Jerome Gambit: Ooops

In the following game, the players march down the main line of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) until White allows the exchange of his Rook for a Bishop - permitting Black to deliver a draw by repetion.

Ooops.

Blitz. It happens.

joker0909 - maxiprole76

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's defense. Whistler's Defense would be 7...Qe7.

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.d4 

He has also played 9.O-O Bg4 (9...Nf6 10.Qd8 Bh3 11.Qxc7+ Kf8 12.Qxb7 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Qg4+ 14.Kh1 Qf3+ 15.Kg1 Qg4+ +/=) 10.Qc3 Be2 11.g3 (11.d4 Bxf1 12.dxc5 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Qxe4+ 14.Qf3+) 11...Qxe4 12.d3 Qf3 13.Nd2 Bxf2+ 14.Rxf2 Black resigned, joker0909 - PempGMate, lichess.org, 2024. 

9...Qxe4+ 

Less accurate was 9...Bxd4 10.Qxd4 Bf5 11.Qc4+ d5 12.Qxc7+ Qe7 13.Qg3 Bxe4 14.O-O Bxc2 15.Bg5 Qb4 16.Qc7+ Kf8 17.Qxc2 d4 18.a3 Qb5 19.Nd2 d3 20.Qc7 Qxg5 21.Rfe1 Nf6 22.Qe7+ Kg8 23.Re5 Qxd2 24.Qxf6 Qxb2 25.Re8+ Rxe8 26.Qxb2 a5 27.g3 b5 28.Qxb5 d2 29.Qxe8+ Kg7 30.Qe2 d1=Q+ 31.Qxd1 a4 32.Rc1 h5 33.Rc6 Kh6 34.Qd6 Kg7 35.Qxg6+ Kf8 36.Rf6+ Ke7 37.Qf7+ Kd8 38.Rd6+ Kc8 39.Qd7+ Kb8 40.Rb6+ Ka8 41.Qc8+ Ka7 42.Qb7 checkmate, joker0909 - desuisback, lichess.org, 2024 

Best was 9...Nf6 10.Nd2 Bxd4 11.0–0 Qxh2+ 12.Kxh2 Ng4+ 13.Kg1 Bxh8.

10.Be3 Qxg2 

joker0909 has also faced:

10...Bxd4 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Nd2 Qxc2 13.Bxd4 Bf5 14.Qg7+ Ke8 15.Qxg8+ Kd7 16.Qxa8 Qd3 17.Qxa7 Be4 18.Qa4+ c6 19.O-O-O Bxg2 20.Nc4 Qe4 21.Nxd6 Kxd6 22.Qb4+ Kc7 23.Qb6+ Kb8 24.Qa7+ Kc8 25.Qa8+ Kd7 26.Qxb7+ Kd6 27.Be3+ Ke5 28.Qe7+ Kf5 29.Qxe4+ Bxe4 30.Rd6 Bxh1 31.Rxc6 Bxc6 32.Kd2 Ke4 33.h4 Bd7 34.a4 Bxa4 35.b4 Be8 36.f3+ Kxf3 37.Kd3 Kg4 38.Kc4 Kxh4 39.b5 g5 White resigned, joker0909 - VDT_gnom, lichess.org, 2024 ; and

10...Qxc2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.O-O Nf6 13.Bh6+ Ke8 14.Qxg6+ Qxg6 15.Re1+ Kf7 16.dxc5 Qxh6 17.Nc3 Ng4 18.h3 Nf6 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.Rad1 Bxh3 21.Rxd6 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Qg5+ 23.Kf1 Re8 24.Ne2 Qh5 25.Rc1 Qxe2+ 26.Kg1 Rg8+ 27.Kh2 Qh5 checkmate, joker0909 - rf998, lichess.org, 2024 

11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.dxc5

A slip that lets Black escape. Instead, 12.Rf1 Bb4+ 13.c3 Bf5 14.cxb4 Bd3 15.Nd2 Re8 16.Qh4 Kg7 17.Qf4 Nf6 18.d5 Qxd5 19.Rc1 c6 was the way forward. 

12...Qxh1+ 13.Kd2 Qd5+ 14.Ke1 Qh1+ 15.Kd2 Qd5+ 16.Kc1 Qh1+ 17.Kd2 Draw

Jerome Gambit, Still Faster

Okay, set up your chessboard (2D or 3D) and play through the following bullet game.

