Friday, May 23, 2025

Jerome Gambit: Training Game #8



Here is game #8 from "Jerome Gambit: Sacrifice Theory". It is full of tactical play - until one player slips. Even so, the defender defends until he can defend no more.


NN - NN

Training Game #8

2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

What should White's plan be?

Consulting The Database:

                        games              score

    10.O-O        374                   58%

    10.Nc3        176                    64%

    10.f4             33                     69%

    10.d4            33                     73%

    10.d3            32                     70%

    10.h4              4                      88%

10.h4 

White chooses the least popular, but most successful move, repeating from Game #6.

It is also Stockfish 16.1's choice (34 ply).

10...Qe8

Black had the more active 10...d5 and 10...h5 to choose from.

11.Nc3 Kf7 

Hoping to be able to castle by hand.

The position is becoming complicated, but perhaps the Queen should go to f7, and the King to g8.

Alternately, there was the defensive 11...h5

12.h5 Ne7 13.h6 Rg8

The same defensive idea we saw in #6. 

14.hxg7 Rxg7 15.b3 Rxg2 16.Bb2 Bg4 17.f3 Rg3

Now follow some tactical shots, but the game remains in balance. 

18.Rxh7+ Nxh7 19.Qf4+ Nf5 20.Ne2 Rxf3 21.Qxg4 Ng5


White is down a Rook - but the game is still even!

22.Ng1 Rg3 23.Qxf5+ Kg8 24.Ne2 Rg2 

25.Kf1 

Or 25.O-O-O Qf7, also equal

25...Qh5 26.Kxg2 Qxe2+ 27.Kg3 Nxe4+ 28.Kh3 Nf2+ 29.Kh4 


White's King survives the danger.

Black decides to take the Queens off of the board.

29...Qe4+ 30.Qxe4 Nxe4 31.Rg1+ Kf7 32.Rg7+ Ke6 33.d3 Rh8+ 34.Kg4


Despite White having the "minor exchange" the game is even, and a draw would be a fair outcome.

34...Nf2+ 

Black wants more. 

It is hard to know if this is due to clock issues, or a difference in rating (or an unwillingness to "surrender" a half point to the Jerome Gambit) but he would do better with 34...Nc5 35.Kg3 (35.Rxc7 Rh2 36.d4 Rxc2 37.dxc5 Rxb2 38.Rxb7 Rxa2 39.cxd6 Kxd6) 35...Na6 36.Rg6+ Kf7 37.Bxh8 Kxg6 etc. Equal.

35.Kg3 Nd1 

The in conjunction with the previous move, the wandering Knight courts disaster.

36.Rg6+ Kf5 37.Bxh8 Kxg6 

At first glance, this looks like it will be a battle between a Bishop and a Knight, and, with pawns on the same side, possibly a draw.  But, wait! Black's Knight is trapped!

38.Kf3 a6 39.Ke2 Kf5 40.Kxd1 Kf4 41.Ke2 c5 42.c4 b5 

Endgame advice: When ahead in material, exchange pieces. When behind in material, exchange pawns. 

Black resists, up to checkmate.

43.cxb5 axb5 44.a4 bxa4 45.bxa4 d5 46.a5 c4 47.a6 c3 48.Bxc3 Kf5 49.a7 d4 50.Bxd4 Ke6 


Is Black hoping for a flag fall? Stalemate?

51.a8=Q Kd7 52.Qd5+ Kc7 53.Kd2 Kc8 54.Qc6+ Kb8 55.Qd7 Ka8 56.Qa7 checkmate





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