Jerome Gambit: Psychology

There is a psychological aspect to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). The defender, expecting to enter into a quiet game (Giuoco Piano), suddenly is under a wild attack that can come as a surprise and be very unsettling.

Black also has a few psychological counters.

Simplest is to decline the Bishop sacrifice with 4...Kf8. White, intent upon some kind of Bashi-Bazouk attack, has to be content with withdrawing the Bishop to d5 or c4 or b3; and a realization that he is playing a quiet game, although with an extra pawn, against a displaced King. (Stockfish 15 rates White as better by more than 2 pawns.)

Black can decline the offered Knight after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ with 5...Kf8; again the game does not turn out as White planned.

A more developed psychological counter by Black is seen in the "Counter-Jerome Defense" or the "Counter-Jerome Gambit", as is seen in the following game.

Anonymous - Anonymous

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 

Here, Black can play Blackburne's 7...d6, or Whistler's 7...Qe7.

Instead, he initiates a Jerome-like piece sacrifice to promote the exchange of Queens.

7...Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.Rf1 Nxe4+ 11.Kg1+

I find this a fascinating position.

Material is equal and development is roughly balanced, although King safety may become an issue for Black.

I was surprised to see that Stockfish 15 (35 ply) rates White as about 4 pawns better.

The database has 24 games with this position, with White scoring 79%.

This game demonstrates. 

11...Kg7 12.b3 

Targeting the Black King along the long a1-h8 diagonal.

12...Kh6 

Dodging the upcoming Bishop attack which would skewer the King and win the Rook.

But this walks into more danger. 

Remember, this is a 3-minute blitz game, and accidents can happen.

13.d3+ g5 14.dxe4 Re8 

Black's Rook is out of danger - for now.

15.Re1 d5 16.Nc3 d4 17.Nd5 Re6 

Stumbling, in order to prevent Rf6+, but overlooking the possible fork with 18.Nxc7. It is a difficult day for the piece.

18.h4  

Focusing on the King.

18...Kh5 19.Bxg5 c6 20.Nf4+ Kg4 21.Nxe6 Bxe6 

White is a Rook up. Can he bring the game home before his flag falls?

22.Rad1 c5 23.Rf1 Kh5 24.Rf6 Re8 

White has a forced checkmate.

25.Rdf1 Bg8 26.Rf8 

An exchange of Rooks increases his advantage.

26...Rxf8 27.Rxf8 Be6 

White can easily grind out an endgame win, or go for a checkmate.

For the latter he will need to involve one more piece.

28.Rf6 Bd7 29.Kf2 b5 30.Kf3 Bg4+ 31.Kf4 Bd1 32.Rh6 checkmate

It does not appear that White was troubled in the least by the absence of his Queen.