Jerome Gambit: Lessons From the Grandmaster's Games (Part 3)

It is possible for a club player to keep up with a grandmaster, especially when the GM is giving "Jerome Gambit odds" - for a little while, at least.

In the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, Black's position is better after a dozen moves, and is even after one more. However, following the maxim that In the Jerome Gambit, when White equalizes, he has the advantage, White forces resignation after Black plays a half-dozen more moves.

Grandmasters, they are different.

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+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 

The Grandmaster's choice - as in SanitationEngineer - NN, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020 (1-0, 45); GMHikaruOnTwitch - Jesus-vous-bat-tous, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 25); GMHikaruOnTwitch - Math694, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 25); GMHikaruOnTwitch - szachy1000, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 21); GMHikaruOnTwitch - simonsah2004, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 27) [see "Jerome Gambit: GM Hikaru Nakamura Again"] - although not as strong as the "nudge" 7.Qd5+, played as early as Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1874 (1-0, 28).

7...c6 

Keeps an enemy piece off of d5, and allows for ...d7-d5.

8. O-O Qe7

According to The Database, this is a new move, and a good one.

9.Qe3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Re8 11.d3 Kg8 

Black knows enough about the Jerome Gambit to castle-by-hand.

12.f4 d5 13.e5 Nd7 

I was amused to see that Stockfish 14 recommended 13...Ng4, instead, as I have criticized "attacking the Queen with the Knight, for no good reason" in the past. The line Stockfish 14 recommends is complicated, but I suppose it represents "good reason".

14.d4 b6 15.f5 Ngf8 16.Qg3 c5 

Black hopes to undermine White's pawn center before it becomes dangerous. He is a bit late, however, and he also makes a couple of tactical errors. Remember, this is a 3 0 blitz game, and it can be easy to overlook things.

17.Nxd5 Qd8 

Preventing a Knight fork of two Rooks from c7, but falling victim to something worse.

18.Bg5 Qxg5 

Falling on his sword. If, instead, 18...Nf6, White can follow with 19.Bxf6 (the g-pawn is pinned) 19...Qd7 20.e6 when 20...Nxe6 21.fxe6 Rxe6 would not be enough, as 22.Rae1 would highlight White's attack. Black would have to surrender a lot of material, and suffer checkmate anyhow.

19.Qxg5 cxd4 20.f6 Black resigned

There is too much to defend against.