Keep Things Complicated

Here is another game from SUPREMEAPAP, showing the value of keeping the game complicated - uncomfortable for the opponent.

The defender might well have asked himself - At what point did I lose control of the game?

SUPREMEAPAP - NN

3 2 blitz, Chess.com, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bxf7+ 

Although this line of play does not seem to have a name, I have classified it as a Jerome-Knight gambit. See "Jerome-Knightmare" and, especially, "Jerome Gambit: Review of the Jerome-Knight Gambit". 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ 

A historical reference: here 5.Qe2 was played in Draper, Dr - Child, AW., Belfast - Dublin team correspondence match-2 1891-2 (0-1, 20) 

5... Nxe5 6.d4 Ng6  

White has given up two pieces for two pawns - but those pawns can become troublesome, especially in a 3-minute game.

7.e5 Nd5 

Like in the Jerome Gambit proper, White is going to win back some material, so to be considered here is 7...d5 8.exf6 Qxf6, and Black is still better.

8.Qf3+ Ke8 9.Qxd5 Ne7 

Kicking the enemy Queen, always attractive. 

10.Qe4 d5 11.Qh4 

Interesting. 11.exd6 Qxd6 would have opened Black's position a little more, not in line with White's plans or chances.

11...g6 

This weakens f6, and is immediately responded to.

12.Bg5 Qd7 13.Nc3 Bg7 14.O-O 

There was a pawn to be had with 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qxe7+ Kxe7 16.Nxd5, but White wants to retain her Queen for attacking chances.

14...Nf5 

15.Qf4 Rf8 16.Rfe1 Qe6 17.Nb5 

17...Qe7 

Ack! In keeping the position complicated and relying upon assistance of the clock,White is rewarded with this slip.

18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Qd2 Kf7 20.Nxc7 Rb8 21.e6+ Kg8 

Black's King has found safety. If he can capture White's advanced Knight, he would have 3 pieces for his Queen, and maybe...

Not going to happen.

22.Qg5 Nf5 23.Nxd5 Bf6 

Okay, the clock or panic, it doesn't matter any more.

24.Nxf6+ Kg7 

25.Nd7 

Forcing another exchange and advancing his passed pawn. 

It is not necessary to realize that White has a checkmate in 13 here - it is enough to find a winning way.

25...Bxd7 26.exd7 b6 27.g4 

Relentless.

27...Nxd4 28.Re7+ Kg8 29.Qd5+ Kh8 30.Qxd4+ Kg8 31.Qg7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Akela

Bill Wall has played the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) several times against his opponent, Akela - whose name reminds me of Rudyard Kipling's stories, The Jungle Book (1894) and The Second Jungle Book (1895), which portrays the great gray wolf, leading his pack by strength and cunning. 

Today, experience out-duels strength and cunning.

Wall, Bill - Akela

internet, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ 

Bill has played the quieter 5.Nc3 against this opponent, although winning with it took some work, some patience, and some tactical alertness: 5...d6 6.d3 h6 7.O-O Nf6 8.h3 Rf8 9.Na4 Bb6 10.Re1 Kg8 11.Nxb6 axb6 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Bd7 15.f3 Bc6 16.Be3 Re8 17.a4 Qe7 18.b3 Qe5 19.Qd2 Qe6 20.c4 Nd7 21.Rac1 Nc5 22.Qc3 Qe5 23.Bd4 Qe7 24.Bf2 Ne6 25.Rc2 Rf8 26.Rd2 Qf6 27.Qe3 Nc5 28.Bg3 Rae8 29.Rf2 Ne6 30.Kh2 Qd4 31.Qc1 Nc5 32.Rd2 Qf6 33.Re3 Rd8 34.b4 Nxa4 35.Ra2 b5 36.cxb5 Bxb5 37.Qxc7 Qd4 38.Rea3 Qxb4 39.Qxb7 Rb8 40.Qd5+ Kh8 41.Bxd6 Nc3 42.Bxb4 Nxd5 43.Bxf8 Rxf8 44.Ra8 Kg8 45.exd5 Bc4 46.R2a5 Rxa8 47.Rxa8+ Kf7 48.Ra7+ Kf6 49.d6 Black resigned, Wall,B - Akela, internet, 2023. 

