Jerome Gambit: Surprising Chances (Part 2)

 

[continued from the previous post]

farhadba - MeiND

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

We are looking at a very interesting Jerome Gambit game, where it is difficult to separate the "good" moves from the "bad" moves - especially in a 3-minute blitz game. This is one of the advantages of the Jerome - the defender either has to use extra time calculating, or he risks choosing what certainly looks like an okay move, only to discover it was not the way to go.

The uncertainty applies to White, as well. The above position arises after Black captured on c6 with the b-pawn, instead of the d-pawn. One advantage of the latter is that d2-d4 would be prevented.

However, White missed the wilder 7.Qg4+!? (instead of 7.d4). For starters, if 7...Kf7 then 8.Qh5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5; or if 7...Kf6 8.Qf5+ Ke7 9.Qxc5; in both cases Black loses his Bishop. If 7...Ke7, he loses a Rook with 8.Qxg7+ Ke6 9.Qxh8.

After 7.Qg4+ Kd6 Black's King appears to have stepped out of danger, but 8.e5+ either chased him to e7, when White would again have Qxg7+; while capturing the pawn with 8...Kxe5 would be met by 9.d4+ Bxd4 10.Bg5 which will cost Black his Queen, since 10...Nf6 leads to checkmate in 5: 11.Bf4+ Kd5 12.Qf5+ Be5 13.Qxe5+ Kc4 14.b3+ Kb4 15.Bd2#.

Finally, if 7.Qg4+ Kd6 8.e5+ Kd5 then 9.Nc3+ Kxe5 10.d4 Bxd4 11.Bg5 costs Black his Queen.

This analysis shows the benefits of playing over a game after it has finished, looking deeper into the lines than was possible during the game itself, so that you become more aware of the possibilities the next time you are in the same (or similar) situations.

7...Bb6 

The game has settled down. Black has a piece for a couple of pawns. White's pawn center confronts Black's at-risk King. The computer suggests adding to that center with 8.c4, leaving Black with an edge.

8.Qg4+

This move looks scary, reminiscent of the analysis of 7.Qg4+, above, with one small difference: If Black's King now retreats to f7, White does not have the Queen check at h5 which would allow him to pick up the Bishop, since it has vacated c5.

Everything else leads to disaster for Black.

8...Ke7

White's aggressive play is immediately rewarded. I am reminded of the lament that If White errs in his attack, he might slip into a worse game, but if Black errs in his defense, the game is likely over.

9.Qxg7+ Kd6 10.Qxh8 

Grabbing the enemy Rook, similar to the analysis at the top of the page.

You might have chosen another move, but White will now win his own way, in his own time.

10...Ne7 11.Qe5 checkmate

Triumph of the Jerome Gambit player!