Jerome Gambit: Fort Zinderneuf (Part 2)

[continued from the previous post]

Marching out to the battlefield...

perrypawnpusher - rffuse

Chess.com, 2026

                                   

20...Kg8 

The King steps out of the line of fire and protects the h-pawn.

Instead, he could have braved 20...dxe5 21.fxe5+ Kg8, as his extra and well-placed Knight would rule the field.

21.Rae1 

Missing my last chance: 21.f5 Nb4 (21...Qxe5 22.Rae1 Ne3 23.Rf3) 22.Qc3 Qxe5 23.Qxb4 with an even game.

21...dxe5 22.Rxe5 Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Rxe5 24.fxe5 Ne7 

White's isolated, passed pawn is no match for Black's Knight.

25.Qd7 Rf8 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.e6 

I thought I might have a chance, until I saw my opponent's next move.

27...Qd6 

Now what do I do?

28.h3 

After the game, Stockfish 17.1 (34 ply) suggested that the pawn take 2 steps, although it saw the text as only 6/100th of a pawn worse than that choice.

28...g5 

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

                              - Bob Dylan,  "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

Black plans simply to have his King cooperate with his Queen to capture my advanced pawn, extinguishing all hope.

29.a3 Kg7 30. Kg1 Kf6 31.Kf2 Qxe6 

32.Qxc7 

Overlooking Black's response.

32...Qb6+ 33.Qxb6+ axb6 34.Ke3 Ke5 White resigned

Nicely done, my friend!

Jerome Gambit: Fort Zinderneuf (Part 1)

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can lead to adventurous games - not, necessarily, successful ones, but adventurous.

The following game shows a chessfriend who is familiar with the Jerome, handing me a well-deserved defeat: there are moments in the opening where White has to act decisively, or lose the thread of the game.

perrypawnpusher - rffuse

Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

I usually play 6.Qh5+.

The one time I tried 6.d4, the game was a swindle of a draw: perrypawnpusher - 4xel, Jerome Gambit Fun tournament, Chess.com, 2017 (1/2-1/2, 29).

I am 5 - 0 against 6.d4, however.

6...Bxd4 

The alternative 6...Qh4 (the so-called Pie-in-the-Face Variation, played as early as Sorensen - Anonymous, Denmark 1888) was seen in my game against 4xel.

7.Qxd4 d6 8.O-O Qf6 

The position of both Queens should remind Readers of the threat covered in "Jerome Gambit: Beware Threat Position". White must protect his Queen - or move it.

9.Be3 Ne7 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.f4 N5c6 

Black is well-prepared for any action in the center.

12.Qd2 Rhe8 13.e5 

Probably premature. 13.Rae1 comes to mind.

13...Qe6 14.Nb5 

14...Nd5 

Black plays solidly in this game, and this move is a slip - although, it turns out, it does not cost him. 

Better is 14...Rac8 with a clear advantage.

15.c4 

Returning the favor. 15.Rae1 Kf8 16.f5 (or 16. Bf2) was more in the spirit of the opening.

15...Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Rac8 17.Qd3 

17...Nb4 

Attacking the Queen, and offering the h-pawn. Of course, if now 18.Qxh7, then 18...Rh8 and the Rook has an attacking file against the White King.

18.Qc3 Bxb5 19.cxb5 Nd5 20.Qd3 

White's Queen runs around like John, at Fort Zinderneuf, in P. C. Wren's novel Beau Geste.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Return of the Kat

 

Last year, Bill Wall informed me that there was a book on the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) out there, on the internet, and I spent time searching for and examining it, as related in a series of posts, "Jerome Gambit: Book (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 )"

Now, while using a search engine to look for something else, I ran across a couple more books from "Chess Notes" (nothing to do with Edward Winter and his better know Chess Notes), The Kitty Kat Collection 2000 Annoted Games (Volume 1 & 2).

Alas, there were no Jerome Gambits in either of the volumes.

Jerome Gambit: Italian Game Tournament, Second Round

 

The second round of the "Italian Game" tournament at Chess.com has started.

I am in Group 2 (5 players), and already have three Jerome Gambits started - including one against the highest rated player in the group, and one against a player that I have previously dispatched with the Jerome.

Over the next couple of days we will see if any of my other games will go Jerome-ish, as well.

