Jerome Gambit: St. Jerome vs St. George.

The following game might be referred to as "St. Jerome vs St. George" - if St. Jerome had anything to do with the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), which he didn't. I am just looking for an excuse to quote past World Champion Lasker

Emmanuel Lasker seems to have had the best, if not the last, word on the gambit, responding to a letter to “Our Question Box” in the March 1906 issue of Lasker’s Chess Magazine

No; the Jerome gambit is not named after St. Jerome. His penances, if he did any, were in atonement of rather minor transgressions compared with the gambit.

Anonymous - Anonymous

5 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 a6 

The St. George Defense, sometimes referred to as the Baker Defense, as the earliest known game with the line was a simultaneous game win by J. Baker against Wilhelm Steinitz on December 11, 1868.

It is worth quoting what Wikibooks has to say on the subject

When played seriously this defence is workable. Black lets White grab the center like in a "hypermodern" opening, while gaining power on the queenside. Usually, b5 and Bb7 will follow soon (attacking e4 pawn, eventually with help of Nf6). That way, Black can enter a very playable middlegame, contrary to what might have been expected. It remains viable in highly skilled games, such as Tony Miles overcoming Karpov using this opening.

In response to this move, White can either start taking control of the center with 2.d4 or try to prevent the b5 move with 2.c4. But this last move is considered inferior because of 2...e5, where Black would have a slight advantage (the same goes for 2.a4).

Also note that White can try to set a powerful trap for unadvised Black players (but those who play the St. George as Black are generally advised players) by playing 2.Bc4. If 2...b5, then 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+ and White can manage to win a rook.

White can also choose to develop a Knight first with 2.Nf3 or to challenge Black on the diagonal with 2.g3.

In this game, White has his own ideas.

2.a4 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

Stockfish 11 sees the addition of a2-a4 and ...a7-a6 as helping Black by a little less than a half a pawn. If Black was planning on playing the St. George, however, and wound up facing the Jerome, that probably helps White.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ng6 

8.Qd5+ Ke8 9. Qxc5 d6 10.Qe3 Nf6 

Except for the a-pawns, this is a familiar Jerome Gambit position.

11.Nc3 Be6 

This allows the typical pawn advance f2-f4, threatening f4-f5, forking two pieces, but White has a different idea in mind.

12.b3 Rf8 13.Bb2 Kf7 14.O-O-O Kg8 

White has castled Queenside. Black has castled-by-hand. Now the pawns begin to march.

15.h3 c6 16.Rhf1 b5 17.f4 Bf7 18.g4 

18...Nd7 

Probably better was the consistent 18...d5, as 19.e5 could be answered by 19...d4.

19.Qd4 c5 20.Qxd6 c4 21.e5 Re8 22.d4 cxb3 23.f5 bxc2 24.Kxc2 Ngf8 

25.e6 

This wins a pawn in true Jerome fashion, but White's King is the one more at risk at this point. Even more so because White chose the "berserk" option in playing this game, giving him only about half of the time he would otherwise have, 2 1/2 minutes.

25...Nxe6 26.fxe6 Rxe6 27.Qf4 Bg6+ 

Who is better? Although material is equal, Stockfish 11 rates Black the equivalent of a Queen ahead!

Black's follow through is faulty, however.

28.Kc1 bxa4 

Okay, but 28...b4 was stronger.

29.d5 Rf6 

Tempting, but 28...Rb6 was stronger.

30.Qxa4 Rxf1 31.Rxf1 Qg5+ 

Attacking the enemy King, and keeping and eye on the Kingside pawns.

32.Qf4 Qh4 33.Qc4 Nb6 34.Qd4 Qg5+ 35.Qf4 

It is hard to believe, but the computer suggests that afte 35.Kd1, White would have an edge.

Instead, he offers to exchange Queens, something Black declined a few moves ago - but not now.

35...Qxf4+ 

Black's instincts were right the first time. He should play 35...Qh4, for the advantage. With the text, he looks for a draw.

36.Rxf4 Rd8 37.Rd4 Kf7 38.Kd2 h5 39.Ke3 hxg4 40.hxg4 Bc2

41.Rf4+ Kg8 42.Rd4 Nc8 43.Ne4 Bxe4 

The Bishop might have been useful in reaching a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame.

44.Kxe4 Nd6+ 

The Knight is a solid blockader, but he may not be enough against White's aggressive King.

45.Ke5 Nf7+ 46.Ke6 Rd6+ 47.Ke7 Rb6 48.Bc1 Nd6 

49.Bf4 Nb5 50.Rd1 Rb7+ 51.Ke6 Kf8 52.d6 Rb6 

53.Kd5 

Just enough. He could have taken an easier route with 53.Be5 53.g5 or

53...Nc3+ 54.Kc5 Nxd1 55.Kxb6 

White's central passed pawn easily outweighs Black's outside one.

55...Ke8 56.Kc7 Nc3 57.d7+ Kf7 58.d8=Q Nd5+ 59.Qxd5+ Kf6 60.Qe5+ Kg6 61.Qf5 checkmate

An interesting and exciting game!