Sunday, January 7, 2018

Jerome Gambit: Skeptical Defense

Wall, Bill - Guest673244
PlayChess.com, 2017

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



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



This is interesting. Bill usually plays 6.d4.

6...Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Be6



Black develops a piece, and remains slightly better.

Despite the fact that his King is uncastled - and, therefore, he might feel more comfortable not opening up the  position - Black could have played 10...d5, and after 11.exd5 Kf7 12.0-0 Re8 13.Qd4 c6 he would have recovered his sacrificed pawn and his prospects would have been brighter than in the game.  

11.b3

Feeling adventurous, Bill bypasses the thematic 11.f4 and the reliable 11.d4 for a chance to put his Bishop on the long diagonal. We have seen this strategy for White before: why hurry? Let Black figure things out on his own.

11...Kf7 12.Bb2 Re8 13.O-O-O Kg8



Black has played steadily, developing his pieces and castling-by-hand.

This is just the kind of position that could feature opposite wing pawn storms, and White wastes no time in getting his started.

14.h4 Ng4

Black is not convinced. He could have tried 14...d5 or 14...h5 instead.

15.Qg3 Nf6 16.h5 Ne5



17.f4 Neg4 18.f5 Bf7 19.h6



This is what Bill is looking for: to open the h-file for his Rook, the g-file for his Queen, and the a1-h8 diagonal for his Bishop.

Black can stop White's plan, but he will have to give back some material.

19...gxh6

Instead, 19...d5 20.Rh4!? Qd6 21.Rxg4 Nxg4 22.Qxg4 Qxh6 23.Nxd5 would have helped on defense, although White would have two pawns for the exchange, and the initiative.

 20.Rxh6 Kf8 21.Qf4

21...Re5

Black remains skeptical, and it is easy to see why. Take, for example, his best defense, instead of the text: 21...Nxh6 22.Qxh6+
Ke7 His King appears to be escaping trouble, and he has an extra Rook (for two pawns). However, if White finds 23.Nb5!?, uncovering the Bishop, then after 23...Nh5 24.g4 Kd7 25.Qxh7 Re7 26.gxh5 he will have 3 pawns for the exchange - and the pawns will become more dangerous with each step forward.

22.d4 Re8

Come and get me, says Black.

23.e5

As you wish, says White.

23...Ng8

Tougher was 23...Qe7, when 24.Rxf6 Nxf6 25.Qh6+ Kg8 again leaves White a Rook down, but 26.Rh1 (better than 26.Rd3) Nh5 27.Ne4!? Qf8 28.Rxh5 Qxh6+ 29.Rxh6 again puts the first player in the better position, with two pawns for the exhange - and his pawns are ready to cause trouble.

24.Rxh7 Black resigned



I think Black was worn out and no longer skeptical. His Knight on g4 is hanging, his Bishop is threatened with e5-e6, and his King is not going to be able to escape, i.e. 24...Ke7 25.e6, etc.

Stockfish 8 gives as best 24...N4f6, when 25.exf6 Qxf6 26.Nb5!? would be too much for Black to deal with. 

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