Jerome Gambit: Giddyap! (Part 2)

 

[continued from the previous post]

I have gotten involved in some weekly, casual, chess play at the local library, and, fortunately, was able to play a Jerome Gambit.

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 

According to The Database, in this position this is the choice of all of the human players rated 2200+.

Stockfish, Rybka, Komodo and Fritz, however, prefer 8...Nf6.

9.Nf4+ Kd8 10.d3 Nd4 

The early game Hultgren - Harrow, SVE cup, Campbell, CA, 1960 (and its twin, Blackstone - Dommeyer, skittles, Campbell, CA 1960 ) continued, instead, 10...d6 11.Rf1 Qd4+ 12.Be3 Qf6 13.c3 Black resigned.

Most recently, there was 10...Qd4+ 11.Be3 Qxb2 12.Nd5 Nge7 13.Bg5 Qxa1 14.Bf6 Black resigned, joker0909 - Papi_Chulo111, lichess.org, 2025 

11.Na3 Ne6 

His Knight returns, to pick on my Knight.

12.Rf1 

Simpler, and stronger, is 12.Qf3.

Now Black can simply take the Knight with 12...Nxf4, as my planned Rook pin with 13.Kg1 would fail to 13...Qd4+. Still, 12...Nxf4 13.Bxf4 Qxf4+ 14.Kg1 would have led to an even game and was for choice.

12...b6 

I am not sure what this move is about.

Perhaps my opponent saw the Kingside as stable enough to work on the Queenside, or maybe he was hoping to add a fianchettoed Bishop to the mix.

Possibily he misjudged the possible position after 13.Kg1 Nxf4 14.Bxf4 Qxb2, as then White would have the brutal 15.Bg5+, winning the Queen or checkmating.

In any event, I was happy to castle-by-hand.

13.Kg1 Qd4+ 14.Kh1 Nf6 

If Black is going to have a defense, the Knight has to go to e7. This is his last slip.

15.Nxe6+ dxe6 16.Rxf6 

Trying to be "flashy", but 16.Bg5 Rf8 17.Rxf6 Rxf6 18.Qf7 instead, is just as strong, and a bit humorous. 

16...Qxf6 

Might as well go along with it...

17.Bg5 Qxg5 18.Qxg5+ Black resigned