Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (13)

Up until I reviewed this game, I usually recommended that White use the 7.Qd5+ "nudge" of the Black King before capturing the enemy Bishop on c5 (see "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XIV") -- but I never had a clear reason why, except to force the monarch back, ultimately interfering with the development of the Black Rook at h8. Perhaps it avoids novelties such as the one Fritz8 found here.

RevvedUp - Fritz 8

blitz 2 12, 2006

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qxc5 Nf4 TN

8.0-0 d6 9.Qe3 Qg5 10.g3 Nh3+ 11.Kg2 Qxe3 12.dxe3

Recapture with the other pawn is a bit better.

White's next move is a slip.

12...Ng5 13.f3 Bh3+ White resigns

Jerome Gambit, Paulsen Variation

A few years ago, ever in search for material on the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) I was wandering the internet, and came upon "Chess Openings -- Version 3.0" [now 3.1] at http://www.csm.astate.edu/~wpaulsen/chess/chess.htm?002137. The site, designed by Dr. William Paulsen, allows visitors to play moves on an opening board and learn the names of variations, positions, etc.

 

So, of course in the "Beginning Position" I entered 1.e2-e4 and received the introduction

King's Opening
This is the most popular first move in chess. Generally, these games tend to be more open and tactical than the Queen's pawn games. This is a highly recomended opening for beginners. Years ago, this was considered the only "proper" move, with e7-e5 the only "proper" responce. However, there have since been many other alternatives discovered. Depending on black's responce, The King's pawn opening can turn into many things:

So I followed along with 1...e7-e5,

Double King's Pawn
The most popular response to the King's opening. This maintains symmetry and disputes control of the center. In theory, as long as Black can maintain symmetry, Black has secured equality. This line leads to many valid openings.

and then 2.Ng1-f3,

"Epine Dorsale - Part 1"
"Epine Dorsale" means the Dorsal Spine. Hence, this is the main spine in which all other openings branch out from. White immediately attacks the black pawn at e5. Black must either defend this pawn, or else attack White's pawn. The most popular way of doing this is with Nb8-c6, which developes a piece at the same time. However, there are some other good alternatives.

and then 2...Nb8-c6 ("Epine Dorsale - Part 2"),

"Epine Dorsale - Part 2"
Black has made the most common move at this point. Now White has the following options:

Very interesting.

So I played 3.Bf1-c4 ("Italian Game") and 3...Bf8-c5

Giuoco Piano
Giuoco Piano means "Quiet Game", although the game is anything but quiet. Perhaps this was quiet compared to the King's Gambit Variations that were popular at the time, but even so the Giuoco Piano often this turns into a real fighting match. However, if White is the weaker player, he can use this formation to his advantage by playing the Giuoco Pianissimo.

Finally I played 4.Bc4xf7+?

Giuoco Piano - Jerome Gambit
White sacrifices his bishop to get the Black king out into the open. Black must take the bishop or be down a pawn.

Of course I hit the "Continue" button to proceed, the board showed 4...Ke8xf7, and there was further information,

White is a piece down, but hopes to regain that piece. In order to do so, it must sacrifice another piece with Nf3xe5.

Making the move, 5.Ne5+

It looks as though Black can be two pieces up by taking the knight. This is what White hopes Black will think.

Indeed, if Black plays 5...Nxe5

Giuoco Piano - Jerome Gambit "Variation I"
Black takes the second piece, but White can regain the material with Qd1-h5+!

After the followup 6.Qh5+

If the king moves toward the knight to protect it, White can check at f5. Black cannot save his knight. White has two pawns for a piece, and the attack isn't over yet.

What I found interesting was the alternative given to capturing the Knight, 5...Ke7

Giuoco Piano - Jerome Gambit "Variation II"
By moving the king instead of taking the knight, White cannot attack the king with his queen. Black ends up with more material.

