Thursday, October 7, 2021

Jerome Gambit: Normal Fails



One thing that makes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) attractive for club blitz play is that many defensive moves and plans seem normal, and, therfore, reasonable; but they eventually turn out to be flawed.

The following short game is a good example. 


Astral1119 - BenTheMaster00

5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2021


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 

Why cooperate with White's attack, by capturing the Knight?

Indeed, this is a good response for Black, but not if he only follows normal moves.

6.Qh5+ 

The most aggressive response.

Best, but complicated, is 6.Nxc6 Qh4!?, a line that has 0 examples in The Database.

6...g6 7.Nxg6 Qf6 

This attack on White's King would work, if there were enough time. There isn't.

Instead, Black could attack the enemy Queen right away with 7...Nf6. Then, after 8.Qxc5 hxg6 9.f3 he would have an edge.

In fact, since Black is going to lose his Bishop anyhow, he could improve with 7...Bxf2+ first, followed by 8.Kxf2 Nf6, with White's Knight at g6 later to be taken. It is interesting to consult The Database, where the Bishop sacrifice scored only 17% for Black in a dozen games, despite leading to a position that is "objectively" better.

8.Nxh8+ Kd8 9.Qxc5 Qxh8 10.Qf8 checkmate


Nice.


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