Ugandan Chess Master

Every once in a while I have taken a break from posting on the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) to mention happenings in Uganda, where Kennedy Kid Jon spent last summer (see "And Now For Something Completely Different..." and "A Short Break from the Jerome Gambit").

Jon's Uganda blog is at http://www.jbkuganda.blogspot.com/

Word from the Uganda Chess Federation is that Moses Kawuma, a member of the Ugandan Olympiad Chess Team, recently scored 8-0-2 at the 2008 World Olympiad in Dresden, Germany. According to The Chess Drum, this performance (9/10) was enough for Kawuma to be granted the FIDE Master title.

Here are Master Moses Kawuma's games:

Kawuma,M (2204) - Chimthere,A (1966) [D37] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (1), 13.11.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Qxd1+ 10.Rxd1 Bd7 11.Ne5 Be8 12.Nb5 Nc6 13.Nd3 Be7 14.Nc7 Rc8 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Bxe6+ Bf7 17.Bxc8 Rxc8 18.a3 Nd5 19.0-0 Nxf4 20.Nxf4 Bf6 21.Rd2 Ne5 22.Nd5 h5 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Rfd1 Kg7 25.f3 Kg6 26.Kf2 Bb3 27.Re1 a5 28.f4 Nc4 29.Rd3 a4 30.Re2 b5 31.e4 Rc6 32.Rd5 Nd6 33.Rd4 Nc4 34.g3 Kh6 35.h3 Kg6 36.g4 hxg4 37.hxg4 Rc8 38.Rd5 Rh8 39.Kg2 Nb6 40.Rd6 Nc4 41.Rd7 Rh4 42.Kg3 Rh1 43.e5 fxe5 44.fxe5 Bd1 45.Rf2 Nxe5 46.Rd6+ Kg7 47.Kf4 Nf7 48.Rb6 Rg1 49.Rxb5 Rxg4+ 50.Ke3 Bb3 51.Rb7 Kg6 52.Rb4 Rg3+ 53.Kd4 Rg5 54.Rb6+ Kg7 55.Kc3 Nd8 56.Re2 Kf7 57.Rd6 Ne6 58.Rd7+ Kf6 59.Rf2+ 1/2-1/2

Grassi,E (2063) - Kawuma,M (2204) [B33] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (2), 14.11.2008
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.Bd3 Be6 12.Qh5 Rg8 13.g3 Rg4 14.f3 Rg6 15.Qxh7 Rh6 16.Qg8 Rg6 17.Qh8 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qg5 19.f4 exf4 20.0-0-0 fxg3+ 21.Kb1 Ne5 22.hxg3 Rg8 23.Qh3 Qxg3 24.Bxf5 Qxh3 25.Bxh3 b4 0-1

Skehan,C - Kawuma,M (2204) [A45] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (4), 16.11.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 c5 3.c3 d6 4.Nd2 e5 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Bc4 Bd6 7.e4 0-0 8.Ngf3 a6 9.a4 Nc6 10.0-0 Bg4 11.Qc2 Na5 12.Be2 Qc7 13.b4 cxb4 14.c4 b5 15.Qa2 bxc4 16.Nxc4 b3 17.Qd2 Nxc4 18.Bxc4 Nxe4 19.Qd3 Nc5 20.Qc3 Rab8 21.Bb2 Ne4 22.Qd3 Bxf3 23.gxf3 Ng5 24.Rac1 Nh3+ 25.Kh1 Bc5 26.Qc3 Bd4 27.Qd2 Qb7 28.Kg2 Nf4+ 29.Kg3 Qb6 30.Bxd4 Qg6+ 31.Kh4 Qh5+ 0-1

Kawuma,M (2204) - Antoniou,A (2177) [E18] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (5), 17.11.2008
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.0-0 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Ne1 Bxg2 10.Nxg2 d5 11.Qa4 dxc4 12.Qxc4 Nd7 13.Qc6 Nf6 14.Be3 Qd6 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Bg5 Nd5 18.Bxe7 Qxc6 19.Rxc6 Nxe7 20.Rcc1 Kf8 21.e4 Ke8 22.Ne3 c5 23.dxc5 Rxd1+ 24.Nxd1 Kd7 25.b4 bxc5 26.bxc5 Kc6 27.Nb2 Rd8 28.Rc2 Rd4 29.f3 Kb5 30.Kf2 Nc6 31.Ke3 e5 32.a3 f6 33.Nd3 Na5 34.Nb2 Rd8 35.f4 exf4+ 36.gxf4 Rc8 37.e5 fxe5 38.fxe5 Rc6 39.Nd3 Nb3 40.a4+ Kxa4 41.Ra2+ Kb5 42.Rxa7 Nxc5 43.Rxg7 Nxd3 44.Kxd3 Rh6 45.Rg2 Kc6 46.Ke4 Kd7 47.Ra2 Rh4+ 48.Kf5 Rh5+ 49.Kf6 Rh6+ 50.Kf7 Rh3 51.Rd2+ 1-0

