Friday, November 10, 2023

Jerome Gambit: Puzzling Draw



My first completed game in the ongoing Chess.com "Giuoco Fun" tournament came as a bit of a surprise - I guess I made the offer, and my opponent quickly accepted. That's what the site said, but I am hazy on the details...

You can look at the final position and decide which of us made the smart move.


perrypawnpusher - jackedU711

"Giuoco Fun" tournament, Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 

Seen as early as Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875, (1/2 - 1/2, 29) which appeared in the March 1875 issue of the Dubuque Chess Journal.

6.Nxc6 dxc6 


7.O-O 

I have also tried 7.Nc3 in perrypawnpusher - Ykcir, 14 0 blitz, FICS, 2009 (1/2 - 1/2, 11). 

Instead, 7.c3 was seen in Vazquez, A - Carrington, W, Mexico, 2nd match, 1876 (1-0, 43). 

7...h5 

Creative and aggressive.

8.c3 Bd6 9.d4 Bg4 


Black's Bishops balance White's central pawns - but they look scarier.

10.Qd3 h4 11.f4 

Bravely, if foolishly, ignoring the enemy h-pawn. Probably 11.h3 Bh5 12.f4 with an even position was the proper course. 

11...Qd7 

Stockfish 16 still gives Black the advantage after 11...h3 12. g3 c5 13.Be3 Qd7 

12.h3 

Correcting the oversight.

12...Bh5 13.e5 Be7 14.f5 Nh6 


This is still an interesting position (the computer suggests 15.e6 Qd8 16.Bf4 and that Black fight back with 16...c5 17.d5 c4 18.Qxc4 c6 19.d6 Bxd7 20.Bxd6+ Qxd6 21.Qxh4 and a small edge for White - choosing his 3 extra pawns over Black's extra piece ) and I am not sure why I offered a draw here.

Perhaps I was thinking of another game?



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