Jerome Gambit: Slow and Static (Part 1)

What to do with a time control of 14 days per move?

While "more time to think" often leads to "better chess play", there is a limit to the amount of time most players use before moving.

That explains, in part, the following game, where White - that's me - at times, moved too quickly.

perrypawnpusher - diegorocha82

Italian opning rapid players, Chess.com, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Nc6 9.Qd5+ Ke7 10.Qxc5+ Ke8

White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece. It is significant that Black's King is stuck in the center, and at risk.

The Database shows this position scoring 8 - 7 - 1 for White.

Stockfish 16.1 assesses Black as being about one pawn better.

Instead, 10...d6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - DeadlostBot, Chess.com 2023 (1-0, 67) - "Jerome Gambit: Deadlost (Parts 1, 2 & 3)"

11.O-O Nge7 

This is a solid move, although 11...d5 was stronger.

12.d4 

Building a pawn center. Stockfish 16.1 prefers development with 12.Nc3.

12...d6 

Again, 12...d5 was stronger, but attacking the Queen is tempting.

13.Qh5+ Kf8 

I had expected 13...g6, and was going to return my Queen home with 14.Qd1. I wound up doing so, anyhow.

14.d5 

Kicking the Knight.

After the game, Stockfish 16.1 suggested the wild 14.f5 Ng8 15.f6 Nxf6 16.Bg5 Nxd4 17.Nc3 h6 18.Nd5 Bg4 19.Qh4 Nf3+ 20.gxf3 Be6 21.Nxc7 Qxc7 22.Bxf6 when White would be better. Wow.

14...Nd4 

Black's move will pull White's Queen back.

I had no idea at the time that I could have ignored Black's threat and  played 15.f5 - 15...Nxc2 16.f6 Nxf6 17.Bg5.

That's better chess than I usually play.

15.Qd1 c5 16.c4 

Slow and static. My plan was to work toward e4-e5. 

I never got around to playing f4-f5.

[to be continued]