It might help if you realize that the players used, on average, less than a second per move.

Race through it, to get a sense of the play, as it happened.

It will probably take more than a minute to do that.

angelcamina - Crypt_Ari

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qc4+ Ke8 10.O-O Qe7 11.f4 Na5 12.Qd3 d6 13.b3 Nc6 14.Ba3 Bd7 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 

Now it's just a matter of Beat the Clock - which is more difficult than it sounds.

17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Rae1 Nfg4 19.Rxe5+ Nxe5 20.Re1 Kf6 21.Qd4 Rhe8 22.Qf4+ Ke6 23.Qxe5+ Kf7 24.Qf4+ Kg8 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.h3 Re1+ 27.Kh2 Re8 28.Qc4+ Kh8 29.Qxc7 Bc6 30.a4 Rf8 31.Qe7 Rg8 32.Ne4 Bxe4 33.Qxe4 Rc8 34.Qxb7 Rg8 35.Qxa7 h6 36.Qf7 Kh7 37.Qxg8+ Kxg8 38.Kg3 Kf7 39.Kf4 Ke7 40.c4 Kd6 41.b4 Kc6 42.Kf5 Kd6 43.Kg6 h5 44.Kxh5 g6+ 45.Kxg6 Ke6 46.a5 Kd6 47.a6 Kc7 48.a7 Kb7 49.b5 Kxa7 50.h4 Kb6 51.h5 Kc5 52.h6 Kxc4 53.h7 Kc5 54.h8=Q Kd6 55.Qf8+ Ke5 56.g4 Ke6 57.Kh6 Ke5 58.g5 Ke6 59.g6 Ke5 60.g7 Kd5 61.g8=Q+ Kd4 62.Qf4+ Kd3 63.Qgg3+ Kc2 64.Qff2+ Kc1 65.Qgg1 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: As Fast (And As Deadly) As A Speeding Bullet

For a very quick look at why some players enjoy the Jerome Gambit, especially at bullet time controls, check out the following video showcasing a fun game.

"Giuoco Piano, Jerome Gambit #3 | Bullet Game | Chess Opening Trap | ft. Vijay Joshi"

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+ 7.c3 Bd6  

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.Qd5+ Kf6 10.f4 Qe7 

11.fxe5+ Qxe5 12.O-O+ Kg6 13.Qf7 checkmate

Ouch.

Abrahams Jerome Gambit: One Benefit

The player of the Whites pieces in the following match has 600 games, in The Database, scoring a solid 60%.  

In particular, he has 223 games with the Abrahams Jerome Gambit, again scoring 60%.

IDLEH2017 - perozvicente

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 

The Abrahams Jerome Gambit.

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ Kf6 

4...Kf6 was also seen in IDLEH2017 - Arhip700, lichess.org, 2021 (1-0, 5) 

One benefit for White in this opening, versus the Jerome Gambit proper (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), is that Black really has only one good response to the Queen check - and this isn't it.

5.Nf3 

This move allows the game to transpose to a position like the Jerome Gambit mentioned above, as if the Queen had ghosted through the Knight on f3.

Sharper was 5.Qf5+ Ke7 6.Qxe5+ followed by collecting the Bishop on c5, as in and IDLEH2017 - madel4665, lichess.org, 2024: 5.Qf5+ Ke7 6.Qxe5+ Kf7 7.Qxc5 Nf6 8.e5?! (8.d3) Re8 9.Nf3 Kg8 10.0–0 d6 11.Qc4+ Be6 12.Qc3 dxe5?! (12...Nd5) 13.Nxe5 Nc6 14.f4? (14.Nxc6) Rf8? (14...Nd4) 15.d3?! (15.Nxc6) Nd5 16.Qe1 Nxf4? 17.Bxf4 Qd4+ 18.Kh1? (18.Qf2) Rxf4? (18...Nxe5) 19.Rxf4 Qxf4 20.Nxc6 bxc6 21.Qxe6+ Kh8 22.Nd2 Qxd2 23.Re1?! h6 24.Rf1?! Qxc2 25.h3 Qxd3 26.Rf7 c5 27.Rxc7? (27.Qe5) c4? (27...Qf1+ 28.Kh2 Qf4 29.Kg1 Qxc7) 28.Qxc4 Qd1+ 29.Kh2 a5?! 30.Rc8+ Rxc8 31.Qxc8+ Kh7 32.Qf5+ Kh8 33.Qxa5 Qe2?! 34.b4 h5 35.Qd8+ Kh7 36.a4? Qe5+ 37.Kg1 Qf4? (37...Qe1+) 38.Qd3+ Kh8 39.b5 h4 40.b6 Qc1+ 41.Kf2 Qc5+ 42.Qe3 Qf5+ 43.Ke2 Qc2+ 44.Kf3 Qxa4 45.Qe8+?? Qxe8 White resigned, IDLEH2017 - madel4665, lichess.org, 2024.

