Jerome Gambit: Stumbling and Tumbling Knights

In an even Queenless middle game, Black's Knights stumble and tumble and give the game away.

To be sure, Bill Wall, with the White pieces, had a hand in that, too.

Wall, Bill - Excelencia

internet, 2023

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.Qe3 Nf6  

Here we have a standard Jerome Gambit position, one that appears over 700 times in The Database, with White scoring 66%.

10.f4 Ng4 

This is not a "bad" move for Black, but it is another example of the defender deciding to harass the Queen.

11.Qg3 Qe7 

Consistent would have been 11...Qh4 12.Qxh4 Nxh4, with an edge to Black.

12.O-O Rf8 13.d3 Qh4 

Deciding upon the exchange after all.

14.Qxh4 Nxh4 

White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece. The game is even.

15.h3 Nh6 16.Nc3 c6 17.f5 

Hunting the Knights.

17...g5 

A slip. Instead, 17...N4xf5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Be3 would have led to an edge for White. 

18.Bxg5 Nxg2

Things would open up too quickly after 18...N4xf5 19.exf5 Nxf5 20.Rae1+.

 19.Bxh6 Rf6 20.Bd2 Nh4 21.Bg5 Black resigned