Jerome Gambit: Still, Advancing... (Part 1)

Sometimes when I play a "refuted" opening - I lose.

This even happens with the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), although The Database points out that in my 373 games with that opening, I have scored 83%.

[Insert discussion about various meanings of "refuted" here.]

Although my favorite opening appears to have failed me in the following encounter, I still have scored enough to take 2nd place in my group, and likely will advance to the 4th round of the Chess.com tournament.

The notes are worth looking at, for future alternative play.

perrypawnpusher - joro_videv

3 d/move, "Giuoco Piano Game" tournament

Chess.com 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7

Whistler's defense, referring to Jerome's correspondence match with Lt. G. N. Whistler, secretary of the Lexington, Kentucky Chess Club, was seen in Jerome - Whistler, correspondence, 1876 (0-1, 15).

Surpsisingly, I was 6-0-2 against Whistler's defense before this game

8.Qf4+ 

Capturing the Rook is objectively dangerous (because of the counter-attack 8...Qxe4+) but the play can be complicated. This is shown in The Database, where there are 632 games with 8.Qxh8, and White scores 62%.

8...Qf6 

8...Kg7 was seen in perrypawnpusher - tmarkst, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 43).

9.Qg3 

Allowing the exchange of Queens with 9.d3 Qxf4 10.Bxf4 has not been popular: I can find only a draw and a win for Black in The Database. Still, Stockfish 15 sees only about 1/4 of a pawn difference (at 35 ply) between 9.d3 and the text.

9...Ne7 

This move was seen in perrypawnpusher - yaku, 5 5 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1/2-1/2, 26).

This is not (yet) an exciting position for White, although the possibilities for the extra central (Jerome) pawns can already be seen.

10.Nc3 

This is a new move, but not necessarily best. It was intended to prevent 10...d5, and from that perspective it can be considered "successful" in that Black eventually played 10...d6 instead.

Still, Black could have played 10...d5 11.exd5 Bd6, which would point out the main failing of the text move. Indeed, Black could have played 10...Bd6 directly, suggesting that White's correct move was 10.d3, instead, in order to meet 10...Bd6 with 11.f4 (although Black would still have been better).

10...Rf8 11.O-O d6 12.d3 Kg8 

Black has wisely castled-by-hand.

Stockfish 15 now suggests that White try 13.Bg5, followed by Ne2, c3 and d4. It also takes a look at Na4, to exchange the Knight for the annoying enemy Bishop.

[to be continued]