Playing a lot of Jerome Gambit games (770, counting all varieties) should be helpful to my play - and it often is.
The notes to the following game hint at how much I was assisted by my experience.
I hope they boost the play of Readers as well.
perrypawnpusher - JAMARTINO
Not only the Italians play the Italian, Chess.com, 2025
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
From "A Jerome Look At The Semi-Italian Opening (Part 1)"
On this blog I refer to 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 as the Semi-Italian Opening, a name given to it in Chess Master Vs Chess Amateur (1963), by Max Euwe and Walter Meiden. Here is what the authors say about Black's third move (I have changed the notation from English descriptive to algebraic.)
This is a favorite move of the weaker amateur. He fears some future attack by the White QB (Bg5, for instance) or by the White KN (Ng5), and, before the White QB is even able to move, he plays the precautionary 3...h6. In certain positions, such a precautionary move is occasionally necessary, but in this position, not only is it not necessary, but it consumes valuable time. This puts Black one move behind White in the type of opening where tempi are of greatest importance. Instead of meeting the enemy's rapidly mobilizing forces with armed soldiers (i.e., by bringing out his pieces), Black only loses time and force, and, without realizing it, even weakens his defensive wall...
When an ex-world champion player points out that 3...h6 "consumes valuable time," it is worth remembering.
A gambit player benefits from "valuable time".
4.O-O
It is true that d2-d4, either now or on the next move, transposing into a Scotch Game or Gambit, is a bit better than the text; but I wanted to transpose into the Jerome Gambit.
4.O-O has been my overwhelming choice here.
I tried 4.Bxf7+ a couple of times but do not recommend it: perrypawnpusher - marapr, blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 27) and perrypawnpusher - anonymous, casual over-the-board game, 2014 (1-0, 14).
4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
The Database shows I have played it in 60 games, scoring 79%.
6...Kxf7
Accepting the Bishop is natural and good, although, some time back, I had an opponent decline with 6...Kf8, and then do it again a year and a half later. See perrypawnpusher - Duquesne, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 21) and perrypawnpusher - Duquesne, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 21).
7.Nxe5+ Nxe5
There is no solid reason to avoid capturing on e5, except, perhaps, psychological, but I have to admit that I once stumbled against 7...Kg8 in perrypawnpusher - roccovargas, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 22) and once against 7...Kf8 in perrypawnpusher - ojot, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 15).
(Yes, sometimes I do regret committing to sharing all of my games - good, bad, and ugly.)
8.d4
The "Jerome pawns" begin to strike back.
[to be continued]
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