Well, this is more attention (and respect) than the Jerome Gambit usually gets, so I had to write to Dr. Paulsen and ask about that rare 5th move for Black. His reply

Yes, 5...Ke7 is my own idea. Since Black is already up a piece, by not taking the knight, Black can foil the gambit. In making this network, I try to keep my eyes open to possibilities "outside of the box." Version 3.0 [of "Chess Openings"] came out in 2003, but there were only about 750 moves back then. Because the new version allows moves to be added so easily, there are now over 5000 moves.

In light of this it certainly seems reasonable (at least until historical precedents are uncovered) to give 5...Ke7 the title of "Paulsen variation" and award the good doctor (PhD) membership in the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (see "The Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (early)" and "The Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (modern)") – even though there is one earlier example of the line in my database (presented in an earlier post, as well: see "An Odd Line in an Odd Line").

guest1200 - satmonger

ICC 2 12, 2001

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7

By the way, "guest 1200" is our old pal and Gemeinde member, Louis Morin.

6.Qh5

This is the strongest response.

It is a odd thing to recall, but the position is now the same as it was with several games that I played against the computer program WeakDelphi (see "I can't seem to get the hang of these things...") – only with White now to move.

6...Qf8

Black's best plan here seems to be to return a piece with 6...Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2, followed by covering the f7 square with 7...Qf8+; when White is simply a pawn ahead.

Of course, there's always saving the Bishop with 6...d6 7.Qf7 checkmate, stivb_99 - spymaster, gameknot.com, 2008; but that seems a bit too drastic.

7.0-0

Consistent, instead, was 7.Nxc6+ followed by 8.Qxc5+ and White is two pawns up, whether or not he swaps Queens.

7...d6 8.Ng6+ hxg6 9.Qxh8 Nd4

An interesting position. Black's advantage in development means that his two-pieces-for-a-Rook-and-two-pawns imblance gives him an edge.

10.Na3 Ne2+

I think better was more development: 10...Be6 11.d3 Nf6 12.Qxf8+ Rxf8.

11.Kh1 Be6 12.d4 Bxd4 13.f4

Going after the enemy King, regardless. After all, this is a blitz game, and this is the Jerome Gambit.

13...Qf6 14.Nb5

At this point White needs a very good distraction. Luckily, it works.

14...Bb6 15.Bd2 a6 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Bd4
br /> This last move looks ok at first glance, but actually it is a tactical oversight.

18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Qxe5 20.Bxd4

The move to make was 20.Qh4+ followed by the Queen capturing on d4 nabbing a piece. White shows, however, that his line of play also wins for him.

20...Qxd4 21.c3 Qe5 22.Rae1 Qd5 23.Qxg7+ Kd6 24.Rd1 Qxd1 25.Rxd1+ Kc6 26.Qxg6 Black resigns.

Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (12)

Searching for improvements in play against the ...Ng6 defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), the computer grabs a pawn – and has to struggle mightily not to fall to a crushing counter-attack.
Crafty 19.19 - RevvedUp
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+Ng6


7.Qxc5 Nf6 8.0-0


Crafty 19.19 prefers safeguarding the King over protecting the King's pawn, as 8...Nxe4 could be met with 9.Qd5+
8...d6 9.Qe3 Rf8


Likewise, RevvedUp castles his King by hand.

The alternative Rook placement on the e-file has been seen: 9...Re8 10.d3 ( 10.Nc3 d5 11.d3 d4 12.Qf3 dxc3 13.bxc3 Ne5 14.Qg3 g6 15.Bg5 Kg7 16.Qh4 Rf8 17.f4 Nf7 18.e5 Nxg5 19.exf6+ Kg8 20.fxg5 Bf5 21.Rfe1 Rf7 22.Re5 Qd6 23.Qd4 Qa6 24.Rae1 Qxa2 25.c4 Qxc2 26.Re8+ Rf8 27.f7+ Kxf7 28.R1e7+ Kg8 29.Qg7 checkmate, blackburne - Sir Osis of the Liver, www.chessworld.net 2008) 10...Ng4 ( 10...d5 11.f3 Bd7 12.Qf2 Kg8 13.Bg5 Bb5 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Nc3 Bc6 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Nxd5 Qxb2 18.Nxc7 Rec8 19.Nxa8 Rxc2 20.Qg3 Qd4+ 21.Kh1 Qxd3 22.Qb8+ Nf8 23.Qxb7 Qg6 24.Qb3+ Kh8 25.Rg1 Qc6 26.Rab1 Rc3 27.Qf7 Qxa8 28.Rb7 Ra3 29.Qxg7 checkmate, perrypawnpusher -MoonCat, FICS, 2007) 11.Qe2 Qh4 12.h3 N4e5 13.f4 Nd7 14.Nc3 c6 15.f5 Nge5 6.d4 Nf6 17.dxe5 Black resigned, Schlenker - Sfrd, from Randspringer

