Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (21)

At the start of the last round of exploration, the opening detectives tackle the line that often seems the most dangerous for Black against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) but which is also one his strongest and most principled refutations.

RevvedUp - Crafty 19.19
blitz 2 12, 2006

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

A line that shows up many places on this blog. (See "A sparkling variation to the tiresome Piano game", "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter II" and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter III" for examples.)

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6

In the 6...Ke6 defense, this move is often essential – and strong.

9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf8+

A line that looks attractive – if it were any good.

10...Kc6

It turns out that Black can even let the Rook go with 10...Ne7 11.Qxh8 if he follows up with 11...Ng6 bundling up the Queen. After 12.Qxh7 Qxe4+ 13.Kf1 White's King, not Black's, is in danger.

11.Qf3

White has lost a tempo on the main line 10.Qf3.

12...Nf6 12.d3 d5

The side with the better development should open up lines for attack. Crafty 19.19 has a good feel for defending against the Jerome.

13.Nc3 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Re8

White will be crushed.

15.Bf4 Qxb2 16.Kd2 Nxe4+ 17.dxe4 Qd4+ 18.Qd3 Bb4+ 19.Ke2 Rxe4+ 20.Kf3 Rxf4+ White resigns.

All in all, a rather serious black eye for the Jerome Gambit. Clearly, 10.Qf8+ TN is not the remedy to 8...Qf6.