'Tis A Puzzlement

The following Jerome Gambit game lasted 81 moves and was collected from the FICS games database site with the notation that the game was "drawn by ajudication".


That conclusion is a bit puzzling, as Black has a forced checkmate.

Could it be that it was White's good fortune that his opponent ran out of time, and the game was drawn because the first player did not have sufficient mating material?

Victus - Schereschevsky
blitz, FICS, 2012 

Utterly Fascinating

I started a new job recently, and I am firmly convinced that my hiring was helped by my discussion of this blog as an "ongoing study of errors in thinking". The following game is an excellent example: White disturbs the Black King, keeps it in the middle of the board, pins a piece to it, and then wins the piece. All that shaking leaves Black quite rattled, so the game suddenly ends...


Victus - Bennysah,
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

4...Kxf7 5.d4

One of the "modern" Jerome Gambit (not-5.Nxe5) variations, offering a pawn for more open lines.

5...exd4 6.Ng5+ Ke8

Black decides that his King will be safer in the center at e8 than if blocking development at f8. This could be true, but it will take due dilligence.

7.Qf3 Nf6 8.0-0 d5 9.e5 Nxe5

An unprotected piece on an open file, shielding the King? Not a problem.

Yet.

10.Re1 Bd6 11.Bf4 Bg4

Chases the Queen to where she wants to go. Now Black will have to return a piece.

12.Qg3 h5

13.Bxe5 Bxe5 14.Qxe5+ Kf8 15.Ne6+

Fearing the loss of his Queen from the Knight fork, Black resigned

Utterly fascinating.