Defending against the Jerome Gambit...

Defending against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) with Black, players, including Gemeinde members, are happy with the extra piece or two, and wish for the kind of steady game that follows... Almost.

metalwarrior1969 - Crusader Rabbit

JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009

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

4...Kxf7 5.a3

One of the more subtle "modern" Jerome Gambit variations, ones that don't include the classical 5.Nxe5.

5...d6 6.h3 Ke8 7.d3 Be6 8.Nc3 Qd7

One of the ideas behind the "modern" variations is to proceed carefully, not forcing but allowing Black to make the next (hopefully fatal) mistake.

Here Black has been just as careful, developing sensibly and keeping his King out of danger.

9.0-0 Nf6 10.Bg5 Ne7

Black leads in development, his pieces protect his King, and he has an extra piece, to boot, which he uses to "over-protect" the square d5.

11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Nd5

White is flailing against the mists, and all is silent after 12...Nxd5 13.exd5 Bxd5. Black can even look for more (an attack on the King) after 13...Bxh3!? instead.


Instead, the second player relaxes his attention, building his attack in a way that allows a counter.

12...Rg8 13.Kh1 Ng6 14.Nxf6+ Black resigned