Monday, April 5, 2021

Jerome Gambit: Take It Seriously



The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) does not get a lot of respect, and, as a "refuted" opening, it probably does not deserve much.

Nonetheless, it is important for players to take it seriously. (If you know the refutation, play it.)

There are times and ways where the Jerome Gambit can be quite dangerous, and many defenders have discovered that dismissal, inattention, overconfidence and general chess sleepwalking can easily lead to disaster.

Still, there are those who do not heed the warnings.


Wall, Bill - Guest558550

PlayChess.com, 2021


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ 


6...Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qa3


Bill likes to experiment. Guess who was the only other Jerome Gambiteer, according to The Database, to play this move? 

It is quite possible that White's Queen's deployment far from the center encouraged Black's next move - or maybe the defender misjudged his opponent, based on the "refuted" opening and the "obviously bad" placement of Her Majesty.

9...Ne5 

Not really an improvement over 9...Nf6 in Wall,B - Guest2360621,  2013(1-0, 37).

I am reminded again of the Joker's taunt to Batman,"Come on. Hit me."

10.d4 Nc4 

Taking it all a bit too casually. 

11.Qa4+ Bd7 12.Qxc4 Ne7 


White not only has a 2-pawn advantage, he has the better pawn center and easy play. Black, in the meantime, has a King who can not castle out of danger.

13.Nc3 c6 14.Bf4 d5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 Qb6


18.O-O-O Be6 19.Qg5 g6 20.d5 Black resigned


Black's position is grim, and it is likely that it now dawned on him that moving his Bishop would allow White to play a Rook to e1, with check and checkmate to follow.


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