Jerome Gambit: In and Out of Danger

 

Playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) offers the first player many opportunities to move into and out of danger. While an "objective" computer might constantly proclaim the failure of an attack, it is remarkable how many players are able to make their way through complications - often taking advantage of them - and achieve victory.

Just because the computer thinks that my position is worse - or better - doesn't mean that I am going to lose - or win - my game. If there is a move that can refute my play, but you don't find that move, then you are going to have a harder time refuting my plan...

That is the lesson Bill Wall constantly teaches with his games, like the following.

Wall, Bill - KingChess

internet, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 

Although I have lightly labeled this as a "pie-in-the-face" variation, it is a strong counter, with a focus on piece development and attack on the King. It was first seen in Sorensen - Anonymous, Denmark, 1888 (1-0, 27).

The play is complicated, and even though it is "objectively" better for Black, The Database has 327 examples, with White scoring 63%.

As always with the Jerome Gambit, familiarity is important for survival.

7.O-O d6 

Bill has recently faced a couple of other variations of "pie"

7...Qxe4 8.dxc5 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qc6 10.Be3 b6 11.Bd4 Ng6 12.cxb6 axb6 13.Re1 Rf8 14.f3 Kg8 15.Qe2 Ra5 16.Qd2 Nh5 17.Ne4 Nhf4 18.Kh1 Bb7 19.Qf2 Rh5 20.Bc3 Nh4 21.Rg1 Nf5 White resigned, Wall,B - NoChance, internet, 2022; and 

7...Ng4 8.h3 N8f6 9.dxc5 Re8 10.hxg4 Nxg4 11.Bf4 Rxe4 12.Bxc7 Re6 13.Qf3+ Rf6 14.Qd5+ Kf8 15.Bd6+ Rxd6 16.Qxd6+ Kg8 17.Nd2 h6 18.Rae1 Nf6 19.Re7 b5 20.Ne4 Bb7 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Qxd7 Black resigned, Wall,B - MasterK, internet, 2022. 

8.dxc5 dxc5 

Black can afford to return one of the two sacrificed pieces, but he can not afford to lose focus like this.

Two alternative ideas for play, both leading to Black advantage:

8...Nf6 (three games in The Database, all won by White - one by Bill) 9.f4 Neg4 10.h3 d5!? and 8...Qxe4 9.cxd6 cxd6 10.Qxd6 Nf6 (zero games in The Database). 

9.Qd5+ Kf6 10.Qd8+ 

It looks like Bill is messing with his opponent's head; or perhaps the game was played at a fast time control. White skewers Black's King, looking to capture the Queen when it moves. Blocking the check gives up a Rook.

In any event, while the move looks scary, it puts White's Queen in danger. Stockfish 14.1 suggests 10.f4 Nc6 11.b4!? and it is clear that it is Black's King who is being hunted. 

10...Ne7 11.Qxh8 

Mission accomplished.

11...Nf7 

The moment is lost.

Instead, there was the Blackburnian idea 11...Bh3!? (the pin on the Bishop does not hold) when it is clear that if White captures a second Rook, he will be checkmated: 12.Qxa8 Qg4 13.g3 Qf3, etc. Capturing the Bishop is not much better in the long run: 12.gxh3 Nf3+ 13.Kg2 Qxe4 and there are too many discovered checks to deal with.

Stockfish recommends that White meet 11...Bh3!? with 12.f4, but the simple 12...Rxh8 is then crushing. 

12.e5+ 

Just like that, White has escape plans for his Queen, starting with the obvious 12...Kxe5 13.Qxg7+. There is also 12.Qe8 to meet 12...Bh3 with 13.Qa4 Qg4 14. e5+ Nxe5 15. Qxg4 Bxg4 16.Bf4 when White is better.

12...Kg6 13.Qe8 

13...b6 

Clearly planning to put his Bishop on b7 to protect his Rook, which would attack White's Queen and pressure White's King...

His best bet was still 13...Bh3, when the computer suggests 14.Qb5 Bxg2 15.Qd3+ Be4 16.Qg3+ Qxg3+ 17.fxg3 Nxe5 18. Nd2 Bxc2 19.Nf3 Nxf3+ 20. Rxf3 Rd8 as better for White. Black would have two pawns for the exchange, so I am not convinced; perhaps the relative safety of White's King would tilt things in his favor. 

14.e6 h6

With Black's pieces huddled by his King, he can not now afford to play 14...Bxe6 and allow 15.Qxa8 - yet that is his "best" option.

15.exf7 Bb7 16. f8=N+ 

Nifty. (Of course, promoting to a Queen was fine, too.)

White now finishes the game with checkmate.

16...Kf6 17.Nh7+ Kf5 18.Qf7+ Ke5 19.Re1+ Kd6 20.Qe6 checkmate