Monday, January 17, 2022

Jerome Gambit: Race to the Finish



hamedbehruzi - Neomala

2 1 bullet, lichess.org, 2022


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 g6 

Blitz - and even moreso bullet - is made up of threats: make a threat and your opponent has to respond.

More to the point, however, was 7...Qf6 or the "annoying defense" 7...d6.

8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxh8 

White is happy to grab the Rook, but perhaps he was not expecting to. Oh, well, in a 2-minute game there is not a lot of time for reflection.

10...Qf6 

A move late. Now something like 9...Qh4+, bringing the Queen to the h-file to protect the pawn at h7 and delay White's Queen's escape, was in order. Still, White would be better. 

10.Qxh7+ Kf8 

The position is suddenly quite complicated. Both Kings are at risk.

11.g3 

White protects the f-pawn. He would have done better with 11.d3, allowing the helpful development of his Knight to d2, and which leads to some clanging and banging before he can feel comfortable, for example 11...Bd4 12.Nd2 Bxb2 13.Bxb2 Qxb2 14.O-O

11...Qd4 

This is what the first player overlooked. Had he played 11.d3, he could have met 11...Qd4 with 12.Qxg6 Qf2+ 13.Kd1 d5 14.Nd2 followed by Rf1, if need be. That is a lot to see in a little time.

12.Rf1 

This is not enough.

12...Qxe4+ 13.Kd1 Qg2 14.Re1 


Can you figure out Black's best play from here?

Hint: Wall,B - Mathieubuntu, 40 0, FICS, 2011 (1/2-1/2, 14)

14...Qf3+ 15.Re2 Qf1+ 16.Re1 Qf3+ 17.Re2 Qf1+ 18. Re1 Qf3+ 19. Re2 Qf1+ 20.Re1 Qf3+ 21. Re2 Qf1+ 22.Re1 Qf3+ drawn by repetition of position.

Black beats the clock and splits the point.

Wait a minute...

If you found 15...d5 16.h3 Qh1+ 17.Re1 Bg4+ 18.hxg4 Qxh7 good for you.

Likewise, if you found 17...d5 18.h3 Qh1+ 19.Re1 Bg4+ 20.hxg4 Qxh7, good for you.

Or if you found 19...d5 20.h3 Qh1+ 21.Re1 Bg4+ 22.hxg4 Qxh7, ditto.

Also 21...d5 22.h3 Qh1+ 23.Re1 Bg4+ 24.hxg4 Qxh7.

But, let's be fair: your clock wasn't ticking at bullet speed, was it? Black's was, and he made a practical choice.


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