My Horse is Faster Than Your Horse

If the finish of the following game can be considered somewhat of a horse race, then it proves to be a mismatch, and a victory for White (and the Jerome Gambit).


mckenna215 - DREWBEAR 63
Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament
ChessWorld, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4

This move, as opposed to 6.Qh5+, saw a bit of a revival in this tournament.

6...Bd6

Not a cautious move. mckenna215 scored two points against it in the Thematic Tournament.

7.dxe5 Bxe5 8.Qd5+ Kf8

8...Ke8 9.Qxe5+ Qe7 10.Bf4 Qxe5 11.Bxe5 d6 12.Bxg7 Black resigned, mckenna215 - Magni, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2011.

9.Qxe5 d6 10.Qf4+ Qf6

Perhaps Black is already thinking about finding safety in the endgame: so, off with the Queens!

11.Nc3 Qxf4 12.Bxf4 Nf6 13.0-0-0 Be6 14.Nb5

White's Knight abandons the e-pawn to go in search of larger prey. Black's Knight grabs the pawn, but cannot keep up.

14...Nxe4 15.Nxc7 Nxf2 16.Rhf1

The line-up of pieces on the f-file spell disaster.

16...Nxd1 17.Bxd6+ Black resigned

The double, discovered check assures that White will be a piece (and a pawn) ahead: 17...Kg8 18.Nxa8 h5 19.Kxd1 Kh7 20.Rf8 Rxf8 21.Bxf8