Jerome Gambit: Well-Traveled King

The following lengthy Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is a bit much to wrap your head around. It was played at bullet speed - 1 minute, plus 1 second increment - and features a well-traveled enemy King who makes over 1/3 of the moves played in the game.

(For the record, the longest Jerome Gambit game that I have in The Database is 158 moves. Of course it was played by 2 computer programs. But there is also a 157-move game played by 2 humans.)

boltonbailey - Jonathan_Nobleman

1 1 bullet, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.Nc3 Qf6 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 

Okay, so far it looks like Black is winning (he is), but at this time control anything can happen. Soon, it does.

10.d3 Bd4 

Looking to break up White's Queenside, but this is too much of a static approach.

11.Nb5+ Kc5 12.a4 a6 13.b4+ Kxb4 

It is possible to get careless, even (especially) when up a couple of pieces. White is probably a little bit better now.

14.Nxd4 

Very reasonable, and the idea behind White's pawn sacrifice. (If he had more time to reflect, he might have found 14.Rb1+ Kc5 15.Ba3+ Kb6 16.a5+ Kxa5 17.Nxd4 d6 18.Bb4+ Kb6 19.Bxd6+ Ka7 20.Bxe5 which would have left him a Rook ahead.)  

14...Kc3 15.Ne2+ Kb4 

Like it or not, Black had to move further into danger and play 15...Kxc2, because White's Rook can now come to b1 with check, to be followed in due course by mate

16.Bd2+ Kc5 17.Bc3 Kc6 18.Bxe5 d6 19.Nd4+ Kd7 20.Bxf6 gxf6

The Black King has returned home, with his position somewhat worse for wear.

21.O-O c5 22.Nf5 Ke6 23.d4 cxd4 24.Nxd4+ Kf7 25.Nf5 Bxf5 26.exf5

With the clock ticking rapidly and always possible to take a friendly turn, neither player is looking at a draw. Even when the balance of the game shifts, there is no practical reason to resign before being checkmated.

26...h5 27.h3 h4 28.Rfe1 Rad8 29.Re4 Rh5 30.Rf4 d5 31.Rd1 d4 32.Rdxd4 Rxd4 33.Rxd4 Rxf5 34.Rxh4 Ke6 35.Rd4 b5 36.axb5 axb5 

White's Kingside pawn majority gives him a clear advantage.

37.f3 Rc5 38.Rd2 Kf5 39.Kf2 b4 40.g3 Kg6 41.Ke3 Re5+ 42.Kf4 Rf5+ 43.Kg4 Rg5+ 44.Kf4 Rf5+ 45.Ke3 Re5+ 46.Kf2 

No wish to allow the draw by repetition. (Translation: not feeling the time pressure.)

46...Kf5 47.Rd4 Rb5 48.g4+ Kg6 49.Ke3 f5 50.Kd3 fxg4 51.hxg4 Kg5 

52.Kc4 Rb8 53.Kb3 Rc8 54.Rd2 Rb8 55.Rd4 Rc8 56.Rxb4 Re8 57.Rc4 Re3+ 58.Rc3 Re5 59.Rd3 Re8 60.Kc3 Rc8+ 61.Kd2 Re8

The winning plan is clear.

62.c3 Kf4 63.c4 Rc8 64.Rc3 Rd8+ 65.Kc2 Kg3 66.c5 Kf2 67.c6 Ke2 68.c7 Rd2+ 69.Kb3 Rd1 70.Rc2+ Kxf3 71.c8=Q 

See the note to White's 25th move.

71...Rb1+ 72.Kc3 Rb6 73.Qf5+ Kg3 74.Qe5+ Kh4 75.Qe1+ Kg5 76.Rg2 Rc6+ 77.Kd3 Rd6+ 78.Kc4 Rc6+ 79.Kd5 Rc8 80.Qe7+ Kg6 81.Qe6+ Kg7 82.Qxc8 Kg6 83.Qf5+ Kg7 84.Rh2 Kg8 85.Rh5 Kg7 86.Rg5+ Kh6 87.Qg6 checkmate

Amazing.