Jerome Gambit: Ouch (Part 2)

 

[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - Shienny_Loves_Cats

Italian opening rapid players, Chess.com, 2025

13.Nd2 Be6 14.Nf3 Nh5 

15.Qe1 

I didn't think that exchanging Queens with either 15.Qg5 or 15.Qh4 would help me attack, but Stockfish 16.1 (33 ply) sees little difference between the text and the two alternatives - or even 15.Qf2.

15...Qe7 16.c3 

I wasn't sure what to do here.

It turns out, in the post-mortem, the computer didn't have much of an idea, suggesting little moves here and there, i.e. 16.Qc3 Kh8 17.Rae1 h6 18.Nd4 c5 19.Ne2 Kh7 20.Nf4 Nf6 21.Re2 b5 22.Ref2 b4 23.Qe1 Bf7 24.Rf3 d5 25.exd5 Nxd5 26.Qf2 Rfe8 27.e4 Nxf4 28.Rxf4 and Black is still better, of course.

16...Bg4 17.h3 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qg5+ 

I have the more impressive central pawn mass, but my opponent has the more impressive attack on the King.

19.Kh2 Kh8 20.Rg1 Qb5 21.Qd2 

A slip, but at this point it hardly matters.

21...Rxf3 22.d4 Raf8 23.Rg2 Qd7 White resigned

I suppose it was a bit unfair to rob my opponent of an exciting checkmate - 24.Rg4 Rxh3+ 25.Kxh3 Rf3+ 26.Kh2 Qxg4 27.Qg2 Rg3 28.Qxg3 Qxg3+ 29.Kh1 Qh3+ 30.Kg1 Qxe3+ 31.Kf1 Nf4 32.e5 Qe2+ 33.Kg1 Qg2 # - but I had had enough for one game.

It seems pretty clear that Shienny_Loves_Cats will win the Chess.com "Italian opening rapid players" tournament, but I still have a chance at second place.