Moment of Truth

Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Gemeinde member Welton Vaz ("Ghandybh") sends a victory over a defense that everyone who plays the Jerome Gambit will eventually see. (My database has 33 wins for White, 11 wins for Black and 6 draws.)


Ghandybh - brownplant
Chess.com, 2009

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

The moment of truth: will we see Blackburne's defense, Whistler's defense, or what?

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+

For comments on this return of material, see "Jerome Gambit Strikes in Denmark" and "A Side Line to Watch". It simplifies the game and protects Black's King, in exchange for giving White the advantage.

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6

White is a pawn up. He can get his pieces out and then go to work.

10.Nc3 Re8 11.d3 c6

12.Ke2

Adding excitement to the game. A quieter alternative was to castle-by-hand with 12.Rf1 and 13.Kg1.

12...d5 13.Rf1 Bg4+ 14.Kd2 dxe4

Black seems to be getting counter-play by opening up the position around White's King, but the first player still has the game under control.

15.Nxe4 Re6

The pin along the f-file is deadly.

16.Ng5+ Ke7 17.Nxe6 Bxe6

White is now a pawn and the exchange up.

18.b3 Rd8 19.Ba3+ Kf7 20.Bb2 Black resigned

White will be a Rook up after 20...Bf5 21.Bxf6 Kxf6 22.g4, etc. A very workman-like game.