Jerome Gambit: A Complicated Variation

Although it remains a complicated variation for both Black and White, it is becoming clearer that if the attacker opts to face the Blackburne defense in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) he has his best chances - "objectively" and practically - with the less popular of two lines of play.

The following blitz game gives a small peek at that line.

 

UnnamedHunter - Vic73

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

It is important for Black to realize that he is offering a Rook here. See "Jerome Gambit: What About the Rook?"

7.Qxe5 

Black is at a crossroads. He can play 7...d6, Blackburne's defense, or 7...Qe7, Whistler's defense.

Computers tend to prefer Whistler, based on the counter-attacking chances after 7...Qe7 8.Qxh8 Qxe4+. 

Many players, however, remember and are inspired by Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884 (0-1, 14), and play Blackburne's 7...d6.

7...d6 8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.d4 

According to The Database, White played 9.0-0 in 150 games, scoring 65%. (Current theory is that best play leads to a draw.)

On the other hand, there are 99 games in The Database where White played 9.d4, and he scored 77%.

Knowledge of the lines, tactical skill, and time management seem to have more to do with winning, as opposed to anything Stockfish 14.1 would have to say.

There are ideas tucked in the notes to "Jerome Gambit: It Helps to Be Prepared" and a caution in "Jerome Gambit: Not So Easy"

Three continuations show how complex the play can become

Black wins the Queen for two Rooks and a Bishop: 9...Bb4+ 10.c3 Bh3 11.gxh3 Re8 12.O-O Nf6 13.Qxe8+ Kxe8 14.cxb4 Nxe4 15.Nc3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qxh3 17.f3 Kd7 18.Be3 Qf5 19.Rae1 Kc8 20.Rf2 b5 21.Kg2 Kb7 22.h4 ;

White's Queen escapes and he is up a piece, but his King is uneasy: 9...Qxe4+ 10.Be3 Qxg2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Rf1 Bb4+ 13.c3 Bf5 14.cxb4 Bd3 15.Nd2 Re8 16.Qh4 Kg7 17.Qg3 Bxf1 18.Nxf1 Qd5 19.O-O-O Qxa2 20.d5 ; and

White's Queen escapes but Black wins it for two Rooks and an attack that fizzles: 9...Nf6 10.e5 dxe5 11.Nd2 Bxd4 12.O-O Bd7 (12...Be6 13.Nf3 Bxf2+ 14.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 15.Kxf2 Rxh8 16.Nxe5+) 13.Qxa8 Bc6 14.Qd8 Qg4 15.Qxc7+ Kg8 16.Qxc6 bxc6 17.Nf3 Bb6 18.h3 Qf5 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.fxe3 Qxc2 21.Rac1 Qe4 22.Rfe1 

9...Bb6 

Black would like to attack White's Kingside, while also trapping and winning White's Queen, but first he rescues his Bishop.

The recommended line here, though, is 9...Nf6, as in dj222 - invincible1, GameKnot.com, 2003 (1-0, 17). Surprisingly, that is the only game example in The Database.

More popular is the attractive 9...Qxe4+, as in perrypawnpusher - DocBrowne, 3d/move, Giuoco Piano tournament, Chess.com, 2021, (1-0, 19). The play can become wild after 10.Be3 Qxg2 11.Qxh7+, but Black's King will be more at risk than his counterpart, who can eventually play Nd2 and 0-0-0.

10.O-O 

White tends to the safety of his King. The computer suggests 10.Be3 first, but I side with UnnamedHunter on this one. Remember, this is a blitz game.

10...c5 

Undermining White's pawn center.

Black could have tried Stockfish 14.1's novelty suggestion, 10...Bh3, but that would have better fit a game with either a much longer time control - or a 1-minute bullet game where everything quickly gets randomized.

11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Qc3 Qxe4 

Each side has gotten what it wants: Black has destroyed White's pawn center, while White's Queen has escaped.

White is ahead an exchange and a pawn, and his King is sheltered.

13.Be3 Bb6 

White can now exchange Bishops, but he puts his Knight into play, instead.

14.Nd2 Qg4 15.Nc4 Nf6 16.Nxd6+ Kg7 

A slip, but ultimately it does not matter.

17.Rad1 

Solid. 17.Ne8+ Kg8 18.Nxf6+ would have finished a bit earlier. Black had his plan, and he executed it.

17...Bd7 18.Nxb7 Rc8 19.Rxd7+ Black resigned