Friday, December 24, 2021

Jerome-Evans Gambit



It can be fun to combine the Evans Gambit with the Jerome Gambit, although the result can be even more chaotic.

The following game shows White gaining an overwhelming advantage, only to lose it - and then regain it in time to administer checkmate.


valish24 - silvergrey06

5 5 blitz, lichess.org, 2021


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 

The Evans Gambit.

4...Nxb4 

Usual is 4...Bxb4.

5.Bxf7+ 


The Evans-Jerome Gambit. We have looked at this before, e.g. "The Evans Jerome Gambit", "Exploring the Evans Jerome Gambit", "The Evans-Jerome Gambit Returns (Parts 1 & 2)", "Another Evans-Jerome Gambit" and "And Another (Evans-Jerome Gambit)"

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke6  

The King decides to take a hand in dealing with the enemy Knight. Certainly safer was 6...Kf8. 

7.d4 Bb6 


Black is in deep trouble.

8.Qg4+ Ke7 

You know that you are in trouble when Stockfish 14.1 recommends, instead,  8...Kd6 9.Nf7+ Ke7 10.Nxd8, giving up the Queen.  

9.Bg5+ 

This move is regularly played in the Jerome Gambit, and in a blitz game it might be the first thought that comes to mind. It leaves White with a small advantage. The line 9.Qxg7+ Kd6 10.Nf7+ Kc6 11.Nxd8+ Kb5 12.Na3+ Ka6 13.Qxh8 was crushing.

9...Nf6 10.O-O  

White opts for safety. 

The computer suggests that White push and push: 10.Bxf6+ gxf6 11.Qg7+ Ke6 12.Qf7+ Kd6 13.Nc4+ Kc6 14.d5+ Kb5 15.Nca3+ Ka6 16.d6 Qg8 17.Qh5 Nxc2+ 18.Nxc2 Ba5+ 19.Nd2 Qxg2 20.O-O-O b5 21.a4 c6 22.Rhg1 Bxd2+ 23.Kxd2 Qxf2+ 24.Kd3 Kb7 25.axb5 Rb8 about even

10...Bxd4 11.Bxf6+ 

White plays as in the note above, but his Knight is no longer defended.

11...gxf6 12.Qg7+ Ke6 13.c3 Bxe5 


The game is messy, and the fact that it is played at blitz speed makes it even move challenging. Black wants things to settle down, and get his King to safety.

14.Qg4+ Ke7 15.cxb4 

A slip that drops the exchange.

15...Bxa1 16.Nd2 Be5 17.Nc4 d6 18.Qg7+ Ke6 19.f4 Bd4+ 20.Kh1 


Black is up a minor piece and a Rook. His King is relatively safe. He decides to eject the enemy Queen.

20...Rg8 21.f5 checkmate



No comments: