Jerome Gambit: Fizzle

 

Some tactics are explosive, but some of them fizzle. The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is a quiet example - where disappointment leads to resignation.

Wall, Bill - Chedmas

Internet, 2021

1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.Nd2 Ne7 9.O-O Re8 

Black has the typical piece-for-two-pawns advantage. He is ahead in development and will soon castle-by-hand. His prospects are bright.

The Jerome Gambit has a history of crushing such dreams.

10.f4 N5c6 11.Qe3 Kg8 12.Nf3 Nd5 

Black notices the pin on White's e-pawn and indulges in a favorite pastime of Jerome Gambit defenders - attacking the Queen. It is quite possible that he saw the better move, 12...d5, but discarded it because the response 13.e5 would attack his own Queen.

13.Qb3 

White's Queen escapes from the pin and creates one of her own, allowing her to win the enemy Knight.

After 13...Rxe4 14.Qxd5+ Qe6 15.Qxe6+ Rxe6 the position would be equal, which is not all bad. Yet, missing the tactic must have been disappointing, because here

Black resigned

Yet another curious example of the warning, When White has equalized in the Jerome Gambit, he has the advantage.