Miller,B (1741) - Kawuma,M (2204) [B21] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (6), 19.11.2008
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Bd3 e5 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd2 0-0 8.Nge2 d6 9.0-0 Be6 10.Kh1 Qd7 11.f4 Bc5 12.Qg3 exf4 13.Nxf4 Kh8 14.Ncd5 Bd4 15.Bc3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Bxd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.c4 Qg4 19.Qf2 Rfe8 20.Rae1 b6 21.Re3 Nxd3 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.cxd3 Re5 24.h3 Qg5 25.Ne2 Qe3 26.Qxe3 Rxe3 27.Nc1 Kg8 28.Kg1 b5 29.Kf2 Re7 30.Re1 Rc7 31.g4 bxc4 32.g5 Nd7 33.Re8+ Nf8 34.Rd8 cxd3 35.Nxd3 Rd7 36.Rxd7 Nxd7 37.Kf3 f6 38.gxf6 Nxf6 39.Nb4 a5 40.Nc6 a4 41.Nb4 Kf7 42.a3 g5 43.Ke3 h5 44.Kf3 Kg6 0-1

Kawuma,M (2204) - Kumar,M (2019) [D37] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (7), 20.11.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c6 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.h3 b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Rc1 Rc8 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bd3 Nf6 14.Qa4 a6 15.Ne5 b5 16.Qb3 Ne4 17.Rcd1 Qa5 18.Bb1 Rfd8 19.Qd3 Qb4 20.f3 Nf6 21.Rf2 g6 22.g4 Nd7 23.Rfd2 Bf6 24.Nxd7 Rxd7 25.g5 Bg7 26.Qf1 Rdd8 27.h4 Re8 28.a3 Qe7 29.Be5 b4 30.axb4 Qxb4 31.f4 a5 32.h5 Qb3 33.Bd3 Bc6 34.Qe2 Ba4 35.Kf2 Qb4 36.Rh1 Qe7 37.Qg4 Bb3 38.Qh4 Bxe5 39.fxe5 Bc4 40.hxg6 fxg6 41.Bxg6 Rf8+ 42.Kg3 Rc7 43.Rdh2 hxg6 44.Qh8+ Kf7 45.Rh7+ Ke8 46.Rxe7+ Rxe7 47.Qh3 Kd7 48.Qg2 Rf5 49.Rh4 Rxg5+ 50.Rg4 Rxg4+ 51.Kxg4 Kc6 52.Qc2 Kb6 53.b3 1-0

Kawuma,M (2204) - Christopher,A (1679) [D12] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (8), 21.11.2008
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5 4.c4 c6 5.Be2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Nh4 Bg6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.b3 Nbd7 11.Bb2 Rc8 12.Bf3 b6 13.Qd2 c5 14.cxd5 cxd4 15.exd4 Bb4 16.dxe6 Ne5 17.Qe3 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 fxe6 19.Ne4 Qd5 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Qxd5 exd5 22.Rfc1 Kf7 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Rc1 Rxc1+ 25.Bxc1 Bc3 26.Be3 b5 27.Kf1 f5 28.Ke2 f4 29.Bxf4 Bxd4 30.Be3 Be5 31.Bxa7 Bxh2 32.g3 Ke6 33.Kf3 Ke5 34.Kg2 Bxg3 35.Kxg3 Ke4 36.a4 b4 37.Bc5 Kd3 38.Bxb4 Kc2 39.a5 Kxb3 40.Be1 1-0