5...Nxe5 6.d4 

Or 6.Qh5+ Ke6 (6...Kf8 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Qf6 9.Nc3 Ne7 10.O-O a6 11.d3 Ng6 12.Nd5 Qd8 13.Bg5 Qd7 14.b4 Ba7 15.c3 c6 16.Nf4 Qf7 17.Ne2 Qe6 18.Be3 Kf7 19.h3 Rf8 20.Nd4 Qe5 21.f4 Qh5 22.f5 Ne5 23.Bf4 Re8 24.Kh1 Kg8 25.Rae1 Qf7 26.Nf3 Nxd3 27.Ng5 Qc4 28.Nxh7 Kxh7 29.Qg6+ Kg8 30.Qxe8+ Kh7 31.Re2 Nxf4 32.Rxf4 g6 33.Qxg6+ Kh8 34.Rh4 checkmate, Wall,B - Akela, internet, 2024) 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qe7 9.Na3 Bxa3 10.bxa3 Qf6 11.fxe5+ Qxe5 12.Qxe5+ Kxe5 13.Bb2+ Kxe4 14.Bxg7 d6 15.O-O Be6 16.Rae1+ Kd5 17.c4+ Kxc4 18.Rxe6 Black resigned, Wall,B - Akela, internet, 2023

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 

7...Qf6 

Or 7...d6 8.O-O Nf6 as in Wall,B - Akela, internet, 2022 (1-0, 26)

8.Qc5 Nc6 9.O-O d6 10.Qb5 

White's King is safe, so he can afford to have a roaming Queen pressuring the enemy position.

10...Nge7 11.Nc3 a6 12.Qh5+ Qg6 13.Qf3+ Qf6 14.Qe2 

If the Jerome Gambit was an affront to Black's sense of how-to-play-chess, the White Queen's travel has to be further annoying.

14...Re8 15.Be3 Ng6 16.Nd5 Qd8 

17.f4 Kg8 

Black safeguards his King. White has grabbed the initiative.

18.f5 Nge7 

Defense can be more uncomfortable than offense. Here, Black might have chosen, instead, 18...Nge5 19.Qh5 Nf7. 

19.f6 

Beware the f-file.

19...Nxd5 

It can be hard to find the right path: 19...Be6 20.Qh5 Nxd5 21.exd5 Ne5 22.Qg5 g6 23.dxe6 Rxe1 24.Rae1 when White might have an edge.

20.f7+ Kh8 21.fxe8=Q+ Qxe8 22.exd5 Ne7 23.Bg5 Black resigned

Black's Knight is doomed. The defender has had enough for this game.

The Scourge of the Jerome Gambit

If you play the Jerome Gambit, you have seen it.

Your position in the game is even, or maybe even a bit worse.

But your opponent is not familiar with the Jerome, and things are kind of weird and uncomfortable for him.

Suddenly, the game is yours. How? Why?

Jerome Gambit.

GENCALOGLU53 - kaisen27

10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 

Declining the second piece goes as far back as Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875 (1/2 - 1/2, 29). The resulting position is still good for Black, although Stockfish 16.1 sees the move 5...Nxe5 as about a pawn better.

6.Nxc6 

Alternatives playd by GENCALOGLU53

6.d4 Bxd4 7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.Be3 c5 9.c3 Bxc3+ 10.Nxc3 Be6 11.Qf3+ Bf7 12.Bxc5+ Ne7 13.Nd5 Ke8 14.Bxe7 Qd7 15.O-O Bxd5 16.exd5 c6 17.d6 g6 18.Rfe1 Black resigned, GENCALOGLU53 - Tico_JK, 10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2024; 

