Jerome Gambit: First Time

 

Why do club players employ the Jerome Gambit?

I recently received a game, with the accompanying comment "I tried out the Jerome, and the first time I used it, my opponent was getting destroyed."

CenturionianPlatinum - zirzir

5 5 blitz, Chess.com, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6 

In his first Jerome Gambit, White hits the jackpot. Out of 11,649 games in The Database with the position after 6.Qh5+, only 212 see 6...Kf6. That is less than 2% of the time. 

7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qd5+ Ke8 10.Qh5+ Kf8 11.Qxc5+ d6 12.Qe3 Bd7 

White has the positional benefits that come with the Jerome - and he has also regained his sacrificed pieces, remaining two pawns ahead. Nice.

13.O-O Nf6 14.d3 h6 

This Rook move, often played for defensive purposes, frequently weakens the squares around the King. 

15.Nc3 Kf7 16.f4 Rf8 17.f5 Kg8

Black has castled-by-hand, but an attack is coming.

18.Qg3 Qe7 19.Bxh6 Kh8 20.Bg5 Qf7 

21.Qh4+ Kg8 22.Rf3 Nh7 23.Be7 Rfe8 

24.Rh3 Rxe7 25.Qxh7+ Kf8 26.Qh8+ Qg8 27.Qh4 c6 28.Rf1 Rae8 29.Qg3 Rf7 30.Qxd6+ Ree7 31.Qb8+ Re8 32.Qxa7 

Death by a thousand cuts...

32...Bxf5 33.Qa3+ Ree7 34.exf5 Black resigned