Ho Hou Meng,H (1926) - Kawuma,M (2204) [A10] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (9), 22.11.2008 1.c4 b6 2.Nc3 Bb7 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c5 7.d5 d6 8.e4 Nbd7 9.Qd2 0-0 10.Bd3 a6 11.a4 Re8 12.0-0 Ng4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Qg5 Qxg5 15.Nxg5 Nge5 16.Be2 exd5 17.exd5 Nf6 18.Rae1 Rad8 19.b3 Bc8 20.Nge4 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Bf5 22.Ng3 Bc2 23.Bd1 Bxd1 24.Rxd1 Ng6 25.Rfe1 Kf8 26.Kf1 Re5 27.Ne4 h6 28.f3 Ke7 29.g3 Kd7 30.f4 Ree8 31.Kf2 Ne7 32.Nd2 Nf5 33.Nf3 Rb8 34.Ra1 Rxe1 35.Rxe1 b5 36.axb5 axb5 37.g4 bxc4 38.gxf5 cxb3 39.f6 gxf6 40.Rb1 c4 41.Nd4 Ra8 42.Nxb3 Ra2+ 43.Kg1 cxb3 44.Rxb3 Rd2 45.Rb7+ Ke8 46.Rb8+ Ke7 47.Rh8 Rxd5 48.Rxh6 Rf5 49.Rh4 d5 50.Kf2 d4 51.Ke2 Ke6 52.Kd3 Kd5 53.Rg4 Rh5 54.h4 Rf5 55.Rg7 Rxf4 56.Rxf7 Rf3+ 57.Kd2 Ke6 58.Rh7 d3 59.h5 Kf5 60.Rh8 Rh3 61.h6 Kg6 62.Rg8+ Kf7 63.Rg7+ Ke6 64.h7 Kf5 65.Re7 Kg6 66.h8Q Rxh8 67.Kxd3 Kf5 68.Ke3 Ra8 69.Kf3 Ra3+ 70.Kf2 Kf4 71.Rb7 Ra2+ 72.Kf1 f5 73.Rb4+ Kg3 74.Rb3+ Kg4 75.Rb4+ f4 76.Rb3 Rc2 77.Ra3 Rd2 78.Rb3 Kf5 79.Rb5+ Ke4 80.Rb4+ Ke3 81.Rb3+ Rd3 82.Rxd3+ Kxd3 83.Kf2 Ke4 84.Ke2 f3+ 85.Kf2 Kf4 86.Kf1 Ke3 87.Ke1 f2+ 88.Kf1 Kf3 1/2-1/2

Kawuma,M (2204) - Rambalohery,J [A46] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (10), 23.11.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nbd7 9.Bd3 e5 10.Bg5 exd4 11.exd4 Re8+ 12.Be3 Nh5 13.0-0 c5 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.Be4 Ne5 16.Qe2 Nc6 17.Bxc5 Qh4 18.Qg4 Qxg4 19.hxg4 Bxc3 20.Bxc6 Rec8 21.Bxb7 Rxc5 22.Bxa8 Bxb2 23.Rab1 Bd4 24.gxh5 Rxh5 25.Bd5 Bb6 26.Rb3 Kg7 27.Re1 Bc7 28.Re7 Bh2+ 29.Kf1 Kf6 30.Rxf7+ Ke5 31.Rh3 1-0

Muendle,K (1928) - Kawuma,M (2204) [D55] 38th Olympiad Dresden GER (11), 25.11.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.b4 c5 11.bxc5 bxc5 12.Qc2 g6 13.0-0 c4 14.Be2 Re8 15.Rfb1 Bc6 16.Rb2 Nd7 17.Rab1 Qe7 18.a4 Rec8 19.Nd2 Bg7 20.Bf3 Nf6 21.g3 h5 22.h3 Qd7 23.Bg2 Qd6 24.Nb5 Qd8 25.Nc3 Bf8 26.Nf3 Rab8 27.Ne5 Rxb2 28.Rxb2 Ba8 29.Qb1 Kg7 30.Rb5 a5 31.Rb2 Bb4 32.Nb5 Bb7 33.Na7 Rc7 34.Nb5 Re7 35.Qd1 Ne8 36.Qc2 Nd6 37.Nxd6 Qxd6 38.h4 Bc8 39.Qd1 Bf5 40.g4 hxg4 41.e4 c3 42.Re2 dxe4 43.Bxe4 Rxe5 44.Bxf5 Rxf5 45.Re4 g3 46.f3 Qc6 0-1

Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (30)

In the last game in this "human vs computers" Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) match, Yace Paderborn seems headed for the draw that Crafty 19.19 and Hiarcs 8 had found before it, when RevvedUp decides to vary – after all, his position is better.


