Here is my latest letter from Cliff Hardy - a Jerome Gambit game (time limit: bullet, one minute, no increment - in this game, about a second per move.) with a timely Christmas motif! I have added some diagrams, but the commentary is all his - Rick
Merry Christmas, Rick!
This game intrigued me as Black was unusual in being able to find the excellent 11...Kc6! move in this variation. Unfortunately, he was forced soon after that to become really generous this Christmas, as the presents began to be handed out...
Cliff Hardy (2286) - NN (2532)
1 0, Lichess, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+
If you expect to receive presents, you should give some first!
5...Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 Nf6
11.d3 Kc6!
Very rare for someone to find this risky-looking but pugnacious move - and in bullet too!
12.Nc3
I'm never quite sure in this variation whether to play c3 or Nc3.
12...d5 13.Bf4 dxe4 14.dxe4 Qe6??
Black gives a Christmas present! 14...Qh5! -++, intending 15.e5+ Qxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5, would have been very strong for him.
15.0-0-0?? =
It's Christmas time and White proves to be very charitable! I didn't realise that 15.e5+ Nd5 ++- doesn't really hang in for Black e.g. 16.0-0-0 Rd8 17.Nxd5 Rxd5 18.c4, when the pinned Black rook will require wrapping paper and a gift tag.
15...a6?? ++-
You know that moment at Christmas when you graciously refuse a Christmas present but the giver continually thrusts it upon you? A complex game would have arisen after 15...Qg4! 16.Qf1! (threatening checkmate in one with 17.Qb5#) 16...b6 =, when Black's exposed king compensates for White's sacrificed bishop.
16. e5+ Kb6 17. exf6 Qxf6??
Another present for me? Why, thank you! Stockfish rated the position before this move as lost for Black anyway, due to his exposed king, but I admit it all looked very unclear to me! Now though, it was fairly easy to take out the win and the rest of the game was uneventful.
18.Nd5+ Ka7 19.Nxf6 gxf6 20.Qc3 Bb6
21.Be3 Bg4 22.Bxb6+ cxb6 23.Rd6 Bf5 24.Qxf6 Rhf8 25.Qd4 Rac8 26.Qxb6+ Ka8 27.c3 Be4 28.Rhd1 Bxg2 29.Rd8 Kb8 30.Rxf8 Rxf8 31.Rd8+ Rxd8 32.Qxd8+ Ka7
33.Qd4+ Kb8 34.Qg7 Bc6 35.Qxh7 Ka7 36.Qh8 a5 37.h4 Kb6 38.Qd4+ Kb5 39.h5 a4 40.h6 a3 41.b3 Ka6 42.c4 Be4 43.h7 Bxh7 44.Qd5 Ka7 45.Qb5 Bg8 46.Qa5+ Kb8 47.Qd8+ Ka7 48.Qxg8 Kb6
49.c5+ Kxc5 50.Qc4+ Kb6 51.Qa4 Kc5 52.Qxa3+ Kd4 53.Qa4+ Kc5 54.Qc4+ Kb6 55.b4 Ka7 56.Qc5+ Kb8 57.Qb5 Ka7 58.a4 b6 59.a5 Kb7 60.Qxb6+ Kc8 61.a6 Kd7 62.Qb7+ Ke8 63.a7 Kd8 64.a8=Q checkmate
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