Another Coffin, Another Nail

Black can be his own worst enemy when he does not take the Jerome Gambit seriously: one bad move (or idea) and White can do him in. The following game shows how to finish off one such "oops".

zuzveshtok - deadmanwalk
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3

White hesitates before committing to the Jerome Gambit...

4...Na5 

...And is immediately rewarded.

5.Bxf7+ 

As with the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.Nc3 Na5 in the Semi-Italian Opening, which we last saw in "Final Nail in the Coffin", Black dreams of exchanging off White's "Italian Bishop" with 5.Bb3?! Nxb3, but gets a rude, Jerome Gambit-ish shock.

Although the line is not frequently seen (only 15 games in The Database, White scores 77%), those who play the Jerome Gambit should remember how to deal with it.

Black's defense crumbles quickly.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke8 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6 Nf6

A bit less painful was 8...hxg6 9.Qxh8.

9.Qe5+ Kf7 10.Nxh8+ Kg7 Black resigned

(April 2014 was the 4th highest visited month in the history of this blog - exactly tied with December 2013. Many, many thanks to readers - and please feel free to continue to visit. - Rick)