Jerome Gambit: Pretty Ragged

It was a muggy, rainy day, and I was in a fussy mood, so I decided to take it out on a 1500-rated bot.

The game turned out to be far from relaxing.

My play was pretty ragged - even though it was a Jerome Gambit - but my opponent showed the difficulty that some silicons have with endgame play, and I was able to stumble my way to the full point.

Next time, I will just take a nap.

perrypawnpusher - Jaylen Brown bot

Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qe7 

I have played the position after 8.f4 over 110 times, but this is the first time that I have seen 8...Qe7. I treated it the way I treat 8...Qf6.

9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qxe5+ Kxe5 11.b4 Bd4 12.c3 Bb6 13.d4+ Ke6

Wise (if a computer can be so). Taking the pawn proved dangerous in perrypawnpusher - djdave28, Italian Game tournament, Chess.com 2015 (1-0, 22).

Now follows a good bit of wood-shifting.

14.O-O Nf6 15.Nd2 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Re1 a5 19.Rxe4 axb4 20.cxb4 Rd8 21.Bb2 Kf5 22.Rh4 Ra4 23.a3 h6 24.Rf1+ Kg5 25.g3 Kg6 26.Kg2 Bf5 27.Rhf4 Be6 28.h3 Rd5 29.g4 h5 30.Kg3 Ba7 31.gxh5+ Kxh5 32.Rh4+ Kg6 33.Rhf4 Rd7 34.Rd1 

White has the two pawns for Black's extra piece, but the piece is worth more, especially since is part of the two Bishops.

White's prospects are gloomy, even given the limitations of Black's Rook on a4 and its Bishop on a7.

Still, the bot has to win the game.

34...Rf7 

In the abstract, exchanging pieces when ahead in material is a good idea, but in this particular case, taking pressure off of White's center allows it to expand. 

35.d5 Rxf4 36.Kxf4 Bg8 37.e6 Kh5 

Huh?

Further neglect of the center, allowing me to draw even. 

38.e7 g5+ 

The bot's comment was "Careful. Don't let me win this". But this move gives White the advantage.

After the game, Stockfish 16.1 recommended 38...Bf7 39.Kg3 Be8 40.Rd3 Ra6 41.Rf3 Rg6+ 42.Kh2 Ba4 43.Rf8 Bg1+ 44.Kh1 Bb6 45.e8Q Bxe8 46.Rxe8 Kh4 47.Rh8+ Kg3 48.Rh7 c6 49.dxc6 Rxc6 50.Rxg7+ Kxh3 51.Rxb7 Bf2 52.Rh7+ Bh4 53.Rd7 and the game has fizzled out.

39.Kg3 Bf7 40.Re1 

The wrong idea. Better was 40.Rf1, followed by 41.Rf8

40...Bg6 

A blockade of White's advanced pawn was necessary to hold the game: 40...Be8 41.Rf1 Be3 42.Rf8 Bf4+ 43.Kf3 Ra8 44.Rh8+ Kg6 45.h4 Kf7 46.Rh7+ Kg6 and White will not make any headway.

41.e8=Q Bxe8 42.Rxe8 

White is only a pawn up, but it is plenty.

The computer hangs on to the very end

42...c6 43.dxc6 bxc6 44.Rc8 Bd4 

Incomprehensible.

Stockfish 16.1's post mortem suggested a skirmish on the Queenside, although White would still be winning: 44...c5 45.bxc5 Rc4 46.c6 Bb6 47.Be5 Re4 48.Bc7 Bc5 49.Kg2 Re2+ 50.Kf1 Rf2+ 51.Ke1 Ra2 52.Be5 Bb6 53.Bd6 g4 54.hxg4+ Kxg4 55.c7 Bxc7 56.Rxc7 Kg5 57.Bb4 Kf6

45.Bxd4 Rxa3+ 46.Kg2 Kg6 47.Rxc6+ Kh5 48.Rc3 Ra2+ 49.Kg3 Rb2 50.Bc5 Rb1 51.Rc2 Rf1 52.Rb2 Rd1 53.b5 

The b-pawn will cost Black its Rook. 

The game is pretty much over.

After Black's next move Stockfish assesses that White has a checkmate in 15 - but bots play to the very end.

53...Kh6 54.b6 Rd8 55.b7 Kh5 56.b8=Q Rxb8 57.Rxb8 Kg6 58.Kg4 Kg7 59.Rb6 Kf7 60.Kxg5 Ke8 61.Rb7 Kd8 62.h4 Kc8 63.Rg7 Kd8 64.h5 Kc8 65.h6 Kb8 66.h7 Kc8 67.h8=Q checkmate

I am not sure if the Jerome Gambit carried me in this game, or I carried the Jerome.