6.c3 Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 Bd6 10.e5 Bc5 11.Qd5 Bb6 12.b4 c6 13.Qe4 Nh6 14.h3 d5 15.Qf3 a5 16.Be3 axb4 17.cxb4 d4 18.Bf2 Qe7 19.a3 Bf5 20.Nd2 Kf7 21.O-O Rhd8 22.Nc4 Bc7 23.g4 Bc8 24.Rfd1 c5 25.bxc5 Qxc5 26.Nd6+ Bxd6 27.exd6 Rxd6 28.Rdc1 Qd5 29.Qd3 Kg8 30.f5 Nf7 31.Bg3 Rh6 32.Kh2 Ne5 33.Qe2 Nf3+ 34.Kg2 Ng5+ 35.Kf2 Nxh3+ 36.Ke1 d3 37.Qe3 Ra4 38.Rd1 Re4 39.Bf2 Rxe3+ 40.Bxe3 Qe4 41.Kd2 Rc6 42.Rdc1 Qg2+ 43.Kxd3 Rd6+ 44.Kc3 Qc6+ 45.Kb3 Qb5+ 46.Ka2 Qd5+ 47.Kb2 Bd7 48.Bc5 Qd2+ 49.Rc2 Qxc2+ 50.Kxc2 Rc6 51.Rd1 Rxc5+ 52.Kb3 Bc6 53.Rd8+ Kf7 54.Rh8 h6 55.Rd8 Nf4 56.Rd4 Ne2 57.Rd2 Rc3+ 58.Kb4 Re3 59.a4 Nf4 60.Rd4 Nd5+ 61.Kc5 Rc3+ 62.Kd6 Nf4 63.Rxf4 Ra3 64.Rb4 Rxa4 65.Rxa4 Bxa4 66.Kc7 Bc6 67.Kd6 Bf3 White resigned, GENCALOGLU53 - shezinmv1, 10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2024; and

6.Qf3+ Qf6 7.Nxc6 Qxf3 8.gxf3 dxc6 9.c3 Be6 10.d4 Bb6 11.Be3 Bf7 12.Nd2 Ke7 13.O-O-O Rd8 14.Rhg1 g6 15.Bg5+ Nf6 16.e5 h6 17.Bxf6+ Black resigned, GENCALOGLU53 - subhashc37, 10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2024. 

6...dxc6 

Capturing "away from the center" is recommended in this case, as the opened d-file helps prevent White from directly playing d2-d4.

Still, White has captured with the b-pawn in other games:

6...bxc6 7.d3 (7.d4 Bb4+ 8.c3 Ba5 9.e5 d6 10.Qf3+ Ke8 11.Qxc6+ Bd7 12.Qd5 Bb6 13.O-O Ne7 14.Qe4 Ng6 15.exd6+ Kf8 16.dxc7 Bxc7 17.g3 Qf6 18.Qxa8+ Kf7 19.Qd5+ Be6 20.Qc6 Rc8 21.f4 Ne7 22.Qf3 Qg6 23.f5 Nxf5 24.Na3 Kg8 25.d5 Bd7 26.Bf4 Bb6+ 27.Kh1 Re8 28.Rae1 Rf8 29.Nc4 Bc5 30.Ne5 Qe8 31.Nxd7 Qxd7 32.Qe4 Ne7 33.Qe6+ Qxe6 34.Rxe6 Nxd5 35.Re5 Nxf4 36.Rxc5 Ne6 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 38.Rc8+ Kf7 39.Ra8 Nc5 40.Rxa7+ Kg6 41.b4 Nd3 42.Ra6+ Kf5 43.Rd6 Nc1 44.a4 Na2 45.Rc6 Ke4 46.a5 Kd3 47.a6 Nxc3 48.Rxc3+ Kxc3 49.a7 Kxb4 50.a8=Q Black resigned, GENCALOGLU53 - geologochess, lichess.org, 2025) 7...Nf6 8.O-O d6 9.d4 Bb6 10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Nd5 13.c4 Nb4 14.Na3 Be6 15.b3 Ke7 16.Bg5+ Kf7 17.Rac1 h6 18.Bf4 g5 19.Bg3 Rhd8 20.Rf1 Nxa2 21.Kh1 Nxc1 22.Rxc1 Rd2 23.f4 Rad8 24.fxg5 hxg5 25.b4 Rd1+ 26.Be1 Rxc1 White resiged, GENCALOGLU53 - Arman4Desire, 10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2024.

