BSG Talk: Hmmmm....

I was doing a Google search on "4.Bxf7+" to see what was out there on the internet these days, and I ran across a discussion of the Blackburne Shilling Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Nd4) at Wikipedia titled "Talk:Italian Game, Blackburne Shilling Gambit", first visited by this blog in "Talk" a couple of years ago.

The writers referenced Wikipedia's article on the BSG, and one opined

Another suggestion not mentioned in the article is that after 1.P-K4,P-K4 2.N-KB3,N-QB3 3.B-B4,N-Q5?...I should have thought the most enterprising way of punishing black's loss of tempo is with 4.BxPcheck!! (eg. ....KXB .NxPcheck etc. with ample compensation for the piece and a probably winning attack. —

This was met at first with skepticism

Disagree. After 5. ... Ke7 white has no way to continue the attack or even getting more piece in to contine. Moving the Queen out 6. Qg4 d6 7. Qg5+ Nf6 =+ or 6. Qh5 can be met with Nf6 =+. Black is better and white's 4. Bxf7 is an unsound sacrifice.

However, after the correction

Mi scusi, per favore. But what about the reply 5. Nxe5 to 4. Bxf7+?! Ke7!?

The skeptic relented

Much to my surprise I agree. After 4. Bxf7+ Ke7 5. Nxe5 White is better, White could of even retreated the bishop by playing 5. Bc4, so 4...Ke7 is not enough.

There is much to comment upon, here...

In "Talk" I had written

I like the thoughts contained in the first paragraph, especially "ample compensation for the piece," although "and a probably winning attack" may be over-stating it a bit.

I still agree – if "ample compensation" means "an even game", which is what White gets against best play by Black.

But what about that line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ Ke7 ? Is there more to it than a "Jedi Mind Trick"?

I checked The Database and ran an Opening Report. There are 299 games with that line, and "Black scores badly (31%)." No surprise, there.

What of 5.Nxe5 ? Well, in 125 games "White scores above average (60%)" That sounds okay, right?

But, wait a minute.

With 5.Nxd4 (56 games) White "scores well (72%)".

For that matter, with 5.Bxg8 (60 games) White "scores excellently (78%)" and also with 5.Bc4 (20 games) White "scores excellently (80%)". Likewise with 5.c3 (5 games) White "scores excellently (80%)".

Further, with 5.Bb3 (5 games) White "scores excellently (100%)".

It is important not to get too carried away by the Opening Report, which also says that with 5.0-0 and 5.d3 (5 games each) which allow 5...Kxf7, White still "scores excellently (100%)" — both moves are clearly inferior choices (they lose a piece). For that matter, in The Database the strong 5.Bd5 (6 games) only "scores below average (50%)" for White.

So, play 5.Nxe5 for variety, but retreat (or exchange) the Bishop for the best play.

Things are looking up

With a game like the following, I get the sense that it is possible to play the Jerome Gambit effectively (at least every once-in-a-while) and even have a bit of fun in the process.

perrypawnpusher - Jaqueperpetuo

blitz, FICS, 2011

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

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

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ N8e7

Not a frequent response (usually seen is 8...d6), but understandable: Black develops a piece even as he blocks White's check.

9.0-0 d6 10.Qe3 b6

This reminds me of my game with jdvatty.

Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Louis Morin (mrjoker, guest) has the most experience with the 8...N8e7 defense:

10...Ke8 11.d4 Rf8 12.f4 d5 13.f5 Nh8 14.exd5 Rxf5 15.Rxf5 Bxf5 16.Nc3 Qd7 17.Bd2 Bxc2 18.Qe5 Qf5 19.Qxg7 Kd7 20.Re1 Nf7 21.Rf1 Qg6 22.Rxf7 Qxg7 23.Rxg7 Kd6 24.Nb5+ Kd7 25.Bf4 Rc8 26.Bxc7 a6 27.d6 axb5 28.Rxe7+ Kc6 29.d5+ Kxd5 30.d7 Rxc7 31.d8Q+ Black resigned, guest645 - guest1600, Internet Chess Club 2001;

10...Bd7 11.f4 Bc6 12.d4 Ke8 13.f5 Nf8 14.c4 d5 15.cxd5 Bb5 16.Rf2 c6 17.Nc3 Ba6 18.Bd2 cxd5 19.e5 Nd7 20.f6 Ng6 21.fxg7 Rg8 22.Nxd5 Rxg7 23.e6 Nb6 24.Nf6+ Ke7 25.Bb4+ Black resigned, guest4097 - guest4686, Internet Chess Club, 2004;

