Jerome Gambit: Reassessing a Variation (Part 2)

[continued]

As noted in the previous post, I just completed my 3rd Jerome Gambit game in the first round of the "Italian Battleground" tournament at Chess.com.

The challenge after a dozen moves in this game was to transition from a wild attack to a more measured, patient approach, and then match wits with an opponent who had reset the battlefield as an endgame.


perrypawnpusher - zmarian
"Italian Battleground" tournament, Chess.com, 2018

12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Kxf6 14.Ke3 c6 

15.Rhf1+ Ke7 16.Rf2 Raf8 17.Raf1 Rxf2 18.Rxf2 Be6 

I had expected 18...Rf8 19.Rxf8 Kxf8 exchanging off the Rooks. Gaining control of the f-file isn't immediately helpful, but its value will grow.

19.Ne2 Bf7 20.b3 Re8 

Black wanted to be ready for when I played e4-e5. On the other hand, I was trying not to play the move too early. 

21.c4 g5 22.Nc3 Bg6 

23.d5 c5 

A committal move. I had planned to meet 23...cxd5 with 24.Nxd5+, infiltrating on the f-file. After the game, Stockfish 8 suggested the slow 23...a5 24.Kd4 h5 25.c5 dxc5+ 26.Kxc5 Kd7 27.Kd4 cxd5 28.exd5 Re1, and Black would continue to resist, although White would be better.

24.e5 

24...dxe5

Black preferred not to face 24...Kd7 25.e6+ Ke7, but that might have been better.

25.Ne4 

I was pleased with the clearance sacrifice, but, in all fairness, there were not a lot of ideas in the position, so I was bound to trip over it eventually.

25...b6 26.Rf6 

26...Bxe4 

Possibly hoping for 27.Kxe4? Kxf6, winning.

27.Re6+ Kf7 28.Rxe8 Kxe8 29.Kxe4 Black resigned

The pawn on e5 will fall, and then the ones on the Kingside.