Jerome Gambit: Black is Better, It Will Not Last

"I was beating you," my chessfriend would lament, years ago.

"Right up until the point I checkmated you," I would counter.

Back then I had not yet encountered the Jerome Gambit, but I was already familiar with its dynamics.

As in the following game...

Wall, Bill -Guest624070
PlayChess.com, 2017

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

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

Here we have a standard Jerome Gambit position. There are 357 game examples in The Database. White scores 44%.

It is relevant to note, however, that Bill is 42-3-3 (91%) in games with this position (and has a draw with the Black pieces). This compares favorably with his 92% scoring in 405 games for the Jerome Gambit in general.

Next to skill, experience is a positive factor in playing the obscure Jerome Gambit.

8.Nd2

Frequently experimenting, Bill tries out something new. (Not surprisingly, the only other game with this line in The Database was his.) He has also played Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's 8.Nc3 and 8.0-0.

8...Nf6 9.b3

If White's Knight is going to d2, it makes sense that his Bishop will go to b2 - but not always: 9.O-O Rf8 10.Re1 Be6 11.f4 Nc6 12.Qc3 Kg8 13.Nf3 Bg4 14.Qb3+ Kh8 15.Ng5 Qd7 16.f5 h6 17.Ne6 Rfe8 18.Qxb7 Na5 19.Qxc7 Nc6 20.Bf4 Ne5 21.Qxd7 Nfxd7 22.Nc7 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest2467942, Playchess.com 2017.

9...Nc6 10.Qc3 Re8 11.Bb2 Kg8 12.O-O Qe7 

White is ready to begin advancing his "Jerome pawns." His Rooks are linked and plan on working on the center files.

Black is better, but that often is the case in the beginning in the Jerome Gambit. It will not last. 

13.f4 d5 14.Rae1 d4

Bill notes the threat along the a1-h8 diagonal: 14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Rxe4 Qxe4? 17.Qxg7 checkmate.

15.Qd3 Qd7

16.Nf3 Nb4 

"I can resist everything except temptation" said Oscar Wilde.

Black spoils his position and drops a piece by pestering White's Queen. The first player cannot count on that always happening, but he needs to be ready to recognize it, when it does.

17.Qc4+ Nbd5 18.exd5 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Nxd5

Black has returned the sacrificed piece, and is temporarily level in material. However, he is lagging in development, including the typical Jerome defender lament: his light-squared Bishop is blocked in on its home square, and in turn restricts his Rook.

He should have played 19...Qxd5, even at the cost of allowing 20.Qxc7.

20.Ng5

Instead of grabbing the d-pawn, White appears to assembling a Kingside assault, whereas he actually threatens 21.Qxd5+ Qxd5 22.Re8 mate

20...b6

Missing the point. After 20...c6 21.Qxd4 Nf6 White would simply be better, a pawn up; but the game would continue, and Black could even harbor visions of a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame.

21.Qxd5+ Black resigned

The simple threat is 21...Qxd5 22.Re8 checkmate.

The second point is that if Black defends by moving his King with 21...Kh8, White can offer the Queen a different way, while threatening mate: 22.Qf5. There is only 22...Qxf5 23.Re8+ Qf8 24.Rxf8 mate, or 22...Kg8 23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8+.