10...Be6 11.f4 Bf7 12.d4 Kg8 13.f5 Nf8 14.b3 Nc6 15.c4 Qf6 16.Bb2 Qe7 17.Nd2 Re8 18.Rae1 Nb4 19.Qg3 Nd7 20.e5 dxe5 21.dxe5 Kf8 22.e6 Nf6 23.exf7 Qxf7 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 25.Re1 Qd7 26.Ne4 Qxf5 27.Nxf6 gxf6 28.Bxf6 Rg8 29.Re8+ Kxe8 30.Qxg8+ Kd7 31.Qf7+ Kc6 32.Qe8+ Kb6 33.Bd4+ c5 34.Qb5+ Kc7 35.Qxc5+ Qxc5 36.Bxc5 Nxa2 37.Bxa7 Kc6 38.Be3 Nb4 39.Kf2 Nc2 40.Ke2 b5 41.cxb5+ Kxb5 42.g4 Kb4 43.h4 Kxb3 44.g5 Kc4 45.h5 Nxe3 46.Kxe3 Kd5 47.g6 hxg6 48.h6 Ke6 49.h7 Kf7 50.h8Q Black resigned, mrjoker - cherryhead, Internet Chess Club, 2008;

10...h6 11.d4 Kg8 12.f4 c5 13.c3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Kh7 15.f5 Nf8 16.f6 gxf6 17.Qxh6+ Kg8 18.Qxf6 Neg6 19.Qf7 checkmate, mrjoker - hp9000, Internet Chess Club, 2009.

11.f4 Bb7 12.f5 Ne5 13.d4

13...Nc4

This gives White a useful tempo without getting anything in return. Black had better chances from harassing the Queen with 13...Ng4 although after 14.Qf4 Nf6 15.Nd2 his advantage would be minimal.

14.Qd3 Na5 15.f6

After the game, Fritz10 preferred the positional 15.d5, when White would have a solid grip on the light squares. That is all well and good, but I wanted to attack the King!

15...gxf6 16.Rxf6+ Ke8 17.Nc3 Rf8

Black is skeptical of White's plan: can't the Rook just be traded off?

His assessment is largely correct – White needs more pieces to join the attack before it can become successful – but the answer was to counter-attack to keep the first player occupied. Rybka and Fritz10 like the idea of ...Qc8 followed by ...Qg4, combined with ...Rg8.

As it goes, White can exchange Rooks and use a gained tempo to bring his other Rook into play, something Black cannot imitate.

18.Rxf8+ Kxf8 19.Bh6+ Ke8

It was not at first clear that 19...Kg8 was the better King move.

Of course, after 19...Kg8, the f8 square would be protected three times (King, Queen, Rook) instead of once, as it is after the text. That would be a defensive improvement, but White could still make progress, taking advantage of the weakened light squares, with 20.b4.  If Black's Knight retreats with 20...Nc6, then 21.Qc4+
has to be met with 21...d5, when 22.exd5 maintains the attack on the Knight at c6 while threatening the one at d7 with a possible d5-d6+. White will keep a small advantage.

20.Rf1 Ng6 21.Qf3 Qe7

Black is holding on, although his extra piece is not doing much at a5.

White's most consistent course now would be to play 22.h4, with the idea of driving off Black's Knight on g6 which is one of the protectors of the f8 square. If Black answers 22...Nc6, bringing his offside Knight back into play, then 23.h5 Nxd4 24.Qf2 allows White to win one of the Knights.

Instead, I was content to keep Black's position cramped and torture his Knights a bit more.

22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5

White's initiative will last into the endgame, for example: 23...Kd8 24.Qf5 Qd7 25.Bg5+ Kc8 26.Qxd7+ (another exchange to gain a tempo) Kxd7 27.Rf7+ Kc8 28.Rxh7 when White's Kingside pawns will allow him to triumph. 

However, Black now moves to free his un-moved Rook and comes to grief.

23...Kd7 24.Qf5+ Kd8

If 24...Ke8 then 25.Bg5 wins as well, e.g. 25...Qg7 26.Re1+, etc. 

25.Bg5 Black resigned

The amazing Chess World

Chess players with a taste for the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) might have in interest in other unorthodox openings – in which case they would be interested in the blog The amazing Chess World hosted by Davide Rozzoni.

