Jeome Gambit: A New/Old Defense

A recent Jerome Gambit game sent me back to my research...

perrypawnpusher - NN

"The Italian Game" tournament, Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 g5 

                               

I have likened this line to the Brentano Defense to the Ruy Lopez - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g5!? - althought I have not found any links to Franz Brentano (1838 – 1917). See "Jerome Gambit: Out-Stranged?" and "Jerome Gambit: Out-Stranged Post Script".

The earliest example of this defense that I have seen is in Smeltzer,P - Elliott,J, Detroit, 1990 (0-1, 24).

I was shocked to find that there are 63,000 games with this line of play (Black scoring 45.5% overall) at lichess.org. The top player using the defense was rated at 3113.

4.d4 

This move makes the most sense, countering an attack on the wing with one in the center.

4...Na5 

Hoping to win the "minor exchange" of Knight for Bishop, after 5.Bb3 Nxb3 ?

The position now calls out to be Jeromed.

5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ 

6...Ke8 

Stockfish 17.1 is not very excited about its recommendation for Black, 6...Kg7, i.e. 7.Qh5 Qe7 8.Nc3 c6 9.Bxg5 Nf6 10.Qh4 Bg7 11.Ng4 Kf7 12.e5.

On the other hand, the text leads to checkmate.

7.Qh5+ Ke7 8.Qf7+

Black resigned

The finish is 8...Kd6 9.Qd5+ Ke7 10.Bxg5+ Nf6 11.Qf7+ Kd6 12.Bxf6 c6 13.Bxd8 and White mates the next move.