Jerome Gambit: Refusing to Go Along

It can be a lot of fun for the attacker when his opponent accepts both sacrificed pieces in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

Although relatively rare, the chance that Black might not be completely greedy when it comes to material must also be taken into account.

The following casual game is a good example of White dealing with the issue.

vmyxin10 - Elazar

internet, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 

Okay, this piece is worth taking.

5.Nxe5+ Kf8 

It certainly is not necessary for the defender to capture the second sacrificed piece - he can maintain an advantage without it. There is also some psychological effect from refusing to go along with White's plans.

6.c3

White's idea is simple and logical: build a pawn center.

I was surprised to find only one other game with this line of play in The Database, chessmanjeff - RISKYRISKY, 5 0 blitz, FICS, 2018 (1-0, 37).

For that matter, I found only three games with the related 5...Nxe5 6. c3: ranran - mewantking, 1 0 lightning, FICS, 2008 (0-1, 31);  jtrochez1 - sansubari, SchemingMind.com, 2009 (1-0, 13); and chessmanjeff - leadtwooeight, blitz, 5 0 blitz, FICS, 2017 (0-1, 45).

It would appear that the general belief among Jerome Gambit players is that 5.c3 or 6.c3 are too slow. Stockfish 15 would agree.

Lucky for us, Jerome Gambit play is not a popularity contest.

 6...Nxe5 

Interesting. Black captures the second pawn, after all. However, because of his King move there is a chance that he could fall behind by a couple of moves, compared to the 6.c3 lines, if his plan was to castle-by-hand. (i.e. 5...Kf8 moves into the way of the Rook, ...Kf7 would move out of its way) 

7.d4 Bxd4 8.cxd4 Ng6 

White has his center.

9.O-O d6 

Humans and computers often do not think alike.

Humans like to play ...d7d6, to prevent White's e-pawn from advancing to e5, or at least to set up a chance to exchange it.

Computers like to play ...d7d5, hitting the pawn center, allowing White to advance his e-pawn to e5 where it will prevent the natural development of a Black Knight to f6.

10.f4 Nh6 

The "Jerome pawns" are beginning to look troublesome, compared to Black's extra piece.

11.f5 Ne7 12.Bxh6 gxh6 13.Nc3 c6 

Black's Kingside is disrupted, and he lags in development.

14.Qg4 

The Queen could also have gone out to h5.

14...Ng6 

"Scientific progress goes 'boink' ", as the cartoonist Bill Watterson, who drew "Calvin and Hobbes", would say.

Here, Black's plan is to scientifically stifle White's attack by returning some of the sacrificed material. 

15.Qh5 

For a moment, White seems to regret his previous move and extends his Queen's range.

In a moment, he will apparently recall that he had 15.fxg6+ available, which will wrap up the game.

15...Qh4 

Offering to exchange Queens. More science. But too late.

He could have tried to hang on with 15...Kg7, when after 16.f6+ Kf7 17.Qxh6 Qf8 18.Qh5 Be6 it looks like he is hanging on. Stockfish 15, however, shows what an additional 10 purposeful moves will bring about: 19. Rae1 Rc8 20. e5 dxe5 21. Rxe5 Qd6 22. Rd1 Bd5 23. Rde1 Rc7 24.h4 h6 25. Nxd5 cxd5 26. Re6 Qxe6 27. Rxe6 Kxe6 28. Qxg6 Rf7 White's Queen and extra pawns are stronger than Black's Rooks.

16.fxg6+ Kg7 17.Qxh4 hxg6 18.Qe7+ Black resigned

It will be checkmate next move.