Jerome Gambit: Nothing Very Exciting Happens - Until

In the following game, nothing very exciting happens after the initial sacrifices - until the defender damages his own defenses, at which point the game is over.


Wall, Bill - Guest1735790
PlayChess.com, 2020

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

The game has reached a routine position that has been seen many times before. White has some standard moves and ideas at his fingertips. Black is objectively better, but he has to assemble a plan.

10.d3 Be6 

This move is okay, but it calls out White's f-pawn.

11.f4 Bf7 12.O-O Qe7 

Likewise, this move is a siren call to White's Knight.

13.Nc3 c6 

14.Bd2 Re8 

With his pieces massed in the center, Black believes that chasing after the a-pawn would be a distraction; yet, his opponent decides to grab it.

15.Qxa7 b5 

This loosens the Queenside a bit. Komodo 10 recommended the routine 15...Kg8 16.Rae1 h6 17.b3 Kh7 with a balanced game.

16.Qb6 Qd7 17.f5 Ne7 

18.Bf4 Nh5 19.Bg5 h6 20.Bd2 Nf6 

Back to where things were. Black can still consider "castling" his King to h7.

21.a4 

Switching the focus to the Queenside. Getting the Rook into the game would allow greater pressure on Black.

21...bxa4 22.Rxa4 

22...g6 

This is a slip, forgetting about the dangers of the f-file.

23.fxg6 Black resigned

White will win material, and he will have an attack on the enemy King.