Some variations in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can benefit from whatever light a Grandmaster can shine upon them. Below, GM Hikaru Nakamura shares his experiences.
GMHikaruOnTwitch - GM_xAhmedx
3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6
The silicon or annoying defense, so-called because computer programs like it - and it can be particularly annoying for White. While returning a piece, Black's King is allowed to hang out in his advanced position, while forcing him back does not seem to do much damage to the defender. In the meantime, White has to take steps to be able to castle Kingside, while Black's two Bishops can cause problems.
8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Nc3
The best move, according to Stockfish 13, is the uncomfortable 9.Qh3+. Even if White manages to subsequently capture the enemy e-pawn, it doesn't help much.
White has also tried
9.d3 Nf6 10.Qh4 h6 11.Nd2 g5 12.Qg3 Bd7 13.Nf3 Rg8 14.Qxe5+ Kf7 15.Qxc5 b6 16.Qc4+ Kg7 17.O-O c5 18.Nxg5 hxg5 19.Bxg5 Rf8 20.e5 Black resigned, GMHikaruOnTwitch - Romanov205, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021; and
9.b4 Nf6 10.Qg5 Bf2+ 11.Kf1 Bb6 12.Bb2 Rf8 13.Qxe5+ Kf7 14.d4 Kg8 15.Ke1 Re8 16.Qg3 Nxe4 17.Kd1 Nxg3 White resigned, MVM2008 - GMHikaruOnTwitch, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021.
9...Nf6 10.Qf5+ Kf7 11.Qxe5 Bf2+
Like I said: annoying.
12.Kf1 Bd4 13.Qf4 Kg6
A bit of a tease. If need be, Black can soon castle-by-hand.
14.Ke1
White could be a bit more aggressive with 14.Qh4, but after 14...Rf8 15.Ke1 h6 16.d3 Kh7 his own King is the one that is uncomfortable.
14...Re8
The "Jerome pawns", often a dynamic factor on White's behalf, are now stifled.
The following moves, however, show that Black is not quite sure how to take advantage of his advantage.
15.d3 Ng4 16.Rf1 Be6 17.Qg3 c6 18.h3 Qa5 19.Bd2 Qe5
White's best, according to Stockfish 13, was to enter the wild complications after 20.Bf4 Bxc3+ 21.Ke2 Bxb2 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.Qe1 Bxa1 24.Qxa1 Nf6 when he would have a Queen and a pawn against a Rook, Bishop and Knight; but he would have play against the Black King, e.g. 25.e5 Nd7 26.Qd4 Nxe5 27.Qe4+ Kh6 28.Kd2 Nd7 29.Qh4+ Kg6 30.Qe4+ with a draw by repetition.
20...Bf2+ 21.Qxf2 Nxf2 22.Kxf2 Rf8 23.g3 Bxh3 24.Ne2 Qxb2 25.Bc3 Qxc2 26.Ke3 Rad8 White resigned
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