Jerome Gambit: Grandpa Gambit (Part 3)

                                                

                                 [continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - GrandpaGambitBot

Chess.com, 2023

Neither player in this human vs bot game seems interested in active play. Stereotypical.

28...Re6 

Stockfish 16 prefers the more active 28...Re4

29.Re2 

Now was the time for the plan 29.h3 Kg6 30.g4 Kf7, so Black could have tried 29...Rg8 instead.

29...Rxe2 30.Kxe2 Re8+ 31.Kf3 h4

32.g4+ Kg6 33.h3 Re7 34.Rf2

There was probably a smarter way for me to play this position, but this move suggests that my plan was "duck and cover".

34...f5

This gives away a pawn and more. Not that I noticed.

35.g5 

At the time, I was convinced that this was a way forward.

Readers skilled in Rook-and-pawn endgames will understand Stockfish 16's post-game analysis; 35.gxf5+ Kxf5 36.Rg2 Re1 37.Rg5+ Kf6 38.Rxd5 Ra1 39.a3 Ke6 40.Re5+ Kf6 41.Kg4 Rg1+ 42.Kxh4 Rf1 43.Kg4 Rg1+ 44.Kf3 Rh1 45.Ke4 Rxh3 46.a4 Rh2 47.Rb5 Rc2 48.Kd5 Ke7 49.a5 bxa5 50.Rxa5 Rxb2 and White is much better. 

35...Re1

The active Rook (as well as my nerves) guarantees the draw.

36.Re2 Rf1+ 37.Rf2 Rg1 38.Rg2 Rf1+ 39.Ke3 Rh1 40.Kf2 

Even game.

It is a bit humorous to note that Black will now gain nothing by capturing the h-pawn, as the Rook will be interned behind enemy lines, e.g. 40...Rxh3 41.a4 Rh1 (41...Rg3? 42.Rxg3 hxg3+ 43.Kxg3 White is winning; 41...Rd3 42.Ke2 Rh3) 42.Rg1 Rh3 43.Rg2 Rd3 44.Ke2 Rh3 etc. ensuring the draw.

40...a5 41.Rg1 Rh2+ 42.Rg2 Rh1 43.Rg1 Rh2+ 44.Rg2 Rh1 

Draw

Well, things fizzled out for me, and this time I was not able to take advantage of my advantages in the endgame.

We need a rematch.