Jerome Gambit: Free Tempos

I think there is a tiny debate in the chess world as to whether the plural of "tempo" is either "tempos" or "tempi", but there is little debate as to whether surrendering them - allowing the opponent extra moves, as it were - is a risky strategy.

In the following game, Bill Wall takes advantage of his opponent's generosity.

Wall, Bill - Yomate

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

This move was covered by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in his article in the July 1874 issue of the Dubuque Chess Journal.

7.Qxe5 Bd6 

Actually, this move is not as bad as it looks, given that it moves an already developed piece and blocks the d-pawn (which blocks the Bishop, which hems in the Rook).

There are 176 games in The Database with this move. White scores 51%. Stockfish 15.1 rates the position as about 2 1/2 pawns better for Black.

8.Qc3 Qf6 9.d4 Qe7 10.Nd2 Bb4 

There goes the Bishop again.

11.Qd3 Bxd2+ 

And again.

12.Bxd2 

Black retains his advantage of a piece for two pawns, but he has allowed White a better pawn center, greater development and the option of castling either Kingside or Queenside.

12...Nf6 

Played with the reassurance that White's e-pawn is pinned. Still, 12...d5, striking in the center and opening up the Bishop's diagonal, would have done more good work. 

13.e5 Nd5 

A Jerome Gambit player will look at this position and immediately begin thinking about when to play c2-c4 and f2-f4.

14.O-O h6

Another tempo donation.

15.f4 d6 16.c4 Nb6 17.f5 dxe5 18.dxe5 Qxe5

 There is too much going on to stop to grab a pawn, as Bill shows.

19.f6 gxf6 20.Qg6 Nd7 21.Rae1 Qxb2 22.Re8 checkmate