Jerome Gambit: Tactics Galore Redux

It is best to have your tactics sharpened when you play the Jerome Gambit. The following game is  a good example.

Witzelsucht - Paul_Chert_Chess_3

5 0 blitz, 2021 Spring Marathon, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ 

Once again, the "nudge", at least in practice, a bit stronger than the immediate capture of the Bishop.

7...Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.f4 Kf7 

This is an ordinary Jerome Gambit position.

White should White be thinking about? Well, with both King and Queen on the e-file, one of them should move, as Black is threatening ...Nxe4 and if Qxe4 then ...Re8, winning the Queen. (Technically, Black wins a Queen and a pawn for a Knight and a Rook.)

So 11.O-O would be a reasonable choice.

11.f5

Chasing a familiar Jerome Gambit series of moves.

Well, this is a blitz game, so even players rated almost 2400 can be given a bit of leeway.

11...Ne5 

Black, rated about 1950, takes his oppoent at his word.

Afterward, they both probably found 11...Bxf5 12.O-O (12.exf5 Re8) 12...Be6. 

12.d4 Neg4 

Instead, 12...Nc4 was full of tricks. White would be foolish to be distracted by 13.Qb3 b5 14.Qxb5, as 14...Re8 would be a reminder as to where the action was going to take place: the center. Instead, 13.Qd3 would be met by 13...Re8 (13...b5 would be okay, too, but the pawn would no longer draw the enemy Queen away), when White should castle. The Knight on c4 would then best be supported with 14...b5, and after 15.Nc3 Bb7 15.Bg5 Black would still have the advantage. 

13.Qb3+ 

It is interesting that this check is more effective with Black's advanced Knight out of the way.

I wasn't as direct in my own game against SkypeFro (see "Tactics Galore"), when I played 13.Qf3, 14 years ago (1/2 - 1/2, 39).

13...d5 

Good, although it allows White's e-pawn to slip by.

A wild alternative was 13...Kf8 14.h3 Qe7!? 15.O-O!? Qxe4 16.hxg4 Qxg4, when 17.Rf4 Qd1+ 18.Rf1 Qg4 19.Rf4 etc. would lead to a draw, while 17.Be3 Bxf5 18.Nc3 Re8 would probably leave White with an equal game.

14.e5 Ne4 

Those Knights...

15.e6+ Bxe6 

Returning the extra piece for two pawns.

There were more tactics after 15...Ke8 16.O-O Rf8 17.Nc3 Qh4!? when 18.h3 Ngf2 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 would at least solve the "problem" of Black's two Knights.

16.fxe6+ Kxe6 

Black's King is at risk.

17.Nd2 Nxd2 

There was also the wild 17...Qh4+ 18.g3 Nxg3 19.Nf3 Qh5 20.Ng5+!? Kf6 21.Qxg3 Rae1+ 22.Kf1 when the computer evaluates White as more than a piece better, but who can tell, especially in a 5-minute game.

18.Bxd2 b6 19.O-O-O Nf6 

Material is even, but White's King is much safer, and he has better development. Black works to shore up his position.

20.Rde1+ Kf7 21.Bg5 Re8 22.Rhf1 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 c6 

24.Qh3 h6 25.Qe6+ Kf8 

Intuitively - this is a blitz game, thinking time is limited - the King should be safer on his home rank, but it would actually be better on g6.

26.Bf4 Ne4 27.Rxe4 Black resigned

White's Bishop wants to reach d6 with check, and the exchange sacrifice, removing an essential defender, does the job.

Now, after 27...dxe4, Black will have to give up his Queen after 28.Bd6+.

Black resigned