Jerome Gambit: A Game of Survival

The following game is not only a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), it is a game of survival and a race against time. After White's 32nd move, Stockfish 11 rates his opponent as over 7 Queens ahead... That's a whole lot of trouble. Certainly the Jerome has been kinder to him on many other occasions. But that is not the whole story. A player wins a chess game if he checkmates his opponent, if his opponent resigns - or if his opponent runs out of time.

I could make reference here to the movie "Forest Gump" and the "Run, Forest, Run!" meme, but I prefer the high speed chase sequences between the cartoon characters Wile E Coyote and the Roadrunner, that often lead off a cliff... 

(I saw another chess player complain about another opponent the other day: He's not strong, he just moves quickly. Well, then don't play blitz...) 

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+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qxe5+ Kxe5 11.c3 

An interesting idea, taking advantage of Black's King in the center of the board. It is relatively rare: The Database has 7 previous games with the move, with White soring 21%. (In bullet chess, just about anything goes.)

11...Kxe4 12.d4 Bd6 13.O-O Nf6 14.Bg5 b6 15.Na3 Bb7 

Except for Black's hyper-developed King, his position looks very good.

16.Nb5 Kd5 17.Rac1 Kc4 

White is interested in checkmating the enemy King. Black is skeptical.

18.a4 Kb3 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rxf6 

Grabbing a pawn while it is available.

21...Kxa4 21.c4 Raf8 

Swapping Rooks is a good, forcing, defensive plan.

22.Rxf8 Rxf8 23.h3 Bg3 24.Rc3 a6 25.Rxg3 axb5 26.Ra3+ Kb4 27.cxb5 Kxb5 

So far Black had defended well, and his extra piece gives him a winning edge.

28.Rc3 Bc6 29.d5 Bxd5 30.Rxc7 Bc6 31.Ra7 Rg8 32.Ra3 

An unfortunate slip, quite understandable when you are taking only a second - or less! - per move. 32.g4 was the only defensive try available.

32...Rxg2+ 33.Kf1 Rxb2 

Black is clearly better, but can he checkmate his opponent before his flag falls? The fact that the game continues for 17 more moves shows that White is skeptical about Black's chances...

34.Re3 Kb4 35.Re7 Rb3 36.Rxh7 Rf3+ 37.Ke2 Rg3 

38.Rh4+ Kb3 39.Kf2 Rg2+ 40.Ke3 Rh2 41.Rh5 Rh1 42.Kd4 Rd1+ 43.Ke5 Rh1 44.Kd6 Re1 45.Kc7 

Catch me, if you can! A whole new idea in fortresses.

45...Rd1 46.Re5 Rh1 47.Rc5 

Clearly, a race to the finish.

47...Rxh3 

See?

48.Rb5+ Kc4 49.Rxb6 Kd5 50.Rb8 White won on time 

(For the record, Black has a checkmate in 28 moves.)