Jerome Gambit: Gambit Duel (Part 2)

 

[continued from the previous post]

wgraif (2525) - EricRosen (2591)

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

The Jerome Gambit game fits in well in the "Gambit Duel" between National Master William Graif and International Master Eric Rosen.

12.Bg5    

This is a standard idea in the Jerome: pressure on the Knight at f6. There will be risks in making the capture, however, as the game proceeds.

12...Kf7 13.Rad1

White wants to be able to play d2-d4 to block out the enemy Bishop, in order to be able to play f2-f4. This idea is complicated by the fact that once the d-pawn moves, the e-pawn will be unprotected, so that pawn, in turn, will need protection.

In retrospect, White might have looked at Ka1, at some point, unpinning his f-pawn, instead.

13...Bd4 14.Ne2 Bb6  

14...Bxb2 was probably playable, but it would have been a distraction from the plan Black was putting together, and the time spent on working through the complications - 15.Rb1 h4!? (15...Ba3 16.Nf4!?) 16.Bxh4 Nh5 17.Qe3 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Rxb7 Rxh2!? 20.Rfb1 was not necessary at this point.

15.Qh4

Protecting the e-pawn (with additional pressure on f6), according to plan.

15...Rag8 16.d4 d5 17.f3 c6 

White has played d3-d4, and reinforced his e-pawn with the modest f2-f3. He has pressure on the Knight at f6, and Black would love to see the Bishop exchanged so that he could recapture with the pawn and open the g-file for his Rook.

18.Kh1  Ke8

Nothing sharp, for the moment.

The computer suggests 18...Nh7, with the idea 19.Nf4 Nxg5 20.Qxg5 g6 21.Nd3 when White intends to plant his Knight on e5. Still, Black would be better.

19.Nf4 Bf7

NM Rosen would like to keep White's Knight off of g6.

It is interesting that Stockfish 15 is not concerned about the possible loss of the exchange: it sees 19...Bc7 20.Ng6 Nh7 21.Nxh8 Rxh8 22.Qxh5+ Qf7 as equal.

"Equal" would not be bad for White at this point, although after the text move the computer evaluates White as being more than a Rook better.

Can you see what White has after the text move?

20.e5 Bd8 21.e6 

NM Graif was happy to play this move. I think I would have gone for the more pedestriant 21.exf6 - although, of course, I would never have reached this position against an International Master.

[to be continued]