The Missing Element

In the following game White clearly had his chances. In fact, had he figured out or recalled a particular move (Nc4+) on several occasions, he would have brought the game to an early conclusion, in his favor. Sometimes the risks of blitz cut both ways.


COMTIBoy - elmasgrande
blitz, FICS, 2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.


4.Bxf7+ 


The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. We have seen COMTIBoy play this before.


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+ Ke7 

Almost asking to be checkmated.


7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.c3 


Leading to an even game. Instead, White had 8.Nc4+ Kc5 9.Qd5+ Kb4 10.a3+ Ka4 11.Nc3#, 


8...Nc2+ 9.Kd1 Nxa1 

Black cannot resist the bait. He could have escaped to a roughly equal game with 9...Kxe5 10.Kxc2,


10.d4


This leads to an advantage for White, but he overlooks the missing element: 10.Nc4+ Kc6 11.Qd5#.


10...Qf6 11.Qd5+ 


Or 11.Nc4+ Kc6 12.Qd5#. 


11...Ke7 12.f4 

Instead, 12.Bg5 wins the Queen. 


Now Black's counter-attack crushes, as he is a minor piece and a Rook ahead.


12...c6 13.Qc4 d6 14.Nf3 Bg4 15.Nbd2 Qxf4 16.Nf1 Bxf3+ 17.gxf3 Qxf3+ 18.Qe2 Qxh1 19.Bg5+ Kd7 20.Qg4+ Kc7 21.Qf5 Nf6 22.e5 dxe5 23.Qe6 Qxf1+ 24.Kd2 Ne4+ 25.Ke3 Qe1+ 26.Kd3 Nxg5 27.Qxe5+ Qxe5 28.dxe5 Bc5 29.b4 Rad8+ 30.Kc4 b5+ 31.Kxc5 Rd5 checkmate

License to Steal

It is sometimes said that "being lucky is better than having a license to steal." Cyberkid, who recently had the white pieces against elmasgrande in the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game, below, can appreciate that...

Drawn game.

Black ran out of time and White has no material to mate.

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, the Wizard of Draws