5...Nc6 6.d4 

White avoids 6.Nxe5 Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2 Nxe5 which would still be good for him after 8.Qf5+ Ke7 9.Qxe5.

6...Qe8 

To exchange Queens, but overlooking White's threat.

7.Bg5+ Ke6 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: A Funny Draw

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can grant White some exciting wins - despite being a "refuted" opening.

Because of its chaotic nature, however, the Jerome can lead to a loss - or some pretty funny draws

We have already seen a chuckle in ZeKnightRider - GrandLoser101, blitz, lichess.org, 2024 (1/2-1/2, 73). See 'Jerome Gambit: Good News, Bad News".

The following game probably put a smile on White's face.

feritTurkey - Qauknochen

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Black plays Whistler's defense, and dares White to take the Rook.

8.Qxh8 

Safer was 8.Qf4+ or 8.Qd5+. 

8...Qxe4+ 9.Kd1 Qxg2 

There are 54 games with this position in The Database, with White scoring a surprising 43%.

Stockfish 16.1 (32 ply) evaluates Black as being 4 3/4 pawns better.

10.Qxh7+ 

White has to distract Black from his aggressive ideas.

10...Kf8 

Or 10...Kf6 11.Qh4+ g5 12.Qh7 Qxh1+ 13.Ke2 d6 14.Qh8+ Kf7 15.Qh5+ Ke6 16.Qg6+ Nf6 17.d4 Qe4+ 18.Be3 Qxg6 19.dxc5 dxc5 White resigned, feritTurkey - AgustinBarba, lichess.org, 2023.

11.Re1 

The fact that the computer suggests that White's best move was 11.d4, giving up a Rook, shows the danger of the line.

feritTurkey has tried that before: 11.d4 Qxh1+ 12.Ke2 Qe4+ 13.Be3 Bxd4 14.Nd2 Bxe3 15.fxe3 Qxc2 16.Rf1+ Qf5 17.Rxf5+ gxf5 18.Qxf5+ Ke7 19.Qg5+ Nf6 20.Qg7+ Ke6 21.Nf3 b6 22.Nd4+ Ke5 23.Qg5+ Ke4 24.Qxf6 Ba6+ 25.Kf2 Rh8 26.Qf5 checkmate, feritTurkey - Animalium, lichess.org, 2023.

11...Qg4+ 

This is a 5-minute game, so it is possible that the clock figured into this move.

Black needed one more piece in play, therefore: 11...d5 12.c4 Luft Qf3+ 13.Re2 Qh1+ 14.Kc2 Bf5+ 15.d3 dxc4 16.Bh6+ Nxh6 17.Qxh6+ Kg8. White's Knight is pinned to the Rook, and this leaves the first player undermanned.

feritTurkey has also faced: 11...Qf3+ 12.Re2 Qg4 13.d3 Qg1+ 14.Re1 Qxf2 15.Bh6+ Nxh6 16.Qxh6+ Kf7 17.Qh7+ Kf6 18.Qh8+ Kf7 19.Qe8+ Kg7 20.Qe5+ Kh6 21.Qh8+ Kg5 22.Qe5+ Qf5 23.Qg3+ Qg4+ 24.Qxg4+ Kxg4 25.Nc3 c6 26.Re4+ Kf5 27.Kd2 d5 28.Rf1+ Kg5 29.Re5+ Kh6 30.Ne2 Bh3 31.Rf3 Bg4 32.Rf7 Rf8 33.Rxf8 Bxf8 34.Nd4 Bg7 35.Re7 Bxd4 36.Rxb7 Bc8 37.Rxa7 Bxa7 White resiged, feritTurkey - DrPapiChessPapi, lichess.org, 2025

12.Re2 Qg1+ 13.Re1 Qg4+ 14.Re2 Qg1+ 15.Re1 Qg4+ Draw

Danger? Ha! I laugh at danger...

