Jerome Gambit: Mastering the Chaos

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be dangerous for both sides, especially if White decides - after sacrificing a couple of pieces - to grab some material himself.

Entering unbalanced positions can test a club player's skills, whether attacking or defending.

The following game is a good example.  

imc47 - Kaff69er

5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2023

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

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 

This is Whistler's defense, strong in practice and offering White an opportunity to go terribly wrong.

That said, there are many Jerome Gambit games where the player enters the "wrong" line and emerges victorious.

It is a matter of mastering the chaos.

8.Qxh8 

According to Komodo 14.1, this Rook capture is winning against

every move except the one Black chooses, which leaves White, himself, ironically, down the equivalent of a Rook.

Was White gambling on his ability to make it through the complications? If so, he is not alone.

In 264 games in The Database, White scores a surprising 49%. The lichess.org database has 6,887 games with 7.Qxh8, with White also scoring 49%. 

The alternative, 8.Qxe7+, shows up in 19 games in The Database, with White scoring a formidable 61%. However, the lichess.org database, with 354 games, shows a more modest 46%. 

8...Qxe4+ 

This is Black's counter.

9.Kd1 

White has won the exchange for a pawn, and from a strictly material point of view he is doing okay.

However, from a King safety point of view, he has exchanged places with Black - his own King is now under deadly attack.

9...d6

Opening the diagonal for his light square Bishop that plans to join the fray with ...Bg4+.

However, the text move gives White chances. The immediate 9...Qxg2 was necessary, with unfortunate threats, and White can only try 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.Re1 when 11...d5 will cost him material or allow checkmate.  

10.Re1

To chase away the enemy Queen, to no avail.

Instead, 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.f3 would have been sufficient defense.

Now the text move gives Black chances, again.

10...Bg4+ 11.f3 Bxf3+ 12.gxf3 Qxf3+ 13.Re2 Re8 

14.Qxh7+ Kf8 15.Nc3 

Ends the game quickly.

Instead, 15.c3 Rxe2 would leave material even, but White's undeveloped Queenside would eventually lead to a loss. Stockfish 15.1 sees Black as 4 1/2 pawns better.

15...Qf1+ 16.Re1 Qxe1 checkmate