Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Jerome Gambit: Tactical Awareness


When playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) it is important to always be aware of tactics that might present themselves. In the following game, Black believes he has drained the game of danger, and he relaxes too early - and thus falls to a tactical shot.


TePart0 - sharmamohit

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+ 


Reader Alejandro Lizardi  calls this the "Counter-Jerome Defense". 

Black is willing to return his material advantage to get the Queens off of the board, winding up a pawn down.

White must be careful not to become distressed at the disappearance of his smashing, crashing attack. He has a solid pawn advantage to work with.

Black, in turn, must be careful not to become lax and inattentive.

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 

The Queens are gone.

10.d3 Rf8 11.Rf1 Kg7 12.Kg1 d6 


Both Black and White have castled-by-hand.

13.Nc3 c6 

Creating a weakness that White immediately pounces upon.

14.Bf4 Ne8 

Protecting the d-pawn, but overlooking something.

15.Bh6+ Black resigned


White will now be up a pawn and the exchange, making even easier for him to grind out a win.


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