Monday, February 20, 2017

Jerome Gambit: Winging It

With attacks on both wings, the following game is an interesting example of who "gets there the firstest with the mostest".

The final position is very impressive, and bears close examination.

Wall, Bill - Facundo
lichess.org, 2017 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 



6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.f3 Re8 



It looks like Bill wants to hold the center with f2-f3 and castle Queenside. He does - but that also leaves him open to start a pawn storm on the Kingside.

10.Bf4 Nc6 11.Qf2 Be6 12.O-O-O Qe7 13.h4 a5 



Black likes the idea, too.

14.h5 h6 15.g4 a4 16.g5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 a3 18.b3 Bd7 19.h6 g6 



Hoping to close things down on the Kingside, but the move overlooks play in the center. Stockfish 8 suggests 19...Qe5 20.Qd2 Rh8, although White can maintain play, it suggests, with 21.Rhe1 gxh6 22.f4 Nxe4 23.fxe5 Nxd2 24.Bxd2 Nxe5 and a drawn ending with Bishops-of-opposite-colors is one possibility.

20.Nd5 Qe5 21.Bxf6 Black resigned



A rather impressive position: Black's Queen is dominated by White's Knight and Bishop!

Her Majesty can escape attack with 21...Qe6, but then 22.h7!? follows. Black can offer the exchange with 22...Rh8, but White has no interest in the material, and can play 23.Qg3!? with the idea of Rh6, attacking the Black g-pawn, to follow. The defense of the pawn with 23...Ne7 simply drops a piece to 24.Bxe7, and the "counter-attack" 24...Qe5 25.Qh4 Qb2+ is an illusion, as after 26.Kd2 Qd4+ 27.Ke2 White's King is safe, and Black's will come under attack again.

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