7.d3 

Or

7.c3 Nf6 8.e5 Qe7 9.d4 Bb6 10.O-O Ng4 11.h3 Nh6 12.Qf3+ Nf7 13.Na3 a6 14.Nc4 Be6 15.Nxb6 cxb6 16.a4 Qe8 17.b3 Kg8 18.c4 Rd8 19.Be3 Bd7 20.Rfe1 Qe7 21.Bf4 Be6 22.Rad1 Ng5 23.Bxg5 Qxg5 24.d5 Rf8 25.Qxf8+ Kxf8 26.dxe6 g6 27.f4 Qxf4 28.Rf1 Qxf1+ 29.Rxf1+ Ke7 30.Rf7+ Kxe6 31.Rxb7 Kxe5 32.Rxb6 Kd4 33.Rxc6 Rb8 34.Rxa6 Rxb3 35.Ra7 Kxc4 36.Rxh7 Kb4 37.Ra7 Ra3 38.a5 g5 39.a6 Ka5 40.Ra8 Ra1+ 41.Kh2 Rb1 42.a7 Rb7 43.Rg8 Ka6 44.Rxg5 Rxa7 45.h4 Rh7 46.Kh3 Kb6 47.g4 Kc6 48.h5 Kd6 49.Rg6+ Ke7 50.Kh4 Kf7 51.g5 Kf8 52.Rf6+ Kg7 53.Ra6 Kg8 54.Ra8+ Kg7 55.Ra7+ Kh8 56.Rxh7+ Kxh7 57.Kg4 Kg7 58.Kf5 Kh7 59.h6 Kh8 60.Kg6 Kg8 61.Kf6 Kh7 62.Kf5 Kg8 63.g6 Kh8 64.Kf6 Kg8 65.Kg5 Kh8 66.Kh5 Kg8 67.g7 Kh7 68.Kg5 Kg8 69.Kh5 Kh7 70.g8=Q+ Kxg8 71.Kg6 Kh8 72.h7 draw, GENCALOGLU53 - John_keles, 10 0 rapid, lichess.org,  2024; and

7.O-O Qf6 8.c3 b5 9.d4 Bb6 10.e5 Qf5 11.Be3 Bd7 12.Nd2 Ke7 13.Nf3 Rf8 14.a4 a6 15.axb5 axb5 16.h3 Nh6 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.g4 Rhg8 19.Nh2 Qe6 20.f3 h5 21.Qe2 hxg4 22.fxg4 h5 23.Rxf8 Rxf8 24.Rf1 Rxf1+ 25.Kxf1 hxg4 26.hxg4 Qa2 27.Kg2 Qd5+ 28.Kg3 Qh1 29.Qf3 Qe1+ 30.Kf4 Qd2+ 31.Qe3 Qxh2+ 32.Qg3 Qxg3+ 33.Kxg3 c5 34.d5 c4 35.Kf4 b4 36.g5 bxc3 37.bxc3 Ba5 38.Ke4 Bxc3 39.g6 Kf8 40.Kf4 Kg7 41.e6 Bb5 42.e7 Kxg6 43.Ke4 Bf6 44.d6 c3 45.dxc7 Bc6+ 46.Kd3 Bb5+ 47.Kc2 Ba4+ 48.Kc1 Bg5+ 49.Kb1 c2+ 50.Kb2 c1=Q+ 51.Ka2 Qc2+ 52.Ka3 Qb3 checkmate, GENCALOGLU53 - Ivans-Ivans, 10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2025 

7...Nf6 8.O-O Kf7 9.c3 Rf8 

White has castled. Black hopes to castle-by-hand.

10.d4 Bb6 

The retreat to e7 would have been more helpful, as White shows.

11.Bg5 

Planning on playing e4-e5, but that could have been played immediately.

 11...Qd6 

Could be the clock. True, the Knight is no longer pinned to the Queen, but...

The ordinary 11...h6 would have been fine.

12.e5 Black resigned

The pawn fork looks scary, especially since a moment ago the Knight was pinned to the Queen.

But now, with 12...Qd5, Black would still have an even game, even though it will cost him the Knight (not the Queen). After 13.c4 Qxd4 14.exf6 Qxd1 15.Rxd1 gxf6 16.Be3 Bg4 17.Re1 Rfe8 18.Nc3 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Rxe3 20.fxe3 the game is balanced.

Jerome Gambit: Ooops

In the following game, the players march down the main line of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) until White allows the exchange of his Rook for a Bishop - permitting Black to deliver a draw by repetion.

Ooops.

Blitz. It happens.

joker0909 - maxiprole76

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's defense. Whistler's Defense would be 7...Qe7.

