The Jerome Gambit: Are we there, yet?

I often open with 1.e4, heading toward the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) but not all of my opponents cooperate. Sometimes they do – it just takes them a while.

perrypawnpusher - angelosgoulianos
FICS rated blitz game, 2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

Are we there yet?

No, not yet.

Will there be any presents??

I don't know.

4.0-0 a6

Are we there yet?

Not yet.

Truth be told, I was hoping we would "get there," because I didn't think that the two extra pawn pushes helped Black's defense to the Jerome.

5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+

We're there!

6...Kxf7

In this delayed Jerome Gambit, Black merely has the advantage, not a winning advantage.

7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.Qh5+ Ke6

Yippee. If White is going to have a chance, it's going to be against the enemy King in the middle of the board.

9.Qf5+

A thematic move, to be sure, compared to the more direct 9.d4 Bxd4 10.Ne2 Bc5 11.Nf4+ Kd6 12.Rd1+ Kc6 13.Qxe5 when it is clear that White's d-pawn sac was worth it.

The fly in the ointment is that here, as in the game, Black can answer Ne2 with ...c5 and keep his advantage.

9...Kd6 10.d4

Rybka now says White gets very little for the pawn.

10...Bxd4 11.Rd1 c5 12.Ne2

Still giving it the old Jerome Gambit try. Black can now strengthen his defense with 12...Ne7.

12...Kc7 13.Nxd4 d6

Cool!

14.Ne6+ Bxe6 15.Qxe6 Nf6

Black is winning, and the position is becoming less complicated by the minute, a bad sign for White.

16.Bf4 Re8 17.Qb3 Nxe4 18.Bxe5 Rxe5 19.Qf7+ Qd7 20.Qf3 Qf5 21.Qxf5 Rxf5