Two guys are walking...

Two guys are walking in the savannah, when a tiger wanders into the clearing.


The first guy reaches into his backpack, takes out his running shoes and starts to put them on.


"Forget it. You'll never run faster than that tiger" says the second guy.


"I don't have to," replies the first. "I just have to run faster than you."

I remembered that joke when I played over the following game. I don't think that my play was very good. However, it turned out to be better than that of my opponent, and that was enough.


perrypawnpusher - BigKalamar
blitz, FICS, 2011

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 Bxd4

8.Qxd4 Qe7 9.0-0

Preparing f2-f4, which I have also played immediately, as in perrypawnpusher - HGBoone, blitz, FICS, San Jose, California US 2010 (1-0, 27).

9...Re8 10.Bg5

Because of the arrangement of Black's King Knight and Queen, I would have done better to think of 9.Bc1-g5, possibly following up with Nc3-d5, saving the f2-f4 thrust for another time.
 

 
10...Kg8
 
Castling-by-hand, a standard defensive move in the Jerome Gambit.

After the game, Rybka 3 suggested: 10...Nc6 11.Qd2 Qe5, slipping the Black Bishop's pin . With some work, White then can win a pawn, 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Nb5 Qe5 14.Qd5+ Re6 15.Rfe1 b6 16.c4 g5 17.Qxe5 Rxe5 18.Nxc7 but Black still maintains the advantage (piece vs 2 pawns).

10...c6 was seen in HauntedKnight - greeneel, FICS, 2010 (1-0,35), when 11.f4 would have led to an even game.

11.f4

Missing the opportunity for 11.Nd5, as after 11...Qd6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.f4 Nf7 White can win the exchange with 14.Nxf6+. That will leave the first player with a Rook and two pawns against two pieces, a small advantage in an endgame (if he plays 14...Kf8 15.Qxd6+ Nxd6; and he can add to his positional advantage with the further 16.e5 Nc4 17.b3 Ne3 18.Nxe8 Kxe8 19.Rf2; thank you, Rybka).

11...Nc6 12.Qd3

White's routine play of the position (with one exception, which will show up, shortly) has given him his usual situation: Black is better.

12...Qf7 13.e5 Nh5

It was time to play "kick the Queen" with 13...Nb4 14.Qd2 Nfd5, letting Black's King Knight escape toward the center.

14.g4

Prelude to a Kingside traffic jam that I somehow survive.

14...h6 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.gxh5 Qxh5

Rybka 3 now sees the game as about even, based on the strength of White's next possible move, 17.Nd5, which will allow him to either win the c7 pawn or play the annoying Nf6...

17.Kh1 Kh8 18.Nd5 Rg8

This is a critical error, if it is caught.

19.Nf6 Qg6

Compounding the problem.

20.Nxg8

Clueless.

Instead, 20.Rg1 Ne7 21.Rxg6 and White mates.

20...Qxg8

Fortunately, my opponent was keeping pace with me. Instead, 20...Qxd3 21.cxd3 Kxg8 produced a safer (and better) position for Black.

21.Rg1 Qf7 22.Qg6

Wrong piece! Instead, 22.Rg6 is crushing.

22...Qxg6

In turn, Black did better to leave the Queens on the board.

Can you tell that this is a blitz game between club players??

23.Rxg6 d6

Offering a pawn to distract me from doubling Rooks. It works.

24.exd6 cxd6

Black needs development: 24...Bf5 would be about equal.

25.Rxd6

Ouch. I could at least have taken the h-pawn first.

25...Kh7 26.Rf1 Bf5 27.c3 Rg8

We have reached an interesting endgame, where Black's Knight and Bishop are at least the equal of White's Rook and two pawns.

I win because at a critical moment my opponent is unable to counter my evil plan... Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

28.h4 Be4+ 29.Kh2 Rg2+ 30.Kh3 Rxb2 31.Re1 Bg2+

Instead, the Bishop should check from f5, leaving the g-file open for the Rook.

32.Kg4 a6

Missing the point of White's King advance.

33.Ree6

Heh, heh, heh... Me too: 33.Rd7+ Ne7 34.Rexe7+ Kg8 35.Rd8# 

33...Rxa2 34.Rxh6+ Kg7 35.Rhg6+ Kf7 36.h5

This is my idea. I was convinced that it would be successful, so I was blind to faster solutions, like checkmate.

36...Be4 37.Rgf6+ Kg7 38.f5 Rg2+ 39.Kf4 Bc2 40.h6+ Kg8

41.Rg6+ Rxg6 42.fxg6 a5 43.h7+ Kh8 44.Kg5 a4

Black had one last chance, a swindle: 44...Bxg6 45.Kxg6 Ne5+, as White can reflexively, but erroneously, protect his passer with 46.Kh6?, losing his Rook to 46...Nf2+. Instead, 46.Kf5, attacking the Knight, gives White time, after 46...Nc6, to protect the pawn with 47.Rd7.

