Monday, August 8, 2016

Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit: Encouraged Aggression


In the following game White adopts a quiet continuation, 4.0-0, but when his opponent plays 4...h6 he decides to shift to an aggressive game - with positive results coming quickly.

Abdulsalamfaraj - MarleyIsTheGame
10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O h6 5.Bxf7+



White is encouraged by Black's timid pawn move, and transposes to a line in the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Kf6 7.Qh5



This is an improved response over 7.Nxc6 of perrypawnpusher - gmann, blitz, FICS, 2010, (1-0, 39).

 7...Nxe5

Weird would be 7...g5 8.Qf7+ Kxe5 9.b4 Bd4 10.c3 Nf6 11.cxd4+ Nxd4 12.Bb2.

8.Qf5+ Ke7 9.Qxe5+ Kf7 10.Qd5+ Kf8 11.Qxc5+ d6 12.Qc4 Nf6


White has regained his sacrificed piece, has two extra pawns, and a much safer King. Black fights back, but cannot keep pace with his opponent.

13.Nc3 c6 14.d3 Qe7 15.Bf4 Be6 16.Qd4 d5 


17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 cxd5 19.Rae1 Kg8 20.Re5 Qf6

21.Rfe1 Kh7 22.c3 Bd7 23.Rxd5 Qxd4 24.Rxd4 Bc6 



Black has castled-by-hand, placed his Bishop on a strong diagonal and linked his Rooks. His three pawn disadvantage makes the likelihood of transitioning to a "safe" Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame slight.

25.h3 Rhe8 26.Be5 Re7 27.Rg4 Rae8 28.d4 g5 29.Re3 Bd5 30.b3 a5 31.c4 Be6 32.Rgg3 Bf5 



The Black Bishop has shifted to defense. It is not enough. It will try harassing White's Queenside pawns, but that will not be enough, either.

33.Rgf3 Bb1 34.a3 Ba2 35.Rf6 Re6 36.Rf7+ Kg6 



Black's King is now in a checkmating net as well.

37.Rxb7 a4 38.g4 axb3 39.Rg7 checkmate



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