Not only does he include various "Tips for the improving UCO players rated between 1500 and 1800", he has links to interesting software (e.g. free engines Spike 1.4 Leiden and Houdini 1.5a; as well as software to play against, Chess Hero). 

Check it out.

No Way to Make A Living

Using my "extra" pawns to chase down a draw or a win against Black's extra piece in the Jerome Gambit can sometimes be an exhausting task. "That's no way to make a living," as they say. Even if your opponent slips at the end...

perrypawnpusher  - vladchess
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8

One way to change the flow of the game and try to keep his King out of trouble.

6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.O-O

I've had success after 7.d3 Qf6 8.O-O in two games in which I reversed my 7th and 8th moves:  perrypawnpusher - fortytwooz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 29) and perrypawnpusher - Lark, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 12).

7...Nf6

Also seen: 7... Bd6 perrypawnpusher - Lark, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 18) and 7... Be6, perrypawnpusher - CorH, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 74).

8.d3 h6

8...Bg4 was seen in Lowe - Parker, corr, 1879, (1-0, 37)

9.Be3 Qe7

Exchanging Bishops was also okay.

10.d4 Bb6 11.f3 Kg8

Computers like Rybka tend to like solid pawn centers like the one White has and rate it accordingly, but there is a lot to do to get "something" out of the position for White.

12.Nc3

Moving another pawn with 12.c4 might have been better, at least according to Houdini 1.5a.

12... Kh7

The cute 12...Nd5 (note the pin on the e-pawn) was a bit better.

13. Qd3 g6 14.f4

Instead, Houdini prefers 14.Na4 Ba5 15.c4 b6 16.a3 c5 17.dxc5 Rd8 18.Qc2 bxc5 19.Bxc5 Bb6 20.Qf2 Qe8 21.Nxb6 axb6 22. Be3 Qe7 23.Rfd1 Be6 24.Qc2 Nd7 25.Qc3 Qg7 26.Bd4 Qf7 when Black's advantage is minimal.

Okay, if you say so... (The next book that I review for Chessville will be a strategy book!)

14...Rg8 15.Rae1 Ng4 16.h3 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 c5 18.Nd5 Qd6 19.Nxb6 axb6

20.dxc5 bxc5 21.Rd1 Qb6 22.Qb3 Be6 23.Qxb6 cxb6

If there was a thread in this game, I've probably lost it...

My only chance is to activate my Rooks.

24.a3 c4 25.Rd6 Bc8 26.Rxb6 Re8 27.e5 c3 28.bxc3 Rxa3 29.Rb3 Ra2 30.Rf2 Re7 31.Rd2 Rf7

32.g3

Simply overlooking the loss of a pawn.

32...Bxh3 33.Rb5 Re7 34.Kf2 Bf5 35.Kf3 h5 36.Rbd5 Ra3

Black is still better, but 36...Rc7 here would have been stronger.

Time was getting short for both of us. My plan was to continue to harass Black until one of us blundered.

37.Rc5 b6 38.Rc6 Rb7 39.Kf2 b5 40.e6  Re7 41.Rd7

Going for the swindle.

41...Rxd7 42.exd7 Bxd7

Simply 42... Ra8 was Game Over.

43.Rc7 Kh6 44.Rxd7 Rxc3 45.Rd2 b4 46.Kg2 draw.

This game reminds me of the saying about airplane landings: any one that you can walk away from is a good one...

Levity

Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Stipe Drinovac's sense of humor appears in his chess games. We have seen him finish off an opponent in a Jerome Gambit game with the move "0-0-0 checkmate" (see "Could Not Happen" Part 1 & Part 2). In the position below, he says "goodbye" with an underpromotion.

While Black patiently broke through on the Queenside, White used a breakthrough in the center (including an upstart "Jerome pawn" – the pawn on f6 started on d2) to win back his sacrificed piece.

31.fxg7+

White has several checkmate possibilities, and they all start with this move.

31...Kg8 32.Qxh7+

Grin.

32...Kxh7 33.gxf8/N+

Smile.

33...Kg8 34.Nxe6 Black resigned

Black is down a Rook and a Knight and faces a forced checkmate.

It's just really that important

In a recent book review at Chessville that I wrote about GM Nigel Davies' 10 Great Ways to Get Better at Chess (Everyman Chess, 2010), I mentioned

For an alternate “great way” – or as an addition – Chapter Two suggests Study the Endgame. Again, Davies gives game examples from his students, but this should not be necessary to persuade readers of the truth of his suggestion: most club players unconsciously imitate the play of early chess-playing computers, memorizing opening moves, concentrating on tactics at the expense of long-term planning, and playing the endings like duffers…

Davies would have been justified in giving a Chapter Three (“Study the Endgame Some More”) and a Chapter Four (“Keep Studying the Endgame”) just to reinforce the topic. It’s just really that important.

