Thursday, December 11, 2014

A "Modern" Jerome Gambit vs A "Monster"


One significant benefit of the "modern" Jerome Gambit lines is that they do not have readily identified "refutations". True, Black can feel comfortable being one piece ahead (instead of two), but he still  has to work out a plan of defense before White imposes his plan of offense.

Philidor1792 - Chicken_Monster
1100 KINGS vs Team Russia - Board 12
Chess.com, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 



4...Kxf7 5.0-0 

A "modern" (lacking 5.Nxe5+) variation of the Jerome Gambit.

5...Nf6 6.c3

There are 389 games in The Database with this position.

6...Re8 7.d4 Bb6

It is difficult to see where Black loses control of the game, but, move by move, things seem to drift toward equality - despite Black wisely castling-by-hand, pursuing his development and attacking the White pawn center.

8.d5 Ne7 9.Nxe5+ Kg8 10.Nd2 d6 11.Nec4 Bg4 12.Qc2 Be2 13.Re1 Bxc4 14.Nxc4 c6



15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Bg5 Rf8 17.Rad1 d5 18.Nxb6 axb6 19.Qb3


19...h6 20.Bxf6 Rxf6 21.exd5 cxd5

In order to keep things about even, Black's best bet was 21...Kh8. Now White has a shot that wins a piece.

22.Rxe7 Qxe7 23.Qxd5+ Kh7 24.Qxa8 Re6



White's extra pawns point the way to a win.

25.Qa6 Re1+ 26.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 27.Qf1 Qe6


28.c4 Qc6 29.Qd3+ Kh8 30.h3 Qa4 31.a3 g5 32.Qg6 Qd1+ 33.Kh2 g4 34.Qxh6+ Kg8 35.Qg6+ Kh8 36.Qxg4 Qd2 37.Qh4+ Kg8 38.b4 

Black resigned

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