The OMG Variation

 

After the previous blog post, "Repeated Face Palm", where again I took a look at the dubious 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5?!, I had the most bizarre thought: What if White played Ng5 a move earlier?

Like 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Ng5?

Nobody would do that, would they?

I would have to name that the "OMG Variation".

Much to my surprise, a quick look at my files presented me with 360 game examples - with White scoring 25%.

I suspect that only part of that was due to the fact that the average rating of White was about 100 points below that of Black, in which case White's general expectancy would be 36%.

Checking the lichess.org website, I was flabbergasted: there were 1,442,385 OMG Variation games (!), with White scoring 36% - as the Elo differences would predict. 

Two players opening with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Ng5 were rated over 2900.

I think I am trying to scare myself back to the Jerome Gambit...

Repeated Face Palm

 

Almost 4 1/2 years ago, and not for the first time, it was necessary to post a(nother) warning

I need to spend a moment or two on a Jerome Gambit variation that has been bothering me for almost 20 years. (See "Another Way to Sacrifice the Knight" and "PSA 2.0" for a couple of rants.) A disreputable line in a disreputable opening, it keeps showing up in games. I would like to call it the Face Palm Variation.

The variation is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+

 Even in the topsy-turvey world of the Jerome Gambit, it still is a bit outrageous.

On the other hand, it offers only one piece, while the Jerome offers two, so maybe...

No, Stockfish 16.1 (30 ply) evaluates the Face Palm position as about a Rook better for Black, which is twice as bad as it evaluates the Jerome Gambit.

So - Why the fuss? I am not recommending the line.

Going through The Database today, I stumbled upon the following game:

pajeloi_skripach - N-Word-Abuser, 3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2019: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+ Qxg5 6.d4 exd4 0-1

Take a closer look. White is willing to sacrifice his Knight, because, after the enemy Queen captures it, he can play 6.d4 and simultaneously attack the Queen and an enemy Bishop.

This is faulty reasoning, though, as Black can avoid cooperating by playing 6...exd4 - dropping his Queen - and, instead, cause plenty of mayhem after 6...Qxg2.

(So, how did Black win the game after offering his Queen? On time, of course.)

Checking The Database, there are 748 games with 5.Ng5+, with White scoring 26% - up 3% from the earlier Face Palm post of 24%.

Checking lichess.org, there are 32,891 games with 5.Ng5+, with White scoring 31%!?

There is no way that 5.Ng5+ is getting stronger over time, is there?

Probably not, but it is fun to see that a few years ago a player rated 2770 at the online lichess.org site played a 3 0 blitz game with 5.Ng5+ (against a player rated "only" 2298), and checkmated his opponent in 10 moves:1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+ Kf8 6.Qh5 g6 7.Nxh7+ Kf7 8.Ng5+ Kf6 9.Qxh8+ Kxg5 10.d4+ Kg4 11.f3 checkmate

Shakespeare's Hamlet was right when he said, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horation, than are dreamt of in our philosphy."

Was H.Nakamura Right? Is JG ‘Unbreakable’, Is EG ‘Legendary’ For Beginners’ Games? (Part 4)

 

Was H.Nakamura Right? Is JG ‘Unbreakable’, Is EG ‘Legendary’  

For Beginners’ Games? (Part 4)   

  

(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, Part 2, Part 3 of this research I have made some clear proofs of this Mr. Nakamura’s appraisal and some “not absolutely clear proofs” of it. We shouldn’t forget that the word ‘unbreakable’ includes a draw, not only a win.  

 

And here is my new invented trap - no.6 - which is based on a similar ‘natural’ reaction of a beginner. 

 

Trap 6. 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.Qf5+ Kd6 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Bg5 (It’s Mr. Tonetti’s idea.) 9…Ne7 10.Bxe7+ Qxe7 11.c3 AN (It’s the 1st part of my new trap.) 11…Bb6?! (It’s a typical reaction for beginners and not only for them. But Black has still a very large advantage.) 12.f4 Nd3+!? (It’s a typical reaction for everyone.) 13.Kd1 (It’s the 2nd part of this trap against beginners. They start to see 13…Nf2+ with the possibility of 14…Nxh1, and they start to celebrate their future win without thinking about plans of “the silly unknown opponent”.) 13…Nf2+ 14.Kc2!? (White’s position is absolutely terrible, but above psychology works.) 14…Nxh1?? 15.Qd5 checkmate. 

 

That is why White will get here also a very large per cent of identical successful results against beginners (especially children-beginners).  

 

It maybe, the invention of my Trap 1, my Trap 4, my Trap 5, my Trap 6 and my approaches (Part 1, Part 2) 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).