One Step Behind

My opponent's play was bold enough to give me trouble, and even if he did not solve all of the mysteries of the Jerome Gambit, he played a game which left me feeling constantly as if I were one step behind. 

 perrypawnpusher - magza
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

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

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Be6

This move provokes f2-f4 by White, but it is only the beginning of Black's sharp play.

10.0-0

Or 10.f4 as in mrjoker - Melbourne, blitz, ICC, 2008 (1-0, 38), mrjoker - tomnoah, ICC, 2009 (0-1, 42), perrypawnpusher - GabrielChime, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33); perrypawnpusher - udofink, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 29), and perrypawnpusher - Kingsmeal, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 25).

10...Kd7

My opponent practically screams "Come and get me!"

Alternatives include 10...Qf6, as in perrypawnpusher - OverwiseMan, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 24); 10...Nf6, as in perrypawnpusher - dirceu, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 16) and perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 22); and 10...h6 as in MrJoker - pds1, ICC, 2011 (1-0, 28).

(All of the games referred to can be found in The Database.)


11.f4 N6e7 12.f5 Bf7 13.d4 Bc4 14.Rd1 Nf6

Black's pieces keep close watch on White's "Jerome pawns."

"Just a couple more moves," I told myself, "and I'll have an even game."

15.b3

Either 15.e5 or 15.Na3 might have been a tiny bit better.

15...Ba6 16.Nc3

A curious move.

I know that I did not play 16.e5 because I was worried about 16...Nxf5, but that was just poor "analysis", as 17.Qf3 wins back the sacrificed piece with advantage to White. Black does better to answer 16.e5 with 16...Ng4, and after 17.Qg5 he holds his own (or better) in the tactics on the Kingside.

Consistent was 16.c4 followed by 17.Nc3.

16...Re8

This move was my "opportunity", the one that usually comes knocking in the Jerome Gambit. Black's best was 16...Qf8 working against the line given concerning 15.e5. In fact, White's next move should be 17.e5.

17.Qg5 Rg8 18.e5 Nfd5

19.Bb2

Developing the Bishop, protecting the Knight, uniting the Rooks: and it all still feels too slow.

After the game, Houdini suggested 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qg4 (coming soon: c2-c4) with an edge for White.

19...h6 20.Qd2 Nxc3 21.Bxc3 Nxf5

Bleh. A score-and-one moves, and White has little to say about his position, while Black's pieces are beginning to glow again.

22.d5 Qe7

Possible, and better, was 22...dxe5

23.e6+ Kc8 24.Bb2 b6 25.c4 Kb7

Black has castled-by-hand on the Queenside, and his light-squared Bishop looks a little bit odd. White has his dark-squared Bishop on a strong diagonal, and a protected, passed pawn at e6.

Houdini gives Black only a slight edge, but the question is: Where will White get his play? Black's pieces are well-placed to defend against the one plan that suggests itself, infiltrating along the f-file to f7: 26.Rf1 Raf8 27.Rf2 g6 28.Raf1 h5.

26.b4

Opting to stir things up on the Queenside.

26...Bxc4 27.Rdc1

Making the same kind of mistake referred to in the notes to White's 16th move, concerning 16.e5. Here the right move was 27.Qf4, although after 27...Bxd5 28.Rxd5 g6 Black has returned his extra piece for some pawns, and is a pawn ahead.

White's e-pawn would be weak, not strong, and that would give Black the advantage in the long run.

White's game now just flows from bad to worse.

27...b5 28.a4 a6 29.a5 g6 30.Rxc4 bxc4 31.Rc1 Qg5 32.Qxg5 hxg5 33.Rxc4 Ne3

White's sacrifice of the exchange only means that he is now a Rook behind.

34.Re4 Nxd5 35.Rg4 Rae8 36.Rxg5 Nxb4 37.Rg4 Nd3 38.Bc3 Rxe6 39.Rd4 Nc5 40.Rb4+ Kc6 White resigned