Jerome Gambit: Slip (Part 1)

It is hard to blame the following loss on the opening, the Jerome Gambit. White was doing well - until he slipped.

perrypawnpusher - ponomargoal

"Giuoco Fun", Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 b6 

This rare move was new to me. The Database has White scoring 7 - 2 against it. 

I should not have been put off - I have faced Black's Queenside fianchetto in the Jerome Gambit (other, but similar positions) 31 times, scoring 81%.

10.O-O Bb7 11.d4 

This might have been a bit optimistic. Reinforcing the e-pawn with 11.Nc3 Nf6 12.d3 looks a bit better. Stockfish 16.1 continues 12...d5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.exd5+ Kf8 15.c4 Qd6 16.Bd2 c6 17.dxc6 Qxc6 still giving Black the advantage.

11...Nf6 12.Nc3 Qe7 13.Re1 Kd7 

Black boldly takes his King off the e-file, so he can put a Rook there.

14.f4 Rae8 15.e5 

This is the thematic break, but it, alone, is not enough.

15...dxe5 16.dxe5 

Stockfish 16.1 channels chessfriend Yury V. Bukayev's move (elswhere) 16.Qh3+ as best here, followed by 17.fxe5. 

16...Nh5 

An unfortunate slip by my opponent, reversing our fortunes.

Better 16...Ng4, as 17.Qd3+ Kc8 18.Qf5+ can be met by 18...Qe6 blocking the check and protecting the piece.  

17.Qh3+ Qe6 18.Qxh5 

What could be simpler than grabbing the Knight?

A little more "complex" would have helped: 18.f5 Qc6 19.fxg6+ when 19...Re6 20.Ne2 Qxg2+ 21.Qxg2 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Rxg6+and White would be a piece up.

18...Ne7 19.Be3 g6 20.Rad1+ Kc8 21.Qe2 Nf5 22.Bf2 h5 

White is two pawns up. That, and his center pawns, give him the advantage.

23.Ne4 a5 24.b3 Rd8 

Black's blockade of the enemy e- and f-pawns helps his defense. It will take a while for White to cash in on his advantage.

[to be continued]