The Opponent

Whether it was Tarrasch, Tartakower or Znosko-Borovsky who said "Before the endgame, the gods have placed the middlegame," it seems equally important to note here that "Between the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and a victory, stands the Opponent."

perrypawnpusher - spontex

blitz 8 8, FICS, 2009

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 g6 A new move, but not such a good one, as it returns too much material. Standard is 8...Qf6 or 8...Qh4+.

9.Qxe5+ Kc6 10.Qd5+

Going for the non-existent mate. It was better to take the Rook, although play remains complicated, if in White's favor, after 10.Qxh8 Qe7 11.Nc3 Nf6 12.e5.

10...Kb6 11.Nc3 c6

This move helps White get back on track. After the game Rybka 3 suggested: 11...a5 12.Na4+ Ka7 13.Qxc5+ b6 14.Qd4 Ne7.

12.Na4+ Kc7 13.Qe5+ Bd6 14.Qxh8 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qg4

A very interesting offer of even more material, with the opportunity to muddy things up. A reasonable response for White now is 16.d3.

16.Qxg8 Qf3 17.Rf1 Qxe4+ 18.Kd1 b5

Too generous: 18...Qxa4 was the right move, leaving White up the exchange and a pawn.

19.Nc3 Qd4

More mischief was available with: 19...Qg2 20.Re1 Qxh2 21.d4 Qxg3 22.Qxh7 Ba6.

The annoying thing was that I was a Rook ahead, and it didn't feel at all like I was winning.

20.Qxh7 Bb4 21.Qxg6 d6 22.Qd3

To put an end to Black's dangerous piece play, although 22.Ne4 was clearly stronger.

22...Bg4+ 23.Ne2 Qxd3 24.cxd3 Re8 25.Re1 c5

26.a3 Ba5 27.b4 cxb4 28.axb4 Bb6 29.Bb2 Bf2

My opponent refused to roll over and play dead. Still, 30.Kc2 would limit my damages now.

30.d4 Bxe1 31.Kxe1 Rxe2+ 32.Kf1 Rxd2 33.Bc3 Rxh2 34.Rxa7+ Kb6

Well, okay, White still has an advantage. A small one.

35.Rf7 Bh3+ 36.Kg1 Rg2+ 37.Kh1 Rxg3 38.Rf6

How to explain this move?? Would you believe that my dog, Ginger, was pestering me to go outside, so I made a move quickly – and then watched my Bishop disappear.
38...Rxc3 39.Rxd6+ Kc7 40.Rd5 Kc6 41.Rh5 Bg4 42.Rg5 Bf3+ 43.Kh2 Bd5 44.f5



And here we have what might be guessed to be a "typical" Jerome Gambit endgame, where White has two pawns against Black's piece. The one problem: White's game is lost.


44...Rc4 45.Rg6+ Kc7 46.Rg7+ Kd6 47.Rg6+ Kd7 48.Rg7+ Kd6 49.Rg6+ Ke7 50.Rb6 Rxb4 51.Kg3 Rxd4


An unfortunate slip, levelling the game: 51...Kd7 52.Kf4 Kc7 was much better.

52.Rxb5 Kf6 53.Kf2 Kxf5 54.Ke3 Re4+ 55.Kd3 Re5 56.Kd4 Re4+ 57.Kxd5 Re5+ 58.Kc4 Rxb5 59.Kxb5 Drawn
Hats off and a firm handshake to spontex, for a fight to the finish.