Sunday, October 27, 2019

Jerome Gambit: When White Equalizes...

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Given enough time, and the lack of distractions, some problems can be solved effectively. Facing the Jerome Gambit in a 1-minute bullet game doesn't allow for much time, and the Jerome, itself, can be quite a distraction.

angelcamina - Master1615
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 




The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Qe7 9.O-O d6


10.f4 Nc6 11.Qc4+ Be6 12.Qe2 Rhf8 



An earlier game saw the Rook move to the e-file, i.e. 12...Rhe8 in angelcamina - pippol7, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 30).

13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Nxe5 15.Qxe5 Kg8 



Black has returned the sacrificed piece for a pawn, and has an even game. He should remember the warning, however: When White equalizes in the Jerome Gambit, he has the advantage.

16.Bg5 h6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 

Black might have considered 17...Rxf6 18.Rxf6 Qxf6 19.Qxf6 gxf6, when he would have the same pawn weaknesses as in the game, but White would have fewer pieces to attack them. Black's Bishop vs White's Knight would probably keep the game even.  

18.Qg3+ Kh7 19.Rae1 Qc5+ 20.Qe3 Qxe3+ 21.Rxe3


Black follows the same general idea as given in the above note, but, as his time winds down, he now makes an unforced error.

21...Bf5

White now only has to make "safe" moves in order to make progress.

22.Rxf5 Rg8 23.Re7+ Kg6 24.Rf2 Rad8 25.Re6 Rgf8 26.h4 Kh5 27.g3 Kg4 28.Kg2 f5 29.Rf4+ Kh5 30.Re5 Rd6 31.Rexf5+ White won on time. 

White's extra piece and pawn were bound to win, anyhow.

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