The Jerome Gambit: ...sometimes the bear gets you

Everyone who plays the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and related lines should keep in mind the old saying that goes: Sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you.

perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse
blitz 2 12, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Game.

6.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit (known to me personally as the Why-Am-I-Still-Playing-This Opening??).

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4

For his sacrificed piece White will have a pawn, a semi-exposed King target – and a lot of high hopes.

8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6

10.Qc4+ Kg6

Cue the ominous background violin music... This move was last seen in my debacle that was chronicled in "Bloodied but Unbowed".

11.f4

After the game Rybka suggested the sharper 11.Qd3, which is something that I will keep in mind if I ever pass this way again.

The idea is that after 11...Nb4 White can keep Black busy enough that the threat to c2 (and then the Rook at a1) never comes into play: 12.Qg3+ Kh7 13.e5 Ne8 14.f4 Qe7 15.f5 Qf7 16.Rf2 Rf8 17.Be3 d6 18.e6 Qh5 19.Raf1 Nf6 and Black's edge is small.

analysis diagram

11...Re8

An earlier game saw 11...Rf8 12.f5+ Kh7 13.g4 Nxg4 14.Qe2 Nf6 15.e5 Nd4 16.Qf2 Ng4 17.Qxd4 Qh4 18.Qf4 d5 19.f6 gxf6 20.Nxd5 fxe5 21.Qe4+ Kg7 22.Bxh6+ Qxh6 23.Qg2 Be6 24.h3 Bxd5 25.Qxg4+ Kh8 26.Kh2 Qd2+ White resigned, perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz FICS, 2010.

Both Rook moves are fine. A bit stronger would have been 11...d6.

12.f5+

There is not much of a threat in this move – and White needs threats to stay in the game. He still had to try 12.Qd3, as 12...d6 13.e5+ Bf5 14.Qg3+ Kh7 15.exf6 Qxf6 left him only a pawn down.