Nobody expects the Jerome Gambit! (Part 5)

[This is the continuation of an article from the "Unorthodox Openings Newsletter" (UON-21, May - August 2008), mentioned in an earlier blog post.]

Does the Jerome Gambit still have more secrets to give up? Sure it does! My friend AB was inspired by my tales of this Jerome Gambit Tournament, and played some online games that touch on JG theory. I quickly gave him the nickname “the unluckiest Jerome Gambit player in the world.”

First, my chess friend fell into a previously unknown trap: 

abhailey - peonconorejas [internet 2008] 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ 

Planning a remarkable Queen sacrifice. The move has been seen before, but not the follow-up. The line has a computer-like feel to it, but the game was played at a no-computer venue. 

9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kd1 Ne7 11.e5+ Kc612.Qe4+ d5 13.exd6+ Nd5 14.gxh4 Bg4 15.Qa4+ b5 16.Qa6+ Nb6 17.c4 Nd4+ 18.Ke1 Rhe8+ 19.Kf2 Nf5+ 20.Kf1 Bh3# 

Not to lose hope, AB jumped back up and found another snare almost immediately: 

abhailey - cruciverbalist [internet 2008] 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7

This is Whistler's Defense, not very well known at all, but in my opinion the sharpest way to counter the Jerome Gambit. If White now takes the Rook, he dies screaming… 

8.Qf4+ Nf6 

However, if you're going to play any refutation, you have to play it correctly. The proper move for Black is 8…Qf6! Now my pal gets out of trouble and then quickly outplays his opponent.

9.e5 Re8 10.d4 Bxd4 11.Qxd4 Qxe5+ 12.Qxe5 Rxe5+ 13.Be3 Nd5 14.0–0 Nxe3 15.fxe3+ Kg7 16.Nc3 a6 17.Rf3 b5 18.Raf1 Bb7 19.Rf7+ Kh6 20.Rxd7 Rxe3 21.Rxc7 Be4 22.Re7 Rd8 23.Rxe4 Rxe4 24.Nxe4 Rd4 25.Re1 a5 26.h3 a4 27.c3 Rd5 28.Rf1 Re5 29.Nd6 Re2 30.Rf2 Re1+ 31.Kh2 Re7 32.Nxb5 g5 33.c4 Kh5 34.c5 Re8 35.c6 Rc8 36.c7 h6 37.Rf7 Kg6 38.Rd7 Kh5 39.Rd8 Rxc7 40.Nxc7 Kh4 41.Rd6 g4 42.g3+ Kg5 43.h4+ Kf5 44.Rxh6 Ke5 45.Re6+ Kf5 46.h5 a3 47.bxa3 Kg5 48.h6 Kf5 49.h7 Kg5 50.h8Q Kf5 51.Qf6# 

As ever, I am always interested in any Jerome Gambit games you may find or play. Feel free to email them to me at richardfkennedy@hotmail.com.