Jerome Gambit: Monster

 

Victor Frankenstein's research into life itself could have revolutionized medicine. Instead, he created a monster.

Similarly, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can revitalize your chess - but it can also unleash unexpected dangers.

The following is a horrowing example.

oaitseziom - mubangaalfredo

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qc3 

Often we see White's Queen retreat with 9.Qe3. Why is that? From there it is prepared for aggression along the e-file. It also stays out of danger.

That said, the text move, which applies some pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal, was seen as early as Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875 (1-0, 28).

9...Qf6 10.Qxc7 

“With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries.” 

10...Nf4 

oaitseziom had already faced 10...N8e7, e.g. 11.O-O Kf7 12.d3 (12.Nc3 Rf8 13.d3 Kg8 14.f4 Bg4 15.h3 Bc8 16.Be3 b6 17.d4 Nh4 18.e5 Qg6 19.Rf2 Nef5 20.Re1 Rf7 21.d5 Rxc7 White resigned, oaitseziom -yodony, lichess.org, 2021) 12...Rf8 13.Nd2 Nf4 14.Nc4 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Nxc1 16.Nxd6+ Kg8 17.Raxc1 Ng6 18.c3 b6 19.b4 Ne5 20.d4 Ba6 21.dxe5 Qxe5 22.b5 Bxb5 23.Nxb5 Qxb5 24.f3 Rac8 25.Qxa7 Rxc3 26.Rb1 Qe2 27.Qxb6 Rc2 28.Rg1 Rxa2 29.Rbe1 Qd3 30.Rd1 Qe2 31.Rd8 Ra8 32.Rxf8+ Rxf8 33.Qe6+ Kh8 34.Qe7 Ra8 35.f4 h6 36.f5 Qb2 37.e5 Ra1 38.f6 Rxg1+ 39.Kxg1 Qc1+ 40.Kf2 Qd2+ 41.Kf3 Qd3+ 42.Kf4 g5+ 43.Kg4 Qe2+ 44.Kf5 Qd3+ 45.Ke6 Qc4+ 46.Kd7 Qb5+ 47.Kd8 Qd5+ 48.Ke8 Qa8+ 49.Kf7 Qd5+ 50.e6 Black resiged, oaitseziom - VladimirV7, lichess.org, 2022. 

11.g3 

“Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by slight ligaments are we bound to prosperity and ruin.”

11...Ng2+ 12.Kf1 Bh3 13.Kg1 Qf3 14.Nc3 Ne3 White resigned