Jerome Gambit: Cranky

 

I think that I am getting cranky in my old age...

My latest online search turned up the recent YouTube video, "The Worst Gambit in Chess? ♟️ | Jerome Gambit", by Plychess.

I am not troubled that the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is identified as "the most dubious opening in chess", although others might have their own favorite dubious opening (see all the YouTube videos with "worst" in their titles).

According to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, "dubious" means 

"questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality".

One of the reasons that I play the Jerome is its dubiousness.

No, my gripe is that the proof of the Jerome Gambit's dubiousness that is given is yet another presentation of the game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885.

Yes, the master destroys the amateur's opening and wins the game brilliantly - so effectively that many writers use that game... over and over and over.

I would like critics to start using the second worst (or third, or fourth)  Jerome gambit as an example, for a change.

That, of course, raises the question: What is the second worst Jerome Gambit game?

I am not sure, although a 239-move draw comes to mind, as well as the 9 games won in 3 or 4 moves - on time.

Reader opinions are solicited.

Jerome Gambit: I Admire Blitz Players

I admire blitz players.

I am astonished by bullet players.

The game gets in my face too fast, events get too messy... I disagree with the Rolling Stones: Time is not on my side.

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) blitz game - not mine - has some fascinating twists and turns.

deusmach - Philas01

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kf8 

According to The Database, White scores 62% in this declined variation. That compares favorably with 53% for White in the main line 4...Kxf7. 

5.Nxe5 

From Jerome Gambit for Dummies 2.0 (Part 3)

Although 98% of the time (according to The Database) Black captures the Bishop [after 4.Bxf7+], the move is not forced. It is simply a choice for the second player between having an "objectively" winning game with 4...Kxf7 and having the worse position after 4...Kf8 or 4...Ke7...

Some players seeking greater complications have left the Bishop in place and tried 5.Nxe5, apparently hoping to continue along orthodox Jerome Gambit lines, gaining a tempo when Black finally plays ...Kxf7. 

5...Nxe5 6.d4 Qf6 

Sure, who needs to capture the Bishop?

7.Bxg8 Ng4

Wait a minute...

8.O-O

Why not 8.Qxg4 ? Things are messy after 8...Bxd4 9.Bb3 Qxf2+ 10.Kd1 d5 but White hangs onto his advantage with 11.Qe2.

Blitz. I blame it on the time control. On the clock.

8...Bxd4 9.Be3 

Ignoring the Knight, again, and going for the knockout.

9...Bxe3 

To quote the sentient computer in 2001 A Space Odyssey

HAL: Well, I don't think there is any question about it. It can only be attributable to human error. This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error.

Uh, 9...Bxb2  10.Bb3 h5 and Black is better.

10.fxe3 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Short and Sweet

The following Jerome Gambit game is quickly decided: one King is threatened, while the other King faces checkmate.

HollowFabio - Aruto22

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 

HollowFabio has 805 games in The Database, scoring 55%. They are about evenly split between 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, as in this game, and 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bxf7+, coming out of the Two Knights Defense.

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 g6 

It is tempting to kick the White Queen, especially if a defender underestimates her sally to h5 - or the entire Jerome Gambit, itself.

8.Qxe5+ 

The year before this game, White tried 8.Qh3+ and was lucky to escape with the point: 8...Ke7 9. fxe5 d6 10.Qc3 Nh6? 11.d4 Black resigned, HollowFabio - byamba0316, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2023. 

