Jerome Gambit: Just What the Doctor Ordered

I have been ill the last few days, with a fever up to 102 degrees, which is not good for an old brain.

Today I was restless: life on ginger ale and crackers can get pretty boring, fever dreams notwithstanding.

So, after Oooo-ing and Ahhhh-ing over the latest pictures of the grandkids, I decided to again ("Jerome Gambit: Doggone") wander over to the Chess.com website and occupy my mind with another tussle with a cyber version ("Hide Your Homework! The New Dog Bots Are Here") of "man's best friend".

True, Buddy Buckets is rated 1350, and this is hardly a good game, but I was looking for a therapy dog, not a chess lesson (otherwise known as "receiving a beat-down"). Canine kindness prevailed, and Dr. Dog helped lift my spirits.

perrypawnpusher - buddybuckets-dog (c)

casual game, Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Bc5 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6 

The Jerome Gambit is known as a "refuted" opening, but it still helps to know a little theory to combat it. This move, protecting the Knight, is overly optimistic. The Database has 283 games with this position; White scores 79%.

7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5+ d6 10.Qe3 Bd7 

Take back two sacrificed pieces and call me in the morning.

11.Nc3 Be6 12.O-O c6 13.f4 Bf7 14.d4 Ne7 

Black's play has been too cautious. His King is still in the center, and files will be opened against it.

15.e5 Rc8 16.e6 Bg8 17.f5 h5 

The computer's equivalent of yelling Squirrel! to distract me. 17...h6 or 17...Ke8 were better, but would not have put off Buddy's problems.

The "Jerome pawns" will continue their advance.

18.f6 Ng6 19.e7+ 

It is unfortunate that the best move, now, is 19...Qxe7, giving up the Queen. Black's choice, instead, leads to inescapable mate.

19...Nxe7 20.fxe7+ Ke8 21.exd8=Q+ Kxd8 22.Rf8+ Kd7 23.Rxc8 Kxc8 24.Qe8+ Kc7 25.Bg5 Kb6 26.Bd8+ Ka6 27.Qe2+ b5 28.a4 Rh6 29.axb5+ Kb7 30.Qe7+ Kb8 31.Qc7+ Ka8 32.Qc8 checkmate

Thank you, Buddy Buckets.