I received a challenge from rffuse at Chess.com. He wanted to play the Jerome Gambit against me.
That felt odd.
Here is how it went.
rffuse - perrypawnpusher
Chess.com, 2026
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
According to The Database, I have defended against the Jerome Gambit in 52 games, scoring 87%.
Compare that to the 500 Jerome Gambits I have played with White, scoring 82%.
Hmmmm.....
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4
Okay, I am 4 - 0 against this move. (Against 6.Qh5+ I am 11 - 3 - 1)
6...Bxd4
I usually play 6...Qh4, based on earlier Jerome Gambit games going back (at least) to Sorensen - X, Denmark, 1888 (1-0, 27).
I am not sure why I played this move.
7.Qxd4 d6 8.Bf4 Qe7 9.Nc3 Nf6
Black is better, with a piece for a pawn; but that never stopped me from playing White!
10.O-O-O
Nice. Alonzo Wheeler Jerome castled Queenside in at least 11 of his games.
10...Rf8 11.Bxe5 dxe5 12.Qc4+
To check the enemy King and prevent it from castling
12...Be6
Okay, missed that.
13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Qd6
Blockading the Queen pawn, and preventing any discovered checks. The same could be accomplished with a lesser piece, i.e. 14....Ne8 and 15...Nd6
I need not have worried: 14...Kg8 15.d6+ Qf7 16.Qxf7+ Rxf7 17.Rhe1 cxd6 18.Rxd6 and Black is fine.
15.Rd3 Nd7
I am not sure what this move is all about, and the Knight is soon recalled
16.Rg3 Kg8 17.Rf1 Nf6 18.f4 Qxd5
The alteranative, 18...exf4 19.Rxf4, is fine for Black.
19.Qxc7 Rf7 20.Qxe5 Qxa2
Both Queens are getting their exercise.
I was pleased to be playing a Jerome Gambit where I had the extra piece, for a change.
[to be continued]
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