Jerome Gambit: DDD

American writer Mark Twain once said “I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”

The following tale of an "optical illusion" called the "Disdainful Defender Defense" runs through a lot of Jerome Gambit games, mine included.

perrypawnpusher - Etus11

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 Nf6 

We have reached a standard position in the Jerome Gambit. In fact, Alonzo Wheeler Jerome reached it at least 7 times in his games.

The Database has 200 games with this position. White scores 66%.  My stastistics are a bit better, with 15 wins against  2 losses. 

11.d3 Rf8 

An unfortunate tale, underestimating the Jerome Gambit, told before in my games:

11... Rf8 12.Bf4 in perrypawnpusher - mconst, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 42) and perrypawnpusher - recreation, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 13);

11...Bb4+ 12.c3 Ba5 13.Bf4  in perrypawnpusher - ViennaMike, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 19); 

11...Re8 12.Bf4  in perrypawnpusher - Estebang, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 28); 

11...Bd4 12.Bf4 in perrypawnpusher - Rossgil, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 26); 

11...Ke7 12.Nc3 Bd4 13.Bf4 in perrypawnpusher - karleinkarl, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 16); and

11...Ke7 12.Nc3 d6 13.Bf4 in perrypawnpusher - vz721, Italian Game thematic, Chess.com, 2013 (1-0, 29). 

12.Bf4 Qxf4 13.Qxf4+ Ke6 14.Qf5+ Ke7 15.Qxc5+ d6 16.Qg5 Rf7

With a Queen and a pawn for a Bishop, White's victory should be a matter of time.

17.Nc3  Kf8 18.O-O Kg8 19.Nd5 h6 

Hoping to chase off the annoying Queen, but actually allowing checkmate.

20.Qg6 Nxd5 

Speeding things.

21.Rxf7 Black resigned