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...