Jerome Gambit: Unusual

 

A dozen and a half years ago - in the first year of this blog - I learned of an unusual line in the Jerome Gambit.

Of course, back then, I mentioned the Pausen variation here, but I was not prepared to see how many regular Jerome Gambit players would eventually encounter it: angelcamina, Babypawnmonster, chessriddler, drumme, DutchLiLi, HauntedKnight, Littleplayerparis, perrypawnpusher, UNPREDICTABLE, Wall, ZahariSokolov, ZeKnightRider - and more.

The following game is Matthew_Slater's second such encounter.

Matthew_Slater - SeattleSeahaksfan

1 0 bullet, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Ke7 

This is not a strong reply, but in a 60-second game, taking the game off of the beaten path is often worth it, because of the thinking time that it costs an opponent.

As we shall see, the tactic was only partially effective.

6.Qh5 Bxf2+ 

I am impressed by SeattleSeahaksfan's play. Stockfish 16.1 sees this return of material as best. No other game in The Database has this move.

7.Kxf2 Qf8+ 8.Ke1 Nd4 

9.Nc3 

Cold-blooded - and correct.

9...Nxc2+ 

It is not likely that, with an eye-blink's worth of thought, Black would have found 9...Nf6, driving the enemy Queen back to protect the square his Knight was attacking, 10.Qd1, then further ejection with 10...d6 11.Nf3 Bg4. White would be a pawn better, in that line; while in the text, the Rook on a1 is poisoned. 

10.Kd1 Nxa1 

In for a penny, in for a pound.

11.Nd5+ Kd6 12.Nc4+ Kc5 

Things are not looking good for Black's King.

13.Nxc7+ 

This move holds the promise of winning the Rook at a8, but there was also 13.b4+ Kb5 14.Nc3+ Kxc4 15.Qb5+ Kd4 16.Qd5 checkmate - not easy to catch in a bullet game. 

Now White gathers material.

13...Kc6 14.Nxa8 d6 15.Qd5+ Kd7 16.Ne5+ Ke7 17.Nc7 Bd7 18.Nxd7 Kxd7 19.Nb5 Ke7 20 Qxd6+ Kf7 

21.Qd5+ Kf6 22.Nd6 

Tightening the noose. After the game, he likely found 22.Rf1+ Kg6 23.Rxf8 Ne7 24.Qf7+ Kh6 25.d3+ g5 26.Rxh8 Ng8 27.Qxh7# 

22...Kg6 23.Nf5 Kf6 24.Qd6+ 

It is clear that Black's King will not escape.

24...Kf7 25.Qxf8+ Kxf8 26.Ke2 Kf7 27.d3 Ke6 28.Be3 Ke5 29.Rxa1 b6 

This has to be a nod toward the clock, as White's extra piece and two passers are enough to win easily.

30.d4+ Kxe4 31.b4 Kxf5 

Okay: Tick tock, tick tock...

32.a4 Ke6 33.a5 bxa5 34.Rxa5 a6 35.Rxa6+ Kd5 36. b5 Kc4 37.Ra5 Kb4 

38.b6 

The text is based on the idea that White's Rook can be jettisoned as his pawn races ahead. Just so - although the assessment overlooks the other side of the board.

With a few more minutes' thinking time, he would have found 38.Ra8 Kxb5 39.Rc8!?, when Black's Knight is pinned, his Rook is tied down to the Knight, and his King is cut off from stopping the advance of White's d-pawn.

38...Kxa5 39.b7 Ka4 

The clock ticks for Black, as well.

Seeing that he cannot catch the pawn, the King runs away from the future Queen, overlooking 39...Nf6, which would uncover the Rook and save the day.

40.b8=Q Ka3 41.Bd2 Ka2 42.Qb4 Ka1 43.Bc3+ Ka2 44.Qb2 checkmate