Jerome Gambit: Weathering A Counter-Attack

In the following Jerome Gambit game, Black does his share of counter-attacking (possibly aided by a mouse-slip). It certainly looks scary.

However, White's defense proves sufficient, and he weathers the attack, although not without some uneasy moments.

Wall, Bill - Naan

internet, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qxh8 

Black resigned here in Wall, Bill - DeltaTango, Chess.com, 2010. 

8...Qh4 

Bill has seen 8...Be6, a move which I commented upon in "Jerome Gambit: Rooks At Large"

It is difficult to grasp the idea behind this move, unless it is simply to follow up the sacrifice with further development. Perhaps Black believes that his opponent will need time to put his Queen back into play. White immediately moves to make sure his Queen will be free.

Continuing, 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 Bf7 11.Qh7 Qf6 12.O-O Bg6 13.Qxc7 Nh6 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Bxh6+ Kg8 16.Qxb7 Black resigned, Wall,B - VJCH, FICS, 2013. 

9.d4 

Or 9.O-O Nf6 10.Qd8 as in Wall,B - Foo,N, Palm Bay, FL 2010 (1-0, 33) and Wall,B - Guest871838, PlayChess.com 2014 (1-0, 31).   

9...Bb6 

Black would do better with 9...Nf6 10.dxc5 Qxe4+, although the game remains sharp, and he can get into trouble if he gets greedy, e.g. 11.Be3 Qxg2 12.Nc3!? Qxh1+ 13.Kd2 Qxa1? (better 13...Qxh2) 14.Bd4 and Black will have to give back material to try to help out his attacked King.

Why not 9...Qxe4+ immediately? Play would continue 10.Be3 Qxg2 and 11.Qxh7+ and White consolidates after 11...Kf8 12.Rf1, e.g. 12...Bb4+ 13.c3 Bf5!? 14.cxb4 Bd3 15.Nd2 Re8 16.Qh4 Kg7 17.Qf4 Ne7 18.Qg3. White is better.

10.Nc3 Ba5 11.Kf1 

A mouse slip? A safer alternative was 11.O-O 

11... Bxc3 12.bxc3 Be6 

Still thinking about threats to White's Queen.

13.d5 Bd7 14.c4 Rf8 15.Bb2 Ke8 

Instead, 15...Nf6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxf6+ Kxf6 would allow the enemy Queen to "escape" via exchange. 

16.Qd4 

White is ahead the exchange and a pawn. His King is uncomfortable, but so is Black's.

16...c5 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.f3 Nf6 19.Re1 

19... Ng4 

Black does not give up easily.

20.h3 Ne5 21.Qxd6 

21...Nxf3 

Still attacking.

22.gxf3 Rxf3+ 23.Ke2 Qf2+ 24.Kd1 Rf7 

If only Black could get his Rook to the e-file, maybe...

25.Qe6+ Re7 26.Qc8+ 

White dashes all hopes - and threatens checkmate in 10 himself.

Black resigned