Jerome Gambit: Pieces and Pawns

Often in an attacking game, the pieces take a major part, but sometimes it is in the suppport of the pawns, instead of the other way around.

In the following game, the pawns finish things.

Wall, Bill - Mazloom

sparkchess, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 

White's Queen's retreat is more conventional than that of the game in the previous post.

9...Nf6 10.h3 

Preventing possible mischief on g4.

10...Kf7 

Bill has also seen 10...Be6 11.Nc3 a6 12.f4 Bf7 13.O-O Kd7 14.d4 Re8 15.f5 Ne7 16.e5 Nfd5 17.e6+ Kc8 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Qg3 Bxe6 20.fxe6 Rxe6 21.Qg4 Qe7 22.Bg5 Qe8 23.Rae1 Kd7 24.Rxe6 Qxe6 25.Rf7+ Ne7 26.Rxe7+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Dasasary, internet, 2023. 

11.O-O Re8 12.d3 d5 

Black is ahead in material (a piece for two pawns) and development, so he pursues his own attack.

Jerome Gambit players have to be prepared for such blowback.

13.f3 d4 

Instead, Black should be thinking about opening lines. Now, White's e- and f-pawns can become more effective.

14.Qe1 Kg8 15.f4 Qe7 16.Nd2 Qc5 17.Qd1 Bd7 

18.Nb3 Qb6 19.a4 c5 

Reinforcing his pawn on d4.

20.e5 Nd5 21.e6 

White throws dust in his opponent's face.

21...Bc6 

Staying away from a beneficial line, because of the anticipated pawn fork: 21...Bxe6 22.f5 Ne3 23.Bxe3 dxe3 24.fxe6 e2 25.Qxe2 c4+ 26.d4 cxb3 27.c3] and White's pawns are probably not enough compensation.

22.f5 Nge7 23.Qg4

White's Queen joins the fray, threatening f5-f6.

23...Ne3

This strike can be dealt with, and it is not an effective response.

24.Bxe3 dxe3 25.f6 

25...Ng6 26.f7+ Kf8 27.fxe8=Q+Kxe8 

The tables have turned. White is ahead in material and his attack on the enemy King will end things.

28.Rf7 e2 29.a5 Qb4 30.Qxe2 Nf4 31.Qe5 Black resigned

Checkmate of the Black King is inescapable.