Jerome Gambit: Across the Board

The following Jerome Gambit game features play alternating different sides of the board. It is a long journey for White - but he comes out ahead, in the end, when Black can not keep up (the story of many defenders). 

Wall, Bill - GuestYKQX
FICS, 2019

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 

Bill has had this position about 80 times.

8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Bg5 Re8 10.O-O-O Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand, Kingside. White's King has castled Queenside. This dynamic will play out.

11.f4 Nc6 12.Qa4 

Her Majesty has ideas about how she can influence the enemy King, from afar. Also, there may be a b-pawn available, soon. According to The Database, this is a new move.

12...Qe7 13.Nd5 Qf7 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qb3 Be6 

The eternal question arises in the Jerome Gambit as well: Does one who grabs the b-pawn sleep in the gutter? Bill decides to find out.

16.Qxb7 Bxd5 17.exd5 Ne7 18.Rhe1 Rec8 

White has 2 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but he still has a lot of work to do.

19.Qb3 Nf5 20.Qd3 Ng7 21.g4 

Back to the Kingside.

21...Re8 22.Rg1 Re7 23.h4 Rae8 24.h5 Re3 

Black's dynamic counterplay keeps him better - for now.

25.Qa6 f5 26.h6 fxg4

Opening lines against your own King can not be wise.

27.Rxg4 Qf8 

A slip. Time?

28.Rxg7+ Kh8 29.Qxa7 Qxf4 30.Kb1 Re1 31.Rg1 Rxd1+ 32.Rxd1 Qxh6 33.a4 

The a-pawn advances. It has an advantage over Black's h-pawn, which is blocked, for now.

Also, Black's King is vulnerable. Ultimately, that makes the difference.

33...Rc8 34.a5 Qh5 35.Qd4+ Kg8 36.Rg1+ Kf8 37.Qg7+ Ke8 38.Qg8+ Kd7 39.Rg7+ Black resigned