Caffeine Deficiency Disorder

There are a lot of explanations for the following game. It was a Jerome Gambit. It was blitz. It was played by a couple of club players. In the end, I think the most salient factor was that it was played in the early morning, and my opponent and I each could have used some coffee.

perrypawnpusher - hklett
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Re8

Instead, 7...Bxd4 was seen in perrypawnpusher - hklett, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 18) and perrypawnpusher - hklett, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 20).

8.dxc5 Kg8 

This is an improvement over 8...Nc6 of perrypawnpusher - hudders, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 13) and 8...Nc4 of the tragic perrypawnpusher - TrentonTheSecond, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 9),

9.O-O d6 10.cxd6 Qxd6 11.Qe2

After the game Houdini recommended the dull 11.Qxd6 cxd6 12.Rd1 with pressure against Black's d-pawn, although Black is still better.

Neither White's Queen nor his e-pawn are going to be comfortable with Black's Rook on e8, and a timely f2-f3 (despite f2-f4 being thematic in the Jerome Gambit) will soon be helpful. 

11...Be6 12.b3

Protecting against a possible ...Bc4, skewering White's Queen and Rook, but this is one-dimensional. A more complete response would have been 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.f3, which safeguards White's major pieces, chases Black's Queen off of the dangerous b8-h2 diagonal, and reinforces the pawn at e4.

12...Rad8 

Maybe the Bishop move was all that my opponent was threatening, but, instead of the text, he could have loosened up my Kingside a bit with 12...Neg4 13.g3 Ne5 14.f3.

Alas, most of these subtle opportunities were wasted on us. 

13.Bg5 

Instead, 13.Bf4 would have kept Black's Knight in place at e5. 

13...Qf8

14.h3 Nc6 15.e5 

If only chess were this easy.

15...Nxe5 

Cooperating. (I told you it was early in the morning.) More scrappy was 15...Nd4!? when things don't look so good for the first player after 16.Qe3 Nxc2 17.Qe2 Nxa1 18.exf6 Qc5. 

16.Qxe5 Bxh3 

Trying to catch me napping.

17.Qg3 Bc8 

The game is about equal, and White might now get a small edge after 18.Qxc7.

18.Qh4 Rd6 19.Rad1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Bf5 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Qxf6 gxf6 23.Rd2 Kf7 

The game is about even, with Black's somewhat weaker pawns offsetting his B vs N advantage. Lucky for me, while I was playing the game I believed in the offbeat notion that, from a practical perspective, When White has equalized in the Jerome Gambit, he actually has the advantage.

24.Kf1 Kg6 25.Nd1 Kg5 26.Ne3 Bg6 27.c4 Bb1 

My opponent probably was dreaming of the two of us cooperatively erasing all 6 of the Queenside pawns, when a draw would be an overdue conclusion. Alas, it is necessary to call attention to the sleepy word dreaming.

28.Rd7 Bxa2 

Instead, the defensive 28...Rc8 probably gave enough for Black to hang on. My opponent has missed something.

29.Rxc7 Bxb3 30.Rxb7 Bxc4+ 

After the game, Houdini's best play for both sides showed that by giving up a couple of pawns with 30...Ba4 31.Rxa7 Bc6 32.Rxh7 Black could have still hung on, with a complicated game and drawing chances for Black. Certainly I couldn't have pushed through to the full point with White in the time that I had left.

31.Nxc4 Black resigned

Trampled!

Although I reached a decent position out of the opening in the following game, it felt like I was suddenly trampled by my opponent. Only later, after I was able to examine the game in more detail, did I see how I let various opportunities (some easy to see, some not) slip by - giving Black the signal to run me over.

perrypawnpusher - avgur
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.0-0 Kf7 11.f4 Rf8

Alternately, 11...Re8 was seen in perrypawnpusher - whitepandora, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 64).

12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Neg4

The more sedate 13...Nc6 was probably better. Black's choice in the game allows White to even things up, or even get a small edge. It is hard for Black's Knights to avoid the temptation of harassing the White Queen, however.

14.Qb3+

An improvement over 14.Qf4 from perrypawnpusher - Jore, FICS, 2010 (1-0,32). 

14...d5 

15.e5

Stronger, according to Houdini, who advised me after the game, is 15.h3 Nh6 16.Bxh6 gxh6.

15...Ne4 16.h3

Already looking several moves ahead - but wrongly so.