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.d4 

He has also played 9.O-O Bg4 (9...Nf6 10.Qd8 Bh3 11.Qxc7+ Kf8 12.Qxb7 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Qg4+ 14.Kh1 Qf3+ 15.Kg1 Qg4+ +/=) 10.Qc3 Be2 11.g3 (11.d4 Bxf1 12.dxc5 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Qxe4+ 14.Qf3+) 11...Qxe4 12.d3 Qf3 13.Nd2 Bxf2+ 14.Rxf2 Black resigned, joker0909 - PempGMate, lichess.org, 2024. 

9...Qxe4+ 

Less accurate was 9...Bxd4 10.Qxd4 Bf5 11.Qc4+ d5 12.Qxc7+ Qe7 13.Qg3 Bxe4 14.O-O Bxc2 15.Bg5 Qb4 16.Qc7+ Kf8 17.Qxc2 d4 18.a3 Qb5 19.Nd2 d3 20.Qc7 Qxg5 21.Rfe1 Nf6 22.Qe7+ Kg8 23.Re5 Qxd2 24.Qxf6 Qxb2 25.Re8+ Rxe8 26.Qxb2 a5 27.g3 b5 28.Qxb5 d2 29.Qxe8+ Kg7 30.Qe2 d1=Q+ 31.Qxd1 a4 32.Rc1 h5 33.Rc6 Kh6 34.Qd6 Kg7 35.Qxg6+ Kf8 36.Rf6+ Ke7 37.Qf7+ Kd8 38.Rd6+ Kc8 39.Qd7+ Kb8 40.Rb6+ Ka8 41.Qc8+ Ka7 42.Qb7 checkmate, joker0909 - desuisback, lichess.org, 2024 

Best was 9...Nf6 10.Nd2 Bxd4 11.0–0 Qxh2+ 12.Kxh2 Ng4+ 13.Kg1 Bxh8.

10.Be3 Qxg2 

joker0909 has also faced:

10...Bxd4 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Nd2 Qxc2 13.Bxd4 Bf5 14.Qg7+ Ke8 15.Qxg8+ Kd7 16.Qxa8 Qd3 17.Qxa7 Be4 18.Qa4+ c6 19.O-O-O Bxg2 20.Nc4 Qe4 21.Nxd6 Kxd6 22.Qb4+ Kc7 23.Qb6+ Kb8 24.Qa7+ Kc8 25.Qa8+ Kd7 26.Qxb7+ Kd6 27.Be3+ Ke5 28.Qe7+ Kf5 29.Qxe4+ Bxe4 30.Rd6 Bxh1 31.Rxc6 Bxc6 32.Kd2 Ke4 33.h4 Bd7 34.a4 Bxa4 35.b4 Be8 36.f3+ Kxf3 37.Kd3 Kg4 38.Kc4 Kxh4 39.b5 g5 White resigned, joker0909 - VDT_gnom, lichess.org, 2024 ; and

10...Qxc2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.O-O Nf6 13.Bh6+ Ke8 14.Qxg6+ Qxg6 15.Re1+ Kf7 16.dxc5 Qxh6 17.Nc3 Ng4 18.h3 Nf6 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.Rad1 Bxh3 21.Rxd6 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Qg5+ 23.Kf1 Re8 24.Ne2 Qh5 25.Rc1 Qxe2+ 26.Kg1 Rg8+ 27.Kh2 Qh5 checkmate, joker0909 - rf998, lichess.org, 2024 

11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.dxc5

A slip that lets Black escape. Instead, 12.Rf1 Bb4+ 13.c3 Bf5 14.cxb4 Bd3 15.Nd2 Re8 16.Qh4 Kg7 17.Qf4 Nf6 18.d5 Qxd5 19.Rc1 c6 was the way forward. 

12...Qxh1+ 13.Kd2 Qd5+ 14.Ke1 Qh1+ 15.Kd2 Qd5+ 16.Kc1 Qh1+ 17.Kd2 Draw

Jerome Gambit: A Funny Draw

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can grant White some exciting wins - despite being a "refuted" opening.

Because of its chaotic nature, however, the Jerome can lead to a loss - or some pretty funny draws

We have already seen a chuckle in ZeKnightRider - GrandLoser101, blitz, lichess.org, 2024 (1/2-1/2, 73). See 'Jerome Gambit: Good News, Bad News".

The following game probably put a smile on White's face.

feritTurkey - Qauknochen

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Black plays Whistler's defense, and dares White to take the Rook.

