Jerome Gambit: A Few Tactical Ideas in Your Pocket

It is always good to have a few tactical ideas in your pocket - you never know when they might come in handy. 

The following game is won by such an idea.

Mauricio060215 - Cpt_Joseph

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2023

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

 4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

This is one of the so-called "modern" variations of the Jerome Gambit, because Alonzo Wheeler Jerome and early players all focused, instead, on 5.Nxe5+.

White decides that sacrificing one piece is enough.

The Database has 1,971 games, with 5.O-O. White scores 41%.

It has 20,917 games with 5.Nxe5+. White scores 57%  

But our silicon friend suggests that the story is not over. At 40 ply, Stockfish 15's analysis is that 5.Nxe5+ is only .2 of a pawn better than 5.O-O. That's not much of a difference at all.

The question should be: How wild a game do you want?

5...Be7 

Black has defensive plans.

6.c3 d6 7.d4 Nf6 

8.dxe5 dxe5 

Okay, thinks White, let's try something

9.Qb3+ Be6 

Bingo!

So many defenders against the Jerome Gambit love to harass the White Queen.

But White is ready.

10.Ng5+ 

Of course.

Rememer, this is a 5 minute blitz game. Such a thing is less likely to occur with longer time controls.

10...Kg6 

Black flees his castle behind a wall of pawns.

11.Qxe6 Rf8 12.Qf5+ Kh6 13.Nf7 checkmate

Very nice.