45.Kh6 Bxg6 46.Rxg6 Ne7 47.Rf6 Ng8+ 48.hxg8Q+ Kxg8 49.Rb6 Black resigned

Still Playing That Opening?

I keep playing this Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) variant – and keep not liking it.

Why?  I'm 5-0-2 with it, which is respectable. Oh – I'm only 5-4-0 in the lines with ...h6 and 0-0 added (which should benefit White).

Maybe that's it??   

More likely it's because I need more "help" than usual from my opponents in this line in order to be successful.

perrypawnpusher  - HGBoone
blitz FICS, 2010

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

7...Bxd4

Someday I'm going to face the line recommended by Rybka after the game: 7...Bd6 8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.Ne2 c6 10.f4 Bc7 11.e5 Ne4 12.0-0 d5 13.Be3 Re8 14.Nd4 Kg8 15.Rc1 g5

analysis diagram







This doesn't look comfortable for White.

8.Qxd4 Qe7

Well, this is no bed of roses, either, White having a pawn for his sacrified piece. What's a Gemeinde member to do?

9.f4

An alternative was 9.Bg5 Re8 10.Nd5 Qd6 11.0-0-0 Nxd5 12.exd5 Qg6 13.Qf4+ Kg8 14.Rde1 d6 15.h3 Rf8 16.Qe3 Bf5 17.f4 Nc4 18.Qc3 Nb6 19.Qxc7 Rac8 20.Qxb7 Rxc2+ 21.Kd1 Qh5+ 22.g4 Qf7 23.Qxf7+ Rxf7 24.gxf5 Rxb2 25.Rhg1 h6 26.Bxh6 Kh7 27.Bg5 Rxf5 28.Kc1 Rxa2 29.Re6 Rxd5 30.Re7 Ra1+ 31.Kb2 Rxg1 32.Bf6 Rg3 33.h4 Rd2+ 34.Kc1 Rh2 35.Bd4 Nd5 36.Re1 Nxf4 37.Be3 Nd3+ White resigned, Alby - roosje, FICS, 2000

9...Nc6 10.Qd3

After the game Rybka recommended, instead, 10.Qc4+, but after 10...d5 11.Nxd5 Qxe4+ 12.Qxe4 Nxe4 it is hard to get excited about White's position.

10...d6 11.0-0 Bg4

Black plans on returning the piece for a couple of pawns.

12.h3 Bh5 13.g4 Bxg4 14.hxg4 Nxg4

15.Qg3 h5 16.Bd2 Raf8 17.Rae1 Ke8

Each side is gathering its forces. Black is better, but his King remains a target, and the position is not simple.

18.Nd5 Qd7 19.Bc3 Rhg8

Getting the Rook off of the a1-h8 diagonal that the White Bishop just moved onto. Moving the King out of the center, instead, with Ke8-d8-c8 was probably a bit better.

20.e5

After the game Rybka preferred a long-winded line leading to a draw: 20.Qh4 Nf6 21.Kf2 Qf7 22.Nxf6+ gxf6 23.Rh1 Qxa2 24.Qxh5+ Rf7 25.Bxf6 Qc4 26.c3 Qd3 27.Reg1 Rxg1 28.Rxg1 Qd2+ 29.Kf3 Qd3+ 30.Kf2 Qd2+ etc, drawn by repetition.

analysis diagram







20...dxe5 21.Rd1

The move 20.e5 was a mis-calculation that I caught and tried to correct with 21.Rd1. Of course, it is possible to mis-understand my moves, and look at 20.e5 as a tricky sacrifice of a pawn, to open up lines toward the enemy King...

...In which case, that might cause a certain amount of (unnecessary) anxiety, and even provoke a quick defensive move that has a flaw in it.

21...Qe6

Ouch.

Rybka shows that Black can weave his way through the complications to a better endgame, although from a practical point of view, White may have drawing chances there (Bishop vs Knight, useful King placement): 21...Ne7 22.Ne3 Qe6 23.Nxg4 exf4 24.Rxf4 Rxf4 25.Qxf4 Qxg4+ 26.Qxg4 hxg4 27.Rd4 g3 28.Rd3 Nf5 29.Be5 Ke7 30.Bxc7 Rc8 31.Rc3 Kd7

analysis diagram







22.Nxc7+ Kf7 23.Nxe6

23...Kxe6 24.fxe5 Rxf1+ 25.Rxf1 Ncxe5 26.Bxe5 Nxe5 27.Re1

Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Getting More Right This Time (Part 1)

The following game, a rematch in the fourth round of the "Italian Game Battlefield" tournament at Chess.com, was another (see "Jerome Gambit: His Trap Was Part of My Trap") Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. Much to my relief, after my exhausting struggle against Tacotopia (see "Jerome Gambit: Overthinking?" Parts 1 & 2), I was able to find the win of the exchange and use it to win the endgame.

perrypawnpusher - andrewLLL

Italian Game Battlefield tournament, Chess.com, 2020

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

7...Bxd4

Previously, andrewLLL had played 7...Bd6 against me. According to The Database, I was 1 - 2 - 0 (33%) against 7...Bd6 before that game.

