Jerome Gambit: I Don't Know What To Say...

I continue to be amazed by chess players who can play at bullet speed - 1 minute, no increment - and not only use the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) but also play an interesting game - and win! The following game - with 78 moves, which means less than a second per move - left me speechless.

Anonymous - Anonymous

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

A position familiar to many Jerome Gambit players has arisen. White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece. He continues to develop, while safe-guarding his King and grabbing a second pawn. He is not distressed to see the Queens leave the board.

10.d3 Qe7 11.Nc3 d5 12.exd5 Qxe3+ 13.Bxe3 Ng4 14.O-O-O Nxe3 15.fxe3 Bg4 16.Rhf1+ Ke7 17.Rde1 Rhf8 

Like Mr. Rogers would say, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The computer rates Black a little bit better, but in a club game - and a bullet one at that - White has plenty of chances to use his "Jerome pawns".

18.e4 Rxf1 19.Rxf1 Rf8 20.Rxf8 Kxf8 21.g3 Ke7 22.Kd2 c6 23.dxc6 bxc6 24.Ke3 Kd6 

Readers, please don't leave. I promise you, things will become interesting.

25.d4 Be6 26.e5+ Ke7 27.Ne4 Nf8 28.b3 h6 29.c4 a5 30.Nc3 Nd7 31.d5 cxd5 32.cxd5 Bg8 33.Kd4 g5 

If it looks like White's pawns give him the advantage - you are right. Things are going to get even more interesting.

34.Ne4 Kf7 

A slip.

35.e6+ Ke7 36.exd7 Kxd7 37.Nf6+ Ke7 38.Nxg8+ Kf7 39.Nxh6+ Kg6 40.Ng4 Kf5 41.Ne5 g4 

Okay, White has outplayed his opponent, and is up a piece and 3 pawns. BUT - this is a bullet game, and the clock can easily determine the winner. So, Black plays on. It is not clear if White is amused or not.

42.d6 Kf6 43.Nxg4+ Ke6 44.d7 Kd6 

Could be a mouse slip, could be a hope to reach a stalemate position in a deadly time scramble.

45.d8=N 

Interesting.

45...Kd7 46.Nf7 Kc6 47.Nfe5+ Kb5 48.Ne3 Kb4 49.N3c4 a4 50.bxa4 Kxa4 

51.g4 Kb4 52.h4 Ka4 53.h5 Kb5 54.g5 Kb4 55.h6 Ka4 56.h7 Kb4 57.g6 Ka4 58.g7 Kb4 59.h8=N Ka4 60.g8=N 

Okay...

60...Kb4 61.Nhf7 Ka4 62.Kc3 Kb5 63.Nf6 Ka4 64.Ng5 Kb5 65.Neg4 Ka4 66.Nh5 Kb5 67.Nf4 Ka4 68.Nce5 Kb5 69.Neg6 Ka4 

The Knights consult.

70.Kc4 Ka3 71.N6e5 Ka4 72.Ne4 Ka3 73.Ne3 Ka4 74.Ned3 Ka3 75.Ndc5 Kxa2 76.Nfd3 Ka1 77.Nc2+ Ka2 78.Nc3 checkmate

Um... yeah... right. Amazing as well as amusing.