Friday, April 20, 2012

The Jerome Attitude

Some players who essay the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) have adopted the Jerome "attitude" of Attack-Attack-Attack. Others have opted for Creep-Creep-Pounce.

While I try to learn from others, my own "Jerome Attitude" seems too often to be Attack-Run-Hide. The following win (yes, win; I still take 8 out of 10 games) is a light example

perrypawnpusher -Tensecterror
blitz 2 10, FICS, 2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6


The Semi-Italian Opening.  A couple weeks ago, an earlier game had continued along regular Jerome Gambit lines, i.e. 3...Bc5 4.Bxf7+ in perrypawnpusher - Tensecterror, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 45). This time my opponent was taking precautions.

4.O-O Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Kf8


The retreat from the Knight check is certainly an interesting defensive idea in the regular Jerome Gambit. In the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit, however, it has a flaw.

7.Ng6+

Much better than my silly 7.Nxc6 in perrypawnpusher - acwizard, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 18).

7...Kf7 8.Nxh8+ Ke7 9.Ng6+


Take the Rook and run.

Stronger and more adventurous was 9.Qh5.

9...Kf6 10.Qh5

Now that my Knight was safe, I was willing to play this move, as it has several positives: it protects the Knight, it attack's Black's Bishop at c5, and it threatens Qh5-f5+.

However, Black's response eliminates these threats.

Had my attitude been Attack-Attack-Attack, I would have looked at the more efficient 10.Qf3+, since 10...Ke6 11.Qf5+ Kd6 12.Qd5 is checkmate. This would have required me to see that "saving" the Knight was unnecessary, as 10.Qf3+ Kxg6 falls directly to 11.Qf5 checkmate.

10...d6 11.Nf4

More retreat from danger. A bit pluckier was 11.Nc3.

11...Ne5 12.Nd3

And, finally, the poor Knight is safe. Too bad that he missed 12.Nd5+ Ke6 13.Qf5 checkmate.

See what I mean about "attitude"?

12...g6 13.Qh4+ g5 14.Qg3 Nxd315.Qxd3 Be6


White is ahead the exchange and two pawns, but he still has work to do before he is comfortable.

16.b4 Bb6 17.Bb2+ Ke7 18.Qc3

Looking to infiltrate Black's Kingside. (I admit, I anticipated Black's next move, too, which he played too quickly.)

18...Nf6 19.Qxf6+ Kd7 20.Qxd8+ Rxd8



White is now up a Rook and two pawns. "Game over", right? My timid play encourages Tensecterror to continue: he dreams of using his "two Bishops" and Rook against my King.

21.d4 g4 22.Nd2 h5 23.f4 h4 24.f5 Bf7 25.a4 a6 26.c4 h3 27.c5 dxc5 28.dxc5 Ba7

We both have used pawn moves for our own plans: Black, to storm my Kingside; White, to stifle Black's dark-squared Bishop; and to unleash the "Jerome pawns".

29.e5 Bd5 30.e6+ Ke7 31.g3

A bit stronger was 31.Rae1 directly 

31...b6 32.Rae1 bxc5 33.f6+ Ke8


The "Jerome pawns" will win this duel.

34.f7+ Ke7 35.Bf6+ Kf8 36.e7+ Kxf7 37.exd8=Q cxb4+ 38.Rf2 Bxf2+ 39.Kxf2 Black resigned

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