Abrahams Jerome Gambit: I Don't Understand

?!?!

Continuing my puzzlement from the previous column, I present a game that is entertaining - if gruesome for White. I found it on the Chess with DAO site. The game features the Abrahams Jerome Gambit, and, well, it should give you the feeling that something is missing - or was missed...

The game was presented on the site without the names of the players (although one is likely Joerg Dao), the location where it was played, or the date. The sub head "quick thing for hot kids?" (huh?) suggests that one of the players might be a student.

The notes to the move are all from the site, except my two comments in red.

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 

I have not found any games with this line that were played by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, but at least one author - Gerald Abrahams, in The Chess Mind (1951) - has referred to it as the Jerome Gambit, so I have attached his name to the opening.- Rick

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ Ke6 5.Qg4+ Kd6 6.Qxg7 Ne7

now is there such a thing as a quickie? Where you offer a full piece in this, and get the K running and out ? Lets see. Its called Jerome Gambit, and mostly experts say, it is not playable.....

7.Qh6+ Ng6 8.d3 Qf6 9.f3 c6 10.Bg5 Qf7 11.f4 Qe6 12.fxe5+ Nxe5 

white is down one piece, but has 2 pawns more. And there is no such thing, as to hunt the black K somewhere...

13.Qg7 Rg8 14.Qxh7 Rxg5

another piece for a pawn ...

15.g3 Bxg1 16.Rxg1 Nf3+ 17.Kf2 Nxg1

3 vs. 5 pieces, no real chances any more. So lets finish in style.

18.Kxg1 b5 19.Nd2 Ba6 20.Nf3 Rg6 21.e5+ Kc7 22.Nd4 Qe8 23.e6 Rf6 24.exd7 Nxd7

black defense still solid, which is the basis of all that.

25.g4 Qe3+ 26.Kh1 Qxd4

- 2 vs. 5 pieces ...

27.Re1 Raf8 28.g5 Qd5+ 29.Kg1 Qxg5+ 30.Kh1 Rf1+ 31.Rxf1 Rxf1 checkmate 

yupp !! A löesson ? Maybe.

Maybe. But a lesson for who? Go back to diagram #2 and give it close look, if you haven't already. - Rick