Unfortunately, that gives the silicon beast the opportunity to lengthen the game and eventually outplay its human opponent.

Yace Paderborn - RevvedUp
blitz 2 12, 2006

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+

Kd6 10.Qd3+

10...Ke7 11.Qg3 Kf7

The draw comes with 11...Kd6, when Yace Paderborn likely would repeat with 12.Qd3+, etc. Perhaps RevvedUp was aware of a couple of previous examples of this line of play – where Black won.
12.Qxe5 Bd4

Colossus - Rybka v1.0 Beta.w32, Jerome Forced Computer Chess Match USA, 2006, transposed to this line, but saw ...Qh4+ here instead: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Kf7 11.Qxe5 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qe7 13.Rf1+ Kg6 14.Qxe7 Nxe7 15.c3 Bh3 16.Rf4 Bd6 17.Rh4 Bd7 18.d4 Rae8 19.e5 Nd5 20.a3 Be7 21.Re4 Bf5 22.Re2 Bd3 23.Rg2 Rhf8 24.Bf4 c5 25.Nd2 Kh5 26.Rc1 Nxf4 27.gxf4 Rxf4 28.Kd1 Rg4 29.Rxg4 Kxg4 30.b4 Rf8 31.bxc5 Rf2 32.h3+ Kxh3 33.Rb1 Bxb1 34.Nxb1 Rf1+ 35.Kc2 Rxb1 36.Kxb1 h5 37.d5 Bxc5 38.d6 Kg4 39.Kc2 h4 40.Kd3 h3 41.Kc4 b6 42.d7 Be7 White resigns

13.Rf1+ Nf6 14.Qh5+ Ke7

Junior 7 preferred ...Kg8: Fritz 5.32 - Junior 7, Jerome Gambit The Jeroen Experience (1.1), 2003: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Kf7 11.Qxe5 Bd4 12.Rf1+ Nf6 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.Qg5 h6 15.Qf4 Qe7 16.d3 Bg4 17.Nd2 Rf8 18.h3 Bh5 19.c3 g5 20.Qg3 Be5 21.Qe3 Bf4 22.Rxf4 gxf4 23.Qxa7 Qg7 24.Qf2 Nd7 25.d4 Kh7 26.e5 Rhg8 27.Kf1 Qg6 28.Kg1 f3 29.g3 Qxg3+ 30.Qxg3 Rxg3+ 31.Kf2 Rg2+ 32.Kf1 Bg6 White resigned

15.Qg5 Rg8

"Objectively" stronger (i.e. a computer thought of it) was 15...Re8 16.Qxg7+ Kd6, but it is not hard to see why RevvedUp preferred the text, even at the cost of an even game.


16.e5 h6 17.Qf4 Re8 18.exf6+ Kf7+
Black's development and relative King safety easily compensates for the lost pawn. But, give White a few more moves to get his position together, and...

19.Kd1 Bxf6 20.Nc3 Kg8

Black has castled-by-hand and retains an edge.

21.Ne4 Rf8
22.Rf3 Bd7 23.Nc5 Bc6 24.Ne6 Bxf3+ 25.gxf3 Qd6 26.Qxd6 cxd6 27.Nxf8 Rxf8

28.f4 g6 29.d3 h5 30.a4 a6 31.Ra3 Rf7 32.c4 Rd7 33.b3 d5 34.Kc2 Kf7

Again, the dynamic aspects of Black's position compensate for the pawn down. Yace Paderborn, however, nibbles away, move-by move.

35.Be3 dxc4

This gives Yace Paderborn a passer, and may not be best.

36.bxc4 Ke6 37.Rb3 Bd4

This exchange opens the floodgates, and White's game improves rapidly. Perhaps something neutral like 37...Bg7 was better.

38.Bxd4 Rxd4 39.Rb6+ Kf5 40.Rxb7 Rd6 41.Rf7+ Kg4 42.Kc3 Kh3 43.f5 gxf5 44.Rxf5 Rh6 45.Rf2 h4 46.d4 Kg4 47.c5 h3 48.d5

Black resigns

Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (29)

RevvedUp is happy to use the opening innovation in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) introduced by Shredder 8 in the last game (see "Jerome Gambit: Drilling down (28)") but his hopes for an early draw are dashed, nonetheless.




