Friday, January 3, 2020

Jerome Gambit: Early Slip

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The following game features an early slip by Black which surrenders his advantage. It is instructive, however, to see how White builds his attack, culminating in checkmate.

Wall, Bill - Guest6179121
PlayChess.com, 2019

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


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Nf6 



Black is unfamiliar with the Jerome Gambit. In addition, my guess is that this is a blitz game, and that Black did a rapid "calculation" - I have 3 pieces developed to 1 of his, and I attack his Queen!

8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qb5 a6



The loss of a tempo increases the danger.

11.Qb3+ 

Raising the question (which takes time to answer) - can White afford to grab the b-pawn after 11...Be6? It is likely not worth the effort: 11...Be6 12.Qxb7 Qd7 13.Qb4 c5 14.Qa3 Nxe4. Still, Black declines to make the offer.

11...Kf8 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd5 14.O-O+ Ke8 



15.Nc3 c6 

Black does not fall for 15...Nxc3 16.Qf7#

16.Ne4 Rf8 17.Nd6+ Kd7 18.Rxf8 Qxf8 



19.d4 Kc7 20.Bg5 h6 21.Rf1 Qg8 22.Rf7+ Kb8 23.Rxb7+ Bxb7 24.Qxb7 checkmate
Ouch.

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