The Jerome Gambit: Jerome Gambit: Quantity Does Not Assure Quality

There are a lot of games in the notes to the following game.

It reminds me of my visit to The Ohio State University Chess Club, decades ago. I played 13 games, each with a different opening or defense. I lost every game. The club members didn't know what to say - How could someone who knew so much, know so little?

perrypawnpusher - GladiadorAguila

"Play The Italian Game III", Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5

Instead, 4...Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ would be the Noa or Monck Gambit.

5.Bxf7+

5...Kxf7 6. Nxe5+ Nxe5

Instead, 6...Ke8 7.Nxc6 bxc6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - opazovalec, 10 2 blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16)

7.d4 Bxd4

A slight improvement over 7...d6 seen in perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, 3 12 blitz, FICS 2011 (1/2 - 1/2, 62).

Also seen was 7...Bd6 in perrypawnpusher - joseluislopez, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 55); perrypawnpusher - lixuanxuan, 14 0 blitz, FICS, San Jose, California US 2014 (1-0, 22); perrypawnpusher - LttlePrince, blitz, lichess, 2020 (0-1, 29); perrypawnpusher -andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 18);

And 7...Bb4 in perrypawnpusher - kezientz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); perrypawnpusher - Abatwa, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17); perrypawnpusher - SSGSSGSSG, blitz, FICS, 2018 (1-0, 20); perrypawnpusher - obmanovichhh, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39); perrypawnpusher - LydenChess, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); perrypawnpusher - Aerandir, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); and perrypawnpusher - Gibarian, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33).

And 7...Neg4 as in perrypawnpusher - xxfred, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 28);

And 7...Re8 as in perrypawnpusher - hklett, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 31); perrypawnpusher - strandskatan, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 38)

And 7...Ng6 as in perrypawnpusher - aksakal, blitz, FICS, 2017 (1-0, 17)

And 7... Nc6 in perrypawnpusher - hudders, blitz, FICS, 2010, (1-0, 13)

And 7...Nd3+ in perrypawnpusher - genericme, blitz, FICS, 2015 (1-0, 22)

And 7...Nf3+ in perrypawnpusher - wertu, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20) and perrypawnpusher - catmandu, blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 12)

8.Qxd4 Nc6

This is an improvement over 8...Re8 seen in perrypawnpusher - Fazmeister, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36); perrypawnpusher - KaZC, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 61); and perrypawnpusher - spince, blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41)

Also seen was 8...d6 in perrypawnpusher - hklett, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 20); perrypawnpusher - JoseSoza, Chess.com 2012 (0-1, 34); and perrypawnpusher - andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 39).

And 8...Qe7 in perrypawnpusher - BigKalamar, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49); and perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16).

9.Qc4+

Or 9.Qd3 as in perrypawnpusher - anandh, blitz, FICS 2011 (1-0, 11); perrypawnpusher - Duir, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0,42); and perrypawnpusher - bartab, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 19)

9...d5

9...Ke7 as in perrypawnpusher - Avious, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 40)

10.exd5 Re8+ 11.Be3 Ne5

Black still has his traditional piece-for-two-pawns advantage.

12.Qb3

Better might have been 12.Qf4.

12...Neg4 13.O-O-O Nxe3 14.fxe3 Kg8

With both Kings safe, the focus can turn to the "Jerome pawns" which seem more like targets than attacking units.

In the tactics that follow, things do not get better.

15.Rhe1 a6 16.d6+ Be6 17.Qxb7 cxd6 18.Qb4 d5 19.e4 Bg4 20.Rd2 Qc7 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Qxh2

Take the heavy pieces off of the board (making White's King safer), and in club play (like this game) White would have interesting chances in the endgame.

After the game Stockfish 15.1 scoffed at this idea, however, considering Black to be more than a piece better.

23.Qd2 Qc7 24.Qd3

The Rook lift 24.Re3 might have been better.

24...Be6 25.Rd4 Qc5 26.Ra4