In retrospect, Houdini preferred 16.Qh3 Nh6 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.e6+ Kg8 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Qg5 21.Rae1 

analysis diagram



when White's "Jerome pawns" are poised to create trouble (and might encourage Black to return a piece with ...Bxe6).

16...Ngf2 17.Rxf2

Too hurried. Instead, 17.Be3 seems to force 17...Nxh3+, when 18.gxh3 Ng3 19.Rf3 Nxf5 20.Nc3 Be6 would be an equal game.

Where did my move come from? Well, with Black's Rook on e8 instead of f8, the position is the same as in the above game, perrypawnpusher - whitepandora, blitz, FICS, 2011, where I won two Knights for my Rook. Humorously, when I posted that game on this blog, I rejected 17.Be3 because of 17...Nh1!?, when 18.Kxh1 Ng3+ would have led to the same two-pieces-for-one-Rook swap.

It turns out that things are not that "simple". After the current game Houdini suggested that White meet 17.Be3 Nh1 with 18.Nc3!? when 18...Nxc3 19.bxc3 Ng3 20.Rf3 Nxf5 21.g4 Kg8 22.Raf1 g6 (not 22...Nh6? 23.Qxd5+!) 23.gxf5 Rxf5 24.c4!? 

analysis diagram




gives White a chance for a small edge.

17...Nxf2 18.Kxf2 

I was, quite frankly, pleased to have remembered my earlier play in a similar position. It did not hit me for a few moves that I had gotten myself into trouble.

18...Bxf5

Obvious, but look at 18...Qh4+!? This allows Black to snipe the White d-pawn first, e.g. 19.Kf1 Qxd4 20.Nc3 Bxf5 21.Qxd5+ Qxd5 22.Nxd5 Bxc2 and White has nothing for the lost exchange except a weak e-pawn.

19.Kg1

I needed to try something like 19.Kg3!?

19...Kg8 

If, instead, 19...Qh4, it looks like I could hold things together with 20.Qxd5+ Be6 21.Qf3+ Kg8 22.Qe3 - but not after 22...Rf5!? followed by 23...Raf8.

20.Nd2 Qh4 21.Nf3 Qg3 

22.Kh1 

White needed to try 22.B/Nd2 - and pray. 

22...Bxh3 23.gxh3 Rxf3 24.Qxd5+ Kh8 25.Bf4 Rxf4 26.Qg2 Qxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Raf8 White resigned

Excellent break-through and wrap-up by my opponent.

The Evans-Jerome Gambit Returns (Part 2)

We continue with some more of Philidor1792's high speed, high octane games with the Evans-Jerome Gambit.

It is again appropriate to quote from Bullet Chess One Minute to Mate by Hikaru Nakamura and Bruce Harper on the issue and impact of time

When these famous games are analyzed, the psychological tension and effects of time trouble are often downplayed. In fact, a blunder in time trouble is sometimes looked on as a lucky win by the opponent, rather than the logical result of the previous play. But even in normal tournament chess neither player has unlimited time, and in bullet chess [3 0 blitz, too - Rick] time is a key element of almost every position.

Philidor 1792 - guest1321
blitz 3 0, game 3, www.bereg.ru, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 

Once again, the Evans Gambit.

4...Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.Bxf7+ 

And the Evans-Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.Qh5+ Ke6 9.Qf5+ Kd6 

10.Ba3+ c5 11.d4

A new approach. Last post we looked at the sacrifice 11.Bxc5+.

11...Qf6

This is probably Black's strongest response.

Later games: 11...Nc6 12.Qxc5+ Kc7 13.Qd6+ Kb6 14.Nd2 Qe7 (14...a6 15.Bc5+ Kb5 16.a4# Philidor 1792 - guest1321, blitz 3 0, game 7, www.bereg.ru, 2013) 15.Rb1+ Ka6 16.Qd5 Qxa3 17.Qb5#, Philidor 1792 - guest1321, blitz 3 0, game 5, www.bereg.ru 2013.

12.dxe5+ Qxe5 13.Bxc5+ Kxc5 14.Qxe5+ Black resigned

The Evans-Jerome Gambit Returns (Part 1)

The Evans Gambit can be deadly in fast blitz games, and when White adds a dash of Jerome Gambit as well, things can get very wild.