RevvedUp - Yace Paderbornblitz 2 12, 2006

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


7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qe2

9...Nf6 10.Qc4+ Kd6 11.Qd3+

This Queen check, in a position where Black's Knight was not yet developed, led to quick draws in Crafty 19.19 - RevvedUp and Hiarcs 8 - RevvedUp. Unfortunately for White, here the Knight makes a difference.

11...Kc6
Black can go this way, instead of to e2 – but even in that case, White's thematic Qg3 doesn't force a repetition of position: 11...Ke2 12.Qg3 Nxe4 13.Qxe5+ Kf7 14.Rf1+ Bf2+ 15.Rxf2+ 16.Nxf2 and after White captures the Knight at f2 he will be down only the exchange for a pawn, but Black's game will still be much better.

12.Qf3

Fritz 8 prefers the exchange of Queens, but a pawn-for-a-piece is not the ideal Jerome Gambit endgame.

12...Bg4 13.Qb3 Qd4 14.Rf1

A slip, but 14.Qe3 Nxe4 was hardly attractive.

14...Qxe4+ White resigns

And Yet Wilder Still...

From Edward Winter's A Chess Omnibus (2003):

Back-rank mate

A bizarre game:

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke6 7.Qxg4+ Kxe5 8.d4+ Kxd4 9.b4 Bxb4+ 10.c3+ Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3 Kxc3 12.Bb2+ Kxb2 13.Qe2+ Kxa1 14.Kf2 mate.

Seven [sic] consecutive captures by the black king and the option of giving mate by castling at move 14. Indeed, page 120 of Robert Timmer's Startling Castling! stated that White played 14.0-0 mate. That source gives White's name as F.C. Spencer, with no other details. When the game appeared on page 158 of the May 1894 Deutsche Schachzeitung White was identified as J. Spenser of Minnesota. Giving the score (also with 14.Kf2) on page 200 of its July 1917 issue, the BCM offered no players' names or occasion, but the score was said to be derived from the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News of 1894. It appeared in the 1895 book of Chess Sparks by J.H. Ellis, headed only 'Played at Mineapolis [sic] Chess Club about 1894'

Wildest!

Here's a Wild Muzio, presented in Edward Winter's 1996 Chess Explorations (source British Chess Magazine, September 1903, page 392):

Blackburne, J.H. - Amateur

simultaneous exhibition

Canterbury, 1903

(notes by Blackburne)

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4

On this occasion, to follow the fashion, I offered the King's Gambit wherever I had the chance; and to my utter astonishment, nearly allwere accepted. 'That's the way to learn chess', said I.

3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+

An almost obsolete variation. Some 40 years ago or more, I frequently played it, but came to the conclusion that it did not lead to such a lasting attack as the ordinary Muzio.

When I sacrificed the bishop, one of the lookers-on asked what Gambit I called that, pointing to the next board. 'That', I said, 'is the Bishop's Gambit, and this is the Archbishop's'. The Archbishop was present at the time.

5...Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke8

The only move. Any other loses immediately.

7.Qxg4 Qf6

The correct reply is 7...Nf6

8.d4 Bh6 9.0-0 Qg7 10.Qh5+ Ke7 11.Bxf4 Bxf4 12.Rxf4 Nf6 13.Qh4 d6 14.Nc3 c6 15.Raf1 Rf8 16.Nf7

16.Nxc6+ would equally have won, but I could not resist this; it is the sort of move sure to intimidate the ordinary amateur. Anyway it somewhat non-plussed my opponent, for he immediately exclaimed, 'What have you taken?'

16...Rxf7 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 Nbd7 19.exf6+ Nxf6 20.Ne4 Be6 21.Nxf6 Kf8 22.Nxh7+ Kg8 23.Rxf7 Bxf7 24.Nf6+ Kf8 25.Qb4+

How's that, umpire?

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, Wizard of Draws

Wilder!

Taking the lead from Pete Banks (see "Wild!") I stopped by the Lolli Gambit (aka Wild Muzio) tournament on Chessworld.

He was right: I found a number of quick wins for White, including ten (so far) that followed the same line: 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. Bxf7 Kxf7 6. Ne5 Ke8 7. Qxg4 d6 8. Qh5 Ke7 9. Qf7 checkmate.

There was another game that was even shorter: 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. Bxf7 Kxf7 6. Ne5 Ke6 7. Qxg4 Kd6 8. Nf7 Black resigns.