The thematic 9...d5 was also possible.

Now Crafty 19.19 goes pawn-hunting, allowing RevvedUp to unleash a powrful attack.

10.Qb3+ Be6 11.Qxb7 Kg8 12.Nc3 Ng4 13.h3 Nxf2 14.Rxf2 Rxf2 15.Kxf2 Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Rf8 17.Nd1

As I've mentioned (see "Jerome Gambit: Don't open that door!") sometimes when I play over a Jerome Gambit game, I secretly root for Black... Here RevvedUp is pounding his adversary (who is rated over 1,000 points higher than he is).
17...Bxh3

It was not obvious at blitz speed that Black had a mate-in-9 here: 17...Nf4 18.Qa6 Qg3 19.Ne3 Nxh3+ 20.Kh1 Qe1+ 21.Nf1 Rxf1+ 22.Qxf1 Qxf1+ 23.Kh2 Nf4 24.Kg3 g5 25.d4 Qxg2 checkmate. He still has the better game after the text, though.
18.Qb3+ Be6

A humorous echo of move 10! However, after the safer 18...Kh8 the computer cannot escape mate.

19.Qxe6+ Kh8 20.d3 Qe1+
21.Kh2 Qxd1

Good enough for the win, but 21...Rf1 instead was crushing.

22.Qd5 h6 23.Qe6 Rf1


Tough guy! Why not sac a piece?

24.Qxg6 Rh1+ 25.Kg3 Qe1+ 26.Kg4




26...Rh4+
Arrrgh! How unfortunate: 26...Qf2, hemming in the enemy King and threatening the pawn at g2 was the move that still won.
But this is blitz, and such things happen.
Crafty 19.19's King can escape – into enemy teritory – and RevvedUp is done for.

27.Kf5 Qf1+ 28.Ke6 Qf8 29.Kd7 Rh1 30.Kxc7 Qe7+ 31.Kc6 Rf1 32.Bg5 Qf8 33.Rxf1 Qxf1 34.Be3 Black resigns

Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (11)

In this second round of games, chess detective RevvedUp and his computer companions exlore a defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) that simply returns one of the two pieces that White has sacrificed.


Play initially revolves around the e4-pawn and the e-file, but long term strategies will involve the familiar pawns-vs-piece struggle.

RevvedUp - Crafty 19.19
blitz 2 12, 2006

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

Seen as early as Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, U.S.A., 1875 (1-0, 28). I have over 110 examples in my database.

7.Qxc5 Nf6 8.Nc3


The alternative was seen: 8.0-0 Re8 9.Nc3 b6 10.Qc4+ Kf8 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 c6 13.Qd4 Bb7 14.b3 Nh4 15.Bb2 Qg5 16.g3 White resigns, Sidran - Thompson, email,1992

