Jerome Gambit: Time Flies (Part 1)

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) seems designed for blitz and bullet games, posing tactical problems for the defender that eat up his clock.

Unfortunately, as the years go by, I seem less designed for faster games. I look back fondly on my two-minute games from 20 years ago. Things change; I am more comfortable with a time control of two days per move.

So I am not sure how I wound up challenging my opponent in the following game, played at what felt like breakneck speed. I kept up - for a while.

perrypawnpusher - klask

2 12 blitz, FICS, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

This move appeared in Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's analysis of "Jerome's Double Opening" in the July 1874 issue of the Dubuque Chess Journal.

There are 2,554 games in The Database with the above position, with White scoring 48%. I have been more fortunate in my 44 games, scoring 72%

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 9.d3 Kf7 10.Bg5 

10...Rf8 11. Nc3 c6 12. O-O Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand and holds a material advantage of a piece for two pawns. 

White would like to make something of his pin on the Knight at f6, but in order to do that he will need to advance his f-pawn, which in turn would require dealing with Black's dark square Bishop.

13.Na4 Bd4 14.c3 Be5 

This is as good a time as any to mention that this is a 2 minute, 12 second increment, blitz game. Oversights are bound to happen.

15.f4 

This does not have to lead to a win of a piece for White. After 15...Nh5!? 16.Bxd8 Nxg3 17.hxg3 Rxd8 18.fxe5 b5 19.exd6 bxa4 the game would still be messy, but in balance.

Both players missed that line.

15...Qa5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.Qxe5 

Nerves. 17.Bf4 was clearly better.

17...dxe5 

White is a pawn up. He has to deal with his offside Knight, but it is not currently in danger, e.g. ...b5 can be met by Nc5 - something I overlooked at the time.

For now White should double his Rooks on the f-file.

18.b3 b6 19.Nb2 Be6 20.Nd1 Rad8 21.Nf2 

White's Knight seems to stumble around the board. It would be better placed back at b2 to protect the d-pawn, instead of getting in the way of developments on the f-file.

Stockfish 15.1 evaluates White as not quite a pawn better, likely acknowledging Black's development.

[to be continued]