Jerome Gambit: The Road More Travelled (Part 2)

 

[continued from the previous post]

10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Kg8 12.Kh1 Be7 13.Bg3 Be6 

Black has developed his extra piece. Are his Bishops possible targets? I am ready to advance my "Jerome pawns" and find out.

14.f4 Ng4 

This move threatens a fork at e3, but otherwise does not accomplish much.

Stockfish 17.1's analysis combines maneuvering and tactics: 14...g6 15.h3 Kh7 16.Bh2 Rg8 17.Qe2 Qd7 18.Rf3 c5 19.Raf1 Rae8 20.b3 Qc6 21.Nd1 Nd7 22.c4 Bf6 23.Ne3 Bd4 24.Nc2 Bg7 25.Ne3 Rgf8 26.Nd5 Bg8 27.Qe1 Kh8 28.Qf2 Bxd5 29.cxd5 Qd6 30.f5 - interesting, but well over my and my opponent's head.

15.Qf3 Bc5 

The e3 square still calls to the Knight.

16.Rae1 Bb4 

Black's pieces look active, but they are actually just scattered.

17.h3 

Ejecting the enemy Knight. A bit stronger is 17.e5!?

17...Bxc3 18.bxc3 Nf6 

After the game was over, I listened to the "coach" at Chess.com provide feedback. It was mostly scolding, with a few complements scattered.

The fact is, although I played confidently, I have to repeat the truism: The more a person is in error, the stronger they may hold onto their opinion

19.e5 

After the game, Stockfish 17.1 pointed out that it was okay to sacrifice the a-pawn, preferring 19.f5 Bxa2 20.c4 b5 21.e5 bxc4 22.exf6 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Qxf6 24.Re6 Qf7 25.Qxc6 Rd8 26.dxc4 Qxf5 27.Re7 Kh7 28.Qxc7 Rg8 29.Be5 Qg5 30.Bc3 Bb1 31.Re4 Qd8 32.Qxa7 Bxc2 33.Re7 Qd1+34.Kh2 Qd6+ 35.g3 White is assesed as about 3 pawns better

Okay, that's pretty funny. In real life, I am rated over-the-board a low Class B player, and such in-depth analysis makes my head spin...

19...Nd5 20.f5 Rf8 

This much, I understand: White's pawns are rolling, and Black's Rook pins the f-pawn, preserving his Bishop.

[to be continued]