Jerome Gambit: Know Your Refutation

The latest game from Vlasta Fejfar shows that even when Black plays one of the most dangerous defenses against the Jerome Gambit, he can lose - and lose quickly. A better and deeper understanding of the Jerome often outshines its "refutation", as the following crush shows.

vlastous - dogfish
internet, 2018

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7

Whistler's defense. Although both lines are complicated, when White faces the Blackburne defense (7...d6) he can take the Rook at h8 and survive, while doing so against Whistler's defense runs a much greater risk.

8.Qf4+ Nf6

This is certainly a solid move, although it is already a step off of the "best" path. Black does best to play 8...Qf6, forcing White to again move his Queen. 

9.e5 Bd6

Following in the footsteps of  Jerome,A - Jaeger,D, correspondence,1879 (0-1, 45), but again not "best". Black should pressure the e-pawn, but more efficiently, i.e. 9...Re8. 

10.d4 Kg7

Stepping out of the pin on his Knight and accepting the loss of a piece with 11.Qxf6+ Qxf6 12.exf6+ Kxf6 which would leave his King safe - but a pawn down.

11.Qh6+ Kf7 12.O-O 

White is not in a hurry to win a piece, and, instead, safeguards his King (putting his Rook on the same file as the enemy King in the process).

12...Ng8

Black is nervous about the enemy Queen, but this retrograde move is not the solution. His best option was to return a piece for a couple of pawns with 12...Bxe5 13.dxe5 Qxe5, when White would have a slight edge.

13.Qf4+ Nf6

This can not have been comfortable for Black - repeating the position from move 10, but with White to move. Perhaps the best defense, instead, was 13...Kg7 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.Qxd6 cxd6, leaving him a pawn down, with a fractured pawn structure.

14.Nc3

Of course. Another piece to add to the action.

14...c6

Keeping the Knight off of d5 - but not out of the action!

15.Ne4 Rg8

Preparing to advance his g-pawn to kick out the Queen. After the expected 15...Bb8 16.Nxf6 White would be up a couple of pawns, and a Kingside attack would be on the agenda.

Now White crashes through.

16.Nxd6+ Kg7 17.exf6+ Qxf6 

Hoping for an exchange of Queens and a release of some of the pressure - in vain.

18.Qh6+ Kh8 19.Bf4 b6 20.Be5 Black resigned

White will win the Queen, with checkmate to follow. I particularly like 20...Qxe5 21.Nf7 checkmate.