Jerome Gambit: Back to the Drawing Board

 

Recently I decided to be creative in a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) line that I was relatively unfamiliar with. In a word, I was crushed by my opponent.

It is not unusual to meet a refutation in this opening, but it does mean that I have some work to do before I try this line again.

Follow the game and learn along with me.

perrypawnpusher - TheNatureBoy

3 days / move, Chess.com, 2021

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 

I have only played this line twice before, perrypawnpusher - NN, Giuoco Piano thematic, Chess.com, 2016 (1-0, 15 ) and perrypawnpusher - Nivaethan2000, Giuoco Piano thematic, Chess.com, 2016 (1-0, 17), generally preferring to play 7.Qf5+ (eighty three times) before the pawn move.

7...d6 

The silicon or annoying defense - because it is the favorite of computer chess programs, and because it is annoying. Black simply gives back a piece, and despite the fact that his King is somewhat uneasily placed, the game becomes rather static.

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Kf7 11.Qxe5 

White has gained 2 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but Black's dark square Bishop will prevent castling. The database has 25 games with this position, with White scoring 48%.

11...Bd4

As if the Bishop wasn't annoying enough.

12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qe2 

My plan was to weaken the f6 square, where Black's Knight would probably appear, and then attack it with Rf1 and Bg5. It turns out that there is not enough time to do that.

The Database notes that Bill Wall has played 13.Qf3+ instead in Wall - Alibak, Chess-db, 2015 (1-0, 70) and Wall - Harshini, A, Chess-db, 2015 (1-0, 49).

13...Nf6 14.c3 Re8 15.d3 Bg4 16.Qc2 Bb6 

Black's lead in development is a bit alarming. Still, I hoped to activate my pieces and castle Queenside.

17.Nd2 

After the game I looked at the thematic alternative 17.Bg5 and was shocked to see that 17...Nxe4! was completely winning, for example 18.Bxd8 Ng3+. 

17...Kg7 

I don't really understand this move, but The Database indicates that it was the computer's move in WB Nimzo 2000b - Zarkov 4.70, Torneo tematico GaJero00-A, 2009, (1/2 - 1/2, 89).

18.Nf3 Nxe4 

The decisive breakthrough. White's King is a goner.

19.dxe4 Qd5 

Equally devastating would have been 19...Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qh4+

20.Bd2 

I was not ready to resign, but there really was nothing left.

20...Rxe4+ 21.Kd1 Rf8 22.Kc1 Bxf3 23.gxf3 Rxf3 24.Rd1

Qf5 White resigned

Wow.

Very nicely done, TheNatureBoy.

Back to the drawing board before I try 7.f4 or face the annoying defense again.

Ow.