Jerome Gambit: Don't open that door!

Sometimes when I am playing over a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game I secretly root for the player with the Black pieces.

It's kind of like watching a movie where someone enters a haunted house and starts wandering around. I want to yell out a warning: be careful in there, don't do anything foolish!

But in those scary movies – and often in Jerome Gambits – nobody ever listens to me...


bower50 - bobster38
www.GameKnot.com, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0

A "modern" variation, bypassing 5.Nxe5.

5...Qf6 6.d3 h6 7.Nc3 Nge7 8.a3


Black has entered the haunted house, but everything looks fine. He has his typical advantage, especially facing White's relaxed approach to the opening

8...a5 9.Nb5



A tricky staircase, but nothing really to worry about.

9...Bb6 10.Be3 Na7 11.Nxa7 Bxa7 12.d4



What's that creaky noise? Probably just a loose step...

12...d6 13.d5



Don't open that door!

13...Bxe3 14.fxe3 c6



Oh, no!

15.Nxe5+

Horrible – but not nearly as blood-curdling as 15.Nh4.

15...dxe5 16.Qh5+ g6



Better to defend against the Phantom Lady with the Dark Knight: 16...Ng6

17.Rxf6+ Kxf6 18.Qf3+ Kg7



Comparing pieces, Black has Bishop, Knight and Rook for his Queen; but we know these movies never turn out nicely.

19.d6

The text and the alternative 19.Rf1 show how helpless Black is, he has to immediately give back a piece.

19...Nd5 20.exd5

Or 20.Rf1

20...Rf8 21.Qe4 Rf5 22.dxc6 bxc6 23.Qxc6



It's too gruesome – I can't watch any more!

23...Rb8 24.Qc7+ Black resigns



Poor fellow. I told him not to open that door, er, file.