Jerome Gambit: First Steps (Part 5)

 

Okay! You are finally ready for a blistering Jerome Gambit attack - but, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ your opponent declines the sacrifice with 4...Kf8 (less often, 4...Ke7*). Now what?

The first thing to realize is that the Jerome Gambit Declined is rare - it shows up in less than 1% of the games in The Database. Still, it is a good idea to give the line a few minutes of thought, just so you are prepared.

The most practical response is to *sigh* and withdraw your Bishop with 5.Bb3. You can console yourself that it is now your opponent who is offering some kind of dubious gambit where he gives up a pawn and castling rights for a small advantage in development (after, say, 5...Nf6). The risk for the first player has been reduced significantly, and he has material "compensation" as well.

Not quite as strong, but still good for White, is 5.Bxg8, when after 5...Kxg8 6.0-0 d5 Black has an advantage in development, but already has to watch out for tricks like 7.Nxe5 Nxe5 8.d4.

Why does Black decline the gift of the Bishop on move 4? He could simply be being overly careful to not accept sacrifices that could lead to danger. Or he could be adopting the psychological ploy If you want me to take the Bishop, then I don't want to take it.

The biggest impact of declining the Jerome Gambit is a sense of disappointment for White. This is similar to the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+!? 8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6 Nxf6, where Black drains much of the life out of the position to preserve "safety" - while giving White a solid pawn advantage.

This is why some Jerome Gambiteers leave their snubbed Bishop in place, and look for a messy game and possible favorable transposition with 5.Nxe5. A small problem with this idea is that after 5...Nxe5, the strongest moves for White are still exchanging or withdrawing the Bishop. There is always the possibility of 6.d4, but after 6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Nxf7 Black's Kingside has been bolstered with the Knight at f7.

Again, all of these lines are playable in friendly games, in blitz games, and in games where you are offering "Jerome Gambit odds". The elements of surprise and chaos will be on your side - as well as a stronger sense of understanding and familiarity.

(*Oddly enough, the Jerome Gambit Declined, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Ke7 can transpose, with the addition of 5.Ng5 Nf6 to the Traxler variation of the Two Knights Defense, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7. After 6.Bb3 "there is enough theory on this line to fill a book" according to Stefan Bücker in his "Seven Ways to Refute the Traxler" article from his Over the Horizons column at the old online ChessCafe.com)