Another Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament (Part 3)

 

The Jerome Gambit is a good example of the notion that the bigger the risk, the bigger the gain. This is particularly true when deciding the 5th move for White: Sacrifice another piece, or batten down the hatches? The chaos that results from the first choice is more likely to yield positive results than the calm that accompanies other choices.

The following game is a good example.

LemonOtter42 - Chioborra

Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023

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

4...Kxf7 5.d3 

This is one of the "modern" variations, where White bypasses the "classical" second piece sacrifice, 5.Nxe5+, which Alonzo Wheeler Jerome used to play.

White decides that it is enough to eliminate Black's King's option of castling. No need to invest another piece.

The Database has 1,286 games with 5.d3. White scores 34%. 

5...Nf6 6.Ng5+ 

White has to do something aggressive, lest his piece sacrifice come to naught. In 841 games in The Database with this position, White scores 36%. 

6...Kg6

Black's King is probably safer at g8, but in either case Black remains better.

7.O-O 

White could use a pawn to stir things up, with 7.h4 but 7...h5 is a good response, and Black's lead in development is dangerous.

7...h6 8.Nh3 Kh7 9.Nc3 Rf8 10.Na4 Qe7 11.Nxc5 Qxc5 

White has exchanged a Knight for a Bishop, but otherwise has not made progress.

Black's extra material and better development rule the field.

12.Be3 Qb5 13.c4 

Maybe Black's Queen can develop indigestion by cosuming too many pawns?

13...Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qxa2 15.Ra1 Qb2 16.Ng5+ 

This move looks a bit like desperation. Instead, White could have taken the temperature of the game with 16.Rb1, just in case Black was okay with a draw. (Black should not be okay.)

16...hxg5 17.Qf3 Nd4 18.Qh3+ Kg8 19.Bxg5 d5 

The counter-attack is in full swing.

20.Qh4 Ne2+ 21.Kh1 Ng4 22.h3 Nxf2+ 23.Rxf2 

Allowing Black to finish things.

 

23...Qxa1+ 24.Kh2 Qg1 checkmate