Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Jerome Gambit: A Horrible End


Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) player, even with the best of intentions, takes a mis-step and pays for it with a horrible end. 

Consider the following game a Public Service Announcement.


TheCoolWise - Pkphaphama

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Qf6 8.c3 

White plans d2-d4, forking the enemy Bishop and Knight - in the abstract, a good idea. It also works against the threat of ...Qf7# by planning to block the supportive Bishop.

However, the loss of tempo quickly shows why the best move in the position is 8.Rf1.

8...Qxf4 9.d4 

The only bail out for White is to exchange Queens with 9.Qf5+ Qxf5 10.exf5+ Kxf5 11.d4 Nxd3+ 12.Kd2 Nxb2 13.Bxb2 Bd6 and Black will have a piece for a pawn.

9...Qxc1+ 10.Kf2 Nd3+ 11.Kg3 Qe3+ 12.Kh4 Be7+ 13.Kg4 Nf2 checkmate


Ouch.

I have only played against this particular line - 7.f4 Qf6 - once, perrypawnpusher - Nivaethan2000, Giuoco Piano thematic, Chess.com, 2016 (1-0, 17), and am glad that I found 8.Rf1.


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