Friday, February 19, 2021

Jerome Gambit: Fishing



Ah, yes, fishing. Drop a line in the water, wait a minute or two, haul out a giant trout, take it home, have someone else clean and grill it. Delightful.

Oh, you say, it's not like that? You mean it could be hours and you have to be patient and everything? Wow.

The following game is a bit like fishing for Bill Wall. He is patient, he improves his position, he breaks down his opponent. His position reminds me of the master who pointed out that sometimes it is better to be slightly worse, but with a clear path forward, than to be slightly better, with nowhere to go.


Wall, Bill - Bie

PlayChess.com, 2020


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 d6 

An interesting way to return some material: let White decide.

7.dxc5 Nf6 8.cxd6 Qxd6 9.Qxd6 cxd6 


Bill has been here before. He can target the pawn at d6, while keeping his position safe. With a piece for two pawns, the onus is on Black to do something, lest he lose his advantage.

10.Nc3 Re8

Instead, 10... Be6 was seen in Wall,B -Guest1713462, PlayChess.com, 2020 (1-0. 25) 

11.O-O 

Bill strengthened his e-pawn immediately with 11.f3 in Wall,B - Guest8299674, PlayChess.com, 2016 (0-1, 45). The text move might be a little bit better. 

11...Bd7 12.Rd1 Bc6 13.f3 Rad8 


Black is ready for any attack. It doesn't come. White continues his quiet play.

14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 

More weaknesses in Black's camp. That is enough to fuel White's patience.

16.Kf2 Ke6 17.Rd4 a6 18.Rad1 h5 19.Ne2 h4 20.a4 Ng6 21.b3 Rd7 


22.R4d2 Red8 

Four pieces now support the d6-pawn's possible advance. 

23.Nd4+  

A little bit of mischief.

23...Ke5 

This is a risky place for His Majesty.

24.c4 Rc8 

25.Ke3 b6 

Black overlooks the threat. He needed to play something like 25...f5 to give his King some breathing room, but after 26.f4+ Nxf4 27.Nf3+ Ke6 28.Kxf4 Bxe4 29.Ng5+ Ke7 30.Re1 Rdd8 31.Nxe4 fxe4 32.Rxe4+ Kd7 White would clearly be better.

26.f4+ Nxf4 27.Nf3+ Ke6 28.Kxf4 Rg8 

Compounding the difficulties. 

29.Nd4+ Black resigned


The Bishop will be captured on the next move.


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