Jerome Gambit: Impatience Wins Again

What do you do, if you are excited by the Jerome Gambit, but don't want to wait for the whole opening to unfold? Well, perhaps, like in the following game, you sacrifice your bishop a bit ahead of schedule...

Of course, when you checkmate your opponent in a dozen moves, you might very well have proven your point.

JovieBoi - NN
5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.Bxf7+ 

This is one of the opening lines that I have classified as "impatient Jerome Gambits" in that White does not wait for ...Bc5 before sacrificing his Bishop.

If Black is not prepared the shock may shorten the game considerably.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.d4 

Black is holding on, but he has to keep his King safe, even at the cost of returning some material.

8...Qf6 9.dxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qxf8+ 

This works, but 10.Bf4 was even stronger.

10...Qe7 

11.Bf4+ Ke6

Stumbling into it.

12.Qf5 checkmate

Okay!


graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

Jerome Gambit: Don't Spill the Popcorn

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is like a thrilling action movie - played at high speed (5 minute blitz). It would be rude to interrupt the flow of the game with too many comments like "better would be..." or "less troublesome would be..." Better to watch the game unfold. Don't spill the popcorn.

JovieBoi - Guest471555
5 0 blitz, PlayChess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qe7 9.Nc3 a6 

10.Nd5 Qe6 11.Qf8+ Kc6 12.Qxg7  Nc4 13.d3 

The position on the board is a mess, but, perhaps Black has an edge?

13...b5 14.f5 

Take the Rook, instead. 

14...Qe5 15.Qxe5 Nxe5 16.Bf4 d6 17.O-O-O 

One King is safe. 

17...Bb7 18.c3 Kd7 19.d4 Nc4 20.dxc5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Nf6 22.Rd4 Rhe8 23.cxd6 cxd6 

With 3 pawns for the sacrifice piece, White has about equalized, especially when considering the safety of each King.

24.e5 Ng4 25.e6+ Ke7 26.b3 Nce3 27.Bxd6+ Kf6 28.h3 Nf2

At about this point, the clock seems to become a factor.

29.Rf1 Rad8 30.g4 Rxd6  31.Rxf2 Nxg4 32.hxg4 h5 33.gxh5 Rexe6 34.Rxd6 Rxd6

The smoke has cleared. White has this one.

35.Kc2 Rd5 36.a4 bxa4 37.bxa4 a5 38.c4 Rxf5 39.Rxf5+ Black resigned