Jerome Gambit: Head Spin

The following game is another Jerome Gambit (1.e4  e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) race-to-the-finish 1-minute bullet game. Both players realize that the central "Jerome pawn" center is critical. White, material down, is able to achieve his plans, while Black, appearing stronger, is not. It is another one of those games that makes my head spin.

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+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qxe7+ 

Seen recently: 8.Qf5+ Qf7 9.Qxc5+ Ke8 10.Qxc7 Qe6 11.O-O Qxe4 12.f3 Qd4+ 13.Rf2 Qa4 14.Qe5+ Ne7 15.Qxg7 Rg8 16.Qxh7 Qa5 17.Re2 Qg5 18.Rxe7+ Qxe7 19.Qxg8+ Qf8 20.Qxf8+ Kxf8 Black resigned, Anonymous - Anonymous, 10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020.

8...Nxe7 

Alternatively, and about equal in strength: 8...Bxe7 9.O-O d6 10.d4 Bd7 11.Nc3 Nf6 12.f4 g6 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Kg7 15.exf6+ Bxf6 16.Be3 Rhe8 17.Bf2 Re7 18.Rae1 Rae8 19.Rxe7+ Rxe7 20.Nd5 Rf7 21.Nxf6 Rxf6 22.d5 Ra6 23.a3 Bf5 24.c4 Ra4 25.Rc1 Kf6 26.Bd4+ Ke7 27.b3 Rxa3 28.Bc5+ Kd7 29.Bxa3 Black resigned,  Anonymous - Anonymous, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020. 

9.c3 d5 10.d4 Bb6 11.e5 c5 

White has established his pawn center, with a protected passed pawn at e5; Black immediately attacks it.

12.Be3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nf5 14.Nc3 Be6 15.O-O-O Nxe3 16.fxe3 Ke7 

Black's two Bishops look dangerous, while, for the time being, White's center has stalled.

17.Rhf1 Rhf8 18.Rf4 g5 19.Rf3 Bg4 20.Rxf8 Rxf8 21.Rd2 Be6 

Okay, who's got a plan?

22.Kc2 Ba5 23.a3 Bc7 24.b4 a5 25.Kb3 axb4 26.axb4 h5 27.e4 

Working for a mobile center, at last.

27...dxe4+ 28.d5 

The center looks troublesome, but, with a lot of time on his clock, Black could find a way for his Bishops to tame it. The problem: he never has a lot of time on his clock.

28...Bf5 29.d6+ Bxd6 30.exd6+ Kd7 

Black's Bishop and passed pawn would seem to give him the edge over White's Knight and blockaded passer, but the game is about even.

White's next move is an error, but neither he nor his opponent notice. The clock is pushing things at a rapid pace and the players are moving more quickly.

31.Rd5 Rf6 32.Nb5 g4 33.Kc3 

Fixing things.

33...Be6 34.Rxh5 Rf2 35.Re5 Rxg2 36.Rxe4 Rxh2 37.Nd4 

A tense position, but still in balance.

37...g3 

A slip. With the safe 37...Bd5 38.Rxg4 Rh3+ 39.Kd2 Kxd6 the game would still be even.

38.Rxe6 g2 39.Rg6 Rh4 40.Rxg2 Rxd4 41.Kxd4 Kxd6 42.Rg6+ Black resigned

Whew! Black trusts his opponent can find the checkmate in time.