Abrahams Jerome Gambit: Exploring

 

I have joined the new BISHOP'S OPENING CUP 2025 at Chess.com - 250 players, time control 10 days per move (!).

My hope is to play a number of Abrahams Jerome Gambits, 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+, a line that I have not tried before, but is worth exploring.

The Database shows 18,980 games with the line. White scores 51%.

We shall see.

Jerome Gambit: Caffeine Deficiency Disorder

The other day, very early in the morning, suffering from Caffeine Deficiency Disorder, I played an odd Jerome Gambit against an online bot.

We reached the following position. Having regained my sacrificed material, I imagined that I was Alonzo Wheeler Jerome.

16.Bf4 Qd4+ 17.Kh1 Kb7 18.Nc3 c5 

This can't be good for Black.

19.e5+ d5 20.exd6+ Kb6 21.Nd5+ Kb7 

22.Nc7+ 

Fair enough, although 22.Nf6+ Kb8 23.Qc6 would have been a bit faster.

22...Kb6 23.bxc5+ Qxc5 24.Be3 Rhd8 25.Nxa8+ Ka5 26.Bxc5 g6 27.b4+ Ka4 28.Qd1 checkmate

Okay, that was fun. Still, in all fairness, it brings to mind a counter-balancing earlier post including

Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph

February 27, 1884

In Cincinnati we met a number of players in the Mercantile Library, the chess room of which... We also had the pleasure of contesting several games with Mr. Jerome, of Paxton, Ill. He is well known as the author of the so-called Jerome Gambit, in which white sacrifices the Bishop by taking KBP on the fourth move of the Giuoco Piano game. Neither the gambit nor its author proved strong in the contest.

Jerome Gambit: Slow advance

Some Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games feel like White is racing to attack and win material or checkmate the enemy King. Here's what I have, the attacker says.

Other games move along at a leisurely pace, with White comfortable inquiring of his opponent, What do you have?

In the following game, Bill Wall takes the path between the two, slowly advancing, gaining ground until his pieces spring into action. Black is not prepared to defend, and, so, expires. 

Wall, Bill - Naren

internet, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6

 

There are almost 1,000 games with this position in The Database.

White scores 50%.

Bill has 136 games with this position in The Database. He scores 90%.

Stockfish 16.1 evaluates the position as about 2 1/2 pawns better for Black.

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

8.a4 

Practically a null move, asking Black What do you have?

According to The Database, the only Jerome Gambiteer to play this move is Bill.

8...Nf6 

Or 8...h6 9.O-O Nf6 10.Nc3 a6 11.f4 Nc6 12.Qd3 Rf8 13.Bd2 Kg8 14.Qc4+ Kh8 15.Rfe1 Bd7 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Ne7 18.Ba5 b6 19.Bd2 c5 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Rxe7 Qxe7 22.Qxc6 Rac8 23.Qxb6 Rxc2 24.Re1 Qf6 25.Qe3 Qxb2 26.Rd1 Rfc8 27.f5 d5 28.h3 a5 29.Kh1 d4 30.Qd3 R8c4 31.f6 gxf6 32.Qg6 d3 33.Qxh6+ Kg8 34.Qg6+ Kf8 35.Re1 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest7904333, PlayChess.com, 2018. 

9.Ra3 

Allowing a possible Rook lift. 

He has also played 9.Nc3 c5 10.Qd2 Re8 11.O-O Be6 12.Rd1 d5  13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Qxd5+ Qxd5 16.Rxd5 Nc4 17.h3 Re1+ 18.Kh2 b6 19.b3 Ne5 20.Bb2 Re8 21.Rxe1 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest3174027,PlayChess.com 2019. 

For the next 10 moves, the players arrange their pieces and skirmish, but Black remains with the advantage.

