Jerome Gambit: It's Catching

The Jerome Gambit features the sacrifice of two pieces, to disrupt normal play, take Black out of his preparation, and expose the enemy King. 

In the following game, piece sacrifice appears to be contageous - although the intentions of the defender-turned-counter-attacker are less easily discerned.

Wall, Bill - Marobaut

internet, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qa5 

Bill likes to experiment. The Database shows that on different occasions in response to 8...d6 he has retreated his Queen to a3, a5, b5, c3, c4, e3 and h5. He has played 8.Qe3 the most.

9...Ne5 

Bill has faced 9...Nf6 in Wall,B - Guest1151077, PlayChess.com, 2013 (1-0, 33) and Wall,B - Guest6808573, PlayChess.com, 2019 (1-0, 26). 

10.d4 Ng4 

Black is feeling adventurous. There was no reason to bypass 10...Nc6. 

11.O-O Nxh2 

Getting in the sacrifical spirit of things.

12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qxh2 Nf6

This is another one of those Jerome Gambit positions that at first glance garners the assessment "White is up a pawn" - but his advantage is far greater than that. Stockfish 15 suggests more than two pieces and a pawn better.

14.Bg5 

Here is the first point: Black will lose a piece.

14...Kf7

The King hurries to protect the pinned Knight. If 14...h6 - oops, the h-pawn is pinned - 15.e5 Ng4 16.Bxd8 Nxh2 17.Bf6! Nxf1 18.Bxh8 when Black's Knight is trapped and will be lost. 

As it turns out, f7 is an unfortunate place for His Majesty.

15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Ng4 17.Qf4+ Black resigned

White's Queen escapes from the attack, with check, leaving her counterpart vulnerable. Now 17...Nf6 simply loses a piece to 18.Bxf6.