Some themes repeat themselves regularly in the Jerome Gambit. White's Queen-check that allows gathering in an errant Knight is one example, as Bill Wall shows in the game below. Suprise followed by disappointment and disspirited play on behalf of the defender is another. Wall, Bill - Guest7492034 PlayChess.com, 2014 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.O-O
We have seen another idea, 4.Bb3 Bc5 5. Bxf7+, in Philidor1792 - bichara22, Online chess, 2013 (1-0, 15). 4...Bc5 5.Bxf7+
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Re8
Instead, 7...Bd6 was recently seen in "A Tale of Two Knights". 7...Re8 is reminiscent of Wall,B - Santiago,D, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 28) I've faced it a few times myself, 8.dxc5 Kg8
This was Black's idea, to return a piece and castle-by-hand. 9.f4 Ng6 10.e5 Ne4
Playing "aggressively" against White's obviously erronious aggression. If chess were only this kind. 11.Qd5+ Kh8 12.Qxe4
Black does not have enough compensation for his material deficit. His play shows that he is unsettled. 18.Be3 Rbc8 19.Nb5 bxc5 20.Nd6 Rb8 21.Nxb7 Rxb7 22.Bxc5 Re8 23.b4 d6 24.Bxd6 Black resigned
With three pawns for his sacrificed piece, White is willing to play against Black's structural weaknesses (doubled isolated b-pawns, restrained d-pawn, blocked in Bishop) in stead of an attack on the King.
Black's slip on his next move makes the task easier. 16...Nh5
The safer retreat was 16...Nh7. 17.g4 Nhxf4 18.d4 d6 19.exd6 Bxg4 20.Bxf4 Kg8
White is comfortably up two passed pawns. He does not have to be in a hurry. 21.Bg3 Bh3 22.Rfe1 Rf8 23.Nd5 Rad8 24.Ne7+ Kh7 25.Nxg6 Kxg6
26.Re3 Rf6 27.Be5 Rfxd6
This combination overlooks something. 28.Bxd6 Rxd6 29.Rxh3 Rxd4 30.Rb3 Black resigned
As we have seen in recent posts, the "simple" job for the defender against the Jerome Gambit is to remain steady, play good moves, not panic, pay attention - maintain a "steady as she goes" focus. Wandering from this path, however, can have immediate negative consequences, as the following game demonstrates. Philidor 1792 - NN 2015 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
A little bit better might have been 8.dxe5. 8...Nxe5 9.dxe5 Nxe4 Black's King is a bit drafty, but otherwise he is doing well. 10.Nd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 Re8 12.Qf4+ Kg8
Black has castled-by-hand, and his light-squared Bishop can be developed. 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 c6 15.b3 Bf5 16.Rad1 Qb6 17.Rd4 Re6 18.f3 Rae8 19.f4 Rg6
White remains calm, as well. If Black has an advantage, let him show it. 20.Rf2 Rf8 21.g3 h5 22.h4 Be6 23.Qd3 Rf5 Black has established blockades at e6 and f5, but it is not clear where he will be going with that. 24.Kh2 Qc7 25.c4 Qf7 26.cxd5 Bxd5
Black keeps improving the position of his pieces. 32.R2d3 Qc5 33.Rd2 Rg4 34.Qd3 g6 35.bxa6 bxa6 36.Re2 Qb6 37.Qc3
White's patience helps Black envision a reasonable, but flawed idea: to develop his last piece, his King, to e6 to blockade White's passed e-pawn. However, the monarch steps into danger. 37...Kf7 38.Rxd5 cxd5 39.e6+ Ke8 "Best" for Black was to give up his Queen with 39...Qxe6 but after 40.Rxe6 Kxe6 41.Qc6+ Kf7 42.Qxa6 it is clear that White's passed a-pawn will rule the day. 40.e7 Black resigned
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Recently I stopped by a local chess club for the first time in about 25 years. I had a lot of fun, but lost all of my games, which made me feel like the weakest player in the group. This was particularly troubling given that half of the people there were elementary school students! (I remember many years ago visiting the local university chess club, going 0-13 one evening, playing a different chess opening each game; my opponents could never figure that one out...) Worst of all, I was not given the opportunity to play the Jerome Gambit. Wait 'til next week!