Jerome Gambit: Constantly Aware

Sometimes when you play the Jerome Gambit, your opponent equalizes the game. What then? Well, you play along, seeing where the game is going - being constantly aware of opportunities that just might spring up, as in the following game. Thus, the ironic saying: In the Jerome Gambit, when Black has equalized, White has the advantage. ☺

Wall, Bill - Guest477
ICC, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 

8.Qd2

A novelty, according to The Database. What is the White Queen doing on d2? White's dark-squared Bishop will be going to b2.

8...Be6 9.O-O Nf6 10.Nc3 Rf8 11.b3 Kg8 12.Bb2 Rf7 

Black has castled-by-hand and has the advantage of a piece for a pawn. What will he do next?

13.f4 Nc6 14.Rae1 Bd7

Black hopes to move his Bishop out of possible trouble from the "Jerome pawns", but this move allows a center pawn advance - something White needs to be aware of.  

15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nxe5

Making the best of the situation by returning the piece for a pawn. Even game. This might be considered a good thing by the defender.

17.Rxe5 Bc6 18.Qf4 Qd6 

19.Nb5

On many occasions I have looked askance as Black has harassed White's Queen. Here, it is no big deal, but that kind of evaluation might have had a lulling influence on the defender.

19...Bxb5 20.Rxb5 Qc6 21.c4 Raf8 22.Rf5 Qe6 23.Qd2 

White has a Bishop for a Knight, the tiniest of advantages, but the lineup of Rooks on the f-file hints at an exchange of heavy pieces and a split point.

However, there is something special about the position that both players need to be aware of. (What is the White Queen doing on d2?)

23...Ne4 

Triggering the exchanges, and the draw?

No, actually this leads to a checkmate-in-21, if the game were to go that far.

24.Rxf7 Rxf7 25.Qd8+ Black resigned

Checkmate will arrive shortly.