Jerome Gambit: Surviving Scary

Scary movies are - scary.

Scary chess games are, too.

I still root for the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), even when it gets very scary.

Take a look - if you dare.

Thomas, Able - West, James

2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

This can lead to either Blackburne's or Whistler's defense (or a handful of ineffective ones), both of which are complicated.

Both also involve the sacrifice of a Rook. See "Jerome Gambit: What About the Rook?"

Blackburne's defense is the more notorious of the two, because of the beautiful counter-attack and sacrificial checkmate that The Black Death dealt the Jerome Gambit in 1884. The main theme is that of trapping the White Queen while pursuing the checkmate of the White King - sacrificing if necessary.

With best play White's Queen can escape, or at least deliver repeated checks that lead to a draw. In practice, according to The Database, White scores 71% - a testimony to the skills of the first player.

Whistler's defense is less well known, but can be quite dangerous if White takes the offered Rook - otherwise, it can be somewhat tedious. (For an example see "Jerome Gambit: Overthinking [Parts 1 & 2") The Database shows that White scores 63% against the Whistler, and 65% if he makes the capture - again, a testimony to the skills of the first player.

7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Whistler's it is.

"Is this a trick or is he bluffing?" GM Hikaru Nakamura asked himself when he found himself in a similar situation, in a recent Jerome Gambit. He concluded "I don't think he's bluffing".

8.Qxh8 

White shows that he is brave and confident in his ability to escape from risky situations.

Less courageous people like myself play 8.Qf4+. I have also tried 8.Qd5+, although the full story on that line will appear in an upcoming analysis by Yury V. Bukayev.

8...Qxe4+ 

This is the problem for White when he plays 8.Qxh8.

9.Kd1 Qg4+ 10.Ke1 Nf6 

This is a new move, according to The Database. More usual is 10...Qxg2, but Black first wants to keep White's Queen trapped.  

11.d3 Qxg2 12.Rf1 d5 13.Nd2 

White's Knight hurries to help on the defense.

White's Queen can move to escape with 13.Qd8, but 13...Bh3 14.Qxc7+ (not 14.Qxa8 as that leads to checkmate in a few moves after 14...Bb4+) Nd7 does not look good.

Also, active is 13.Bh6, but Black has 13...Qxf1+ 14.Kxf1 Bh3+ 15.Kg1 Rxh8. 

13...d4 

The opening variation is complicated, and it is not fair to expect Black to know the ins and outs of it.

The text move is fine, but he could have pursued his opponent's resignation with 13...Bf8 and 14...Bg7, winning the Queen. There are other lines of play, equally brutal.

14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxh7+ Kf6 16.Qh8+ Kf5 17.Qh4 Nf6 

White's Queen has escaped and will soon put an end to Black's attack.

18.Qg3 Qxg3 19.fxg3+ Ke5

 

White has a Rook and a pawn for two pieces, a satisfactory outcome to all his excitement. Computers and chess masters will probably assess Black as better, but it's still a fight for club players.

It is not clear what the time control of the game was.

20.Bg5 Nd5 21.a3 b6 22.Kd2 Bg4 23.Rae1+ Ne3

 The Knight looks powerful, but it soon leaves its outpost.

24.Rf4 Kd5 25.c4+ dxc3+ 26.bxc3 Ng2 27.Rxg4 Nxe1 28.Kxe1 Bxa3 

Black's protected passed a-pawn looks dangerous, but the position remains balanced.

29.Bf4 Re8+ 30.Kd2 Re6 31.Bxc7 a5 32.Bf4 a4 

Many Jerome Gambit games are saved in the endgame. A word to the wise Reader...

33.c4+ Kd4 

Yeow! There are tactics in the endgame, as White now shows.

34.Bd6+ Re4 35.Rxe4 checkmate

A very entertaining game.