Jerome Gambit: I Don't Really Understand This Move...

While I did not understand my opponent's 10th move in the following game, I understood what moves I could make to play against it - which is what mattered in the end.

perrypawnpusher - slp001

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ N8e7 

The usual response is 8...d6, although a quick check of The Database shows that both moves score 63% for White, 37% for Black. The lines also can transpose.

9.O-O d6 10.Qe3 Ne5 

I don't really understand this move, although I have faced the Knight on e5 in similar variations in other games. It almost seems like a taunt - Go ahead, hit me with a pawn!

Two other games of mine saw 10...b6 11.f4 Bb7 in  perrypawnpusher - Jaqueperpetuo, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 25) and 10...Be6 11.f4 in perrypawnpusher - subhann, blitz, FICS, 2016 (1-0, 21).

11.d4 

Of course, after the game Stockfish preferred 11.f4 by about half a pawn.

11...N5g6 

The Knight returns to home base, but the computer calculates that the two tempos used for the excursion cost Black about a pawn in valuation.

12.f4 Rg8 13.f5 Nh8 

14.f6 

There were other, calmer moves (e.g. 14.Nc3, 14.c4), but I wanted to get at the enemy King.

14...gxf6 15.Rxf6+ Nf7 16.Qf2 Rg7 

Missing a nifty response, returning a little material with 16...Nf5 17.Rxf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Qc8, and an equal game.

It is unfortunate that Black, in and attempt to strengthen his King's protection, allows the collaps of his defense.

17.Bh6 Kg8 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rxf7+ Kh8 20.Qf6+ Kg8 21.Qg7 checkmate