The Jerome Gambit: 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