Jerome Gambit: Counter-Jerome Gambit Declined

Intercrosse - azizmasud

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+

The Counter-Jerome Gambit, an interesting bit of chess psychology. Black seems to be saying "If you can sac your Bishop and move my King, I can do the same to you!"

The Bishop sacrifice in the Counter-Jerome Gambit is often the start of a combination that removes the Queens from the board. Black transforms an opening where he is 2 pieces better to one where he is a pawn down - but he does end White's ferocious attack. There is a chance that the attacker will have a problem moving from wild agression to steady, grinding play; perhaps that is Black's plan.  

8.Ke2 

The Counter-Jerome Gambit Declined, a rare choice. (The Database has 6 earlier games with the move, with White going 3 - 2 - 1.) It is as if White were saying "There's got to be something behind this move, so if he wants me to capture - I won't!" This is similar to Black's thinking behind the Jerome Gambit Declined (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Ke7).

The problem is that White remains a piece down.

It is not clear how much trouble White would actually be in after playing 8.Kxf2, anyhow. There is not much in 8...Qh4+ for Black, as it can be answered by 9.g3, and the Queen will have to return with 9...Qf6+ entering the regular Counter-Jerome Gambit with 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 when White's pawn on g3, instead of g2, makes little difference.

For the most recent look at 8.Kxf2 see "Jerome Gambit: Tactical Awareness".

8...Nf6

Intercrosse also faced 8...Bh4 in a game that continued 9.Qxh8 d5 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.Qxg6 dxe4 12.Rf1+ Ke7 13.b3 (better 13.Rf7+ Ke8 14.Qxg8#) 13...Kd7 14.Qf5+ Kc6 15.Qxe4+ Qd5 16.Qg6+ Nf6 17.Rxf6+ Bxf6 18.Qxf6+ Be6 19,Nc3 Qxg2+ 20.Qf2? Qg4+ (20...Bg4+!) 21.Qf3+ Qxf3+ 22.Kxf3 Rf8+ 23.Ke3 Rh8 24.Bb2 Rxh2 White resigned in a winning position, possibly a time issue, Intercrosse - jakshy, blitz, lichess.org, 2020. 

9.Rf1 Bh4 10.g3 Bxg3 

Black gives up the Bishop, after all.

Stockfish 13 points out that Black had strong attacking chances, even after exchanging Queens e.g. 10...Re8 11.Qf4 d5 12.Nc3 Kg8 13.Qxh4 Nxe4 14.Qxd8 Bg4+ 15.Kd3 Nc5+ 16.Kd4 Ne6+ 17.Ke3 Raxd8 

11.hxg3

Instead, 11.Qxg3 might have reduced the Queen's exposure to attack. 

11...Kg7 12.b3 Rf8 13.Bb2 d6 

14.Qg5 h6 15.Qh4 g5 16.Qh1 

 The Queen finally finds respite - for a moment.

16...Kg8 

Black's King's attempt at safety has the opposite effect. If His Majesty was to move, it should be to g6. 

17.Qxh6 Bg4+ 18.Ke1 

The computer will nit-pick that 18.Kd3 was stronger, but the text is fine, and, remember, this is a 3-minute game.

18...Nxe4 

Oooops.

19.Qg7 checkmate