Saturday, December 14, 2019

Jerome Gambit: Unusual Opening, Unusual Idea, Usual Result

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White starts off with an unusual opening (the Jerome Gambit) only to face an unusual defense (the Jerome Defense) - which he counters with an unsual line; which, for Bill Wall, brings about the usual result. 

Wall, Bill -XYSL
FICS, 2019

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



4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 6.Nd3 



Sure. Why not? Unusual ideas, even in an unusual opening, can be upsetting for the opponent.

The Database has 273 games with the move 5...Kf8; White scores 55%. Only 7% of those games - 20 - have the interesting, and reasonable, 6.Nd3, with White scoring 78%. It is a favorite of Petasluk, who has scored 12 - 4 - 1.

It is to be noted that The Database has 102 games with the recommended 6.Nxc6, with White scoring 58%.

6...Be7 

White's creativity pays benefits immediately. The stronger 6...Bb6, as in Wall,B - Tim93612, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 36), kept the Bishop more active. 

7.Nc3 d6 8.Nf4 Bg5 9.d4 Bxf4 

Black moves his Bishop 4 times, excchanging it off for the Knight that has moved 4 times.

10.Bxf4 Nge7 

White has only 2 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but has probably equalized. His development is to be preferred.

11.O-O Ng6 12.Be3 Qf6 



There are many games where Black's Queen comes to f6, with a positive impact - but I don't think many of them feature Black's King on the f-file, when White can get in f2-f4. Too, White is in position to harass the enemy Queen with Nd5. Storm clouds are gathering.

13.f4 Ke8 14.Nd5 Qf7 15.f5 Nge7



Too casual. Necessary was 15...Nf8.

16.Nxc7+ Kd7 17.Nxa8 b6 

The plan is to get the Bishop to b7, and win the Knight at a8, but it is all too late.

18.d5 Ne5 19.Qd4 Bb7 20.Qa4+ 



20...Kc8 21.Qxa7 Nxd5 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Nxb6+ Kd8 24.Bg5+ Ke8 25.Qb8 checkmate

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