Jerome Gambit: Typical

The following Jerome Gambit game has "typical" tactical themes that makes it educational - and fun - to play over.

cool64chess - vkar33

Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

A "modern" variation of the Jerome Gambit, as opposed to the "classical" 5.Nxe5+. 

5...h6 

Black makes the sometimes-troublesome g5 square "off limits" to White's pieces.

In other games in the tournament, cool64chess has faced 5...Nf6 in cool64chess - perrypawnpusher, Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024 (1/2 - 1/2, 31); cool64chess - Etus11, Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024, (1-0, 41); and cool64chess - sinipete, Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024 (1-0, 18). 

6.c3 

Planning the typical Giuoco Piano action in the center.

6...Nf6 7.d4 Bd6 8.dxe5 

How should Black recapture - and Why?

The Database has 8 other games with this position, and in each one Black now chose to have his Knight exchanged, as in the game.

8...Nxe5 

Oddly enough, though, 8...Bxe5 would have likely been better, even given that 9.Nxe5+ Nxe5 would have surrendered the "minor exchange" (Bishop for Knight). The reason is that the re-capturing piece would more easily escape White's oncoming pawns.

9.Nxe5+ Bxe5 10.f4 Bd6 11.e5 

Concering the previous note: 8...Bxe5 9.Nxe5+ Nxe5 10.f4 Nc6.

11...Bc5+ 12.Kh1 

It is time for Black to return some material and accept an equal game.

12...Ne4 

Looks good at first glance - but only for a glance. It allows White a typical Jerome Gambit tactic, followed by a typical Jerome Gambit attack on the King.

Correct was 12...d6 13.exf6 Qxf6. 

13.Qd5+ Ke7 14.Qxe4 Re8 15.Qg6 Kf8 16.f5 Rxe5 17.f6 Black resigned.