Friday, August 13, 2021

Jerome Gambit: Lessons From the Grandmaster's Games (Part 2)

 


The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, from the YouTube video "GM Hikaru on 1900s: They Don't Make Em Like They Used To", is a reminder to defenders and attackers alike: certain moves should be played with an awareness of the possible consequences.


GM Nakamura - NN
3 0 blitz, internet, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 


It is attractive to block the Queen's check and threaten Her Majesty with a pawn, all in the same move. It is almost like a reflex action.

However, in doing so Black commits himself to sacrificing a Rook, as in the Blackburne or Whistler defenses (see "Jerome Gambit: What About the Rook?").

7.Qxe5

"Oh my gosh, I think my man just blundered the game" said GM Nakamura, at this point. "The Jerome Gambit is very OP [over powered]." 

The Grandmaster was being prescient in his comment - Black turns over the game on his next move. 

By the way, we have seen Nakamura face Whistler's defense, 7...Qe7, in GMHikaruOnTwitch -30second-guy, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 71) and GMHikaruOnTwitch - BulletManiac30sec, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com 2021 (1-0, 38).

The Database does not have a Nakamura game against Blackburne's defense, 7...d6.

7...Nf6

Black protects his Rook, but gives up his Bishop. He will be 2 pawns down.

8.Qxc5 d6 

Black could have tested his opponent's sense of humor by playing 8...Nxe4 instead. The joke? 9.Qd5+ Kg7 10.Qxe4 would be met by 10...Re8, winning the Queen. (Instead, 10.0-0 would be the move.)

So, Black could win back one of his missing pawns, but he would still be a pawn down against one of the top blitz players in the world.

9.Qd4 Re8 10.d3 d5 11.f3 


Wisdom of the grandmaster. White is ahead in material, but he does well to address his King's safety first.

11...dxe4 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.fxe4 b6 14.O-O Bb7 15.Bg5 Black resigned

Black's Knight is under attack, twice, and he cannot bring in another defender with 15...Rd6 because of 16.e5.

White gets the final laugh.


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