Jerome Gambit: Again, The Deadly f-File

In the following game, Black might have mistakenly figured - in a 60-second game, there is not a lot of time for figuring - that his 7th move threat against White's King was deadly.

With a little more time, he might have noticed that it allowed White to proceed with deadly intent.

The battle over the f-file was part of the skirmishing. 

angelcamina - piratekri

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 Qf6 

Sometimes Black's defense includes placing his Queen at f6, but not now. It is the kind of thing that can happen when you have only 60 seconds to complete your game.

This position has been reached 26 times in The Database, with White scoring 73%. The earliest example The Database has is MrJoker - Ronint, 2 12 blitz, Internet Chess Club, 2012 (1-0, 8).

White now captures a piece and has the benefits of the Jerome Gambit while being two pawns ahead, now two pieces behind.

8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 

For the next few moves, White will focus on center control.

9...Be6 10.d4 Nh6 11.O-O Qe7 12.f4 g6 

Black expects f4-f5 at some point - with threats along the f-file as well as to the Knight on h6 - and defends against it.

13.Qf2

More preparation and more pressure. Instead, 13.f5 was already playable. 

13...Kg7 14.Qg3 

Pinning the g-pawn and facing the enemy King.

14...Rhf8 15.Nc3 Rf7 16.Bd2 Raf8 

All eyes are on the f5 square.

17.f5 Bd7 

Saving the Bishop. He probably should have considered something like 17...Nxf5 18.exf5 Bxf5. In any event, Black is worse.

18.Rae1 a5 

Okay, all is in readiness for Black. What does White have?

19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Rxf7+ Rxf7 

Things seem to have settled down. Not so.

21.Nd5 Qf8 22.Qh4 c6 

Overlooking something. Black will now lose his Knight, then his Queen, and then be checkmated.

23.Bxh6+ Kg8 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.Ne7+ Kf7 26.Rf1+ Kg7 27.Rxf8 Kxf8 28.Nxg6+ Kg7 

29.Qg5 Kf7 30.h4 Kg7 31.h5 Kh7 32.Nf4 Be8 33.h6 Bf7 34.Qg7 checkmate