Jerome Gambit: Beware the Calm After the Storm

The following game starts out with the wild Jerome Gambit, which is met by one of the wildest defenses available.

White does not deliver checkmate.

Black does not deliver checkmate.

The game becomes balanced and calm.

Then White checkmates.

Wall, Bill - Guest699499
PlayChess.com, 2017 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 

This is Black's sharpest response to 6.d4. I have often called it a "pie-in-the-face variation".

7.O-O Ng4 8.h3 Bb6

Probably Black's best move. Bill has faced

8...N8f6 9.dxc5 Nxe4 10.Qd5+ Kf6 11.Qxe4 d5 12.cxd6 cxd6 13.f3 h5 14.fxg4+ Black resigned, Wall,B - PassCapture, lichess.org, 2016;

8...Bd6 9.e5 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.Qd5+ Kf6 12.Re1 d6 13.Rxe5 dxe5 14.Qd8+ Ne7 15.Qxh8 (15...Qe4 16.Qf8+ Ke6 17.Bg5 Qb4 18.Qxg7 Bd7 19.Qf6+ Kd5 20.Nc3+ Kc4 21.b3+ Kxc3 22.Qxe5+ Qd4 23.Bd2+ Kxd2 24.Qxd4+ Kxc2 25.Rd1 Black resigned,Wall,B - Anonymous, lichess.org, 2016) Kf7 16.Nd2 Ng6 17.Nf3 Qxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Nxh8 19.Nxe5+ Kf6 20.Nf3 Bf5 21.Be3 Ng6 22.g4 Be4 23.Bd4+ Ke6 24.Re1 Rf8 25.Rxe4+ Kd5 26.Ke3 c5 27.Bxg7 Rf7 28.c4+ Kd6 29.Be5+ Nxe5 30.Nxe5 Rf1 31.Nd3 Rh1 32.Nf4 Rh2 33.Re6+ Kc7 34.Re7+ Kb6 35.Rxh7 Rxb2 36.g5 Rxa2 37.g6 Black resigned, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016;

and 8...d6 9.dxc5 N4f6 10.cxd6 cxd6 11.Nd2 Nxe4 12.Nf3 Qh5 13.Ng5+ Qxg5 14.Bxg5 Nxg5 15.Qh5+ Kf6 16.f4 Ne4 17.Qe8 d5 18.Qe5+ Kf7 19.Qxd5+ Black resigned, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016.

9.hxg4 Nf6 

Black is not too upset at having lost his Knight, as he plans to move the other one into the attack.

Two other ideas:

9...h5 10.Qf3+ Ke8 11.g5 Bxd4 12.Qd3 Bb6 13.Nc3 Ne7 14.Na4 Ba5 15.a3 c6 16.f4 d6 17.Be3 Bc7 18.Bd4 b5 19.Nc3 Rf8 20.Ne2 Bg4 21.Nc3 Bd7 22.Ne2 Rf7 23.Rf3 c5 24.Bf2 Qg4 25.Rg3 Qe6 26.Re1 Ba5 27.b4 cxb4 28.axb4 Bxb4 29.c3 Bc5 30.Bxc5 dxc5 31.f5 Qe5 32.Qd2 b4 33.cxb4 Qxe4 34.g6 Rxf5 35.Re3 Qxb4 36.Qxb4 cxb4 37.Ng3 Rg5 38.Rxe7+ Kf8 39.Rf7+ Kg8 40.Nxh5 Rxh5 41.Rxd7 drawn, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org,  2016; and

9...d6 10.f3 Be6 11.Be3 Bc4 12.Re1 Ne7 13.f4 Rhe8 14.Nd2 Ba6 15.Nf3 Qg3 16.a4 Ba5 17.c3 Kf8 18.b4 Ng6 19.f5 Nf4 20.Bxf4 Qxf4 21.Qc2 c5 22.bxa5 Qxg4 23.Rad1 cxd4 24.Rxd4 Qg3 25.Qb3 Qf4 26.Qb1 Qg3 27.e5 g6 28.Rxd6 Re7 29.f6 Ree8 30.Qb4 Bb5 31.Rd8+ Kf7 32.e6+ Kxf6 33.Qd4+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Rajiv, Chess.com, 2010. 

