Friday, May 24, 2013

Yet Another Day in the Life of the Jerome Gambit


I like to use the "day in the life" games to show just how other-worldly the Jerome Gambit can become.

pigsfeet - chessnyc
blitz, FICS, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+




There are over 900 examples of this Jerome Gambit version in The Database.

5...Ke7

Black is not interested in the piece, however, at least for now. Already he has exchanged a winning advantage for a losing one. Yawn.


6.c3

White insists, however, and Black doesn't have to be asked twice.

6...Kxf7 7.b4 Bxf2+

Why should White have all the fun?

8.Kxf2 Rf8 9.Ba3 d6 10.Qb3+ Be6

This "aggressive counter" falls to a known tactic. The game would be roughly even after 10...Ke7.

11.Ng5+ Kg6 12.Nxe6 

White grabs back a piece, and will next win an exchange.

12...Qe7 13.Nxf8+ Rxf8 14.Rf1



Planning to castle-by-hand, White relaxes too soon. He is saved when Black's Knight moves to the left instead of to the right.

14...Nxe4+

Rybka 3 point out that 14...Ng4+ was the way to go, i.e. 15.Ke2 Rxf1 16.Kxf1 Qf6+ 17.Ke2 Qf2+ 18.Kd1 Ne3+ 19.Kc1 Qe1+ 20.Kb2 Qe2+ 21.Kc1 Kg5 22.h3 Qe1+ 23.Kb2 Qf2+ 24.Kc1 b5
Analysis Diagram

when White's pieces are all tied up, and Black will win with a timely ...a5, when his other Knight can enter the game (or simply capture White's Kingside pawns and Queen one of his own). Weird!




15.Kg1 Nd2


As you might expect from the analysis above, Black had a draw here with 15...Rxf1+ 16.Kxf1 Qf6+ 17.Ke1 Qf2+ 18.Kd1 Nxc3+ 19.Nxc3 Nd4 20.Qb2 Qg1+ 21.Kd2 Qf2+ 22.Kd1 Qg1+ etc.

The move in the game looks like a slip, perhaps a hallucination.

16.Nxd2 Rxf1+ 17.Rxf1 Qh4



Here Black resigned, as he has only a pawn for his missing piece. Indeed, White has a forced mate in 6.

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