Jerome Gambit Declined 4...Kf8

This blog has featured a lot of Jerome Gambits with Bill Wall playing the White pieces.

Occasionally we show him playing the Black pieces.

In those cases, which prevails, Wall or Jerome? 

Predictably, it is Wall.

Muralha - Wall, Bill

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kf8 

According to The Database, Bill is 8 - 0 against the ...Kf8 declined Jerome Gambit. This is his only attempt to play the declined.

This is the only Jerome Gambit that The Database has for Muralha.

By the way, according to The Database White scores 60% against the Jerome Gambit declined with 4...Kf8, versus 51% against the Jerome Gambit accepted with 4...Kxf7. (Less often seen is 4...Ke7, where White scores 72%.)

5.Bxg8 

White settles for a position where he is a pawn ahead.

Stockfish 15.1 rates the withdrawal 5.Bb3 as about a half pawn better than the text. 

5...Kxg8 6.O-O d6 7. c3 Qf6 8.Qb3+ Qf7 9.c4 

A pawn ahead, he decides to clamp down on the d5 square.

9...Qg6 10.g3 

Anticipating Black's next move. With 10.Nc3 Bh3 11.Ne1 Rf8 12.Nd5 White could have retained a slight edge. 

10...Bh3 11.d4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.c5+ 

Black has several ways to meet this discovered check.

13...Qf7 14.Be3 

Exchanging Queens with 14.Qxf7+ would then allow White to move his attacked Rook, but a lead in development and the two Bishops would still keep Black better.

14...Qxb3 15.axb3 Bxe3 16.fxe3 Bxf1 17.Kxf1 dxc5 

Up the exchange and a pawn, facing White's shattered pawn stucture, Black has a technical win - which he is happy to demonstrate.

18.Ke2 a5 19.Nc3 Kf7 20.Nd5 Rhc8 21.Rf1+ Ke6 22.g4 b6 23.Nc3 c6 24.Na4 Rf8 25.Rg1 Rab8 26.g5 Kd6

White resigned