Komodo 10 sees 7...Bd6 as slightly stronger than 7...Bxd4. Against 7...Bxd4, I was 15 - 7 - 1 (67%).

All in all, I was happy to see the text move.

8.Qxd4 d6 

The strongest response. I have also seen

8...Qe7 in perrypawnpusher - HGBoone, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 27), perrypawnpusher - BigKalamar, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49), and perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16); and

8...Re8 in perrypawnpusher - hklett, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 20), perrypawnpusher - KaZC, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 61),  perrypawnpusher - Fazmeister, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36),  perrypawnpusher - JoseSoza, Chess.com, 2012 (0-1, 34), and perrypawnpusher - spince, blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41),

9.O-O 

Stronger than 9.Bg5 in perrypawnpusher - wuolong, Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2013 (1-0, 15).

9...Re8 10.Bg5 Be6

This move is not a mistake, but I am always happy to be able to advance my f-pawn and cause the Bishop to move again.

11.f4 Nc6 12.Qd3 Qd7 

This move doesn't look right, however. Although this game was played at a 3 days / move time control, it is possible that my opponent was using the Chess.com app on his phone, and mis-keyed the move (instead of, say, 12...Qe7) and quickly but mistakenly sent it. Just a guess - I have done that before, myself.

Better was 12...Kg8, castling-by-hand.

13.f5 Bxf5

After the game, Komodo 10 recommended 13...Bxa2 instead.

14.Rxf5 

With plans to put pressure on the Knight at f6, taking advantage of the pin to the enemy King. This is stronger than 14.exf5, which might be what my opponent expected, and which would have left me with only a slight - if any - edge.

14...Re5 15.Raf1 Rxf5 16.Rxf5 Ne7 

Material is even, although White's pressure - especially along the f-file - should allow him to win a pawn. White's isolated e-pawn participates in the attack, which would not have been the case, had the pawn captured on move 14.

[to be continued]

Chess Is Not Life

Despite what different masters are reported to have said, it is not true that "Chess Is Life". Sometimes it appears that "life" is what keeps us busy, and occasionally from playing chess, though...

perrypawnpusher  - mnoori
blitz, FICS, 2014

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 Qf6

10.Nc3

The is one move among many possible.

Bill Wall has played 10.d3, as in Wall,B - G3LC, PlayChess.com 2011 (1-0, 22).

Louis Morin has show an interest in 10.d4, as in mrjoker - Igor77, Internet Chess Club, 2008 (1-0, 70), guest2199 - guest401, Internet Chess Club, 2004 (1-0, 87) and MrJoker - Melbourne, Internet Chess Club, 2011 (1-0, 13).

I've varied with 10.0-0, as in perrypawnpusher - TJPOT, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 48) and perrypawnpusher - LeiCar, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 25). 

10...Be6

Possibly better was 10...c6, as in perrypawnpusher - pitrisko, blitz, FICS 2011 (1-0, 28), perrypawnpusher - HGBoone, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0,59) and MrJoker - ZICO, Internet Chess Club, 2012 (1-0, 34).

11.0-0 N8e7 12.f4 Bd7 

In this kind of position, I usually see things differently during the game than Houdini sees afterwards. I think "tactics" and play f4-f5, "kicking" Black's Knight, hoping to chase him to e5 when I can "kick" it again with d2-d4. Houdini "thinks" "position" and chooses d2-d4 instead, suggesting that Black respond to a later f4-f5 by withdrawing his Knight to g8.

13.f5 Ne5

In all fairness, had my opponent played 13...Nf8 here instead, I would have followed up with 14.d4.

14.d4 Nc4

My opponent prefers to play actively, but 14...N5c6 was probably better, with and edge to Black.

15.Qd3 b5 

I was pretty sure during the game that Houdini would want me now to play 16.a4, but I couldn't figure out what would be wrong with Black simply defending with 16...c6. After the game Houdini showed me 17.e5 dxe5 18.Ne4!? with a sharp attack - good for you, Readers, who figured that out!

I was unhappy with the possibility of 16.a4 b4 as well, although, again, after the game Houdini said "no worries" after 17.Nb5 Bxb5 18.axb5 and White will eventually capture the pawn at b4. Well, okay...

