Sometimes it seems that if the Jerome Gambit didn't look so bad, it wouldn't turn out so good...
Philidor1792 - guest1895
Internet online game, 2013
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 8.f4
This is a line that Philidor1792 has explored a number of times (see the series started with "Where Do Ideas Come From? Part 1").
The central conflict between three White pawns and three Black pieces seems overwhelmingly in the defender's favor, especially since he has two extra pieces. However, veteran Jerome Gambit players know that appearances are often deceiving, and against human players (especially those who become overconfident, and, thus, inattentive) the play can often become favorable for the attacker.
8...Nc4
This move seems to have first been played in a couple of games against Rijndael/Ryndael at FICS (see "New Player, Old Line" and "Updated").
9.e5 Bb4 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Ne4
Now we have another curious pieces vs pawns matchup.
12.d5 Nxc3 13.Qd3 Nb6 14.Qxc3 Nxd5 15.Qb3
Black's advantage seems to have shrunk (15.Qe4 and 15.Qf5+ were interesting alternatives) and his King looks vulnerable. Can White scare up threats quickly enough?
15...c6 16.Qh3 d6 17.Qh5+ g6 18.Qh6 Qf8 19.Qh4 Bf5 20.Bb2 Rg8
21.Qxh7+
It was a bit more accurate to precede this with 21.c4 Nc7 22.exd6 Qxd6, but Black's game falls apart any way.
21...Ke8 22.exd6 Kd8 23.c4 Bd3 24.cxd5 Bxf1 25.Qc7+ Ke8 26.Re1+ Be2 27.Rxe2+ Qe7 28.Qxe7 checkmate
graphic by Jeff Bucchino, The Wizard of Draws
Here's an updated look at a Jerome Gambit variant that still holds a lot of poison for White.
In raw position comparisons, The Database has 9244 games after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ where White scores 44%; while it has 1780 games after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Bxf7+, where White scores 38%.
Ryndael - emranhamid
standard, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 8.f4
This line was investigated in "Attitude" and "Where Do Ideas Come From?" Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
I was surprised to see that Houdini 2, at 20 ply depth, considers it about equivalent to 8.dxe5.
Black's next move is new, however.
8...Nc4 9.e5 Bb4 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Ne4
12.f5
A slight improvement over 12.Qd3 d5 13.f5 in Rijndael - creamen, FICS, 2011, (0-1, 28).
12...Rf8 13.Rf4 d5 14.Qh5+ Kg8
White now throws everything into a frantic attack, but there is little hope.
15.Rxe4 dxe4 16.Bg5 Qd5 17.f6 gxf6 18.Rf1 Nxe5 19.Bxf6 Nf3+ 20.Rxf3 Qxh5 21.Rg3+ Kf7 White resigned
graphic by Jeff Bucchino, the Wizard of Draws
I've noticed a new name amongst players at FICS who are playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and related openings. New warriors are always welcome to the ranks of the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde.
Dyfvermark - alkimie
standard, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nf6
5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4
A "natural" move that has seen its way into a number of posts this year (see "Thought, Emotion and Error", "Refutation right on the spot" and "Casually" for starters). It does not hold onto Black's full advantage, but it is not losing.
8.dxe5
Instead, 8.f4 is "over-thinking" the position too much, 8...Nxe4 (8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nc4 10.e5 Qe7 11.0-0 Nd5 12.f5 Nce3 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.f6 gxf6?! 15.Bxe3 Nxe3 16.Rxf6 d5 17.Qg5+ Qg7 18.Qxe3 Bd7?! 19.Raf1 Bb5 20.R1f3 Rf8 21.Rg3 Rf7 22.Rxf7 Kxf7 23.Qf4+ Kg8 24.Rxg7+ Kxg7 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.e6 h6 27.Qf7 checkmate, Rijndael - tempelier, FICS, 2011) 9.dxe5 Qh4+ 10.g3 Nxg3 11.Qd5+ Ke8 12.hxg3 Qxg3+ 13.Ke2 Bxc3 14.bxc3 d6 15.Be3 Bg4+ 16.Kd2 Rd8 17.Rxh7 Rxh7 18.Qg8+ Ke7 19.Qxh7 dxe5+ 20.Kc1 Qxe3+ 21.Kb2 Qb6+ 22.Ka3 Qc5+ White resigned, Dyfvermark - rchesszz, FICS, 2011.
8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nxe4
This is not thoughtful enough (see the earlier posts mentioned above) and turns the advantage over to White.
10.Qd5+ Kf8 11.Qxe4 Qe7
There were chances to fight for a draw with 11...d5 12.exd6 Qxd6 13.0-0 Qe6, looking toward a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame.
12.0-0 d6 13.Ba3 c5 14.Rfd1 Black forfeited by disconnection
It can sometimes be helpful to take an idea from opening and apply it to another. This kind of "transplant" must be done carefully, however, and only upon prior examination. In the following game, both Black and White were unaware that they should have rejected the transplant.
Rijndael - krispykurtis
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6
Black transplants an idea from the "fork trick".
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ (the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit) Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 the idea of 7...Bd6 is playable. In the current game, though, with ...h7-h6 replacing ...Nf8-g6, the idea is trouble.
8.dxe5 Bxe5
This puts the Bishop in danger, as White can follow up with 9.Qh5+ and win it. Black would do best to let the White pawn at e5 go with 8...Bb4.
9.f4
Aha! White also recognizes the transplanted "fork trick" and plays a thematic move for that line of play. The game yorgos - hartingu, FICS, 2009, continued more appropriately, 9.Qh5+ Kf8 10.Qxe5 with advantage to White (1-0, 30).
9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3
White's compensation for his piece is a pawn, better center control, and open lines against an uneasy enemy King. It is not enough.
Fortunately, Black continues with ordinary moves, in this case preparing to castle-by-hand.
10...Ne7 11.0-0 Re8 12.f5 Kg8
13.f6
This move appears premature at first glance, as White has only one pieced developed (his Rook) to Black's two. However, the opportunity to break open Black's King's haven should not be missed, and the unfortunate arrangement of Black's King and Rook (available to a pawn fork from f7) is encouraging. With luck, White's open lines will help in the attack.
13...gxf6
Collapsing. After the game Rybka 3 suggested 13...Ng6 14.f7+ Kh7 15.fxe8Q Qxe8 with the edge to White. Fritz 8 suggested, instead, 13...Rf8, but this is met roughly by 14.Bxh6 Rf7 (14...gxh6 15.Qg4+ and mate follows) 15.Bxg7 and then, for example, 15...Ng6 16.Qd5 and White's attack will win material.
14.Qg4+ Kh7 15.Rxf6 Rg8 16.Rxh6 checkmate