8.Qxh8 

Safer was 8.Qf4+ or 8.Qd5+. 

8...Qxe4+ 9.Kd1 Qxg2 

There are 54 games with this position in The Database, with White scoring a surprising 43%.

Stockfish 16.1 (32 ply) evaluates Black as being 4 3/4 pawns better.

10.Qxh7+ 

White has to distract Black from his aggressive ideas.

10...Kf8 

Or 10...Kf6 11.Qh4+ g5 12.Qh7 Qxh1+ 13.Ke2 d6 14.Qh8+ Kf7 15.Qh5+ Ke6 16.Qg6+ Nf6 17.d4 Qe4+ 18.Be3 Qxg6 19.dxc5 dxc5 White resigned, feritTurkey - AgustinBarba, lichess.org, 2023.

11.Re1 

The fact that the computer suggests that White's best move was 11.d4, giving up a Rook, shows the danger of the line.

feritTurkey has tried that before: 11.d4 Qxh1+ 12.Ke2 Qe4+ 13.Be3 Bxd4 14.Nd2 Bxe3 15.fxe3 Qxc2 16.Rf1+ Qf5 17.Rxf5+ gxf5 18.Qxf5+ Ke7 19.Qg5+ Nf6 20.Qg7+ Ke6 21.Nf3 b6 22.Nd4+ Ke5 23.Qg5+ Ke4 24.Qxf6 Ba6+ 25.Kf2 Rh8 26.Qf5 checkmate, feritTurkey - Animalium, lichess.org, 2023.

11...Qg4+ 

This is a 5-minute game, so it is possible that the clock figured into this move.

Black needed one more piece in play, therefore: 11...d5 12.c4 Luft Qf3+ 13.Re2 Qh1+ 14.Kc2 Bf5+ 15.d3 dxc4 16.Bh6+ Nxh6 17.Qxh6+ Kg8. White's Knight is pinned to the Rook, and this leaves the first player undermanned.

feritTurkey has also faced: 11...Qf3+ 12.Re2 Qg4 13.d3 Qg1+ 14.Re1 Qxf2 15.Bh6+ Nxh6 16.Qxh6+ Kf7 17.Qh7+ Kf6 18.Qh8+ Kf7 19.Qe8+ Kg7 20.Qe5+ Kh6 21.Qh8+ Kg5 22.Qe5+ Qf5 23.Qg3+ Qg4+ 24.Qxg4+ Kxg4 25.Nc3 c6 26.Re4+ Kf5 27.Kd2 d5 28.Rf1+ Kg5 29.Re5+ Kh6 30.Ne2 Bh3 31.Rf3 Bg4 32.Rf7 Rf8 33.Rxf8 Bxf8 34.Nd4 Bg7 35.Re7 Bxd4 36.Rxb7 Bc8 37.Rxa7 Bxa7 White resiged, feritTurkey - DrPapiChessPapi, lichess.org, 2025

12.Re2 Qg1+ 13.Re1 Qg4+ 14.Re2 Qg1+ 15.Re1 Qg4+ Draw

Danger? Ha! I laugh at danger...

Jerome Gambit: Stuff Happens

At least as long ago as Traité Théorique et Pratique du jeu des Echecs, par une Société des Amateurs (1786), chess players have suggested that if Black and White each play perfectly, the result will be a draw.

Club level play often varies quite a bit from "perfect", however, reflecting the lament that stuff happens.

The following game illustrates.

angelcamina - iciaren

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4 

Hoping that the pin on the Knight will allow the capture of the pawn on e4, but he has not seen far enough.

