Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Jerome Gambit: Chaos in a Two Knights (Part 3)

[continued from previous post]

Dr. Finlay - Elliott, H. E
Dungog, NSW, Australia, 1899



21.c4 Qe8 22.Qh4

Black and White struggle to make something out of the closed position. With Black's King strongly blockading White's advanced e-pawn, an endgame would strongly favor the second player.

22...Qa4 23.a3 Qc2 24.Rf2 Qg6 



25.Rf3 Qg5 26.Qh3

The problem with this move is that Black can now try 26...Ng4, adding pressure to the Kingside while threatening to exchange Rooks - when the heavy pieces come off the board, this is better for Black.

26...h5 27.Rg3 Ng4 28.Rd3 Rf6 29.Qg3 Raf8 



It appears that Black has overlooked the pin on his Knight. Much stronger was 30...h4, booting the enemy Queen.

30.h3 Qe5

The Daily Telegraph gives Black's last move a "!" but it is not clear why. Better was to accept the loss of the Knight with 30...Rf4 and after 31.hxg4 Rxg4 continue to apply pressure.

31.Qxe5 

There was nothing wrong with 31.hxg4, leading to an edge for White.

31...Nxe5

The Daily Telegraph notes "Black has conducted an uphill defence with considerable skill, and now scores a well-deserved victory."





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