The Jerome Gambit: A New Departure

Jerome - Norton, D.P.
correspondence 1876
notes primarily from the American Chess Journal, September 1876

One of a series of games now being contested by corresondence between A.W. Jerome of Paxton, Ill. and D. P. Norton of DesMoines, Iowa, for the purpose of testing the merits of the Double Opening invented by Mr. Jerome.

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Nf3+

A new departure. 8... Qf6 is the usual play. The text move prevents White from castling.

9.Kf1

9.Kd1 seems better. If 9.gxf3 Qh4+ 10.Kd1 Qf2 and Black has the better position. (See "Vortex")

9... c6

If 9... Ne7 10.e5+ Kc6 11.Qe4+ d5 etc. [For example, after 12.Qxf3 Black is better - RK]

10. gxf3 Qe7

10...Bd4 is good. 11.c3 Nh6 [stronger is 11... g6 - RK] 12. e5+ [12. Qg5 leads to an even game - RK] 12...Kc7 13.Qe4 Bc5.

11.b4

A beautiful attacking move.

11...Bb6

Weak and inconsiderate, losing a Pawn and the exchange.

If Black captures the pawn 11...Bxb4 then 12.c3 Bc5 13.d4 Bxd4! 14.Ba3+ c5 15.cxd4 Kc7 16.dxc5 Qf6! and White has the better game.

11...Bd4 was better, followed by 12.c3 Nh6 etc [Better here was 12...g6 - RK]

12.Bb2 Kc7 13.Qe5+ Qxe5 14.Bxe5+ d6 15.Bxg7

15...Bh3+ 16.Ke2 Bg2 17. Rd1 Ne7 18. Bxh8 Ng6

If 18...Rxh8 19.f5 and Black's game is seriously cramped while White's Pawns would be very strong and difficult to stop.

19.d4

Preferring to save his centre pawns.

19...Rxh8 20.Kf2

[20.Ke3 seems stronger. Black's two pieces now slowly out-play White's Rook. - RK]

20...Nxf4 21.c3 Rg8 22.Nd2 Kd7