Theory From the Thematic Tourney (6)

In the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), the Jerome Variation or Defense (4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8) was analyzed by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in 1874, and played (successfully) by him with the black pieces in two correspondence games against Daniel Jaeger in 1880.

Two games in the ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament tested the utility of f2-f3 in White's attacking formation.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8

Luke Warm - CheckmateKingTwo, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2010, continued 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qd5 Qf6 9.f3

with the plan of protecting the e-pawn and safe-guarding the f2 square. 9...Qh4+ 10.g3 Qh3 11.d3 Qg2

Instead, Black has found a way into White's castle, and nothing but ruin follows: 12.Rf1 Bh3 13.Nd2 Qxh2 14.b4 Bxf1 15.Nxf1 Qf2+ 16.Kd1 Qxf1+ 17.Kd2 Qf2+ 18.Kd1 Qxf3+ 19.Kd2 Bxb4+ 20.c3 Qf2+ 21.Kd1 Bxc3 22.Rb1 Ne7 23.Qb3 Qe1+ 24.Kc2 Ba5 25.a3 Nc6 26.Qc4 Qe2+ 27.Kb3 Ne5 28.Qd4 Qxd3+ 29.Qxd3 Nxd3 White resigned


White was more successful in using f2-f3 to establish his pawn center in blackburne - DREWBEAR 63 Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2010: (he actually reached the Jerome Defense via the Banks Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 6.Qh5 Nxe5) 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qf4+ Nf6 9.c3 Qe7 10.f3 Kg8 11.d4 Bb6

12.Be3 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Nd2 h6 15.0-0-0

Unfortunately, the White f-pawn now limits its Queen, and Black is able to gain a decisive material advantage: 15...Nh5 16.Nc4 Nxf4 17.Bxf4 g5 18.Bxd6 Bxd6 19.Rxd6 Be6 20.Rd4 Bxc4 21.Rxc4 b5 22.Rd4 Rd8 23.Rhd1 Rxd4 24.cxd4 Kf7 25.Kd2 Qb4+ 26.Kc1 Rc8+ 27.Kb1 Qc4 28.d5 Qc2+ White resigned