Jerome Gambit: Psychological Chaos and Nothingness

Many chess games, especially those between club players, end with a tactical shot - one person makes a mistake, the other person immediately takes advantage of it.

Often, these kinds of one-move-ends-it positions are set up by earlier play, with complications coming sometimes even from the opening play.

I think that one reason the Jerome Gambit is (and isn't) popular with average players is that it frequently provides enough chaos to lead to that sharp ending.

Not just piece chaos, but psychological chaos.

Once again, Bill Wall illustrates.  

Wall, Bill - Fighter

SparkChess, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 N8e7 

Frequently the Knight finds itself at f6, instead.

8.O-O 

This is a bit calmer than 8.Qh5, which still led to success in Wall,B - Suku, internet, 2023 (1-0, 23). 

8...Rf8 

Or 8...Re8 as in Wall,B - Kiev, SparkChess 2024 (1-0, 14) 

Black's best bet would be 8...d5!? 

9.f4 Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand and holds the typical Jerome piece-for-two-pawns advantage. He is better, but he has to be careful and keep up.

10.f5 d6 11.Qc4+ Kh8 

I almost want to suggest that every move Black consider playing ...d5. It isn't always right, but often it is. Like, now.

True, the second player has an "extra" piece to give back, but it he gets only 1 pawn for it, that won't be enough.

12.fxg6 Rxf1+ 13.Qxf1 Nxg6 

It is almost as if White and Black have to start all over again, although the first player has a pawn for his efforts - and that's a long way from giving up two pieces.

14.Nc3 Be6 15.d4 Qe7 16.Be3 Rf8 17.Qe2 a6 18.Re1 Bd7 

It is to smile: White continues to just move his pieces, an abrupt change from when he was throwing them away. What is he doing?

19.a3 Nf4

Lulled by nothingness, he strikes out at the enemy Queen.

20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.Nd5 Black resigned

White's Knight fork does more than win the Rook, it stirs up tactical chaos that is too much for his opponent.

If 21...Qg5, then 22.Nxf4 Qxf4 23.Rf1 takes advantabe of Black's unprotected back rank.

If 21...Qxe4 22.Nxf4 (or 22.Qxe4 Rxe4 23.Rxe4) Qxe2 23.Rxe2

If 21...Qf7 22.Nxf4 Qxf4 23.Rf1.