It is fun to quote from Bullet Chess One Minute to Mate by Hikaru Nakamura and Bruce Harper on the issue and impact of time

What chess pedants often don't emphasize sufficiently are the psychological and competitive aspects of chess. Great attacking players like Tal often so confused their opponents that they grew short of time and lost their way (and the game). This was risky, of course, because there could be no guarantee that the opponent would get into time trouble, much less make a mistake as a result.

Philidor 1792 - guest1321
blitz 3 0, www.bereg.ru (1), 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4

The Evans Gambit.

4...Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.Bxf7+

The Evans-Jerome Gambit, played as early as 1877 by Charlick in his win against Holloway; only, in that game, Black played 5...Bc5.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.Qh5+ Ke6 9.Qf5+ Kd6

10.Ba3+ c5 11.Bxc5+ Kxc5 12.Qxe5+ Kb6 13.Qd6+ Kb5 14.Na3+ Ka4 15.Qd4+ Kxa3 16.Qc5+ Ka4 17.Qc4+ Ka3 18.Qb3 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

A Dynamic Hybrid

The other day I was minding my own business, playing Black in a 3 0 blitz game at FICS when my opponent, mitchies, suddenly added a dose of "Jerome" to our game.

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nxd5 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bxf7+ 

Wow! That got my attention. 

This reminded me of the FICS games of Veijoasquerosos, of Mexico, who, early on in this blog, I nicknamed "The King of Bxf7+" for his practice of playing Bxf7+ against practically anything. For those of you with significant aggression management issues, that post is still worth checking out.

In my game, mitchies pressed his attack, while I defended and exchanged Queens. However, as time wound down, I dropped a piece - finally justifying my opponent's overt aggression.

Alas, for him, and the ghost of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, both of our flags were hanging, but his fell first. 

5...Kxf7 6.Qf3+ Kg8 7.d3
e5 8.Qg3 Qf6 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.O-O Bd6 11.Bg5 Qg6 12.Ne4 h6 13.Be3 Qxg3
14.fxg3 Bg4 15.Nh4 Kh7 16.h3 Be6 17.g4 Rhf8 18.g5 Rxf1+ 19.Rxf1 Rf8
20.Re1 h5 21.g6+ Kg8 22.Ng5 Rf6 23.d4 Bd7 24.dxe5 Nxe5 25.Bd4 Rf8
26.Bxe5 Bxe5 27.Rxe5 Bc6 28.Ne6 Re8 29.Nf3 Bd7 30.Nxc7 Rxe5 31.Nxe5
Bf5 32.Nf7 Nd7 White forfeited on time

Do As I Say...

Readers are encouraged to enjoy the following quickie game, while recalling the charge: Do as I say, not as I do...

perrypawnpusher - schachix
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 

When declining the Knight, usually Black's King retires to f8.

6.Qh5+

The Queen check was irresistible, but not best. I had been trying to get a Jerome Gambit all week, and this was my first opportunity.

The proper way to play this, as I should have remembered, is 6.Nxc6 when after 6...Qh4 (no examples in The Database) 7.d4 Qxe4+ 8.Qe2 Qxe2+ 9.Kxe2 Bb6 10.Nb4 Bxd4 11.Nd5 Kd8 the game would be equal.

For the record, 6.Nxc6 bxc6 was seen in Wall,B - Qwerty, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 9) and Wall,B - LFTN, FICS 2012 (1-0, 20) while 6...dxc6 was dispatched in Wall,B - Gebba, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 11).

6...g6

I had already pulled off 6...Ke7 7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Qd5+ Ke7 9.Nxc6+ Kf6 10.Qf5 checkmate, Kennedy - WeakDelphi, blitz 2 12, 2008 and 6...Kf8 7.Qf7 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - platel, blitz, FICS, 2011 (which probably influenced my choice of 6.Qh5+). 

7.Nxg6 

7...Qf6 

Here is where my opponent lost his chance. Houdini recommends 7...Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 Nf6 9.Qh4 Rg8 10.Rf1 Rxg6 11.Kg1 Qe7 with advantage to Black.

Only 5 games in The Database have Black's counter-sacrifice of the Bishop, and 4 of them are wins for White, for example 7...Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 Qf6+ (8...Nf6 was correct) 9.Nf4+ Kd8 10.d3 d6 11.Rf1 Qd4+ 12.Be3 Qf6 13.c3 Black resigned, Hultgren,R - Harrow, Campbell, CA 1960.

8.Nxh8+ Kd8 9.Qxc5 Qxh8 10.Qf8 checkmate