8... Kf7 9.Qxh8 Qh4+ 

Instead, 9...Qf6?! did not work out as well, although HollowFabio still scored the point 10.Qxf6+ Kxf6 11.c3 d5 12.e5+ Ke6 13.d4 Bb6 14.O-O c5 15.Be3 Ne7 16.Nd2 Nf5 17.Bf2 cxd4 18.cxd4 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Nxd4 20.Nf3 Ne2+ 21.Kh1 Nxf4 22.Ng5+ Kxe5 23.Rae1+ Kf5 24.Nh3 g5 25.g3 Kg6 26.Nxf4+ gxf4 27.gxf4 (27.Re8!?) 27...Bf5 28.Rg1+ Kf6 29.Rg5 Rd8 30.Kg1 h6 31.Rh5 Kg6 32.Rh4 h5 33.Re5? Bg4? (33...d4!?) 34.h3 (34.Rg5+) 34...Bf3 $6 35.Kf2 Be4 36.Rhxh5 Rf8 37.Rhg5+ Kf6 38.Ke3 b6 39.h4 a5 40.h5 Rh8 41.Kd4 Rc8 42.Rxd5 Rc4+ 43.Kxc4 b5+ 44.Kxb5 Bd3+ 45.Kxa5 Be4 46.Rde5 Bd3 47.Rgf5+ Bxf5 48.Rxf5+ Kxf5 49.h6 Kg6 50.h7 Kxh7 51.Kb6 Kg6 52.Kc7 Kf5 53.b4 Kxf4 54.b5 Ke5 55.b6 Kd5 56.b7 Kc4 57.b8=Q Kc3 58.a4 Black resigned, HollowFabio - Diman43, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024 

10.g3 

The earliest example of this line in The Database now continued 10...Qh5 11.Qc3 d6 12.d4 Bb6 13.Be3 Bg4 14.Nd2 Re8 15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Ne7 (16...Qh3) 17.Bxb6 cxb6 18.Ne4 Bf3 19.Qc4+ (19.Qxf3 Qxf3 20.Ng5+ Kg8 21.Nxf3) 19...Kf8 20.Nf6 Qf5 21.Nxe8 Black resigned, filidor - frotz, blitz, FICS, 2000. 

10...Qh3 11.f5 

With his Queen on walkabout and enemy forces knocking at the door, White calmly moves to open the f-file against Black's King.

 11...Qg2 12.fxg6+ 

Precise.

Saving the Rook with 12.Rf1 allows 12...Qxe4+ 13.Kd1 Qg4+ 14.Ke1 Qe4+ etc. with a draw.

Likewise, after 12.Qxh7+ Kf8! White has nothing better than 13.Rf1, when 13...Qxe4+ 14.Kd1 Qg4+ 15.Ke1 Qe4+ etc. is again a draw.

12...hxg6 

Moving his King does not help.

13.Rf1+ 

Black must now give up his Queen - or his King.

13...Ke7 

There is now a checkmate in 6 moves

14.Qe5+ Black resigned

The ending might go 14...Kd8 15.Qg5+ Nf6 (15...Kf8 16.Qxg6+ Ke7 17.Rf7+ Kd8 18.Qxg8+ Bf8 19.Qxf8)16.Qxf6+ Ke8 17.Qh8+ Ke7 18.Qf8+ Ke6 19.Qf6 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Chessy, Fun, Chaos, Wild Games

There is a lot to appreciate at Chessy's online site.

I'll just focus on its takedown of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

One of the most infamous unsound gambits in chess history — White tosses a bishop into f7 after just four moves, betting entirely on shock value. Stockfish condemns it at −2.36 (Black's favour), and across 483,060 Lichess games White scores only 45.9%. Play it on Chessy and see how far chaos takes you.

Yes, that's right, you can play on the website and try your luck - er, skill - with the Jerome.

In the meantime, the assessment is a sober one

The engine verdict: objectively losing for White

After 4.Bxf7+ Stockfish evaluates the position at −2.36 — over two pawns in Black's favour at depth 16. White has sacrificed a bishop for a single pawn and has no real compensation: no open file, no lasting initiative, no structural benefit. The principal variation runs 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+, where White picks up a knight but remains down a piece. This is not a temporary imbalance — White is simply worse, and the engine knows it. 

 Chessy's insight is clear, though

Why would anyone play the Jerome Gambit?

Shock value and fun. At club level and in rapid games, many players have never seen it. The chaos it creates can produce wild games — just understand you're betting on your opponent's ignorance, not on objective truth.

 Ah, yes: fun, chaos and wild games. That is what brings many readers to this blog (and, in all fairness chases many away).

Google Alert: ROFL

My Google Alert, set to scoop up references to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), has come up with another gem. 

Does anyone play the Jerome's gambit in chess? - Facebook

Facebook

Does anyone else play the Jerome #chess #chessmeme #chessmemes #memes #onlinechess #meme

I had to laugh out loud when I saw the accompanying graphic:

Here is another from Chess Master

Yes, clearly, here is person who understands that the Jerome Gambit goes best with a sense of humor!