I wish I had taken more of my own advice before playing the following game.

perrypawnpusher - BEEB
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+

A "calming variation", but still a side line to watch.

8.Kxf2 Qf6+

8...Qh4+ was played unsuccessfully in annicks - Ribosome, Dos Hermanas Internet, 2002, (1-0, 23).

9.Qxf6+ Nxf6

By returning the sacrificed piece, Black has moved play into a Queenless middlegame or early endgame where he is simply down a pawn.

He no longer faces the Bashi-Bazouk attack of the Jerome Gambit. However, he also no longer has an objectively won game.

Sometimes, chess is a strange game.

10.Nc3

I have also tried 10.d3, as in perrypawnpusher - ScudRocket, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 24)

10...Re8

Black could play 10...Rf8 as in blackburne03 - bobby-pisher, Internet Chess Club, 2003, (1-0, 23) or perrypawnpusher - Edvardinho, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0,42); or in a delayed manner such as 10...b6 11.d3 d6 12.Rf1 Rf8 in blackburne - Bullit52, ChessWorld thematic tournament, 2007 (1-0, 32),


He also could start with 10...d6 and after 11.d4 c6 12.h3 play 12...Re8 as in brianwall - maten8, Internet Chess Club, 2004 (1-0, 21).

11.d3 d6 12.Rf1 Ng4+ 13.Kg1+ Kg7

Tactics can hide even in "boring" positions. For example, now 14.Nd5

14.h3

Laziness on my part. "The game will play itself."

The possible Knight fork at c7 remains "on" for a number of moves, despite my overlooking it.

14...Ne5 15.Be3 Be6 16.b3 c5 17.a4 a6 18.Rf2 Rf8 19.Raf1 Rxf2 20.Rxf2 Rb8 21.d4 Nd7 22.dxc5 dxc5 23.Nd5 b5

Like two zombies dancing a waltz, my opponent and I push the pieces around the board and pretend that we are playing chess...

24.axb5

If someone had whispered "Pssst. This is a middlegame" I might have looked for and found the tactical 24.Bf4 Rb7 25.Nc7 Bf7 26.Rd2 Nf6 27.Nxa6 bxa4 28.Nxc5 Rb5 29.Nxa4 Nxe4 30.Re2

analysis diagram







24...axb5 25.Nf4 Bg8 26.Nd3 c4 27.bxc4 bxc4 28.Bd4+ Kh6 29.Ne5 Rb1+ 30.Rf1 Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 Nf6

For all of my shuffling, the e-pawn will now be lost.

32.Be3+ Kh5

My opponent has grown complacent, too, or he would have played the wiser 32...Kg7

33.c3

Readers who enjoy tactical endgames surely saw the better 33.g4+  which merely threatens checkmate after 33...Kh4 34.Kg2, costing Black his Knight.

Playing on "auto-pilot" was hurting both of us.

33...Nxe4 34.Bd4

The checkmate was still on, in a slightly longer version, with 34.g4+.

34...Ng3+ 35.Kf2 Nf5

This slip costs a piece.

36.g4+ Kh4 37.gxf5 gxf5 38.Kg2

With a piece for a pawn, White is now winning – but how exactly does he win?

If he can get his King to d4 and then attack the Black pawn at c4 a second time (with the Knight) he can win it. For that to happen, it might be best to trade White's weak h-pawn for Black's f-pawn. Then, with the help of the extra piece, White's c-pawn can be "faster" than Black's h-pawn.

38...Bd5+ 39.Kh2

Protecting the pawn for now. After the game Rybka suggested 39.Nf3+, since 39...Kh5 40.Kg3 Be4 41.h4 Bd5 42.Kf4 Be6 43.Bf2 Kg6 44.Ne5+ Kh5 45.Nc6 Bd7 46.Ne7 would allow White to win the f-pawn. If Black exchanges off the Knight instead with 39...Bxf3+ 40.Kxf3 then after 40...Kxh3 41.Kf4 White's King will wander over and win the Black c-pawn and Queen his own; the Black h-pawn will not be an issue.

39...Be6 40.Nf3+ Kh5 41.Kg3 f4+

A mistaken offer to exchange pawns that I should have accepted.

