Jerome Gambit: Valuable Time (Part 5)

                                         

[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - JAMARTINO

Not only the Italians play the Italian, Chess.com, 2025

20...cxd4

Instead, 20...Be6 would advance Black's development, and protect his Rook at e8, e.g. 21.Rd6 b6, with the first player still a little bit better.

21.Qxe8+ Kh7 

Would exchanging Queens, instead, with 21...Qf8 22.Qxf8+ Kxf8 23.Rxd4 be more helpful for the defender? In the computer's post mortem, it was something to consider. 

22.Rxd4 b6 

A slip.

My opponent misses it.

I miss it.

23.Qxe4 

Readers, no doubt, can find 23.Rd8!? (pin and attack) Be6 24.Qh8+ Kg6 25.Rxa8 Qf7 26.Qe8 Qxe8 27.Rxe8 Bxa2 28. Ra8 Bb1 29. Rxa7 Bxc2 30. Bxb6 and things are largely resolved, as White is a Rook ahead.

23...Qxe4 24.Rxe4 Bf5 25.Re7 Bxc2 

With Rooks off the board, the position would be quite drawish, due to the Bishops-of-opposite-colors.

26.Bd4 Rg8 27.Rxa7 b5 28.Rb7 Bd3 29.Kf2 h5 

To limit the Kingside pawns, and, possibly exchange some: When ahead, exchange pieces; when behind, exchange pawns

30.Ke3 Bf1 31.g3 Kh6 32.Rb6+ g6 33.f5 

Building pressure against the enemy King.

33...Kg5 34.f6 Kg4 35.f7 

The f-pawn continues forward, disrupting the defense, in its own way.

[to be continued]