Saturday, July 11, 2020

Jerome Gambit: The Pawns! The Pawns!



The following game illustrates the classic battle between the "Jerome pawns" and the extra piece that the defender has. Clearly, the pawns have the upper hand throughout most of the game.

Wall, Bill - Anonymous
lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 




4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Nc6 



This is a reasonable response to 6.d4, although it allows White to follow up with another thematic Jerome Gambit move.

7.Qh5+ Kf8 

Bill has also seen 7...g6, in Wall,B - Lamjung, lichess.org, 2017 (1-0, 21)

8.Qxc5+ Qe7 

Equally good is 8...d6, as in Wall,B - Guest649850, PlayChess.com 2017 (1-0, 26) 

9.Qxe7+ Ncxe7 10.c4 Nf6 11.Nc3 d6 12.f4 Be6 



A pretty dramatic contrast, White's pawns vs Black's extra piece.

13.d5 Bd7 14.e5 dxe5 

This is a tough choice.  Retreating the Knight with 14...Nfg8 might have been a little better. 

15.fxe5 Ng4 16.e6 Be8 17.O-O+ Kg8 



White's pawns are annoying - and they aren't finished.

18.Bf4 Rc8 19.c5 Nf6 20.d6 cxd6 21.cxd6 



21...h5

This does not solve Black's problems.

Bill recommends 21...Nc6 22.Bg5 when it will be difficult for the defender to avoid returning material. 

22.Bg5 Kh7 23.Rxf6 gxf6 24.Bxf6 Rg8 25.Bxe7 



25...Bc6 26.g3 h4 27.Bxh4 Black resigned




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