Jerome Gambit: No Gutter, This Time

There is an old chess caution against capturing the b-pawn, lest one wind up "sleeping in the gutter".

But that is not always true. In the following game, White is able to grab Queenside material and still safeguard his Queen.

Wall, Bill - Dalos

SparkChess, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4

Not everyone plays 6.Qh5+. It is good to vary. Besides, 6.d4 was Alonzo Wheeler's choice when he began playing the Jerome.

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Nc3 h6 

The computer says that Black can afford to play this move, but it can not be best.

9.Bf4 c5 10.Qd5+ 

We have seen this kind of Queen check before.

Will Black hold onto his b-pawn, or sacrifice it for tempo?

10...Be6 11.Qxb7+ Ne7 12.O-O-O 

White is making the best of his chances. Stockfish 16.1 now presents one move that allows Black to keep his advantage.

12...Rf8 

Not this one. 

Instead, 12...Rb8 13.Qa6 Rb6 14.Qxa7 Nc4 would allow Black to put too much pressure on the White King, e.g. 15.b3 Qc8!? 16.bxc4 Ra6 and White's Queen will be lost.

13.Bxe5 

Taking advantage of the unfortunate pin on the d-pawn.

13...Rb8 14.Qxa7 Kg8 

Finishing castling-by-hand.

He could have chased the enemy Queen with 14...Ra8 15.Qb7 Rb8 16.Qa6 Rb6 17.Qd3 but that would have amounted to little.

15.Bxd6 Rf7 16.Qxc5 Black resigned

After 16...Rc8 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Qxe7 Rxe7 White would be ahead by 5 pawns.