8...d6

Or 8...b6 9.Qc4+ Ke7 10.d3 h6 11.Nd5+ Nxd5 12.Qxd5 c6 13.Qh5 Qe8 14.b3 Nf8 15.Qxe8+ Kxe8 16.Bb2 Ne6 17.0-0 Rg8 18.f4 Bb7 19.f5 Nc5 20.f6 gxf6 21.Rxf6 h5 22.Rh6 Rg5 23.Bf6 Rg4 24.Rxh5 Kf7 25.Bd4 Ne6 26.Rf1+ Kg6 27.h3 Rxg2+ 28.Kxg2 Kxh5 29.Be3 Rg8+ 30.Kh2 Rf8 31.Rf5+ Kg6 32.Re5 c5 33.a3 Nf4 34.Re7 Bc6 35.Kg3 Nxh3 36.Kg4 Nf2+ 37.Kg3 Nd1 38.Bf4 Nc3 39.Be5 Ne2+ 40.Kg4 Rf7 41.Re8 d5 42.Rg8+ Kh6 43.Rg5 Bd7+ 44.Kh4 Nf4 45.exd5 Ng6+ 46.Rxg6+ Kxg6 47.d6 Rf2 48.c3 Rf3 49.d4 cxd4 50.Bxd4 Kf5 51.Kh5 Rh3 checkmate, Garrido - Garcia, http://www.chessat-krays.com;

8...Re8 9.d3 d6 10.Qe3 Ng4 11.Qf3+ Kg8 12.0-0 Rf8 13.Qg3 c6 14.Be3 d5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Rfe1 d4 17.Bxd4 Qxd4 18.Re4 Qxf2+ 19.Qxf2 Nxf2 20.Re2 Ng4 21.Rae1 Bf5 22.h3 Nf6 23.g4 Bd7 24.g5 Nh5 25.Nd5 Bxh3 26.Ne7+ Nxe7 27.Rxe7 b6 28.Rc7 Rac8 29.Rxa7 Rxc2 30.b4 Rg2+ White resigns, blackburne - kelly, www.ChessWorld.net 2004

9.Qe3 d5

Other games: 9...Re8 10.d3 ( 10.0-0 d5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Qb3 Rxe4 White resigns, Bullit52 - SIRMO, www.chessworld.net 2007) 10...Kg8 11.0-0 Bd7 12.Qg3 a6 13.Bg5 Qc8 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Nd5 Kf7 16.f4 Bc6 17.Ne3 Rg8 18.f5 Ne5 19.Qh4 Rg7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Rf4 Qd7 22.Rh4 Rg5 23.Qh6 Nf3+ 24.Kf2 Nxh4 25.Qxh4 d5 26.Ng4 Rg7 27.Nxf6+ Kh8 28.Nxd7 Bxd7 29.Qf6 dxe4 30.dxe4 Bc6 31.Kf3 Re8 32.Re1 Kg8 33.Qd4 Rf7 34.Kf4 h5 35.Re3 h4 36.g3 Rfe7 37.e5 h3 38.g4 Bg2 39.g5 Black resigns, blackburne - savage13, www.chessworld.net 2007

10.Qf3 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Re8 12.d3



A slip on unfamiliar ground. Necessary first was 12.Qb3+, as in 12...Kf8 13.d3 Nxe4 14.dxe4 Rxe4+ 15.Be3 b6, where Black's advantage is still very clear.

12...Bg4 13.Qe3 Rxe4 14.dxe4 Qd1 checkmate




Ouch!

Hoist by my own petard...

I had just completed the previous post (see "Back at me") when I decided to log onto the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS) for a quick game or two.

I use slower blitz time controls when I play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) but sometimes when I'm due to have the Black pieces, I'm willing to move a bit faster.

(By the way, this post's title means "to be undone by one's own devices" according to the American Heritage Dictionary.)

Castled - perrypawnpusher
blitz game 3 0, FICS, 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4

The Evans Gambit. I don't think I've ever faced that before.

4...Bb6 5.b5 Na5

The last two moves are certainly not the best way to defend.

6.Bxf7+

The Evans Jerome Gambit! Wow! Why not? My opponent is rated 200 points above me, perfect for offering "Evans Jerome Gambit odds"!

Wait a minute – I'm defending... So much for a relaxing game with the Black pieces.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Kf8 8.Qf3+

Stronger, but still better for Black, is 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.0-0.

8...Qf6 9.Qxf6+

I'm not sure that this is what White wants. Perhaps 9.Bb2 Qxf3 10.Nxf3 Nf6 helps him out more.

