Jerome and Stafford Gambits: Spiritual Cousins

I have been exchanging emails with Dan Middlemiss, who is kind of partial to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) as White, but who is deeply committed to the Stafford Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6) as Black.

Although I am mostly familiar with the "reversed Stafford Gambit" - the Boden-Kiesertizky Gambit - (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3) - I think he has a very strong case to make.

What strikes me as a candidate for a possible future blog by you, is the striking similarity between the Jerome and the Stafford gambits. Both feature an early sortie by King‘s Bishop and both target the vulnerable King Bishop’s pawn, often coupled with the early developing move by KB Knight. One key difference, however, is that in the Stafford only a pawn is being sacrificed, at least initially. Another real departure is that an early copycat move by white with Bc4 brings disaster upon white...

 I am also struck by the extent to which the Jerome Gambit shares many of the same attacking features as the now popular Stafford Gambit played by black in the Petrov Defence. Some quite striking parallels in fact, with sacrifices all over the place! Like the Jerome, the Stafford has been "refuted" by careful analysis and high level play. But as some have noted, we don't play engines, we play people! The shock value of both gambits can be imposing for those not prepared...

As for the Stafford Gambit, I find it absolutely fascinating because there are so many really deep and tricky traps in for white. I was actually attracted to the Stafford because of my interest in the Jerome - they both appeal to my sense of danger and adventure, and both pack the same psychological punch against an opponent who is prepared for other lines. In the case of the Stafford, you will discover that natural looking moves for white are the most fraught with danger, and white’s move order is critical to his success or failure. I would also say that, from my considerable research, the Stafford seems to be far more playable, and I was not exaggerating when I said that GMs, IMs, and club players alike have been employing it since about August 2020, even though its pedigree goes back much further in time...

The reason for its wild popularity of late can be found in a bombshell YouTube video by IM Eric Rosen in August 2020. IM Jonathan Schrantz has also helped to popularize some very crucial theoretical lines – he posted a YouTube video in which he demonstrates how he defeated Stockfish 12 with his ‘Magic Line’. Both Eric and Jonathan (who goes by the handle zolpi on Lichess) are members of the same St Louis Chess Club and both are knowledgeable and articulate streamers. Eric has almost a dozen excellent videos online about the Stafford, and his initial one has been demonstrated to have quadrupled the amount of interest in Stafford chess. Several GMs, including Daniel Naroditsky, have videos claiming to have ‘refuted’ the Stafford, but it lives on and the refutations have themselves been refuted!

Certainly those who play the Jerome can find room in their opening repertoire for the Stafford. In fact, many have already have.

Why not give it a try? Be careful, though, as it's highly addictive.