Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Essence of Evans / Jerome / Halloween

In the following blitz game Philidor1792 shows his typical creativity, aggression and persistence in whipping up an interesting attack. Resistance is strong, however, and this time White does not win the day.

Philidor1792 - Guest292640
5 0, PlayChessbase.com, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6

The Two Knights Defense, avoiding the Evans Gambit and lesser gambits like the Jerome.

4.b4 

Philidor1792 wishes to have his gambit anyway!

This move makes me wonder why we haven't seen this gambit against the Hungarian Defense, i.e. 3...Be7 4.b4!? as if the pawn is captured, the game becomes and Evans Gambit after all.

In the text, White enters an Evans Gambit a move down, as Black's Bishop comes to b4 in one move, not the usual two. Philidor1792 doesn't fret over such trivialities.

4...Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.Bxf7+ 



Adding a dash of Jerome...

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ 

...and a splash of the Halloween Gambit, to top it off.

7...Nxe5 8.d4 Nc6 

9.e5 Ng8 10.f4 d5 11.f5 Bh4+ 12.g3 Bg5 13.Qh5+ g6 



14.Qxg5

White is not afraid to enter an endgame with the pawns against Black's extra piece, but in this instance he might have had better chances (compared to the game) after 14.fxg6+!? Kg7 15.Bxg5 Qe8 16.0–0 hxg6 17.Bf6+ Nxf6 18.exf6+ Kf7 19.Qxd5+, although Black would still be objectively ahead.

14...Qxg5 15.Bxg5 Bxf5 16.0-0 Ke6 17.Nd2 h6 18.Be3 Nge7


19.Nb3 b6 20.a4

Looking for open lines and play on the Queenside.

20...Raf8 21.a5 Bc2 22.Nd2 Nf5 23.Bf2 Bd3 24.Rfc1 Rf7 25.axb6 axb6 26.g4 Nfe7 




27.Be3 h5 

Looking for open lines and play on the Kingside.

28.h3 hxg4 29.hxg4 Rh4 30.Kg2 Rxg4+ 31.Kh3 Re4 32.Re1 Rh7+ 33.Kg3 Nf5+ 34.Kf3 Rh3+ 35.Kg2 Rhxe3 36.Nxe4 Bxe4+ 37.Kf2 Rxc3 38.Rg1 Nfxd4 39.Ra8 Nxe5 40.Re8+ Kf6 41.Rc8 b5 White resigned

Alas, no victory today for the Evans / Jerome / Halloween pawns.


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