Jerome Gambit: Gambit Duel (Part 4)

 

[continued from the previous post]

wgraif (2525) - EricRosen (2591)

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

As the clocks tick down, the players scramble, intent on only one outcome.

38...Rxb2 39.Re7 Kf6 40.Rc7 Rb3 41.Kf2 Rxa3 42.Rxb7 Rxc3 43.Ra7 a3 44.Ra6 Kf5   

45.Kg3 

I have to laugh, here. Stockfish looks askance at the Jerome Gambit in general, and it often seems that it seeks out as "best" a line for White is a draw, even when White is better.

So, here it suggests 45.h4, because, I have to assume, then Black can play 45...Rc2+ and have a draw after 46.Ke3 Rc3+ 47.Kf2 Rc3+ etc.

45...Ke6 46.Kf4 Rd3 47.Kg3 Kf5 48.Rxc6 Rxd4 49.Ra6 Rd3

50.Kh4

Here the silicon wise guy suggests that 50.h4 was the best way forward. Of course, looking at a million positions a second, it would think that.

White's Kingside activity will ultimately prove unsuccessful.

 50...Rd2 51.g4+ Kf4 52.Ra4+ Kxf3 53.h3 Rd3 54.Kg5 Ke2 55.h4 d4 56.Kg6 Rb3 57.Kxg7 d3 58.g5 d2  59.Rd4 Re3 60.g6 Rd3 61.Re4+ Kf3 62.Kh7 d1Q

Only the clock can save White now. That is not to be.

63.g7 Rd7 64.Kh8  Kxe4  65.g8Q Rd8 66.Kh7 Rxg8 67.Kxg8 Qh5 68.Kg7 Qxh4  69.Kf7 a2 70.Kf8  a1Q 71.Kf7 Qd4 72.Kf8 Qg1 73.Kf7 Kf3 74.Ke8 Kg2 75.Kd7 Kh1 76.Kc7 Qhg3+ 77.Kc6 Qf3+ 78.Kd7 Qgf2 79.Kc7 Q2e2 80.Kd7 Qfd3+ 81.Kc7 Qec2+ 82.Kb8 Qa3 83.Kb7 Qab3+ 84.Ka8 Qca2 checkmate

Wow. Thank you FM Graif and IM Rosen!