9...Nxf6 10.d3 d6

With only three minutes for the game, we were both moving quickly – too quickly. It should not have been too hard for me to find the sequence 10...Bd4 11.c3 Bxe5 12.f4 Bd6 13.e5 Be7 14.exf6 Bxf6.

11.Nf3 Bg4 12.Nfd2 Re8 13.0-0 Ke7

Missing the trick (now and later) 13...Be2 14.Re1 Bxd3 15.cxd3 Bd4.

14.h3 Be6

15.Nc3 Kd8 16.a4 Nd7 17.Nf3 Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Bg5+ Kc8

Castling by hand to the Queenside. With a piece for two pawns, Black has the edge; but his pieces on the Queenside are jumbled.

20.Kh1 h6 21.Bd2 g5 22.g4 Rhf8

Starting aggression toward the King with 22...h5 was a more dynamic idea.

23.Ne2 Rxf2

A mistake: my opponent was low on time and I wanted to "pressure" him. Instead, this gives Castled a chance to get an edge.

24.Bxa5

Getting part of the idea right: If he played 24.Rxf2, it would have worked out – Black has to play 24...Nb3 (if 24...Bxf2 then 25.Bxa5) 25.cxb3 Bxf2 26.Rf1 Bc5.

24...Rxf1+ 25.Rxf1 Bxa5 26.Ng3 Kd7 27.Nh5 Ke7 28.Ng7 Kd7

Playing faster and faster... This move loses the exchange, but if I can avoid catastrophic errors then my ally, The Clock, will win the game for me.

29.Nxe8 Kxe8 30.Rf6 Ke7 31.Rxh6 Bf7 32.Rh8 Bb6 33.Rb8 Ba2 34.Rxb7 Bb1 35.Rb8 Bxc2 36.Rg8 Bxd3 37.Rxg5 Bxe4+ 38.Kh2 Be3

Horrid, but see the above note. Tick... tick... tick...

39.Rxe5+ Kf6 40.Rxe4 Bc5 41.Rc4 Bd6+ 42.Kg2 Ke6 White forfeits on time

Ugly, ugly, ugly!

But for once in a quick game, time was on my side, even if the Jerome Gambit was not.

Back at me

Sometimes I defend the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) – and sometimes I defend against it.

bushytail - perrypawnpusher

blitz game 4 0 FICS 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

Although my favorite defense is the French, I have recently been answering 1.e4 with 1...e5, in the hopes that someone might play the evil Jerome Gambit against me...

4.d3 Nf6 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7

Ta - dah! We have now transposed into a "modern" Jerome Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 Nf6 -- of which I have 75 examples in my database. Did I feel pressure to "throw" the game? No way! Especially not against a "modern" variation!

By the way, my opponent was rated about 250 points above me – for whatever that is worth – and so probably felt completely justified in offering me "Jerome Gambit odds."

6.Ng5+

Not a very popular (or successful) choice, although it showed up 5 times in the 2007 ChessWorld.net Jerome Gambit tournament, and more recently in a 2008 one (Sir Osis of the Liver - Blackburne, ChessWorld.net, 2008, 0-1, 33)

An alternative: 6.0-0 d6 7.Nbd2 h5 8.Nb3 h4 9.c3 Nh5 10.d4 Bb6 11.Bg5 Qd7 12.Bxh4 Nf4 13.dxe5 Qg4 14.Bg3 Nxg2 15.Kxg2 Qh3+ 16.Kg1 Rh5 17.exd6 Bg4 18.dxc7 Kg8 19.Nbd4 Nxd4 20.cxd4 Rf8 21.Qb3+ Kh7 22.Ne5 Bxc7 23.Nxg4 Qxg4 24.Qxb7 Bb6 25.Rad1 Rf6 26.Rd3 Rfh6 27.f3 Qg5 28.e5 Rxh2 29.Qe4+ Kh8 30.Qg4 Rh1+ 31.Kg2 R1h5 32.Qxg5 Rxg5 33.f4 Rg4 34.d5 Kg8 35.Re1 g5 36.e6 Kf8 37.e7+ Ke8 38.Rc3 Bd8 39.Rc8 gxf4 40.exd8Q+ Kf7 41.Qd7+ Kg6 42.Rg8+ Kh5 43.Qxg4 checkmate, Johnstone - Egan, IECG email 1999