Obviously the Wild Muzio has some "shock and awe" impact.

It's also pretty double-edged, as I noticed some quick wins by Black, in 11, 13 and 14 moves.

Clearly this opening and the Chessworld site are worth a closer look.

In the meantime, here's a bit longer Lolli Gambit win from my database, between two players from the Ukraine:

Nasikan - Pasemko
12th Stepichev Memorial
Kiev, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke8 7.Qxg4 Nf6 8.Qxf4 d6 9.Nf3 Bg7

Better is 9...Rg8, according to Polerio – and Fritz 8.

10.0-0 Kf8

This idea seems a bit extravagant and leads to an equal game, whereas 10...Nc6 seems to hold Black's edge.

11.d4 Kg8 12.e5 dxe5 13.dxe5 Nd5 14.Qg3 h6 15.c4 Nb6 16.b3 Nc6 17.Bb2 Be6 18.Nc3 Bxc4

Playing with fire. Wiser was 18...Kh7.

19.Rad1

Why not simply 19.bxc4 ?

19...Qe7

Sealing his doom: withdrawing the en prise Bishop with 19...Bd5 was best.

20.bxc4 Nxc4

After this White either wins the Black Queen or checkmates his opponent.

21.Nd5 Qc5+

This allows mate. 21...Ne3 may be "best", as it "only" leads to the loss of the Queen

22.Kh1 Nxb2

Or: 22...Qxd5 23.Rxd5 Ne3 24.Rd7 Nf5 25.Qg6 Rh7 26.Qxf5 Rf8 27.Qg6 Ne7 28.Rxe7 c5 29.e6 Kh8 30.Bxg7+ Kg8 31.Bf6+ Rg7 32.Qxg7 checkmate

23.Nf6+ Kf7

Or: 23...Kf8 24.Nd4 Nxd4 25.Nh5+ Ke8 26.Qxg7 Kd8 27.e6 Qd6 28.Qxh8+ Ke7 29.Qf6+ Ke8 30.Ng7 checkmate

24.Nd7

Quicker: 24.Nh4 Nd3 25.Qg6+ Kf8 26.Nd7+ Ke7 27.Qxg7+ Kd8 28.Nxc5 Kc8 29.Qxh8+ Nd8 30.Rxd3 a6 31.Qxd8 checkmate

24...Qe7

"Better": 24...Rhf8 25.Nxc5 Nxd1 26.Rxd1

25.Nh4+ Ke8 26.Qg6+ Kd8 27.Nb6+ Nxd1 28.Rxd1+ Qd6 29.Rxd6+ cxd6 30.Qxd6+ Ke8 31.Nxa8

White has his win in mind, and so misses the faster: 31.Qe6+ Ne7 32.Nf5 Bf8 33.Nd6+ Kd8 34.Qd7 checkmate

31...Bxe5 32.Nc7+ Kf7 33.Qe6+ Kg7 34.Nf5+ Kf8 35.Qe8 checkmate

Wild!

A discussion started in "London Calling... Seven Months of Blog", (is there another totally obscure and disreputable tactical opening line or gambit that I could go digging for information about, while I'm researching the Jerome Gambit?) eventually led to a comment by chessfriend and Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Pete Banks ("blackburne") to the post "Worth a Second Look... (Part 1)"

Rick,

I've just started a Lolli Gambit (aka Wild Muzio) tournament on Chessworld. It's similar to the Jerome in that a Bishop is sacced very early on f7. 1.e4 e5 2.f4 ef 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5. Bxf7ch?! It seems to have more potential for quick wins than the Jerome. there have been several wins for White in under 10 moves already.

Pete

Now that's wild!

I did some quick research to learn more about Pete's suggestion, and ran into this game attributed to Greco:

Greco,G - NN, Europe, 1620
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke6 7.Qxg4+ Kxe5 8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4 Bg7 10.Bxf4+ Ke7 11.Bg5+ Bf6 12.e5 Bxg5 13.Qxg5+ Ke8 14.Qh5+ Ke7 15.0-0 Qe8 16.Qg5+ Ke6 17.Rf6+ Nxf6 18.Qxf6+ Kd5 19.Nc3+ Kxd4 20.Qf4+ Kc5 21.b4+ Kc6 22.Qc4+ Kb6 23.Na4 checkmate

Anyone whose King has been hounded to death while facing the Jerome Gambit will sympathize with poor NN, above.

