When his troubles really began...

Assessing play against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be a topsy turvy affair. Take the following game. Black was probably most in danger when his position was objectively winning. Likely, he felt more comfortable as his game became less and less in his favor. When he reached a drawn endgame – that's when his troubles really began.

mrjoker - lilred
blitz, 2 12, Internet Chess Club, 2009

White has just regained his sacrificed piece, and the game resembles the dreaded/revered "drawish" Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame that can come about in Jerome Gambit games.

White's passer can be blockaded by Black's King and/or Bishop. Black can create counter-play by working to get his own passer on the Queenside. The Kingside may or may not become critical.

Knowing how to play this kind of endgame (any endgame, really) is essential for Jerome Gambiteers. mrjoker does a great job, at blitz speed.

32.h3 h5 33.gxh5+ Kxh5 34.Kg2 Kh4 35.Bf2+ Kg5 36.Kg3 Kf5 37.Kf3 g5 38.Ke3 Bb7 39.h4 g4

Almost all of White's pawns are on the dark squares of his Bishop; all of Black's pawns are on the light squares of his Bishop.

None of the passers are likely to make progress any time soon.

Black should advance his Queenside majority and aim for another passer. He should advance his g-pawn when possible, if only to distract White.

The game is, and should remain, even. However, "even" endgames favor the more knowledgeable player.

40.Bg3 a5 41.a3 Bd5

He could also have continued with 41...b4 42.axb4 axb4 43.Bd6 c3 44.bxc3 bxc3 (or 44...b3) but each side will still be able to blockade the other's pawns and be unable to advance his own.

42.Bc7 Bc6 43.Bxa5

White has gained a pawn, but it is only symbolic, or, perhaps, psychological. The game is still even.

43...g3 44.Be1 Kg4

This looks like a logical followup to the previous move: advance the g-pawn then use the King to defend it while also attacking the enemy h-pawn. The problem is that Black need something to keep White distracted, lest he make use of his two passed pawns.

Therefore 44...g2 was called for, a move to tie up White's King while Black can use his King to blockade one enemy passer and his Bishop to blockade the other.

45.Bxg3

A shocker.

45...Kxg3

It is now only a choice between losing quickly and losing slowly.

After declining the Bishop with 45...Be8 46.Be1 White's King will eventually maneuver it's way to the Kingside to escort his h-pawn to the Queening square, winning Black's Bishop; or make his way to the Queenside and win Black's b-pawn, making his a-pawn a threat.

Now, without the distraction of a passed pawn, Black cannot hold back both of White's passers.

But, don't leave yet.

46.h5 Bd5 47.h6 Bg8 48.Ke4 Kg4 49.d5 Kg5

50.d6

A surprising slip. Instead, 50.Ke5, closing out the Black King and preventing the blockade of the d-pawn, wins.

It seems hard to believe, but Black now has an escape here with 50...Kf6, making sure that his King gets to the enemy d-pawn. After 51.Kd4 Ke6 52.Kc5 Kd7 53.Kxb5 Kxd6 White has several of paths to take, none of them yielding more that half a point.

He can give up his h-pawn for Black's c-pawn with 54.h7 Bxh7 55.Kxc4, but 55...Kc6 will put Black's King (along with his Bishop) in a favorable position to resist the advance of White's pawns.

He can keep his King ahead of Black's King in the race to a8, and move his a-pawn up as well, but 54.Kb6 Kd7 55.Kb7 Black will check him back with 55...Bd5+.

Finally, he can advance his a-pawn with 54.a4, but Black's King can quickly get in front of it.

50...Kxh6

Now the d-pawn simply advances and promotes.

Black resigned