Friday, July 9, 2021

Jerome Gambit: The Impact of Overlooking



Sometimes a surprise tactic in an opening, especially the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be enough for the defender to lose interest in a game. It does not need to produce a great advantage, only the psychological sting of the impact of overlooking a move.


Lavanya_Balu - kseniyazhyr

30 0 classical, lichess.org, 2021


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

A "modern" Jerome Gambit variation, i.e. one without the traditional 5.Nxe5. According to The Database, White scores 40%, vs 57% with the pawn capture.

5...Nf6 6.d3 d6 7.c3 Bg4 8.Qb3+ Be6 

Better to move the King.

9.Ng5+ Black resigned

Black will lose a piece. After 9...Kg6 10.Nxe6 Qd7 11.Nxc5 dxc5 his game would not be "lost" - he would be only a pawn down - but things would definitely not be going as he planned.


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