Jerome Gambit: Quickly Slip...to Loss

The following game shows that with the Jerome Gambit, Black can quickly slip from advantage to equality to disadvantage to loss.

Wunder, Stefan - Langschmidt, Dirk

corr RSRANDOM-225, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 

This strong move goes back to Sorensen,S - X, Denmark, 1888 (1-0, 27).

7.O-O Ng4 8.h3 

Black has a decisive advantage, according to Kitty Kat, in the Jerome Gambit book.

8...Bd6 9.e5 

9...Nxe5

Or 9...Bxe5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Qd5+ Kf6 12.f4 Ng6 13.Nc3 d6 14.Be3 Ke7 15.Rae1 Kd8 16.Nb5 Nf6 17.Qc4 Ne8 18.Bf2 Qf6 19.Bd4 Qh4 20.Rxe8+ Kxe8 21.Nxc7+ Kf8 22.f5 Ne5 23.f6 gxf6 24.Qd5 Kg7 25.Qxd6 Rg8 26.Rxf6 Qxf6 27.Bxe5 and won, Sorensen,S - X, Denmark, 1888.

10.dxe5

Although the computer assesses the position as equal, according to The Database, White has scored 14 - 5 from this position.

Of note, Bill Wall has scored 8 - 0.

10...Bxe5 11.Qd5+ Kf6 12.Nd2 

The difference in King safety is significant, and tilts the game toward White.

12...d6 

Loses the game, according to Kitty Kat, in the Jerome Gambit book. It suggests that with 12...Qd4, Black "stays ahead" but the computer assesses the position after that suggested move, instead, as  +/-. 

13.f4  Ke7 14.fxe5 Be6 15.exd6+ Kd7 16.Qb5+ 

16...Kxd6 17.Nf3 Bd5 

A slip that finishes the game.

18.Nxh4 Black resigned

[This is blog post 4,900]