42.Kh2 Kg6 43.Kg2 Kf5 44.Ne5 Bd5+ 45.Nf3 Bg8

Black is content to sit and wait.

It is not clear to me that there is a win any more for White, as Black's advanced King and h-pawn make it dangerous for White's King to leave that area to help win the c-pawn.

My "winning try" falls to the inevitability of the Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame.

46.Kf2 Ke4 47.Nd2+ Kd3 48.Nxc4 Kxc4 49.Kf3 Be6 50.h4 Kd5 51.Kxf4

The position is drawn now, and a dozen moves later, too.

51...Bf7 52.Kg5 Bg6 53.h5 Bd3 54.Kf6 Ke4 55.Kg7 Kf4 56.h6 Kg5 57.Bf6+ Kh5 58.Bd4 Kg5 59.Be3+ Kh5 60.c4 Bxc4 61.Kxh7 Bd3+ 62.Kg7 Kg4 63.h7 Bxh7 drawn

This game contained plenty of wasted opportunities.

Illusions

So much of chess is trusting your own plans and being skeptical of your opponent's. Yet, misperceptions arise, and our play is often guided by "illusions" of what we expect or what we fear, instead of what actually is happening (or will happen) on the board.

 perrypawnpusher - yuriko
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4

8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Re8 12.Bd2 Kg8 13.Rae1 Be6

This is an improvement over our earlier game, which continued 13...Nb4, perrypawnpusher - yuriko, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0,31). Black's pieces are developed, his King is safe, and he has the advantage.

14.Nd5

That move. I am sure that Rybka would be proud.

14...Bxd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.Bc3

Simply an oversight. Necessary was to protect the pawn with 16.c4. Fortunately, my opponent either overlooked the capture, or took my error as deep thought.

16...Rf8 17.Bxf6 Rxf6 18.Qe4 Rf7 19.f5

Deciding that if there is any play for White (there isn't) it has to be on the Kingside.

19...Qf8 20.Qe6 Kh8 21.g4 h5 22.h3 hxg4 23.hxg4 Re8

At first glance it looks as if White's Queen is taking on the combined forces of Black's Queen, two Rooks and Knight.

In actuality, Black's dallying pawn moves on the Kingside (instead of re-positioning his Knight to f6, via g8) have given White an even game, and Black's last move has given White a clear advantage.

24.Qe4

Giving the Queen the chance to move to the h-file with Qe4-h1, an idea that only gets partial credit. 24.g5 was the correct move, with the plan of advancing to g6 if possible, setting up a mating net that will close when White doubles rooks on the h-file.

Or at least that's what Rybka suggested after the game.

24...Kg8 25.Qe6 Kh8 26.Qe4

Toying with the idea of a draw by repetition. This was underestimating my chances.

My opponent decided not to repeat, but keeps the position balanced.

26...g6 27.Qd4+ Kg8 28.f6 Nc8

29.g5

Logical, but 29.Re6 gave White an edge.

Time was getting short for both of us.

29...Rxe1 30.Rxe1 Nb6 31.Qe4

Aiming at the pawn at g6, a major weakness in Black's King's shelter.

31...Qc8

Having been sold on the illusion of my attack for many moves, my opponent now conjures an illusion of counter-attack for himself. While objectively this move is wrong, because it allows checkmate, it turns out to be a game-saver for yuriko.

Chess is strange.

There was a likely drawn Rook + pawns vs Rook + pawns endgame after 31...Nd7 32.Qxg6+ Kh8 33.Re3 Nxf6 34.gxf6 Qg8 35.Rh3+ Rh7 36.Qxg8+ Kxg8.

32.Qxg6+ Kf8 33.Qh6+ Kg8

Now all that I had to see was 34.g6, the triumph of the "Jerome pawns" (with f6-f7+, winning a Rook, and then checkmate, following) and the game was mine.

Instead, I worried that 34.g6 could be answered by 34...Qg4+ (that was why Black had played 33...Qc8) with either counterplay, or a draw, anyway – so with little thought (time was ticking) I forced the draw myself.

34.Qg6+ Kf8 35.Qh6+ Kg8 36.Qg6+ Kf8 37.Qh6+ Kg8 drawn.

The final position was the same as in the previous diagram.

Only – now add what I had missed, g5-g6 for White, and what I had feared, ...Qc8-g4+ for Black.

In response to the check White's King jumps to h2 – and Black has no more checks! White's checkmate is still forced.

Unbelievable.