to the Kingside, and Black has to tread warily.

After the game Rybka recommended 9...Bb4+ 10.Nd2 Kc5 11.Qb3 a5 12.Rc1+ Kb6 13.a3 Ka7 14.axb4 d6 15.0-0 Kb8 when White has recovered his piece, and Black's King has bizarrely castled-by-hand on the Queenside; although White is better.

9...Kc5 is not an improvement, e.g. 10.Nc3 b5 11.Qb3 a612.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5+ Kb6 14.Qxa8 when White is better.

Still, the position is quite messy, and confusion often favors the attacker.

9...Ke5 10.f4+ Ke6 11.Nc3 d6 12.0-0

Wisely giving up on finding a "forced win," hoping that better development and Black's uneasy King will be worth the sacrificed piece after all.

12...g6

Keeping White's Queen off of h5, should he evict the Black Knight with e4-e5. Still, the strategic retreat 12...Kf7 was safer.

13.e5 Ne8 14.Qg4+ Kf7 15.f5 Kg7

16.f6+

This is not right, and hands Black the advantage.

After the game Fritz 8 suggested the very understandable 16.Bg5 Be7 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.f6+ Nxf6 19.exf6+ Qxf6 with an edge to White.

Rybka preferred the quiet, but perhaps more powerful 16.e6 Nf6 17.Bd4 c5 18.Bxf6+ Qxf6 19.Ne4 h5 20.Qg3 Qd4+ 21.Kh1 Rh6 when White's f-pawn finally advances with 22.f6+.

You can see that the position was still complicated.

16...Kf7 17.Qc4+

I was floundering here – for example, Black's natural response to this check caught me by surprise...

17...Be6 18.Qf4 dxe5 19.Qxe5 Bd6

20.Qb5 b6 21.Ne4 Qd7

Necessary was 21...h6

22.Ng5+ Kf8 23.Nxe6+ Qxe6 24.Bh6+

This impatient move doesn't lead to much. White would have a clear advantage after 24.Rae1.

24...Kf7 25.Rae1 Qc8

Surrendering.

I had expected 25...c6, which I was going to answer with 26.Qg5. Black could not then afford to capture the a-pawn with 26...Qxa2, as this move would well-answered by 27.Qe3. The Bishop check 26...Bc5+ would be met with 27.d4!?, as 27...Bxd4+ would draw the piece away from its protection of the e7 square.

Best for Black was 25...c6 26.Qg5 Qd5 in an unclear position where White probably has an edge.

26.Qd5+ Black resigned

"Even" does not mean "safe"

In a recent Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit, Bill Wall and his opponent headed for a topical position evaluated as roughly even. Bill then showed that there was still a lot of danger in the position.

billwall  - apollyon2010
Chess.com, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6

6.c3

A challenge.

6...Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxd4

This move gives White a slight edge. After the retreat 7...Ke6 followed by 8.d3 c6 9.Be3 Kf7 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Nc3 d6 Black would have had a slight edge. 

8.Nc3

The alternative was 8.d3

8...c6

Better than 8...Qg5 9.0-0 Ke5 10.f4+ Qxf4 11.Rxf4 Kxf4 12.Qf3+ Ke5 13.Qf5+ Kd4 14.Qd5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - PunisherABD, blitz, FICS, 2009.

9.d3 Bb4

This looks like a normal move, but Rybka still recommends that the Black King retreat, returning material in the process: 9...Kc5 10.Qb3 Kd6 11.Bf4+ Ke7 12.Bg5+ Nf6 13.e5 d5 14.0-0 Kf7 15.exf6 gxf6 with about an even game.

10.Qh5 Nf6

It is hard to believe, but Black's only move to put off checkmate was 10...g5, following 11.Bxg5  with 11...Qxg5, giving up his Queen. Ouch!

11.Be3+ Kxd3 12.Qe2 checkmate

 

Folly

Remember the quote that the winner in a chess game is the player who makes the next-to-last mistake ? This always seemed hedged a bit by Bronstein's equally wry suggestion that three little mistakes make one big mistake.

In any event, as I indicated in "No Letdown", I believe that when it comes to playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), if my opponent makes a series of small mistakes, and I make a series of smaller mistakes, then eventually I should catch up...

Still, it took a while for me to be at peace with the following game.

perrypawnpusher - lourotors
blitz FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8

The King can also go to e6. See "Crime and Punisher".

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6

7...Nxc2+

As in perrypawnpusher - tiagorom, blitz FICS, 2009, although that game actually took place after this one.

More frequently, Black captures the Knight: 7...hxg6 8.Qxg6+ (8.Qxh8 Nh6 9.Qxd4 Qg5 10.0-0 Bc5 11.Qh8+ Ke7 12.d4 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - tampajake, FICS, 2009) 8...Ke7 9.Qg5+ Ke8 10.Qe5+ Qe7 11.Qxd4 Bg7 12.Qc4 Kd8 13.Nc3 Nf6 14.0-0 c6 15.d4 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Qxd5+ Qd7 19.Bg5+ Kc7 20.Qc5+ Qc6 21.Qxc6+ bxc6 22.c3 Rb8 23.b3 Rh5 24.Bf4+ Kb7 25.Bxb8 Kxb8 26.Rae1 Ba6 27.Re8+ Kc7 28.Rfe1 Bh6 29.R8e5 Rxe5 30.Rxe5 Bd2 31.c4 Bc3 32.Re4 Bb7 33.d5 cxd5 34.cxd5 Bxd5 35.Re7+ Kb6 36.h4 Bf6 37.Rd7 Be6 38.Rd6+ Kc7 39.Rxe6 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - adamzzzz, blitz FICS, 2009.

