Jerome Gambit: Sometimes You See It, Sometimes You Don't

Bullet games played at 1-minute time controls have their own sense of excitement, and also can lead to some beautiful final positions. The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is just one recent example.

Critical in the outcome is a defensive maneuver that Black simply does not see. Such is the nature of quick games.

Alex_Ignatev - NARC90

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Qf6 8.Qxe5+ 

The lichess.org computer labels this move an "inaccuracy", preferring 8.Nc3 Qxf4 9.d4 Nf6 10.Qh3+ Qg4 11.Qxg4+ Nexg4 12.dxc5 d6.

There is something to be said (when it comes to aggression) for simply developing a piece, rather than exchanging Queens. According to The Database, out of 20 games with 8.Nc3, White scored 45%.

It is quite possible that Alex_Ignatev had a particular position in mind.

8...Qxe5 9.fxe5 Kxe5 10.b4 

The Database is encouraging here: in 27 games, White has scored 69% - despite the computer continuing to evaluate Black as better.

The position brings to mind the comment of Savielly Tartakower, "The mistakes are all there, waiting to be made". In bullet games, even moreso.

10...Bb6

It is not easy to see that the tweak, 10...Bd4 11.c3 Bb6 is better. 

This situation will repeat.

11.Bb2+ Kxe4 

Here we go.

The Queens are off the board, black is a solid piece ahead. Why not heed Steinitz's dictum, that the King is a strong piece, and let him lead the attack?

Such bravado is a mistake in this particular position.

Instead, the should-look-familiar moves, 11...Bd4 12.c3 Bb6 would block the diagonal of White's Bishop, and even after 13.d4+ Ke6 Black would be for choice.

Again, though, bullet chess rewards experience and imagination, and tends to punish deep analysis; things get overlooked.

12.Bxg7 d5 

Instead, Black had the amusing 12...Bd4, contesting the a1-h8 diagonal and forcing White to find the one move that keeps him seriously ahead, 13.Nc3+. After 13...Bxc3 14.dxc3, the Black Rook will still fall.

13.Bxh8 Bg4 14.d3+ 

You can almost hear White whispering, Come on, come on... 

14...Ke3

Trespassing the line that divides courage and recklessness - although it must be said that 1-minute games do require courageousness.

15.Nc3 d4 16.Nd5 checkmate

It is as if Black's King wanted to surrender in person.