Jerome Gambit: Cast A Scary Shadow

Sometimes facing the Jerome gambit can be scary. White is attacking in a frenzied manner, and it is easy to see danger everywhere - real and imagined. Larger than life.

In the following game I unleashed the "Jerome pawns" and my opponent was suitibly impressed and somewhat intimidated. You might want to consider if you think his resignation was premature, however.

 

perrypawnpusher - JohnGHughes

10 0 blitz, FICS, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.O-O Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit. White could also have used 4.Nc3 as a tempo move, waiting for 4...Bc5.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 

Even if my current blitz play is rusty, I felt reassured that I have been here before. The Database shows my record as 47 - 5 - 4, scoring 88%.

7.d4 

The question here was how much the "extra" moves (0-0, ...h6) have changed the regular Jerome Gambit position.

I usually have played 7.Qh5+. In fact, before this game I was only 1 - 1 with 7.d4. Stockfish 13 shows a slight preference (about 1/2 a pawn) for the Queen move. 

7...Qf6 

Often the Black Queen comes to f6 in the Jerome. This move also avoids spending time deciding which minor piece to save - White can decide.

That said, Black would have done better with the straight-forward 7...Bxd4. 

8.dxc5 Ne7 9.Nc3 

What is going on here? 

Black has kept up with his development, and he should consider castling-by-hand with ...Rf8 and ...Kg8. He needs to liberate his Bishop and the Rook that it locks in.

White can bring his Knight to d5, if allowed. He can play for f2-f4, and enjoy the threats of his Rook on f1 against the enemy Queen and King on the f-file.

9...c6 

This keeps White's Knight off of d5, at the cost of delaying his development. Compare this with 9...d5 opening the diagonal for the Bishop. According to Stockfish 13, after 10.cxd6 cxd6 11.f4 N5c6 12.Nb5 (attacking the d-pawn) Rd8 13.c4 Be6 14.Nxd6+ Kg8 15.c5 Nc8 16.Rf2 Nxd6 17.cxd6 Rd7 18.Be3 Rad8 19.e5 Qg6 20.Qf3 Rf8 21.Qg3 Qxg3 22.hxg3 Re8 Black is better - you can see White has 3 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but the pawns are blockaded.

10.f4 Nc4 11.e5 Qf5 

White's pawns hold back Black's d-pawn, which blocks the Bishop, which hems in the Rook... Plus, there is that f-file.

12.g4 Qg6 13.f5 Nxf5 

Giving back a piece for a pawn or two is a reasonable idea.

14.Rxf5+ 

After the game Stockfish criticized this move as hurried. White would do better with the casual 14.Kh1 which unpins his g-pawn and allows a better recapture, i.e. 14...d5 (has to be played) 15.exd6 Kg8 16.gxf5 Bxf5. White would be up a pawn, and his passer at d6 would need to be watched.

Here Black resigned.

What would have happened, though, if he had played 14...Kg8 ? White would probably have to reinforce his g-pawn with 15.h3, and worry about a possible future ...h6-h5. That would give Black time for the hearty 15...d5, when White's Rook would have to shuffle over to h5. After Komodo 11's suggested 16.Rh5 Qe6 17.Qd4 b6 18.cxb6 axb6 19.b3 g6 20.Rxh6 Rxh6 21.Bxh6 Qxe5 the position would be quite a mess, White would be up a pawn up, but anything could happen in a blitz game.

analysis diagram