Jerome Gambit: Misdirection

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is an interesting example of a magician's "misdirection", where attention is drawn to a particular space while the real action occurs elsewhere. 

In this case, the defender attends to the exchange of pieces - lastly, Rooks - and overlooks some critical central action.

Wall, Bill - KFKF

internet, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

Alonzo Wheeler Jerome presented this move in his analysis in the Dubuque Chess Journal of July 1874, and played it successfully in two correspondence games against Daniel Jaeger in 1880.

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qf4+ Nf6 9.Nc3 d6 10.d3 Qe5 11.Qxe5 dxe5 

The Queens are gone, but Bill has other attacking ideas.

12.Rf1 Ke7 13.f4 Bd4 

This is an interesting idea, but there was nothing wrong with 13...exf4 14.Bxf4 c6.

14.Ne2 Bg4 15.c3 Bxe2 16.Kxe2 Bb6 

Black continues to simplify the position, although in doing so the value of White's "extra" pawns becomes more apparent.

Stockfish 15 (30 ply) sees the position as equal, although I suspect most club players would prefer playing with the pawns.

17.fxe5 Nd7 18.d4 Rhf8 

Seeking another piece exchange. He might have considered hitting at the pawn center, instead, with 18...c5.

19.Rf5 g6 20.Bg5+ Ke6 

A slip. He could have continued his exchange policy with 20...Ke8 21.Rf3 Rxf3 22.gxf3 but White's pawn mass would gain in power.

21.d5 checkmate