Saturday, April 17, 2021

Jerome Gambit: Gentlemen, the Queen


In the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), White's Queen plays a leading role. Sometimes her activity leads to trouble, sometimes it leads to checkmate. 

In the following game, Her Majesty's journies seem to mischief, but she returns to the action in time to participate in a winning attack. 


Wall, Bill - WSM

PlayOk.com, 2021


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 


8.O-O c5 9.Qd1 Bg4 10.Qd5+  Be6 11.Qxb7+ Ne7 


Black has harassed the White Queen, then distracted it with a pawn. Can he take advantage of the situation?

12.f4 N5c6 13.Qa6 Nb4 14.Qe2 g6 


Black takes steps against the pawn advance f4-f5. Bill suggests, instead, 14...Bc8, perhaps followed by castling-by-hand. 

15.Nc3 Rf8 16.f5 gxf5 17.Bh6 Rg8 


White now has the attack - with his Queen participating.

18.Qh5+ Rg6 19.Bg5 Kg7 

Stepping out of the pin of his Rook, and protecting the h-pawn, but allowing a fork of his Bishop and rook.

20. exf5 Bc4 21. fxg6 hxg6 22.Bf6+ Black resigned


Checkmate will soon follow.


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