The Jerome Gambit: Haunted by the Jerome Gambit

Even when I'm supposed to be taking a break from the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) – see "I am pond scum" – I keep wandering into the opening. Even when I can't – the Jerome Gambit haunts my games...

perrypawnpusher - EAB
blitz 10 0, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 a6

Maybe he'll play ...Bc5 next move...

4.0-0 h6

Come on, this is teasing...(I'm pretty sure that Bill Wall would sac his Bishop now, anyway.)

5.Nc3 Nf6

Rats.

6.d3 Bc5

Too late?

Actually, my database has 4 games that match the position after 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 Discouragingly, White won 1 of the games and lost 3.

I resigned myself to an ordinary game.

7.Be3 Qe7 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.Bxd5

Ach, says the Analyst, Ziss is merely a reaction-formation around zee unconscious wish to play Bxf7!

9...Nb4

Instead, 9...0-0 keeps the game even.

10.Bb3

Vatt? Not 10.Nxe5? Interesting...

10...Bxe3 11.fxe3 Qc5

Black should have castled and kept the game in balance.

12.Bxf7+

That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more... (Okay, Popeye the Sailor Man used to say that.)

12...Kxf7

13.Nxe5+ Ke7

Or 13...Kg8 14.Qh5 for the full Jerome effect.

14.Ng6+ Kd6 15.d4 Qg5

Those almost look like "Jerome pawns" out there.

16.e5+

Virtually irresistible, but 16.Qd2 was even stronger.

16...Kd5

After the game, Rybka suggested instead 16...Kc6 17.Qe2 d5 18.Nxh8 Kb6 19.Qd2 when Black's King has found some refuge, but White is ahead the exchange and two pawns.

17.Qf3+ Kc4

The tactically skilled Reader is urged to "find the checkmate" in this position.

18.b3+

Find the mate? It was 18.Qe2+ Kd5 19.e4+ Kxd4 20.c3+ Kc5 21.cxb4+ Kxb4 22.a3+ Ka5 23.b4+ Kb6 24.Qf2+ Qe3 25.Qxe3+ Kb5 26.a4+ Kxb4 27.Qd4+ Kb3 28.Rab1+ Kc2 29.Rfc1.

At least that's what Rybka told me after the game.