10.g5 Ng4 11.Qf3+ Ke8 12.Qh3 Qxh3 

Leading to a situation similar to what we recently saw in Wall, Bill - Guest709079, PlayChess.com, 2017 (1-0, 30) - Queens are exchanged, and Black's Knight is trapped. Quirky.

13.gxh3 Nxf2 14.Kxf2 Bxd4+ 15.Kg2 d6 

The game has reached a balance. Should either player be pleased with this? Black started out after a few moves with a "won" position, so he may not be happy. White threw a whole lot into a wild attack, so he may wish for more than a split point.

16.c3 Be5 17.Nd2 Bd7 18.Nf3 Bc6 19.Bd2 Bxe4 20.Rae1 Bc6 21.Bf4 Rf8 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Rxe5+ Kf7 

24.Kg3 Kg8 25.c4

Stockfish 8 slightly prefers 25.Rf2, keeping the game level. The Rook eventually gets there.

25...Rad8 26.Re3 Rf5 27.h4 Rdf8 28.Rf2 Rf4 29.b3 Bd7 

30.Rfe2 Rg4+ 31.Kh2 Bc6 32.Ne5 

Looking to squeeze something more out of the position.

32...Rxh4+ 33.Kg3 Rff4 34.Rd2 Re4 

Looking to swap Rooks, and enjoy a guaranteed draw, while hoping to make something out of his extra Kingside pawn?

Black has overlooked something.

35.Rd8+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Scotch Jerome Hybrid

The following game shows an interesting Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) that could have arisen out of the Scotch Gambit move order (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5). Those who play that latter opening might enjoy the possibilities.

Wall, Bill - Dobrien

internet, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d4 exd4 

This line has sometimes been called the Macbeth Attack or the Haxo Gambit.

Bill has also seen

5...Bxd4

Wall - Guest1366999, PlayChess.com, 2011 (1-0, 38);

Wall - Guest2627909, PlayChess.com, 2012 (1/2-1/2, 26);

Wall - PKGR, internet, 2021 (1-0, 14); and 

Wall - Singh, internet, 2022,\ (1-0, 40)

5...Nxd4

Wall - Guest757851, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 42); and

Wall - Guest11058730, PlayChess.com, 2019 (1-0, 21)

6.c3 Nf6

The solid 6...d6 was seen in Wall - Anonymous, lichess.com, 2016 (1-0, 23).

Taking the pawn with 6...dxc3 would be risky. There are 1,343 games with that move in The Database. White scores 67%. Stockfish 15 evaluates the position after 7.Qd5+ and 8.Qxc5 as being about a pawn better for White.

7.e5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Nbd2 d5 10.O-O 

So far, Black has defended well and has the advantage.

He now plans to emulate White and castle - by hand. This is a common strategy when defending against the Jerome Gambit, but in this case there are special circumstances to consider.

10...Rf8 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Ng5+ Kg8 

All according to plan. 

As Bill shows, however, the more risky-looking 12...Kg6 was a better reply. 

13.Qb3+ Kh8 14.d5 

Kicking the Knight that protects the Bishop that is attacked by the Queen.

Note if 14.Nf7+ Black can simply sacrifice the exchange with 14...Rxf7 15.Qxf7 and then pick up a pawn with 15...Nxd4, remaining better. 

14...e3 

It is not clear what Black had in mind here.

He could have tried the routine 14...Nxe5, returning material for development, when 15.Qxb4 Nd3 16.Qxe4 Bf5 17.Qc4 would be equal, and would allow the interesting 17...b5!? 18.Qc6 (not 18.Qxb5 Nxc1 followed by 19...Qxg5) 17...Nxc1 18.Qxc1 Qxd5 with things remaining in balance.

15.Bxe3 Nxe5 16.Qxb4 a5 

Material is even. White's development is better.

Black decides to deflect the enemy Queen.

17.Qe4 Ng6 18.Ne6 Bxe6 19.dxe6 Qe7 

At first glance it looks like Black will be able to swing a Rook over to the e-file and then capture the pawn on e6 with hopes for an equal game. However, the "Jerome pawns" are not cooperative.

