Jerome Gambit: A Tricky Endgame

It has always been true that knowing the opening moves of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is not enough. It is necessary to have the tactical skills to take you to and through the middle game, as well. Finally, it is useful to know enough about the endgame to convert your andvantage to a win - and, sometimes, to avert disaster.

The following endgame is educational, for what happened, and what did not. It comes after White used the Jerome Gambit against a higher rated player in a blitz game, and clearly had a win in hand. However, there were a few technicalities to grasp along the way, and a 3-minute blitz game does not always allow that.

SensGuy - huarsan2

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

White's 2-pawn advantage is winning. His King plans to escort one or both of the passers to their Queening squares. Black should be able to catch one of them, but not both.

56. Kb6 Kd6 57. a5 Rb2+

Black's best chance is to check from afar.

58. Ka7 Rc2 

Now White can toss the c-pawn with 59.c8Q Rxc8 when, after 60.Kb7 he can find a way to deal with Black's Rook's checks, e.g. 60...Rc1 61.a6 Rb1+ 62.Kc8! Kd5 63.a7 Ra1 64.Kb8 Rb1+ 65.Rb7, when his remaining pawn will promote.

59.a6 

Bringing the a-pawn closer to promotion - but there is a problem that is specific to Rook pawns.

59...Rc3 

Instead, Black had 59...Rxc7+ 60.Rxc7 Kxc7 when Black can pin White's King to the side of the board, keeping him from getting out of the way of the pawn, i.e. 61.Ka8 Kc8 62.a7 Kc7 stalemate.

60.Kb8 Rb3+ 

White is winning, again, and Black has to resort to checking the King again.

61.Ka8 Rc3 

The Rook can go to any of 14 squares, but only one contains a drop of hope.

62.a7 

62...Rxc7 63.Rxc7 

White needed to chase the enemy King away with 63.Rg6+ Kd5 64.Kb8 when the only way Black can stop the pawn from promoting is to sacrifice his Rook for it.

One last chance at a swindle for Black would be to answer 63.Rg6+ with 63...Kd7, hoping for 64.Rg7+ Kd6 65.Rxc7? Rxc7 stalemate. 

63...Kxc7 Draw by stalemate

If you are not familiar with this kind of endgame, it would be difficult to win under significant time pressure. 

However, if you play this endgame over a few times, you will be familiar.