Was H. Nakamura Right? Is JG ‘Unbreakable’, Is EG ‘Legendary’
For Beginners’ Games? (Part 2)
(by Yury V. Bukayev)
If an expert’s appraisal is based on something without real proofs, he can be right or “almost right” here sometimes. That is so, even in the case where he realizes that his appraisal is hasty, or non-serious, or bold, or emotional. Sometimes he is right here for a large per cent (for example, 55, 75 or 95) of cases which he appraises.
We remember Rick Kennedy’s post ‘Jerome Gambit: Which Tier? Unbreakable?’ (September 23, 2020) where the notable dialogue about the standard system of the Jerome gambit (JG) between Top GM Hikaru Nakamura and IM Levy Rozman was shown as the part of their popular video and as its approximate text. Thus, they have discussed there what chess opening tier for beginners’ practice is right for it. The end of this text contains several phrases by Mr. Nakamura where he places the standard system of JG near the top of ‘Unbreakable’. Mr. Nakamura’s words contain no proofs of this very high appraisal. In my opinion, the tier’s name ‘Unbreakable’ is very arguable, because we discuss an opening practice, not an opening theory: each opening can be broken in a game as a result of practical mistakes of a player. But this name plays no role for us, just this very high appraisal of 4.Bxf7+ for beginners’ practice is important for our consideration.
Before writing of my Part 1 of this analytical research (please, look at it: it’s a blog post of October 16, 2022) it was enough difficult for me to prove this Hikaru Nakamura’s appraisal, for a large per cent of cases. It was necessary to choose a certain control of time for beginners’ games, and I have chosen an unlimited one. And in the Part 1 I have made one clear proof of this Mr. Nakamura’s appraisal and some “not absolutely clear proofs” of it.
I think, my clear proof – my Trap 1 (the ‘First Golden Beginner’s Trap’) for the standard system of JG – wasn’t known to Mr. Nakamura then. Was some other clear proof known to him then? I don’t know, but I’m sure that the other variation was familiar to him then: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4!?. If White offers a draw this moment then, I think, a large part of opponents-beginners will accept it, because they don’t know opening theory and are afraid of such “very sharp” unknown positions with checks and different “long” attacks. And the word ‘unbreakable’ includes a draw, not only a win. It is my first idea.
Even if Black chooses 7…Nf7 to have a calm King’s retreat back and to avoid checks then after 8.Qxc5! d6! White plays 9.Qc4+! AN Ke7! 10.b3, or 10.Nc3, or 10.0-0 with a long and a strong pressure and attack in both cases. It is mortal for a beginner as Black very often, although Black isn’t worse here. It is also my idea, but Mr. Nakamura could know and understand these facts before me (?), it is possible.
And here is my new invented trap - no.4 - which is based on this variation, on its natural sub-variation.
Trap 4. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 (Black defends his pieces, it is a typical response for an unlimited game.) 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.b4 Qd4? AN (This mistaken blow is ‘natural’ for a beginner: he thinks about his attack, about maximum increase of his material advantage, not about opponent’s counter-attack. Moreover, beginners can’t count long variations. Black sees that after 9…Bf2+!? AN White can play 10.Ke2!?, and it is difficult to capture something for Black.) 10.bxc5 (It is a continuation of the trap. The alternative way 10.Qg4+ Kf7 11.Qf3+ Nf6 12.c3 is stronger for White, but Black controls his some advantage after his easy move 12…Qxe4+.) 10…Qxa1? (This mistaken capture is ‘natural’ for a beginner and is a continuation of his mistaken plan to get a maximum material advantage.) 11.Qe8+! Kf6?? (It’s a typical reaction for the beginner who has tried to get a maximum material advantage by his 9th and 10th moves and tries to save it. Alternatively, some beginners will start to think about possible checkmate, so they will play 11…Ne7!, but after 12.Qxh8 Qxb1! 13.0-0 White gets a very strong attack: 13…Qxc2! 14.d3 Qxc5+! 15.Kh1. Black has an extra Knight and an extra pawn, but White gets a draw as minimum, so this trap is unbreakable.) 12.0-0+ (12.Rf1+!? is also good.) 12…Kg5 13.d4+ Kh4 (13…Kg4 14.h3+ etc.) 14.g3+ Kg4 15.h3+, and White checkmates very rapidly.
That is why White will get a very large per cent of identical wins and draws against surprised beginners after 7.f4!?.
It maybe, the invention of my Trap 1, my Trap 4 and these my approaches will cause Mr. Nakamura’s and Mr. Rozman’s wish to replace the standard system of JG into their top tier ‘Legendary’ (on ‘GMHikaru’ YouTube channel). In any case, I suggest to name the Trap 4 as the ‘Second Golden Beginner’s Trap’.
Contact the author: istinayubukayev@yandex.ru
© 2023 Yury V. Bukayev (Copyright © Bukayev Yury Vyacheslavovich 2023). All rights reserved.
[A legal using of this investigation with a reference to it is permitted
and doesn’t require author’s consent.]