20.f4 Rae8 21.f5 Rf6 

Using the Queen and the Rook as blockaders for the pawns limits their effectiveness. How much so? Stockfish 15 now evaluates White as over a Queen better.

22.Bd4 

Ouch.

22...Nf8 23.Bxf6 Qxf6 24.Qxb7 Black resigned

Black is down the exchange and a couple of pawns and he still has to deal with those advanced pawns.

Jerome Gambit: Looking Deeper

Jerome Gambit games played at bullet speed - one minute, no increment - are fun to watch or play over. They are a testament to those players who have a deep understanding of the needs of difficult positions, and who can see tactics in an eyeblink.

At the same time, I enjoy games played at a slower speed. They often produce solutions to different opening problems - or create new issues. The following game is a challenging example.

Wall, Bill - NN
Florida, 2019

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4

This is what I have called a "pie in the face" variation, one of the toughest challenges to the 6.d4 lines in the Jerome Gambit. It first appeared in Sorensen - X, Denmark, 1888 (1-0, 27).

While "objectively" strong for Black, 6...Qh4 leads to complicated play for both sides. This is illustrated by The Database - there are 2,018 games with the position after White's 6th move, with White scoring 55%. However, there are only 285 games (14%) with 6...Qh4, and in them White scores an improved 67%. These results, in part, may reflect White's familiarity with the opening and a taste for tactics that led him to play the Jerome Gambit in the first place.

Of note, Bill has faced 6...Qh4 38 times, and scored 88%. That may seem daunting for the defender, but Bill has scored 93% in all of his 6.d4 games, so 6...Qh4 has been one of the more relatively effective defenses against him.

7.O-O Ng4

Black is happy to play for checkmate.

8.h3 Bd6

Cold-blooded: White can not now take the Knight with his pawn, as that would lead to checkmate; while taking with the Queen would lead to an exchange of Queens, and the typical piece-for-two-pawns advantage (not to mention the end of White's attack).

9.e5 Nxe5

Giving the piece back, after all, for two pawns; this may have been part of Black's plan. Stockfish 10 suggests, instead, 9...Be7 10.hxg4 d6, which seems to clash with Black's "scientific" approach. However, the Kings now reverse roles, as White's becomes safer, while Black's is more at risk. 

10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.Qd5+ Kf6

Black has to try to hold on to his Bishop. Unsuccessful was 11...Kf8 seen in Wall,Bill - Mecnieri, PlayChess.com, 2018 (1-0, 23).

12.Re1

Bill was 5 - 0 with this move previously, and wins again, this game. Next time, though, he might try a suggestion of Stockfish 10, 12.Nd2 (intending Nf3). Why? Follow along in the notes.

12...d6 13.Rxe5

Nice.

A year ago, Bill's choice of moves was not as strong, although he still won: 13.Re4 Qh5 14.f4 Ne7 15.fxe5+ dxe5 16.Qd3 Bf5 17.Nc3 Rad8 18.Qf1 Rhf8 19.g4 Qg6 20.Kh2 Ke6 21.gxf5+ Rxf5 22.Qc4+ Nd5 23.Rg4 Qf7 24.Ne4 h6 25.Bd2 Ke7 26.Rag1 g5 27.Qc5+ Ke8 28.Qxa7 Nf4 29.Qxb7 Ne2 30.Qb5+ Black resigned, Wall,Bill -Guest3836682, PlayChess.com, 2018.

13...dxe5 14.Qd8+ Ne7 15.Qxh8

Three years ago, an opponent now tried 15...Qe4, and ran into trouble and lost, in Wall,Bill - Anonymous, lichess.org, 2016 (1-0, 25).

The same year, another defender tried 15...Kf7, but quickly lost his way, and, then, the game, in Wall, Bill - NN, lichess.org, 2016, (1-0, 37). He had a resource, but he was not the only one to overlook it.

Sami, at lichess.org, had the right idea against Bill, earlier this year, and uncorked 15...Bxh3!?, a Rook sacrifice which brings to mind Blackburne's famous play back in 1884. Fortunately for Bill, the game continued 16.Qxa8 Bc8? and Black staggered on a Rook down, for a while, eventually being checkmated.

