Every chess game that I play, especially one involving the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) contains something – a move, a position, an idea, a combination, an error – that makes it memorable. At times it's even the lack of something that makes the game stick with me.
perrypawnpusher - marbleschess
blitz 12 0, FICS, 2009
blitz 12 0, FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6
7.Qxe5 Nf6
This is such a reasonable move, protecting the Rook, and I've seen it before (vs Alternative, MsD and Brain50). The problem is, of course, that after eight moves White is two pawns up, instead of being two pieces down. In light of Geoff Chandler's "Blunder Table", it is clear that at my level of play, this need not be terminal – but it is bad form for play against the Jerome Gambit.
There's nothing really exciting going on, just the two-pawn edge.
Black holds back the White g-pawn – he thinks – to further safeguard his King. Instead, the mating net is put in place.
Black sends a commando to help his King escape.
24.Rf2
Phooey! Enough time wasted on mates that I can't find. Let's put those extra pawns to work!
Not the best series of moves, but I've got a general outline of what I need to do.
Black has a passed pawn now, too, but it is too late for it to change the outcome of the game.
As much psychology as chess play.
41...Rh7 42.e6 Kc5 43.e7 Rfxf7 44.Rxf7 Rxf7 45.e8Q
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Nf6 This is such a reasonable move, protecting the Rook, and I've seen it before (vs Alternative, MsD and Brain50). The problem is, of course, that after eight moves White is two pawns up, instead of being two pieces down. In light of Geoff Chandler's "Blunder Table", it is clear that at my level of play, this need not be terminal – but it is bad form for play against the Jerome Gambit.
8.Qxc5 Qe7 9.Qxe7+ Kxe7 10.Nc3 d6 11.d4
There's nothing really exciting going on, just the two-pawn edge.
11...Re8 12.Bg5 Kf7 13.Bxf6 Kxf6 14.0-0 Be6
15.f4 d5 16.e5+ Kf5
Now this is interesting.
17.h3 h5
18.Rae1
White does better with 18.Ne2, as in 18...Bc8 19.g4+ hxg4 20.Ng3+ Ke6 21.hxg4.
18...c6 19.Ne2 h4
White does better with 18.Ne2, as in 18...Bc8 19.g4+ hxg4 20.Ng3+ Ke6 21.hxg4.
18...c6 19.Ne2 h4
Black holds back the White g-pawn – he thinks – to further safeguard his King. Instead, the mating net is put in place.
20.g4+ Ke4 
21.c3
21.c3
Readers no doubt have noticed that there was a mate, instead, with 21.Rd1 Bf5 22.Nc3+ Ke3 23.gxf5 gxf5 24.Rd3#
21...Kd3 22.b3
Looking for a way to keep the intruder trapped.
22...b5
Black sends a commando to help his King escape.
23.Rf3+
I take my hat off to any reader who spotted that with 23.Rd1+, instead, the Black King is forced to c2, when 24.Rb1 would set up a mating net due to the threat of Kg1-f2-f3 and then mate with the Rooks. Black would have to sacrifice heavily to avoid that.
23...Kc2
23...Kc2
24.Rf2
The key move here is 24.Nc1: 24...Kb2 25.a3 ( 25.a4 Bf5 26.gxf5 gxf5 27.Re2+ Ka1 28.Nd3 Rg8+ 29.Kh2 Rg1 30.Kxg1 Rg8+ 31.Kh2 Rg2+ 32.Kxg2 bxa4 33.Rf1#) 25...Bxg4 26.hxg4 Rxe5 27.fxe5 Rf8 28.Re2+ Kb1 29.Rxf8 h3 30.Nd3 h2+ 31.Rxh2 g5 32.Rf1#
24...Kb2 25.f5
Phooey! Enough time wasted on mates that I can't find. Let's put those extra pawns to work!
25...gxf5 26.gxf5 Bg8 27.Nf4+ Ka3 28.Ng6
Not the best series of moves, but I've got a general outline of what I need to do.
28...b4 29.cxb4 Kxb4 30.Nxh4 c5 31.dxc5 Kxc5
Black has a passed pawn now, too, but it is too late for it to change the outcome of the game.
32.f6 Be6 33.Nf5 Rf8 34.Rc1+ Kb4 35.h4
As much psychology as chess play.
35...Rh8 36.Nd4 Rae8 37.Nxe6 Rxe6 38.f7 Rf8 39.Re1 Rg6+ 40.Kh2 Rh6 41.Kh3
41...Rh7 42.e6 Kc5 43.e7 Rfxf7 44.Rxf7 Rxf7 45.e8Q
45...Rf3+ 46.Kg2 Rd3 47.Rc1+ Kd4 48.Qh8+ Ke4 Black resigned
