Thursday, August 12, 2021

Jerome Gambit: Lessons From the Grandmaster's Games (Part 1)



A quick look at the following 3-minute Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game by Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, from one of his speedruns (see "Jerome Gambit: Speedrunning Tricks") provides a few lessons for the developing club player.


GM Nakamura - NN

3 0 blitz, internet, 2021


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

Maybe the GM's opponent is familiar with the Jerome, and this is his favorite defense; maybe he just wants to hang onto material.

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 

The Database shows 50 previous games with this position, including ones in which Alonzo Wheeler Jerome plays against Shinkman, Brownson, Amateur, Jaeger, Paine, Colburn and Charles. Both players appear to have a feel for the opening.

10...Ne7 

Reasonable, but 10...Nf6! was stronger. 

11.c3 Ng6 

Black believes that he has prepared for the coming pawn advance, but he has overlooked something. An even game was to be had with 11...Qf6 

12.d4 Rf8


White's pawn forks the enemy Queen and Bishop, but Black's Rook attacks White's Queen. Is that enough for the defender?

13.dxe5+ 

Capturing with check, the kind of thing that can be overlooked in the calculations in a 3-minute game.

13...Kxe5 14.Qh5+ Kd6 15.Qd5+ Black resigned

White will pick up another piece, and be a Queen ahead.


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