Practical Chances

Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) will lead to a position where White, while still objectively worse, finds it easier to wage an attack, while Black struggles to put up sufficient defense. These practical chances can make the Jerome a fun opening to play. 


shugart - chingching
blitz, FICS, 2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 


This move was originally Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's preference over 6.Qh5+.


6...Bb4+ 7.c3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 

Stronger is 8.Nxc3 as in  blackburne - Baron wd von Blanc, heart pirate, ChessWorld JG6, 2011 (1-0, 48) and Wall,B - Caynaboos, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 26)


8...Nc4 9.Qh5+ Kf8 


The alternative, 9...g6 10.Qd5+ Black resigned, HauntedKnight - OneNoTrump, FICS,2011, speaks for itself. 


10.Qc5+ Nd6 11.e5 Qe7 12.0-0 Ne8 

An interesting position. With an extra piece for a pawn, Black has to be better; but, at least at the club level, White has central control and a safer King for compensation that gives him practical chances. Add to that the fact that attacking is often easier than defending and it is not hard to see that the second player falters in this game.


13.Qc4 Qf7 14.Ba3+ Ne7 15.Qe2 g6 16.Nd2 Kg7 17.Ne4 Rf8 

Black has completed castling-by-hand and might very well feel secure, but his last move allows an interesting tactical shot.


18.Rad1 


Development and protection of the central pawn mass. Instead, the pesky 18.Ng5 would show that Black's Knight at e7 is not sufficiently protected. Further, the Black Queen can get into trouble herself, as Rybka shows: 18...Qd5 19.c4!? Qxd4 20.e6!? dxe6 21.Bb2 


18...Kg8 19.f4 Nd5 20.Qd3


It was probably okay to grab the exchange with 20.Bxf8.


20...Nxf4 21.Nf6+ Nxf6 22.Rxf4 

22...Qe6 


Offering the exchange one move too long. Instead, Rybka suggested wandering toward the drawish Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame with: 22...d6 23.Rxf6 Qxa2 24.Rxf8+ Kxf8 25.Qf3+ Kg8 26.exd6 Be6 27.d5 Bd7 28.c4 Rf8 29.Qg3 cxd6 30.Bxd6 Re8 31.Rc1 Bf5 32.Qf2 Qxf2+ 33.Kxf2 a5 


23.Bxf8 Kxf8 24.Rxf6+ Qxf6 25.exf6 Black resigned