Jerome Gambit: Messy

Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) creates a logical, flowing game; sometimes it produces a game of fits and starts, with offsetting errors and, simply, a bit of a mess.

Witness the following game.

 

perrypawnpusher - sinipete

Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 Bd6 8.Qc3 

Deciding not to exchange Queens, e.g. 8.Qf5+ Qf6 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 as in perrypawnpusher - dogofthesouth, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 59) and perrypawnpusher - LeiCar, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 34)

8...Qf6 

Or the Knight can go to f6, as in perrypawnpusher - Lark, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 30).

9.d4 Qe7 

10.Nd2 c6 11.O-O Bb4 12.Qd3 

12...a5 

He would have done better to strike the center with 12...d5.

13.f4 

The computer much prefers 13.c3 b6 14.Rf2 Ba6 16.Qh3 Bd6 17.e5.

13...a4 

The same advice as for Black's 12th move.

14.Nf3 

The same advice as for White's 13th move. 

14...d6 

The same advice as for Black's 12th move. 

15.f5 

The same advice as for White's 13th move.

15...h6 

White's "Jerome pawns" have taken hold of the center.

For the moment, White is better (development, King safety), but that will change.

It was that kind of game.

16.e5 b6 17.c3 Ba6 18.c4 d5 

19.Nd2 

I had considered 19.b3, but after 19...axb3 20.axb3 I could see that Black had 20...Bxc4, attacking my Queen and at the same time uncovering an attack on my Rook at a8. What I foolishly missed was that I could then play 21.Rxa8+ when Black has to give up his Queen to block the check, as 21...Kf7 would be met by 22.e6+ Kf6 23.Bg5!+ hxg5 24.Qe3 Kxf5 25.Nh4+ Kg4 26.Qf3+ Kxh4 27.Qh3 checkmate.

19...Bxd2 20.Qxd2 Bxc4 21.Rf3 c5 

Black's plan is to blow up White's center before it becomes any more dangerous.

22.Qf2 cxd4 23.f6 

Too hurried.

23...gxf6 24.exf6 Qe2 

A strong counter. 

25.Bf4 d3 

Things are still messy, but if Black eliminated Queens with 25...Qxf2+ 26. Kxf2 it is likely his extra piece would give him the advantage. 

26.Qxb6 

Suddenly, White is better. His attack on the enemy King prevails over the threat of two (albeit doubled) passed pawns.

26...Qe8 

Not enough, but his position was troubled. 

27.f7 

This move is okay, and I liked my passer better than his, but 27.Bd6+ would have led more directly to mate.

27...Qd7 28.fxg8=Q+ Kxg8 29.Qg6+ Kf8 30.Bd6 checkmate