Jerome Gambit: Developing (Part 1)

 

I enjoy sharing Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games played by masters and grandmasters. 

I also enjoy sharing my own games, providing history, insights and analysis where I can - even if I tend to get a bit long winded.

I especially enjoy games of players who are new to the Jerome Gambit, and possibly new to chess itself.

Recently, I received a handful of games between two developing players. I would like to share them, for a couple of reasons.

First, you may well find them to be exciting. Second, if you are an experienced player and Jerome Gambiteer, you might notice the slips in play, but still enjoy the games through the lens of nostalgia -everyone is new to the Jerome at some point.

dperez22 - drewski02

3 2 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Qf6 8.Qe8+ 

This move screams out to be played. (In fact, The Database shows it has been played 4 times before.) White's Queen continues her attack. If Black blocks the check with his Knight, White can capture his Rook.

The problem with this analysis is that it is not deep enough. This is the product of both the blitz time control and not enough experience with different Jerome Gambit lines.

Also, while defenders object that an early active Queen in the Jerome Gambit violates the rules of good play, their argument grows stronger if Her Majesty continues to work without assistance.

For starters, Black can play 8...Ne7 here, as 9.Qxh8 would be met by the strong 9...Qh4+. After 10.g3 Qg4, White's lonely King would face 3 Black pieces (an old piece of chess wisdom mentions "three pieces and an attack"). Capturing the Knight with 11.fxe5 would lead to being checkmated in 5 moves, while helping the Queen escape with 11.Qxh7 would lead to being checkmated in 9 moves. Everything else would allow 11...Nf3+ followed by doom and gloom.

8...Qe7

Well, was all that worry wasted? Black does not want to give up the Rook, after all, but the offer to exchange Queens is also good for him.

9.f5+

Another bit of chess wisdom - that not all teachers agree with - is that "a bad plan is better than no plan at all". Here, White continues his aggressive moves. He has to. He is down two pieces. The objectively "best" move of withdrawing the Queen has almost not chance of success.

White benefits from Black's acceptance that he must know what he is doing. Also, this fits in well with the common blitz strategy of continually making threats: the defender may be able to successfully deal with each threat, but the time devoted to find the right moves could lead to the loss of the game. 

9...Kf6 10.Qh5 

Sadly, the Queen retreats. Perhaps at this point, Black threw his hat in the air.

The game is not over, however. Black does not quite relax, but his focus on developing his light square Bishop leads to trouble.

10...b6 11.g4 Bb7 12.g5 checkmate

Ouch. That had to hurt.