Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Jerome Gambit: Struggling (Part 2)

 


[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - acasimon1987

3 d/move, "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2021


16.Nc3 

Anticipating d6-d5.

Taking the Knight on h4 would be disastrous, as after 16.gxh4 Qxh4 Black's mate threat costs White too much material. For example, 17.Rf2 Rb7!? (distract the Queen so she cannot continue to protect the Rook at f2) 18.Qd4 Rb4!? will give you the idea.

Still, White could have played 16.f5 Kg8 17.fxe6 when the game would be about even.

16... Kg8 17.Qa6 

Looking for a way to bring the Queen home.

After the game the computer preferred 17.h3, which looks loosening to White's position, but it creates an interesting balance between winning material and exposing the King. After 17...Ne5 (17...Nf6 18.f5 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Nxg5 is about even, due to Black's initiative) 18.fxe5 Bxh3 19.Rf2 Rf8 20.Qe3 Rxf2 21.Qxf2 Qd7 22.gxh4 (White can grab material, but he quickly has to sue for peace, or let Black do the same) Rf8 23.Qg3 Qf7 24.Qxh3 Qf2+ 25.Kh1 Rf4 26.Qe6+ Kf8 27.Qc8+ Kf7 28.Qh3 Qe1+ 29.Kh2 Qf2+30.Kh1 Qe1+, etc.

Weird.

17...Qf6 

It takes Black a couple of moves to decide on the strong ...d5.

18.Qe2 

Not quite enough. Stockfish 14 has its typical "White should run for a draw" prejudice in its recommendation 18.Qd3 d5 19.gxh4 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Qxh4 21.Qg3 Qd8 22.Qd3, etc.

18...Qd4+ 19.Kh1 d5 

White has four pawns for his sacrificed piece.

Black plans to blow open the game.

I decided that it was time to take that impudent Knight, but then immediately bludered.

20.gxh4 dxe4 

21.Nxe4 

Based on a tactical oversight. Stockfish's remedy was beyond my abilities, but suggested that White had just enough 21.f5 Bc4 22.Qxg4 Bxf1 23.d3 Bh3!? 24.Qxh3 exd3 25.Bg5 (to guard the first rank) d2 26.Qg3 Rxb2 27.f6 Rxc2 28.Bxd2 Qxf6 29.Qd3 Qg6 30.Qd7 Qf7 31.Qd3 with a draw coming.

I don't think that's the best that either Black or White can do, but I don't have an alternative.

21...Bd5 22.d3 Rxe4 

This is what I overlooked. If, instead, the Bishop captures, White can hold on (and has the advantage) after 23.dxe4.

23.dxe4 Bxe4+ 24.Rf3 Re8 25.c3 

A bit better is 25.Bd2 but it doesn't matter.

25...Bxf3+ 26.Qxf3 Re1+ 27.Kg2 Rg1+ 28.Kh3 Nf2+ White resigned


A brutal finish.

I wonder if I could convince acasimon1987 to start playing the Jerome Gambit?


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