The proper followup was 16...Bxg2!?, when 17.Kxg2 would allow Black to draw by repetition, starting with 17...Qg4+. Okay, a draw is not as good as Blackburne's scintillating win with Black, but it still would have been a game to brag about at the club.

Likewise, after 15...Kf7, by NN, as mentioned above, if White were to play 16.Nd2 or 16.Qd8, his only two moves to avoid a losing position, the proper (drawing) response for Black would be 16...Bxh3.

Of course, all of this is based on the idea that Black - having been gifted with two pieces - would suddenly pursue a drawing line. Psychologically, that might be very difficult.

15...Qh5 

Black treats the position casually, threatening a check at d1 and a possible fork of King and Bishop.

16.Qf8+

This is a novelty, according to The Database.

Previously, Bill had met Black's threat with 16.Nc3 in Wall,Bill - Itboss, lichess.org, 2016 (1-0, 20).

16...Ke6 17.Nc3 c6

Black passes up the safer 17...Qf7, with the hope of exchanging Queens.

18.Ne4

At first, this move doesn't look like much, but it is crushing. It is horribly ironic that the only line, now, that doesn't lead to checkmate, is the surrender of that Rook: 18...Bd7 19.Qxa8; but, of course, Black would still be lost.

18...b6 19.Bg5 Kd5 20.Qd8+ Kxe4 21.Qd3 checkmate

Brutal.

Jerome Gambit: More Pie, Please

The following game tells an often-shared tale: it is not enough to know the move that "refutes" a line, it is necessary to know the follow up. This is especially the case in a very sharp, double-edged opening like the Jerome Gambit.

Wall, Bill - PassCapture
lichess.org, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4

Elsewhere I have referred to this a "pie-in-the-face" variation, and it is one that can come as a shock to the unprepared Jerome Gambiteer - but Bill Wall is hardly unprepared. He has had success against other lines in the 6.d4 variation, and is ready if someone wants to mix it up with the text.

7.O-O Ng4 8.h3 N8f6 

With this move (a novelty according to The Database) Black continues to pursue development over material, refusing to retreat.

Bill has faced other lines as well:

8...Bd6 9.e5 Bxe5 (9...Nxe5 10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.Qd5+ Kf6 12.Re1 d6 13.Rxe5 dxe5 14.Qd8+ Ne7 15.Qxh8 Qe4 [15...Kf7 16.Nd2 Ng6 17.Nf3 Qxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Nxh8 19.Nxe5+ Kf6 20.Nf3 Bf5 21.Be3 Ng6 22.g4 Be4 23.Bd4+ Ke6 24.Re1 Rf8 25.Rxe4+ Kd5 26.Ke3 c5 27.Bxg7 Rf7 28.c4+ Kd6 29.Be5+ Nxe5 30.Nxe5 Rf1 31.Nd3 Rh1 32.Nf4 Rh2 33.Re6+ Kc7 34.Re7+ Kb6 35.Rxh7 Rxb2 36.g5 Rxa2 37.g6 Black resigned, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016] 16.Qf8+ Ke6 17.Bg5 Qb4 18.Qxg7 Bd7 19.Qf6+ Kd5 20.Nc3+ Kc4 21.b3+ Kxc3 22.Qxe5+ Qd4 23.Bd2+ Kxd2 24.Qxd4+ Kxc2 25.Rd1 Black resigned, Wall,B - Anonymous, lichess.org, 2016) 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Qd5+ Kf6 12.f4 Ng6 13.Nc3 d6 14.Be3 Ke7 15.Rae1 Kd8 16.Nb5 Nf6 17.Qc4 Ne8 18.Bf2 Qf6 19.Bd4 Qh4 20.Rxe8+ Kxe8 21.Nxc7+ Kf8 22.f5 Ne5 23.f6 gxf6 24.Qd5 Kg7 25.Qxd6 Rg8 26.Rxf6 Qxf6 27.Bxe5 and won Sorensen,S - X, Denmark, 1888 

8...d6 9.dxc5 N4f6 10.cxd6 cxd6 11.Nd2 Nxe4 12.Nf3 Qh5 13.Ng5+ Qxg5 14.Bxg5 Nxg5 15.Qh5+ Kf6 16.f4 Ne4 17.Qe8 d5 18.Qe5+ Kf7 19.Qxd5+ Black resigned, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016. 

