Jerome Gambit: Checkmate

In the Jerome Gambit, White activates his Queen to attack - and, ideally, checkmate - the enemy King.

The following game illustrates.

Wall, Bill - Guest6199747
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights defense. Bill has had a lot of success transforming games into the Jerome Gambit, however.

4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

Tranposing to the "modern" Jerome Gambit line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 Nf6.

5...Kxf7 6.Nc3 d6

Black seems safe. Black feels safe. Black is safe.

For the moment.

7.h3 Be6 8.Ng5+ 

The first step in drawing the enemy King out into the center. It is a simple idea - perhaps so simple that Black feels no sense of danger.

8...Ke7 9.Nxe6 Kxe6 10.O-O Qe7 

11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5+ Kxd5 

It is interesting to see here that Stockfish 8 sees the game as even.

If you compare material, Black is "simply" a  piece ahead, so the computer's assessment is either very concrete - White can win back a piece - or very abstract - White has a much better position.

You need only look at the position of Black's King to know that "something" is up.

13.Qg4

Do you see the threat?

13...Nd8 

Giving the King some breathing room. The computer suggests returning a piece to achieve a messy, but even, position: 13...Nd4 14.c3 h5 15.Qe4+ Ke6 16.cxd4 Bxd4 17.Qxb7 c5

14.b4

To win the Bishop. There is also a hidden drop of poison in the move, as Black will discover. It is time for the defender to defend: 14...Kc6 15.bxc5 b6, when the King can escape, although White will be better.

14...Bd4 15.c3

Cute.

15...Bxc3 

The game needed to go something like 15...h5 16.Qe4+ Ke6 17.cxd4 Kd7 when after 18.d5 Rf8 19.Be3 White has regained his piece and it looks like he has a better position - starting with a safer King. 

16.Qc4 checkmate

Once again, this is why we play the Jerome Gambit.