Lost

If a visitor to the Black side of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) loses the way in the opening, as is often the case, it is the responsibility (and pleasure) of the first player to deliver a stinging rejoinder.


guest2036 - guest612
blitz 2 12 ICC, 2001

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8
This King retreat, instead of to f8, is unusual, and the Jerome Gambiteer should be looking for a strong reply.

6.Qh5+

This was enough for one opponent of Louis Morin, playing at the Internet Chess Club in 2004: it was met with Black's resignation!

Leading to a small advantage for White was 6.Nxc6

6...g6

The alternative 6...Ke7 is a disaster. See "One (or both) of us needs help" (Part I) and (Part II).

7.Nxg6 Nf6
The twin games Hultgren - Harrow, SVE cup, Campbell, CA, 1960 and Blackstone - Dommeyer, skittles, Campbell, CA 1960 continued: 7...Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Nf4+ Kd8 10.d3 d6 11.Rf1 Qd4+ 12.Be3 Qf6 13.c3 Black resigned.

8.Qxc5 hxg6 9.d3 d6 10.Qc3 Rf8

Here we have the typical Jerome Gambit imbalance, pawns vs a piece (only this time White has three pawns).

11.Bg5 Be6

Rybka 3 recommends 11...d5 to keep the game even, but that may have been too "open" for Black.

12.Nd2 a5

An interesting psychological aspect to this game: what is Black supposed to be doing? White has a number of ideas to follow up, but his opponent can only think to put a Knight on b4.

13.0-0 Nb4 14.a3 Na6

Going back to Nc6 was probably better.

15.Rae1 c6


16.e5

The break-through, although he might have prepared for it with 16.Nf3.

16...dxe5 17.Qxe5 Nc7 18.Ne4 Ra6

19.Nxf6+ Kf7 20.Nh7 Re8 21.Bxd8 Rxd8 22.Qxc7+ Black resigned




graphic by Jeff Bucchino, The Wizard of Draws