I've also seen 7...Nf6 8.Qe5+ Ne6 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - fintrade, blitz FICS, 2009 (8...Qe7 9.Nxe7 Bxe7 10.Qxd4 d6 11.Nc3 Be6 12.Nd5 c5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Qxf6 Rf8 15.Qxe6+ Kd8 16.Qxd6+ Ke8 17.d3 Rd8 18.Qe7 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - patitolo, blitz FICS, 2005)

8.Kd1 Nf6

This may work in analogous situations, but not here: best was 8...hxg6 9.Qxg6+ Ke7 and the position is unclear after 10.d3 or 10.Kxc2. 

9.Qe5+ Be7 10.Nxh8

Squandering an advantage, when the simple 10.Nxe7 Qxe7 11.Qxe7+ Kxe7 12.Kxc2 was available.

White's Knight will be stuck in the corner, just as Black's will in the opposite corner, but the second player will come out a piece ahead.

10...Nxa1 11.d4

It might have been a bit better to go after the enemy Knight immediately with 11.b3, intending Qxa1.

11...d6 12.Qg3

12...Kd7

The King moves to allow the Queen to attack the Knight. Rybka suggested after the game 12...c5 13.d5 Bg4+ 14.Ke1 with a winning advantage for Black. The c-pawn acts as a shield against checks by the White Queen (see the following note) and the Bishop check moves the enemy King away from the Knight's escape square, c2.

13.Nf7

It was time to sue for peace with 13.Qh3+ Ke8 (or 13...Kc6 14.Qc3+, etc.) 14.Qg3. Of course, if Black then plays 14...c5 (or any other number of moves) instead of repeating the position, he is still comfortably ahead.

13...Qf8 14.Ng5 Nh5

Quite unexpectedly, White's Knight has been allowed to escape, and this move loses a piece.

The fact is that the position is quite complicated, as Rybka's post mortem analysis indicates: 14...h6 15.Nh3 Qf7 (hoping to safe the Knight at a1)16.Nc3 b5 17.Nf4 Qc4 18.Qd3 Ng4 (taking aim at White's other Rook) 19.Qxc4 bxc4 20.Nh3 Rb8 21.f3 Nf6 22.Nf4 Ng8 23.Nfd5 which is evaluated as slightly better for Black. The cramp on his Queenside limits White's play.

15.Qg4+ Kd8 16.Qxh5 Qxf2

17.Qe2

I should have simplified with 17.Nf7+ Kd7 18.Qf5+, forcing the exchange of Queens.

17...Qh4

In turn, my opponent missed 17...Qxd4+ which keeps the pot boiling.

This is feeling like the typical Jerome Gambit family game: I'm staying in the game with help from my opponent – a dangerous way to live.

18.Nf3 Qh5 19.Nc3 Bg4

20.b3 d5 21.Nxd5 Bd6 22.Bg5+ Kc8 23.Kd2

Hoping to gather in the Knight at a1, at last, but Black can now play 23...Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Qxg5+ recovering a piece. He will eventually have to give it back with ...Na1xb3, but White's advantage will be made smaller.

23...c6 24.Rxa1

Understandable, as the enemy Knight has been sitting in the corner for over a dozen moves. I also thought that the open file would give me attacking chances against Black's King. It does, although 24.Bf4 was probably more straight forward.

24...cxd5 25.Rc1+ Kd7

White now has a mate in 7 (a better, but still losing choice for Black was 25...Kb8) but of course, it won't play itself.

26.e5

This move is inadequate, as, for starters, it allows 26...Bxf3+ and Black can work his way to a draw.

It also misses 26.Qb5+ Ke6 27.Qxd5+ Kd7 28.Qb5+ Ke6 29.Rc7 Bf4+ 30.Kc2 Kd6 31.Qc5+ Ke6 32.Qe7 mate

analysis diagram





26...Bb4+ 27.Kc2 Rc8+

Black, in turn, wants to use the c-file for attack. It shouldn't work. It does.

28.Kb2 Rxc1 29.Kxc1

It was time for the stranded Bishop to come home with 29.Bxc1. Now it will be lost.

29...Bxf3 30.gxf3

Well beyond my sight was Rybka's suggestion 30.e6+, which would have allowed White to draw after 30...Kc6 31.Qc2+ Kd6 32.Bf4+ Kxe6 33.Qc8+ Kf7 34.gxf3 Qxf3 35.Qxb7+

30...Qxg5+ 31.Kc2

 Sigh. Another pawns vs Bishop endgame, this time with Queens instead of Rooks (see my game against CorH).

33.f4 31...Qg6+ 32.Kb2 Qb6

This hurries the loss, although Rybka's analysis is ultimately just as painful: 33.Qd3 Be7 34.f4 Qh6 35.Qg3 Qg6 36.Qh3+ Kc7 37.f5 Qg1 38.Qc3+ Kb8 39.f6 Qf2+ 40.Kc1 Ba3+ 41.Kd1 Qxh2 42.b4 Qxa2 43.e6 Qb1+ 44.Ke2 Qe4+ 45.Kd1 Qh1+ 46.Ke2 Qg2+ 47.Kd1 Qf1+.

33...Qxd4+ 34.Kb1 Ba3 35.Qg4+ Kc6 36.Qc8+

Resignation would have been okay, instead.

36...Kb6 37.Qc2 Qg1+ White resigned