Jerome Gambit: The Road More Travelled (Part 1)

My most recent Jerome Gambit game was like traveling down a road that I had visited many times before.

There are a lot of links to games in the notes.

perrypawnpusher - GatorOpening

3d/move, Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 

The March 1875 issue of The Dubuque Chess Journal contained the game Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875 (1/2 - 1/2, 29), in which this move first appeared.

Black assesses his position as good enough that he does not need to capture White's Knight. 

I decided to not give him a second chance.

6.Nxc6 dxc6 

Capturing with the d-pawn puts pressure down the d-file and prevents me from playing d2-d4.

7.O-O 

It is also reasonable to play 7.d3 followed by 8.O-O, as in perrypawnpusher - fortytwooz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 29); perrypawnpusher - Jore, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 16); perrypawnpusher - Conspicuous, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 13);  perrypawnpusher - Lark, FICS, 2011, (1-0, 12); and perrypawnpusher - pitrisko, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 30). 

7...Nf6 

I have faced a variety of defenses:

7...Qh4 as in perrypawnpusher - Al-der, Chess.com, 2019 (1-0, 26); 

7...Ne7 as in perrypawnpusher - smarlny, blitz, FICS 2011 (1-0, 25); 

7...Be6 as in perrypawnpusher - CorH, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 74); perrypawnpusher - spince, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 29); and perrypawnpusher - PasayDefence, Piano Piano, Chess.com 2020 (1/2-1/2, 57);  

7... Bd6 as in perrypawnpusher - Lark, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 18); 

7... h5 as in perrypawnpusher - jackedU711, Giuoco Piano Game, Chess.com 2023 (1/2-1/2, 14); and

7...Qf6 as in perrypawnpusher - DaniyarManat, Chess.com 2021 (1-0, 19) 

8.d3 Kf7 

Planning to castle-by-hand.

I have also faced 8...h6 as in perrypawnpusher - vladchess, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1/2-1/2, 46);

and 8...Bg4 as in perrypawnpusher - MRBarupal, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 13); perrypawnpusher - MRBarupal,  blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 24); and perrypawnpusher - hamadkargarfard7, Jerome Gambit Classic #1, 2024 (1-0, 25); 

9.Nc3 Re8 

Or 9...Rf8 10.Bg5 Kg8 11.e5 Bg4 draw, perrypawnpusher - Ykcir, blitz, FICS rated blitz 2009.

After the game Stockfish 17.1 (31 ply) rated this position as about 1 3/4 pawns better for Black.

As the poet Robert Frost (an avid chessplayer) said, I had miles to go before I sleep...

[to be continued]