Mingrelia Defense Videos

 

I enjoy the videos created by KaspaChess, especially his recent ones on the Mingrelia Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Qf6) - "A NEW DEADLY OPENING FOR BLACK NOBODY CAN BEAT... Easily" and "Destroy Everyone With This Early Queen Development Fast - CST #2".

Clearly the creator enjoys chess, enjoys exploring openings, and enjoys sharing what he has uncovered.

Also, check out the earlier posts on this blog: 

"The Mingrelia Defense: The Jerome Gambit Contravened"

"The Mingrelia Defense Returns (Part 1)"

"The Mingrelia Defense Returns (Part 2)"

"Some more on Prince Andre Dadian of Mingrelia and Greco"

Nameless

The Jerome Gambit "family" includes "relatives" that are equally entertaining.

The following game is an example.

dziuba - Alpertunga4000

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Bxf7+ 

This opening does not have a name, and I have not researched it as deeply as I have the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), but I would like to point out that The Database has 1,129 games by dziuba, scoring 55%.

Also, see the posts "Bringing the Heat" and "Jerome Gambit: Black and His Bishop".

3...Kxf7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Ng5+ 

This is a 1-minute game, where sharp threats cost precious thinking time to respond to. dziuba has 288 games with this move in The Database, scoring 58%. 

5...Kg6 

This move is okay, although strongest is the retreat 5...Kg8. 

6.d4 exd4 

Hmmm....

White's 6th move opens the c1-h6 diagonal, allowing his Bishop to protect his advanced Knight.

Is that all?

7.h4 

A year earlier, White played 7.f4 h6 8.f5 checkmate, dziuba - remzialperen, lichess.org, 2024.

 7...Bb4+ 

Black needed to stop the enemy h-pawn with 7...h5. Then 8.f4 Qe8 9.f5+ Kh6 10.O-O b6 would benefit the second player. 

8.c3 

White is now better.

Black's King is at risk.

8...dxc3 9.bxc3 

Already White had 9.h5+ Nxh5 10.Qxh5+ Kf6 11.Qf7+ Ke5 12.Bf4+ Kd4 13.Qd5 checkmate 

9...Bc5 10.h5+ Kh6 11.Nf7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Chess Xpress

  @ChessXpress_64 ("Welcome to ChessXpress, the ultimate space for chess lovers who want to sharpen their skills fast!") has the video "Jerome Gambit Madness | Sacrifice & Attack!" 

Welcome to the wild world of the Jerome Gambit!

This opening is pure chaos — White sacrifices a bishop and knight early just to launch a crazy attack on Black’s king. Risky? Yes. Fun? Absolutely!

It is a short, fun introduction to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

Check it out.

Jerome Gambit: Not "Business As Usual"

When a defender looks for moves, treating the Jerome Gambit as just another opening can be a mistake. Plain, "business as usual", development is not enough.

The following game is a good example.

ryuugu-rena - Alexlll

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

ryuugu-rena has 1,205 games in The Database. He scores 59%.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

This move often leads to either the Blackburne defense or Whistler's defense.

7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne, it is.

8.Qxh8 Be6 

This move is a bit "business as usual" in that it is not a response to the position on the board, it is simply developing another piece.

The Database has 54 games with this line, including games by Jerome Gambit regulars angelcamina, Arman-Avdalyan, DutchLiLi, fehim, intercrosse, Jagulep, jdpz, perrypawnpusher, petasluk, Wall, and ZeKnightRider. White scores  87%. 

9.Qxh7+ 

I was fascinated to see that early on in its analysis, Stockfish 17.1's top choice was 9.h4, although by 25 ply in depth it settled upon 9.d4.

The computer explored the dynamic 9.d4 Bb4+ 10.c3 Qh4, which looks, at first glance, to be threatening; but Stockfish 17.1 evaluates White as being about a Rook better, with the exchange and two pawns.

The game might continue 11.Nd2 Rf8 12.O-O Nf6 13.Nf3 Rxh8 14.Nxh4 Ba5 15.Re1 and White is better.

The move played in the game is fine.

Black tries to whip up some kind of attack, but in vain.

9...Kf8 10.Qxg6 Qh4 11.O-O Re8 12.d3 Nf6 13.Bg5 Black resigned

In a 3-minute game, these unfortunate things can happen.