Jerome Gambit: Quite A Battle

The following game is quite a battle, with players averaging about a second's worth of thinking time for each move. It is exciting to play over, as the fight rages all over the board.

Anonymous - Anonymous

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 

The Two Knights Defense.

4.Bxf7+ 

I like to refer to this kind of opening as an "impatient Jerome Gambit", as White sacrifices the Bishop before Black plays ...Bc5.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+ 

I'm not sure what's going on, I guess it's best to develop a piece.

7.c3 Bd6 8.O-O 

This will be a theme for White's play throughout the game: You expect me to capture with a pawn? Nah. There's a certain kind of freedom that comes from being 2 pieces down. Also, every time an opponent has to use valuable time answering the question What is he doing?? that is helpbul in bullet play.

8...Re8 

See the note to Black's 6th move.

9.f4 

See the note to White's 8th move.

9...Neg4 10.e5 Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand and is still two pieces up.

White has his "Jerome pawns" and has to be encouraged that Black's Bishop blocks his pawn that blocks his other Bishop that hems in his Rook - a typical defender's problem in the Jerome.

11.h3 Nh6 12.g4 Ne4 13.Qd3 Nc5 14.Qc2 Qh4 

Black wants this game.

15.dxc5 Qg3+ 16.Qg2 Bxc5+ 17.Kh1 Qxg2+ 18.Kxg2 d6 

19.b4 Bb6 20.a4 a5 21.exd6 cxd6 22.Nd2 Be6 23.Nf3 Bd5

 

The Bishop pair looks deadly.

24.Kg3 Be3 25.Bb2 Bb6 26.b5 Re3 

27.Rad1 Bb3 28.Rxd6 Bxa4 

A slip. Things quickly get out of hand.

29.Rxb6 Rae8 30.Rxb7 Bc2 31.c4 

White has two pawns for the piece and attacking chances on the King.

31...Bd3 32.Rxg7+ Kf8 33.Rxh7 

An oversight. I sense the impact of the 33rd piece.

33...Be4 34.Rxh6 Bxf3 35.Rxf3 Kf7 36.Rh7+ Kg8 37.Rg7+ Kf8 38.Rxe3 Rxe3+ 39.Kh4 Rb3 40.Be5 a4 

Everything has changed; White has the better position and greater material. Still, Black's passed pawn promises to make things interesting.

41.b6 a3 42.b7 a2 43.b8=Q+ Rxb8 44.Bxb8 a1=Q

 

45.Be5 Qe1+ 46.Kg5 Qg3 47.Kf5 Qd3+ 48.Kf6 Qxc4 49.Re7 Qc6+ 

50.Re6 Qe8 

A final slip, clearly time-triggered.

51.Rxe8+ Kxe8 52.Kg7 Kd8 53.f5 White won on time

Whew!