Jerome Gambit: The Challenge of Blitz

Blitz games can be entertaining for those watching, as things happen quickly - sometimes very bad or very good things.

That's the challenge of blitz, as well: playing fast enough not to lose on time, but slow enough to make sure all of your moves are good.

Kingtora - Caballo-Astuto

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Nf6 

Three pieces vs the Queen looks like a good idea, but Black misses the point (it's a blitz game) that one of his will fall quickly.

8.Qf5+ 

White has a plan, but, instead, he should have aimlessly played 8.Qxe5+ followed by 9.Qxc5.

8...Kf7 9.fxe5 

This is White's idea: Black's Knight is pinned.

9...Qe8 

Almost, but not quite enough. He had, instead, 9...d6 10.Qf1 and then 10...Qe8, because 11.exf6 can be met with 11...Qxe4+.

Blitz. It happens.

10.exf6 gxf6 11.Qh5+ Ke7 

12.Qxe8+ 

White chooses to play with Queens off of the board. I am sure he had his reasons, but I would prefer 12.Qxc5.

12...Rxe8 13.d3 d6 14.Nc3 Bg4 

Not sure what this move is about. Could be time related.

15.Nd5+ Kd7 16.Nxf6+ Black resigned

Material will be lost.

[Readers, this post is number 4,600. Many thanks to those who have contributed games, analysis and history about the Jerome Gambit, over the 16 years of this blog's existence. - Rick]