16.b3 Nb6

After the game Houdini again pointed out that if 16...b4, White would have the familiar 17.e5 dxe5 18.Ne4!? I think I would have answered 16...b4 with 17.bxc4 bxc3 18.Qxc3 and been happy with my broad pawn center.

17.Nxb5 

At this point my opponent seems to have disappeared, and Black forfeited on time. Quite likely, "life" intruded; I hope nothing bad. 

Instead, after 17...Bxb5 18.Qxb5+ Nd7 19.Bb2 White would have a comfortable game, with three pawns for his sacrificed piece, and possibly a small edge.

Jerome Gambit: I'm Really Getting Too Old For This Fast Stuff... (Part 1)

After participating as a subject in the latest round of an ongoing study on dementia - you would think that my devotion to the Jerome Gambit would settle the matter, preemptively - I was restless and decided what I really needed to do was play a 5-minute online game of chess. 

Against a computer program.

Although I did not realize it at the time.

[Insert your own joke here.]

All of the comments by Stockfish came after the game was completed.

perrypawnpusher - guestM

5 1 blitz, FICS, 2023

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

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

I have played it 71 times, scoring 77%.

Not bad, but in the regular Jerome gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) - which I have played 436 times - I have scored 81%.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 

9.f4 Nc6 10.Qd3 Re8 

I have also faced 10...Be6 in and perrypawnpusher - hklett, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1 - 0, 18) and perrypawnpusher - obmanovichhh, 14 0 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 34) 

11. O-O Kg8 

Looking over things afterward, it is clear that the computer is doing well, especially since it is unlikely that the "refuted" Jerome Gambit would be deeply covered in its opening "book". 

There is bound to be a reckoning ahead, however.

The issue is not one for the strong contemporary chess programs (e.g. Fritz, Houdini, Komodo, Rybka, Stockfish), but with some of the simpler programs there is the problem that they still play consistently well - so much so that in order to make it "fun" to play against them by the average chess player, they need to be handicapped in some way. For a discussion, see the posts "Artificial Ignorance (Parts 1 and 2)"

Also see Part 2 of this topic, referencing the Maia Chess project.

Meanwhile, instead of the text, I have also seen 11...Nb4 in perrypawnpusher - abczyx, 10 5 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39) and 11...a6 in perrypawnpusher - HGBoone, 6 12 blitz FICS, 2010 (1-0, 46). 

12.b3 Nb4 

This is what I mean.

Instead, after 12...d5 13.e5 (if 13.exd5, then 13...Nb4) d4 14. Ne2 Nd5 15. Ng3 Qd7 16. Bd2 Qf7 17.Rae1 Bd7 Black would be better.

13.Qe2 

Sloppy. 13.Qc4+ would lead to the win of the Knight and an even game. 

13...Bg4 

guestM continues to play "kick the Queen", overlooking the consistent and better 13...d5.

14.Qc4+ 

Given a second chance, I grabbed it.

14...Be6 

Again, the move was 14...d5

15.Qxb4 

Thanks to the slipup, I was suddenly better. 

Of course, in a 5-minute game, lots of things happen "suddenly".

15...c5 

On principle, I do not think that grabbing the b-pawn now is a good idea. See "Jerome Gambit: He Who Takes the Queen's Knight Pawn..." and "Jerome: Risking the Gutter".

16.Qa3 

Stockfish 16 disagrees with me, based on concrete analysis: 16.Qxb7 Rb8 17.Qa6 Bc8 18.Qd3 Bb7 19.Bb2 Nxe4 20.Rae1 Nxc3 21.Qxc3 Qd7 and White is better. 

16...a6 17.Be3 b5 18.Qc1 b4 19. Ne2 Nxe4 

I am used to having the annoying pawns that advance and create disturbances - not facing them.

20.Ng3 Nxg3 21.hxg3 Bg4 22.Qd2 Qf6 23.Rad1 

An oversight that should have cost me the game. The Rook was better  placed at e1.

Blitz requires faster brain calculations than I am usually able to produce. 

You could say that both guestM an I were having "cognitive issues".

23...Rad8 

This had to be the kind of glitch seen on move 12.

24.Qd5+ 

Simply moving the Rook on d1 was the right idea. 

Instead, I was in a bit of a panic, rewriting the old reflection to be "panic sees check, panic gives check" ("panic" instead of "patzer").

24...Kh8 

Undeserved good fortune for me. The Queen should have blocked at either e6 or f7.

25.Rd2 

Throwing a piece away.

25...Rxe3 

At this point I was sincerely regretting my commitment to share every Jerome Gambit I played, win, lose or draw...

[to be continued]