From http://wapedia.mobi/en/Giambattista_Lolli:

Giambattista Lolli (1698 in Nonantola, Italy- 4 June 1769) was an Italian chess player. Lolli was one of the most important chess theoreticians of his time. He is most famous for his book Osservazioni teorico-pratiche sopra il giuoco degli scacchi (English: Theoretical-practical views on the game of chess), published 1763 in Bologna. It contains analyses of chess openings, in particular the Giuoco Piano. In the King's Gambit the variation 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5. Bxf7+ is designated after Lolli. It illustrates the Italian masters' style of uncompromising attack, which clearly differs from the rather more strategic considerations taken by, for example, the French chess player Philidor. In addition, the book contain listings of 100 chess endgames. One of these positions was used by Wilhelm Heinse in his novel Anastasia und das Schachspiel (English: Anastasia and the game of chess).

W. John Lutes' fantastic Cunningham Gambit (1980) (anything written by Lutes is fantastic - he was a relentless researcher) has an in-depth history of the King's Gambit, and it's worth tracing the Wild Muzio a bit.

One such series of Italian manuscripts were written by the brilliant analyst and player, Giulio Cesare Polerio, around 1590. He had accompanied Leonardo da Cutri to Spain in 1575 and had first-hand knowledge of the opening analysis done by the Spanish players. As well, his recorded variations and comments show that he had both played and analyzed the King's Gambit for some time.

Polerio discusses the King's Gambit at considerable length and a few examples are necessary to illustrate the extraordinary depth of his play... 1.e4 e5 2.f4 ef 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke6 7.Qxg4+ Kxe5 8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4... ["And although he has lost two pieces, yet he will win the game by force from the given position, provided he knows how to go on with the attack. If Black observes the loss of the game after 6...Ke6, and does better, perhaps by 6...Ke8!, then 7.Qxg4 Nf6 8.Qxf4, and seeking to Castle, White will have the best attack, despite having lost a piece for severals Pawns, as Black can no longer Castle."]

In a footnote, Lutes adds

5.Bxf7+ is presently known as the Lolli Muzio Gambit, from its having appeared in the Osservazioni Teorico-pratiche sopra il Giuoco degli Scacchi; ossia Il Giuoco degli Scacchi..., 1763, written by Giambatista Lolli.

Polerio's observation that the best defense is 6...Ke8! 7.Qxg4 Nf6! (7...Qf6 was Lolli's idea) was borne out by extensive analysis by Zukertort (1868), Schmid (1886), Alapin (1889), and Savenkoff (1897). The main line runs: 8.Qxf4 d6 (8...Bd6 [Zukertort, 1868] 9.0-0 Rf8! 10.d4 Nc6 11.Qh6!, gives White a strong attack. Analysis by Paul Bohl, 1884; Alapin, 1899; and Savenkoff, 1897) 9.Nf3 (9.Nc4 Nc6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.d3 Be6 12.Qg3 Qe7. -/+. Allgaier, 1802) Rg8! 10.e5 de 11.Nce5 Bd6 12.0-0 Bh3 13.Re1 Bc5+ 14.d4 Bxd4+ 15.Be3 Rxg2+ 16.Kh1 Rg4! -/+. Dr. C. Schmid: Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1886, p. 325.

The Lolli connection shows up later, after several authors, including Greco

With Greco, the King's Gambit became a fearsome weapon of attack. He whipped together the best analysis of the old Italian masters and hammered out a system of uncompromising assault on the enemy f7 square; sacrificing as many Pawns or pieces as necessary to achieve this objective...

According to Lutes,

Lolli took Ercole del Rio's bare analysis from the Sopra il giucco delgi Scacchi..., 1750, and added copious notes and explanations; as well as a few well chose contributions. The following variations from Lolli are of interest: (A) 1.e4 e5 2.f4 ef 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke8! 7.Qxg4 Qf6 8.Qh5+ Ke7 9.Nf7 Qxf7 10.Qe5+ Qe6 11.Qxh8 Nf6 12.b3 Nc6 13.Bb2 Ne5 14.Nc3 c6 15.0-0-0 (K at b1 and QR at e1) Qf7 16.Nd5+ cd 17.ed Bg7 18.Rxe5+ Kd6 19. Qd8 b6 20.d4 Bb7 21.Ba3 mate...

Again, playing through the analysis, it's hard not to see themes that show up in the later Jerome Gambit.