Jerome Gambit: Dissecting A Game (Part 1)

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is made for blitz play. It creates an attack that requires some thought to meet properly - and thought often requires time to be effective.

If the game turns into something like roller skating on an ice rink, the player who has a better understanding of the opening is more likely to be successful.

The following 3-minute game is an entertaining and educational example worth dissecting, especially since White took up chess just a few months previously.

Guest1040892910 - Guest3992542693

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ 

White has two main lines of play here - this move, and 6.d4. The Queen check is forcing and can be deadly for a defender who quickly loses his way. The central pawn fork is slower, but provides fewer clues as to how Black should respond, also allowing for mishaps. 

6...g6 

This move is good and can lead to the Blackburne or the Whistler defense; but in either case, Black must be aware that he is offering his Rook at h8, with complicated play.

If the defender is responding to the "irresponsible" Queen check with a simple block and kick himself, he runs the risk of encountering too many surprises.

7.Qxe5 d6 

This is Blackburne's defense, named after the most well-known and notorious early Jerome Gambit game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884 (0-1, 14).

Instead, 7...Qe7 would be Whistler's defense, named after Lt. G. N. Whistler, secretary of the Lexington, Kentucky Chess Club, who played the defense - successfully - against Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in a correspondence match in 1876. 

8.Qxh8 Bg4 

This is an odd move, and I am not sure what the idea behind it is - although a lot of 3-minute games have moves that are not deeply analyzed. Perhaps Black wants to provoke f2-f3, which would open the a7-g1 diagonal for his dark squared Bishop and keep White from castling?

In any event, White is up the exchange and 3 pawns. The Database has a dozen games with this move, with White scoring 11 - 0 - 1. 

9.Qxh7+ Kf6 10.O-O Bh5 

This is an interesting idea: Black protects his g-pawn and hems in White's Queen. A major theme in the Blackburne defense is trapping the Queen and then either attacking it with the Rook at a8 or sacrificing that Rook, too, for a checkmating attack. Her Majesty is not yet in danger - but we are only 10 moves into the game.

11.d3 

I think that chess instructor National Master Dan Heisman has recommended that when you have won material, it isn't necessary - or prudent - to go hunting for more. Rather, it is worth taking the time, first, to make sure that your King is safe and your position solid.

That is why it is not a terrible thing that White bypassed 11.d4 Bxd4 12.Qh8+ Ke6 13.Qxd4.

11...Ke6 12.h4 

This move, in turn, is a puzzler. At first glance, it looks like a mouse slip for an intended 12.h3, another "safety" move.

The problem is that Black now has 12...Qxh4, and the game would suddenly be wildly even. That requires a bit of explanation, but the play is so Blackburne-ish, it is worth it. 

First, if White wants to help his Queen escape, he can answer 12...Qxh4 with 13.Qh8. He is not prepared for 13...Nf6!? 14.Qxa8 Kd7 when his best defense to Black's threat of his Knight coming to g4, with checkmate intended, is 15.Qf8 Ng4 16.Qf4 g5 17.Qf5+ when White can achieve a draw with repetition of position after 17...Kc6 18.Qd5+ or 17...Ke8 18.Qc8+. If Black's King moves to either d8 or e7, he would lose his Queen to 18.Bg5+.

Instead, White can rush his Knight to the Kingside after 12...Qxh4 13.Nd2 Rf8 14.Nf3 but 14...Rxf3!? is very strong for Black, and White would have to again look to find a draw in the repetition of positions after 15.Qxg8+, e.g. 15...Ke7 16.Be3 Rxe3!? (or 16...Rh3) 17.Qg7+, etc.

Perhaps White's best chance after 12...Qxh4 would be 13.d4 Bxd4 14.Qxc7 Be2!? 15.Qxb7 Nf6!?, although 16.Qxa8 would allow Black to force a draw after 16...Bxf1, and 16.Qd3+ d5 17.Qh3+ Qxh3 18.gxh3 Nxe4 is likely to devolve into a draw as well.

To be fair, that is a lot of analysis to expect from a 3-minute game.

12...Nf6 

[to be continued]