9.dxc5 Nxe4

I would have expected the consistent 9...h5!? with attack still on Black's mind, although Stockfish 8 prefers 9...Ne5 10.f4 Nc6 and White's advantage is slight.

Black's counter-attack evaporates.

10.Qd5+ Kf6 11.Qxe4 

Having surrendered a piece, Black realizes to his dismay that his Knight is pinned to his Queen - and lost.

11...d5 12.cxd6 cxd6 13.f3 h5 14.fxg4+ Black resigned

Black is down a piece - and faces checkmate.

Jerome Gambit: Game of the Year?

Of course, when it comes to selecting Jerome Gambit games, it is always pleasant to find one that shows a powerful attack. In the following game, Black is quite willing to mix it up with his opponent. White, however, has more sacrifices in store, and the board quickly erupts in flames. Certainly this battle bids for Jerome Gambit game of the year!

Wall, Bill - Bojovic, Dejan
PlayChess.com, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qe7 

Protecting the Knight, while establishing a veiled threat against the e-pawn and the King behind it.

8.O-O Nf6

An improvement over 8...c5 9.Qd5+ Qe6 10.Qxc5 Ne7 11.f4 d6 12.fxe5+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Anonymous, lichess.org, 2016.

9.Nc3 Nc6 

Probably better than 9...c6 10.f4 Ng6 11.e5 Ng4 12.h3 Nh6 13.f5 Nh4 14.f6 gxf6 15.exf6 Nf3+ 16.Rxf3 Qe6 17.Bxh6 Rg8 18.Qd3 d5 19.Qxh7+ Ke8 20.f7+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest2327120, PlayChess.com, 2014. 

10.Qd3 Nb4 11.Qc4+ Kf8 

Black would have done better to complicate things with 11...d5 12.exd5 Nxc2. 

12.e5 Nh5 

Black's Knights do not impress.

Stockfish 8, which always seems to keep an eye out for the draw, recommends 12...Ne8 13.Qf4+ Kg8 14.Qc4+ Kf8 and repetition. I can't see Bill wanting to wrap things up so quickly - at the cost of surrendering a half point.

13.f4

Protecting the e-pawn and considering possible pawn advances. Also available was the fork of the two Knights, 13.Qg4.

13...Nxc2 

The Rook on a1 looks like a good target, but this adventure will not turn out well. 

14.Nd5 Qe6 15.Qxc7 

It is not easy to see that 15.f5 is playable, as after 15...Qc6 16.Qe4 Black would have 16...Nxa1. However, White would have complex but strong play after either 17.Bg5!? or 17.f6.

White's choice in the game is practical, and still offers the Rook sacrifice. Black would now do better to decline it with 15...Qxd5 16.Qxc2 d6 17.Be3 Qf7 18.Rad1 Bf5 although White would be at least even in a complicated position.

15...Nxa1 16.f5 

Bill's idea - offer more material!

16...Qxd5

The only move that avoids checkmate. Wow.

17.Qd8+ Kf7 18.e6+ dxe6 19.fxe6+ Kxe6 

20.Re1+ Qe5 21.Rxe5+ Kxe5 22.Qxh8 Nc2 23.Qe8+ Black resigned

For the moment Black has two Knights and a Rook for his Queen, but he is going to drop the piece on h5 right away. The placement of his King, and the agility of the enemy Queen guarantee that another piece, as well as a few pawns, will also disappear soon after.

Brighter Lights

Speaking of "brighter lights" in the world of the Jerome Gambit (see previous post), here is Bill Wall's latest game. The ending should be rated "PG" for either "Parental Guidance advised" or simply "Plain Gory". The King hunt is brutal

Wall, Bill - Anonymous
lichess.org, 2016
(analysis by Bill Wall)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 

7.O-O Ng4

One of a number of moves that keeps Black's advantage.

