Sunday, January 3, 2010

Ferocious



In the following game, Gemeinde member Welton Vaz ("Ghandybh") of Brazil shows just how ferocious the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can become when it is treated casually. White's play assumes the style of a hungry, relentless predator.

 
Ghandybh - Noel1942
Chess.com, 2009

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



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6




The New Year's Database has 823 games with this position: White won 45%, Black won 49%, and 6% were drawn.

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6



Black has his typical advantage against the Jerome Gambit: a piece for two pawns. White, in turn, has something to work with: advancing the "Jerome pawns" against Black's uncastled King.

9.Qe3 Nf6 10.O-O Ne5



This idea is new and designed to be provocative.

11.d4 Neg4 12.Qb3 b6



Black wants to develop his light-squared Bishop, so he first makes his b-pawn safe. He could have chosen a come-and-get-me set-up with 12...Qe7 13.f3 Nh6 14.Nc3 Nf7 with a small advantage.

White decides to open the game.

13.h3 Nh6 14.e5 dxe5



A bit better, although certainly unappealing, was 14...Nfg8.

15.dxe5 Nfg8



White may have a slightly better game here, but he definitely has the more comfortable position.

16.Qf3 Be6 17.Rd1 Qc8 18.Nc3 Ne7 19.Nb5



White's initiative grows with the threat of Qxa8 followed by Nxc7+.

19...Rf8 20. Qxa8 Kf7



Black's "best" was to fall in with his opponent's plans and play 20... Qxa8, when after 21.Nxc7+ Kf7 he will be able to answer 22.Nxa8 with 22...Rxa8

21.Qxc8 Rxc8 22.Bxh6 gxh6 23.Nxa7



White is up an exchange and three pawns. Black's only "hope" is to try an attack on the King.

23...Rg8 24.Kh2 Nf5



25.g4 Ne7 26.Nb5 h5 27.Nxc7 hxg4 28.Rd6



Welton is untroubled by the activity near his King and presses his own attack.

28...Bf5 29.Rf6+ Kg7 30.hxg4 Bg6



31.Rd1 Bxc2 32.Rd7 Black resigned



The Knight is lost, which would leave Black a Rook down.

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