6...Kg8

6...Kf8 7.c3 d5 8.h3 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.dxe4 Qf6 11.0-0 Be6 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.fxe3 Qxf1+ 14.Qxf1+ Ke7 15.Nd2 Na5 16.b3 Rhf8 17.Nf3 Rf6 18.Qb5 b6 19.Qxe5 Nc6 20.Qxc7+ Black resigned, tmitchell - islanderfan, net-chess.com 2006

7.Be3 TN

7.c3 d5 8.exd5 Qxd5 9.c4 Qd4 10.0-0 Ng4 11.Qf3 Qd7 12.Re1 h6 13.Ne4 Bb4 14.Nbc3 Nd4 15.Qd1 Qf5 16.f3 Nf6 17.a3 Bd7 18.axb4 Qg6 19.Ng3 Nf5 20.Rxe5 Kh7 21.Nxf5 Bxf5 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.cxd5 Rhf8 24.d4 Bh3 25.g3 Qf6 26.Bf4 Rf7 27.Re4 b5 28.g4 Qh4 29.Qe2 a6 30.d6 cxd6 31.Bxd6 Raa7 32.g5 Qxg5+ 33.Bg3 h5 34.Kh1 Qg6 35.Rc1 Rad7 36.Rc8 Rxd4 37.Rxd4 Bxc8 38.Rd8 Bb7 39.Rd3 Qg4 40.Kg2 h4 41.Re3 hxg3 42.hxg3 Qxb4 43.Qd3+ g6 44.Re6 Bxf3+ 45.Kg1 Qc5+ 46.Kh2 Qh5+ 47.Kg1 Qh1+ 48.Kf2 Be4+ 49.Ke3 Qf3+ White resigns, plummy - SIRMO, www.chessworld.net 2007

7...Bxe3 8.fxe3 h6 9.Nf3 Kh7 10.0-0 Rf8 11.Nc3 d6

Standard defensive technique against a modern Jerome Gambit variation: castle by hand, develop, exchange pieces when appropriate.

12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Ne7 14.e4 Bg4

This move allows White the possibility of 15.Ng5+ hxg5 16.Qxg4, weakening my King position a bit, so it is probably not the most accurate move.

15...Ng6 16.Rf2 Bxf3 17.Rxf3 Rxf3 18.gxf3 Qg5+ 19.Qg2

"Chopping wood" brings me ever closer to a piece-up endgame, but my opponent would have done better here to bust up my pawn structure a bit with 19.Qxg5.

19...Qxg2+ 20.Kxg2 Rf8

Black is clearly winning. He has only one small problem.

21.Rf1 Nf4+ 22.Kf2 g5 23.Ke3 Kg6 24.c4 Kf6 25.b4 Ke7 26.a4 Kd7 27.Rh1 c6 28.Rc1 Ng6 29.h3 Nh4 30.Rf1 Rf4 31.a5 b6 32.dxc6+ Kxc6 33.axb6 axb6 34.b5+

This is weaker than 34.Rf2, but White still has high hopes.

34...Kc5 35.Rf2 Kb4 36.Rf1 Kc3 37.Rf2 Ng6

Good enough, but consistent with the King march was 37...Rxf3+

38.Rf1 Ne7 39.Rc1+ Kb2 40.Rf1 Kc2 41.Rf2+ Kb3 42.Rf1 Ng6 43.Rb1+ Ka2 44.Rf1 Nh4 45.Rf2+ Kb3 46.Rf1 Ng2+ 47.Kf2 Nh4 48.Ke3 Ng2+ 49.Kf2 Nh4 50.Ke3 Ng2+ Draw

Oh, yes, that "small problem": the time control was game in 4 minutes, so at the end, even in a winning position, I was so short of time that I had to force the draw and lose a half-point.