Really, The Jerome Gambit Is Playable (Part 2)

[continued from previous post]

Morin, Louis - Weston, Paul

Quebec Open, 2018

40 moves / 90 minutes, then 30 minutes

23.Rd1

White cannot easily play the wished-for e4-e5, opening up lines against the enemy King, and so he reinforces his center.

23...Rc8

Black could also consider the prophylactic 23...Ng6, as the brusque 24.Bf4 Nxf4 25.gxf4 would not bring White any closer to a center break - at the cost of the shape of his Kingside.

24.Rdd2

I sense the approach of time trouble. White reinforces some more, and lets Black play decisively.

24...b5 

And Black does, cutting his Queen off from b6 and the defense of the d6 pawn.

25.Bf4 b4 26.axb4 Qxb4 27.Qxa6 Kf7 28.Bxd6 Qc4 29.Qxc4 Rxc4 

White now has 4 pawns for his sacrificed piece, and is clearly - if not easily - better.

30.e5 Nfxd5

Giving back the piece.

31.Nxd5

A tactical slip - see the note to move 24. Instead, 31.Bxe7 first, followed by 31...Bc6 32.Nxd5 is the key, i.e. 32...Rc1+ 33.Rf1 Rxf1+ 34.Kxf1 Bxd5 35.Rxd5 Kxe7 clears the air, and White is too many pawns up (from Black's point of view) in a Rook and pawns endgame.

31...Rc1+

Black returns the favor. After 31...Nxd5 32.Rxd5 Rc1+ 33.Rf1 Rc2 both sides should be looking for the kind of draws that come from Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgames. Or they could simply split the point with 34.Rf2 Rc1+ 35.Rf1 Rc2, etc.

32.Rf1 Rxf1+ 33.Kxf1 Nxd5 34.Rxd5 Rc8 

Black is one tempo shy. White can defend against the leveling checks, and his material advantage will win.

35.Rc5 Ra8 36.Rc1 Ra5 37.Rd1 Ba4 38.b4 Bb5+ 39.Ke1 Ra2 40.Rd2 Ra1+ 41.Kf2 Rf1+ 

Black is not ready to give up, but White seems to have it all under control. I don't see how the defender can set up the necessary pawn blockades - although the play continues to be complex.

42.Ke3 g5 43.Bc5 Re1+ 44.Kd4 Ke6 45.f4 gxf4 46.gxf4 Rf1

He could have tried 46...Bc6 and hoped that the clock would take White out. A long shot.

47.Ke3 Kf5 48.Rf2 Rd1 49.Rd2 Rf1 50.Rd6 

50...Re1+ 51.Kf3 Rf1+ 52.Bf2

Threatening checkmate.

52...Rxf2+ 53.Kxf2 Kxf4 54.Rd5 Black resigned

White is not just the exchange and a couple of pawns ahead. After 54...Bc6 (best) he has 55.Rc5, and it is clear that one of his passed pawns will promote.