8.h3 Bd6

Aggressive, but 8...Bb6 was probably better. It was the choice of several computers ( Deep Shredder 10, Deep Sjeng 1.5,  Hiarcs 11.1, Shredder Paderborn) in computer vs computer tournaments in 2002, 2003 and 2008, for example. It also appeared in Sir Osis of the Liver - perrypawnpusher, JG3 thematic, Chessworld.net, 2008 (0-1, 38) and Wall,B - Rajiv, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 33).

9.e5 Nxe5

Giving the piece back is "scientific" but it leads to an equal game, according to Stockfish 7.

With 9...Bxe5 Black returned a Bishop, instead, in Sorensen,S - X, Denmark, 1888 (1-0, 27).

Another piece return was the wild 9...Nxf2 in Darthballz - Leftang, FICS, 2011, (1-0, 25).

Bill points out 9...Be7 10.hxg4 d6. 

10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.Qd5+ Kf6 12.Re1 d6

Bill points out the tricky 12...Bd4 13.Nc3 Bxf2+ 14.Kh1 Bxe1 15.Bg5+, when Black will lose his Queen to either White's Bishop or Knight (when it comes to e4 with check).

13.Rxe5 dxe5 14.Qd8+ Ne7 15.Qxh8 Qe4

Abandoning his King to chaos.

Instead, Black had the prudent 15...Kf7, both protecting his pawn at g7 and the square at f8. If he wanted an exciting draw, he could try 15...Bxh3!? 16.Qxa8 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qg4+ and  he could repeat the position with Queen checks.

16.Qf8+ Ke6

The bad news begins. The alternative: 16...Kg6 17.Qe8+ Kf6 (17...Kf5 18.Qf7#) 18.Nc3 Qxc2 19.Qf8+ Kg6 20.Qxe7.

17.Bg5 Qb4

Several other options, from Bill: 17...Ng6 18.Qg8+ Kd6 19.Qd8+ Kc6 20.Nc3 Qxc2 21.Qd5+ Kb6 22.Qb5# ; or 17...Qxc2 18.Qxe7+ Kf5 19.Qxg7; or 17...Nc6 18.Nc3 Qxc2 19.Qg8+ Kf5 20.Qxg7 Qxb2 21.Qf6# 

18.Qxg7

Instead, 18.Nc3 Qxb2 leads to checkmate. 

18...Bd7

The White b-pawn is still poisonous, and 18...Qxb2 would again lead to checkmate.

Best is probably 18...Nf5, but it still leads to misery, e.g. 19.Qg8+ Kd7 20.Nc3 Nd6 21.Rd1 Qd4 22.Rxd4 exd4 23.Qxh7+ Kc6 24.Ne2 Nf5 25.Bd8 as Bill notes. 

19.Qf6+ Kd5 20.Nc3+ Kc4 

Or 20...Kd4 21.Be3+ Kc4 22.Qf7+ Be6 23.Qxe6+ Nd5 24.Qxd5#; or 20...Kc5 21.Qxe7+ Kc4 22.b3+ Kxc3 23.Qxe5+ Qd4 24.Bd2+ Kxd2 25.Qxd4+ Kxc2 26.Rd1 Rd8 27.Qd2#. Black's King is not coming back from this journey.

21.b3+ Kxc3 

Or 21...Kd4 22.Rd1+ Kc5 23.Be3+ Qd4 24.Rxd4 exd4 25.Qxd4+ Kc6 26.Qc5#; or 21...Kc5 22.Qxe7+ Kb6 23.Qxb4+ Ka6 24.Qa3+ Kb6 25.Be3+ c5 26.Nd5+ Kc6 27.Qxc5#. 

22.Qxe5+ Qd4 

If 22...Kxc2 then 23.Rc1+ Kd3 24.Qe3# 

23.Bd2+ Kxd2 

Or 23...Kb2 24.Qxd4+ Kxc2 25.Rc1# ; or 23...Kxc2 24.Qxd4 Rd8 25.Rc1# 

24.Qxd4+ Kxc2 

If 24...Ke2 25.Qe3#

25.Rd1

Threatening 26.Qd2 mate

Black Resigned