Jerome Gambit: The Value of The Best Response

Sometimes I get the notion in my Jerome Gambits that I am just fine, as long as my opponent doesn't find the best response here.

What do I do if my opponent does find the best response?

Well, I lose.

perrypawnpusher - cool64chess

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 

In our 2nd round game, cool64chess played 6...Ke6 (1-0, 28).

7.Qxe5 

This position has occured in 54 of my games, where I have scored 71%.

That is a bit misleading, however, as more generally, in 3,192 games in The Database, White collectively scored only 48%.

7...d5 

This is probably Black's best response (followed closely by 7...d6 and 7...Qe7) but it is relatively rare: The Database has only 30 games with the move, with White's scoring slipping to 35%.

This was my first time facing the move. 

8.0–0 

White might have done better advancing his d-pawn one or two steps.

In the same tournament, my opponent faced 8.exd5 Bd6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.c4 Kf7 11.0–0 Bxh2+ 12.Kh1 Bd6 13.Nc3 Re8 14.Qd3 g6 15.b3 Bf5 16.Qd4 Ne4 17.c5 Qh4+ White resigned, mconto - cool64chess, Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com 2024.

8...Nf6 9.d4 Bd6 10.Qg5 

10...dxe4 11.Nc3 Kf7 

Curiously enough, this position has been reached via a not-o-well-travelled sidelineof the Petroff Defense: cirbals - Melospego, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org 2019, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Nxe5 d5 5.Bd3 Nd7 6.O-O Bd6 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.Qh5+ Ke6 9.Bxe4 dxe4 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.Qg5 Kf7* 12.Re1 Re8 13.Bd2 (13.Bf4 Bxf4 14.Qxf4 Kg8 15.d5 Qd6 16.Qh4 Bd7 17.Rad1 a6 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 Rxe4 20.Qxe4 Re8 21.Qf3 Qe5 22.h3 Qf5 23.Qc3 Qe5 24.Qb3 Kh8 25.Qxb7 Bf5 26.Qc6 Be4 27.Re1 Bxd5 28.Qxe8+ Qxe8 29.Rxe8+ Bg8 30.b3 h6 31.f4 Kh7 32.Kf2 Bd5 33.c4 c6 34.cxd5 cxd5 35.Ke3 Kg6 36.g4 Kf7 37.Re5 d4+ 38.Kxd4 Kf6 39.h4 a5 40.g5+ hxg5 41.fxg5+ Kf7 42.Ke4 g6 43.Kf4 a4 44.bxa4 Kg7 45.a5 Kf7 46.a6 Kg7 47.a7 Kf7 48.a8Q Kg7 49.Qb7+ Kf8 50.Rc5 Ke8 51.Rc8# Albertoborea72 - Melospego, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2021) Kg8 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.Qxd5+ Kh8 16.Rxe4 Rxe4 17.Qxe4 Bd7 18.Re1 h6 19.d5 Qh4 20.Qxh4 White won on time

12.Re1

After the game, Stockfish 16.1 recommended 12.f3. 

12...h6 13.Qb5 

One criticism of the Jerome Gambit is that it moves the Queen too early and too often. This game is a good example. 

13...c6 14.Qf1 

Sad. The alternative, 14.Qb3+ Kg6!? 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Rxe4 Bf5 is only a small improvement.

14...Bf5 15.f3 exf3 16.Qxf3 Bxc2 

White is simply a piece down, with little compensation.

17.Bf4 Bxf4 18.Qxf4 Qd7 19.Re2 Bg6 20.Rae1 

 

It is not at all clear that the temporary control of the e-file benefits White - but neither would a very reasonable resignation about now.

20...Rae8 21.Re5 Rhf8 22.Ne2 Kg8 

Castling-by-hand is the final blow.

23.Qg3 Kh7 24.h3 Ne4 25.Qh4 Rxe5 26.dxe5 Qd2 White resigned

Black dominates.

Very nicely done.