Monday, August 9, 2021



One temptation that afflicts many who defend against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is to attack White's Queen - not so much as part of a larger plan, but simply because the defender can.

In most cases, the offending piece is the Knight.

In the following game, instead of retiring politely, Black's Bishop repositions itself in order to attack the enemy Queen. The move is part of a plan, but it fails, nonetheless.

A pleasant Jerome Gambit blitz win.


Robepersky - anzali

5 0 blitz, FICS, 2021


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 Qe7 


This position is as old as Jaeger - Jerome, correspondence, 1880 (0-1, 14) and Jaeger - Jerome, correspondence, 1880 (0-1, 40).

8.Qf4+ Nf6 9.c3 d5 10.d4 Bd6 


The Bishop attacks White's Queen, while also aiming at the enemy Kingside. With a 3:1 piece development advantage, Black feels comfortable.

However, White's "Jerome pawn" messes things up.

11.e5 Kg8 

Black immediately breaks the pin on his Knight. Also possible was 11...c6 12.0-0 Bb8 13.exf6 saving the Bishop and giving up the Knight, when White would have a slight edge. 

12.O-O Nh5 


Now the Knight attacks the Queen, but the tactics are not on its side.

13.exd6 Nxf4 14.dxe7 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Nxc1 16.e8=Q checkmate





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