Jerome Gambit: Return of the Queen

In the following Jerome Gambit game, it looks like White will be punished for allowing his Queen to roam too far from home. She gets cut off from the action on the Kingside, then idles on the Queenside. But - just in time she returns to the action, and helps finish off the game.


Wall, Bill - Guest6808573
PlayChess.com, 2019

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qa5 

Bill Wall likes to experiment in the Jerome Gambit. After all, what's a little more risk, once you've sacrificed a piece or two?

9...Nf6 10.O-O b6 

This is not the first time that Her Majesty has relocated to a5. In Wall,B - Guest1151077, PlayChess.com, 2013 (1-0, 33), Black tried, instead, 10...Rf8.

11.Qa3 Bb7 12.d3 Kf7 

Black is doing fine, but he must not become complacent.

13.Qb3+ Ke7 14.Nc3 Re8 15.f4 Kf8 16.Bd2 d5 

Hoping to blow up White's center. He has not prepared for the next move, however.

17.e5 Ng4 18.d4 c6 

It looks as if Black wants to protect his d-pawn again, so that he can play his Queen over to the Kingside - but he never gets the chance, as White's "Jerome pawns" continue their advance.

19.h3 Nh6 20.f5 Nh4 21.Bxh6 gxh6 22.f6

22...Ng6 23.Ne2 Bc8 24.Qe3 Be6 25.Qxh6+ Black resigned

The Queen returns, and there will be checkmate.