9...Rf8 10.Nc3 c5 11.Qd1 Kg8 12.O-O h6 13.Re1 Bg4 14.f3 Bh5 15.Nb5 d5 16.exd5 Nc4 17.Rc3 a6 18.Rxc4 axb5 19.Rxc5 bxa4

One positive thing in White's position is his passed d-pawn, and he uses it to spearhead a piece invasion.

20.d6 Be8 21.Rc7 b5 22.Ree7 

22...Nd7 

In club level play (and likely elsewhere) defending is often more difficult than attacking. Attack poorly, you may lose time or material; defend poorly, you may well lose the game.

Simplest was 22...Rf7, although 22...Bf7 would also do the job.

23.Bxh6 

This probably came as a shock.

23...Rf7 

If 23...gxh6, then 24.Qd5+ Bf7 25.Qf5 would threaten to win material, as well as close in on checkmate.

24.Qd5 Nf6 

25.Rxf7 

White's attack is so powerful, he can offer his Queen.

Black's best defense now still allows checkmate: 25...Qxc7 26.Rxf6+ Qf7 27.Rxf7 Bxf7 28.Qxa8+ Kh7 29.d7 Kxh6 30.d8Q Be6 31.Qh4+ Kg6 32.Qe8+ Kf5 33.Qeh5+ g5 34.Q4xg5#

23...Nxd5 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rh7+ Kg8 28.Rcg7+ Kf8 29.Rh8 checkmate

A fitting game for post #4,700 of this blog.

Jerome Gambit: He Should Have Stuck with Boring

The following short Jerome Gambit game illustrates the idea that a proper defense - and there are many - can (and, maybe, should) be boring and also correct. 

Stepping outside of "boring" can be very dangerous against Bill Wall.

Wall, Bill - Twister

SparkChess, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+ 7.c3 Nd3+ 

Black needs to surrender a piece, and this is how he does it. 

More "boring", but better for him, was 7...Be7 - the Bishop retreats after forcing a pawn, not a Knight, to c3.

8.Qxd3 Be7 9.Qf3+ 

Earlier, Bill had played 9.O-O Nf6 10.e5 in Wall,B - Anonymous, lichess.org 2020 (1-0, 23)

9... Ke8 10.O-O 

10...d5 

Or the less energetic 10...d6 as in Wall,B - Ripao, lichess.org 2017 (1-0, 18).

11.Nd2 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nf6 13.Re1 

Black has the typical Jerome piece-for-two-pawns advantage, and if he could only castle now, he would be well off.

Since he can not castle, he looks to harass White's Queen - a mistaken idea that immediately gets tactically refuted.

13...Bg4 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Qxg4 

15...Qd6 16.Bf4 Qc6 17.Qg7 Black resigned

White's Queen and Rook cause mayhem: there is a checkmate in 6.

Jerome Gambit: Just In Time

                                                          

Just in time, chessriddler contributes a game that fills in a gap in current Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) practice and theory.

chessriddler - mouathalsebaie

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6  

This move was addressed recently in the post "You Can Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later" covering Wall, Bill - Docteur, SparkChess, 2025 (1-0, 11).

6.Qg4+ 

Sharp, but sacrificing another piece is best.

6...Kxe5 7.d4+ Nxd4

Not the correct capture. Better was 7...Bxd4, as seen in Wall, Bill - Docteur, SparkChess, 2025.

Chessriddler punishes the text move quickly.

8.Bf4+ Kf6 9.Bg5+ Kf7 10.Bxd8 Nxc2+

It is possible that Black counted on this fork to claw back some material.

11.Kd1 Nxa1 12.Qf5+ 

Simpler was 12.Qh5+ Kf8 13.Qxc5+ snagging the Bishop. But, remember, this is a 3-minute game, and a win is a win is a win.

12...Nf6 13.Bxf6 d6 14.Qg5 gxf6 15.Qh5+ Ke7 

Black has two Bishops for a Rook, but his cornered Knight could be at risk.

16.Nc3 Bxf2 

Tempting, but another factor in play is the risky position of Black's King, as White demonstrates.

17.Nd5+ Kd8 18.Qf7 

White has a forced checkmate in 15 - if Black's defense is the best.

18...Bd7 

Providing more resistance, but still leading to an eventual checkmate, is provided by 18...Bg4+.

19.Qxf6+ Ke8 20.Qe7 checkmate