Jerome Gambit: For Jerome! (Part 1)

In a recent, complicated, online game, played with a time control of 3 days per move (although we usually moved faster, I had a moment in play where it felt like things were moving in a direction that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome would appreciate.

 

perrypawnpusher - ArinrudtheDude

The Italian Game, Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 Qe7 

I have also faced 8...d6, 8...c6, 8...Nf6, 8...Nf4, 8...N8e7, 8...b6, and 8...Qh4.

9.Qe3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Rf8 

Interesting. 

I have encountered 10...Qe6 here, as well.

11.O-O d6 

After the game, after some analysis, Stockfish 18 likes 11...d5

12.f4 Bd7 13.d4 c6 

Oddly enough, I am a move ahead of neelnikhar - SamuelMV, bullet, lichess.org, 2023, (1/2 - 1/2, 50) which saw d3 and then d4. 

14.f5 Nh8 

White has activated his "Jerome pawns" and is preparing for a break in center, to take advantage of the position of Black's Queen and King.

Black's plan is to hunker down and resist the onslaught.

15.b3 

Stockfish 18 prefers that the Bishop go to d2.

15...Nf7 

The text move looks solid to me.

The computer suggests 15...b5!? (i.e. the center is solid, so advance on the wings) 16.Qe1 Kf7 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 Rae8 19.e6+ Kg8 20.Bg5 Bxe6 21.Qxe6+ Qe6 22.fxe6 Rxe6 23.Bxf6 Rfxf6 24.Rad1 Nf7 25.Rxf6 gxf6 26.Kf2 Re5 27.a4 with about an equal game.

analysis diagram

16.Ba3 

Black's Queen and King are lined up on the e-file, and his Queen, Queen pawn, and Rook are lined up on the a3-f8 diagonal. Something has to give.

16...Kd8 

Again, post mortem, Stockfish 18 suggested a line that makes my head spin: 16...c5 17.e5 cxd4 18.Qxd4 dxe5 19.Bxe7 exd4 20.Rae1 Ng4 21.Bf6+ Nfe5 22.Bxe5 dxc3 23.Bd6+ Kf7 24.Re7+ Kg8 25.Rxd7 Rad8 26.Rxd8 27.Bf4 Rd5 28.h3 Nf6 29.Be3 a6 30.a4 b5 31.Rf4 Nh5 32.Rd4 Rxf5 33.g4 Re5 34.axb5 axb5 35.Kf2 Nf6 with about a pawn and a half advantage for White:

analysis diagram

Sure. Right. I doubt my opponent saw that far - I sure didn't.

Sometimes the help of an engine rated around 3650 sails over my head.

17.Rae1 

I wanted one more piece in action before I broke in the center.

17...Qe8 

The computer recommends 17...Ng4, but I will spare you the details.

18.Qf4 Kc7 

It's time.

[to be continued]