Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Anatoly Karpov & Jerome Gambit (Part 4)




 Anatoly Karpov & Jerome Gambit (Part 4)   

  

(by Yury V. Bukayev) 

 

 

Dear reader, you know that usually I write about new theoretical inventions and psychology in chess openings on this blog, but sometimes I write here about notable chess games.   

The Part 4 of this my work is about wrong Anatoly Karpov (in contrast with the Part 2). Thus, it’s a story about my new notable Jerome gambit game against a chess amateur Anatoly Karpov, a father of a little boy (my first game against him was shown in the Part 3). This new game was played also in Moscow this year, in a week after our first game. Thus, after his loss in that blitz game Anatoly wanted to prove that he can play stronger and that his knowledge of the Jerome gambit theory and practice can lead him to a win. So he suggested me to play again. I have understood that he probably prepared a surprise for this game, so I have solved again to avoid my published theoretical lines and my line of our first game to surprise him instead, although he could be ready to see a new unknown line this time. Thus, here is our new game:  

 

Bukayev, Yury  –  Karpov, Anatoly (father)   

 

                         tempo, 10+0 

  

 

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

 

Before the start of this game I understood that I should avoid the line 7.Qh3+!, my other published lines and the line 7.Nc3 of our first game, I solved to make a new surprise for him. 

 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.Na3!? Bxa3  

 

I prognosticated this Anatoly’s quite rapid response: the Jerome gambit theory indicates it as a simple way to a win. The response 8…Qf6! was really stronger instead.   

 

9.d4 N 

 

This my new invented attack creates several threats and leads to a complicated play. Anatoly wasn’t ready to see it, because all publications stop analyses after 8…Bxa3. His face was calm during first seconds, but - after he started to think - large difficulties became seen to him. During four minutes he thought and tried to not lose the calmness. In result, he responded:  

 

9…Nc6 . 

 

This response isn’t the strongest, but it permits to defend. For example: 10.e5+ Ke7 11.Bg5+ Ke8 12.Bxd8 Bxb2. It took me two minutes to continue: 

 

10.Bg5 . 

 

White created several terrible threats including mating ones. Anatoly started to choose a defence. It was difficult again, and my pair of attacking pieces (Queen on f5 and Bishop on g5) created, it maybe, his heavy mental association with the final position of our first game. During else four minutes he thought (and I thought here too). In result, he responded: 

 

10…Qxg5 . 

 

I would like to compliment my opponent for this strong and active move (and for his further moves, they are good too). I was ready to see it that moment and played: 

 

11.e5+ . 

 

If 11.Qxg5, then the following way is possible: 11… Bxb2 12.e5+!? Ke6!? 13.Qxg7!? Bxa1 14.Qxh8 with a complicated “Jerome” play, although White’s practical chances were good here. The position after 11.e5+ is rare: Black has four extra minor pieces, and White finds the way (without a mating attack) which is a normal alternative to the immediate capturing of Black’s Queen. Black had already here a large lack of time, but his response was very good for him in this situation: 

 

11…Kd5 12.Qxg5 .  

 

White could check Black’s King further instead, but it was too risky to substitute the normal plan without an exact analysis of its brave alternative. 

 

12…Bxb2 13.Rd1 

 

White avoids the way 13.Qxg7 here too.  

 

13…g6 14.e6+ Kxe6 15.d5+ Kf7 16.dxc6 Bc3+ 17.Ke2 bxc6 18.Qf4+ 

 

and White won on time, but the position is unclear. 

 

The game is very notable, since it develops the Jerome gambit theory strongly! I thank Anatoly very much 

 

Monday, July 11, 2022

Jerome Gambit: Consolation Prize


Sometimes a defender does a good job against the Jerome Gambit. Sometimes he even reaches a checkmate-in-11 moves.

Sometimes he does not have enough time to work it all out, and has to force a draw, as time runs short... or his frustration shows through.


NNN_1 - Shustruy

internet,  2022


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d3 

One of the "modern" variations of the Jerome Gambit, as opposed to the "classical" ones featuring 5.Nxe5+. Both players have a greater choice of moves and plans.

5...Nf6 6.Ng5+ Kg8 7.Nc3 h6 8.Nf3 d6 9.h3 Kh7 


A quiet position. White's compensation for his sacrificed piece, one pawn, does not seem enough - especially since Black has castled-by-hand.

10.O-O Rf8 11.Nh2 Be6 12.Kh1 Qd7 13.f4 exf4 14.Rxf5 Ne5

White has opened the f-file, but still lags in development.

15.d4 Ng6 16.Rxf6 Rxf6 17.dxc5 Nh4 


Black has the right idea: Attack the King.

18.cxd6 

Stockfish 15's suggestion is objectively better, but not appealing: 18.Qe2 Nxg2 19.Kxg2 Bxh3+ 20.Kh1 Rg6 21.cxd6 Rf8 22.Be3 Bg2+ 23.Qxg2 Rxg2 24.Kxg2 Qxd6 White has 3 pieces for his Queen, but his King is at risk and Black's connected passed Kingside pawns are a long term headache.

18...Bxh3 19.gxh3 Qxh3 20.Qe2 

Allowing a checkmate in 11 moves, but 20.Qg1 Rg6 is hardly promising.

Still, Black has to find the mate.

20...Raf8 21.Be3 Nf3 

More pressure on h2, although that could also have been applied by 21...Rf2 22.Qxf2 Rxf2 23.Bxf2 Qg2 checkmate 

22.Nd5 Nxh2 

Much of the heat has gone out of the position. Black could have still ground things out, instead, with 22...Rxd6 23.Nf4 Qxh2+ 24.Qxh2 Nxh2 25.Kxh2 Re8 when his extra Rook would pair up with his Kingside pawns to outplay White's two extra pieces.

Now, while Black's position looks strong, he cannot find anything more than a draw - and neither can I. It is not clear if it is this realization, or the clock, that wraps the game up.

23.Qxh2 Rf1+ 24.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 25.Bg1 Qf3+ 26.Qg2 Qh5+ 27.Qh2 Qf3+ 28.Qg2 Qh5+ 29.Qh2 Qf3+ 30.Qg2 Draw




Sunday, July 10, 2022

Jerome Gambit: Everywhere



 It seems that the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is everywhere.

I have a standing Google Alert for "Jerome Gambit". Today it produced a couple of TikTok videos, of all things. (I admit I might have missed some content because I do not read Hebrew.)

The first, "JEROME GAMBIT BACKFIRES IN LIVE SCRIM", one of several videos from 5headchess, shows the infamous Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884 game.

The second, "Jerome Gambit" from chesstutorials, has light instruction.

A third video, by leaderofKyles, "I feel lik a jerk but it's fun chess", is also labelled a Jerome Gambit, although it begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 c5 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bxf7+. (I have been able to find only one other game with that line, Croke - Jokmin, LSS SN-2009-0-00160, 2009 [1-0, 30])

Amazing.