8.dxe5 Nxe4 9.Qd5+ Kf8 10.Qxe4 

10...Qe7 

angelcamina has also faced 10...Bxc3+, e.g. 11.bxc3 Qe7 12.0–0 d6 13.Ba3 (13.f4 Bd7 14.Ba3 Bb5 (14...Bc6 15.Qe3 Re8 16.Rad1 g6 17.Qg3 Kg7 18.c4 Rhf8 19.Bb2 Kg8 20.f5 Black resigned, angelcamina - CATCHESS11, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024) 15.c4 Bc6 16.Qe3 Ke8 17.Rae1 Kd8 18.Rd1 Kc8 19.Qh3+ Bd7 20.Qg3 g6 21.exd6 cxd6 22.Bxd6 Qe4 23.Rfe1 Qf5 24.Re5 Qg4 25.Qd3 Bc6 26.g3 Rd8 27.Re7 Qf3 28.Rc7+ Kb8 29.Rxc6+ Rxd6 30.Qxd6 checkmate, angelcamina - Heptrook, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025) 13...Kg8 14.Qf3 Qxe5 15.Rae1 Qf5 16.Qxf5 Bxf5 17.Re7 h6 18.Rxc7 Bxc2 19.Rxb7 Kh7 20.Re1 Rhf8 21.Ree7 Rf6 22.Rxg7+ Kh8 23.f3 Bd3 24.c4 Bxc4 25.Bb2 Rff8 26.Rh7+ Kg8 27.Rbg7 checkmate, angelcamina - likinfride, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019. 

Also, 10...Qe8 11.Qxb4+ Black resigned, angelcamina - ngx11, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020. 

11.O-O d6 12.Nd5 

White will win the Bishop, but he also had the simple 12.Qxb4.

12...Qxe5 13.Qf3+ Bf5 14.Nxb4 

14...Ke7 15.Bg5+ Kd7 16.Rfe1 c6 

Ooops, the Queen is hanging... Remember, this is a bullet game, and stuff happens.

17.Rxe5 dxe5 18.Rd1+ Kc7 19.Qxf5 Rhf8 20.Qd7+ Kb6 21.Be3+ c5 22.Rd6+ Ka5 23.Qxb7 Black resigned

Checkmate is coming.

Jerome Gambit: The End Comes Quickly

There are problems for the second player if the defender makes less-than-best responses to the Jerome Gambit.

The following game - quick, already, as it is a 1-minute game - gives another speedy example.

angelcamina - V1rtuoso

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4 

Black pins White's Knight, to neutralize the protection of the e-pawn.

Simpler and stronger is 7...Bxd4, returning one of two "extra" pieces.

The Database has 124 with this position. White scores 70%.

8.dxe5 Nxe4 

As planned, but missing something.

9.Qd5+ Ke7

angelcamina also faced 9...Kf8, e.g. 10.Qxe4 Qe7 (10...Qe8 11.Qxb4+ 1-0 angelcamina - ngx11, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020) 11.O-O Bxc3 12.bxc3 d6 13.Ba3 (13.f4 Bd7 14.Ba3 Bc6 15.Qe3 Re8 16.Rad1 g6 17.Qg3 Kg7 18.c4 Rhf8 19.Bb2 Kg8 20.f5 Black resigned, angelcamina - CATCHESS11, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024) 13...Kg8 14.Qf3 Qxe5 15.Rae1 Qf5 16.Qxf5 Bxf5 17.Re7 h6 18.Rxc7 Bxc2 19.Rxb7 Kh7 20.Re1 Rhf8 21.Ree7 Rf6 22.Rxg7+ Kh8 23.f3 Bd3 24.c4 Bxc4 25.Bb2 Rff8 26.Rh7+ Kg8 27.Rbg7 checkmate, angelcamina - likinfride, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019) 

Also 9...Kg6 10.Qxe4+ Kf7 11.Qxb4 Qe7 12.O-O Qxb4 White resigned, angelcamina - abhinavatul, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020.

And 9... Ke8 10.Qxe4 Bxc3+ (10...a5 11.O-O g5 12.Nd5 Bc5 13.Nf6+ Ke7 14.Bxg5 h6 15.Nd5+ Black resigned, angelcamina - The_KGD, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019) 11. bxc3 Kf8 12.Ba3+ d6 13. Qf3+ Ke8 14. O-O-O Qg5+ 15. Kb1 Rf8 16. Qe2 Bg4 17. f3 Be6 18. exd6 Kf7 19. dxc7 Rac8 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Rhe1 Rc8 22. Qxe6+ 1-0 angelcamina - Parsel_1, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020.

10.Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 d6 

Another slip.

Previously:

11...Rf8 12.Bg5+ Rf6 13.exf6+ Kf7 14.Qd5+ Kf8 15.fxg7+ Kxg7 16.Bxd8 Black resigned. angelcamina - Davide313, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2023; and

11...Qf8 12.Bg5+ Ke8 13.O-O Qf7 14.f4 c6 15.f5 Qd5 16.Qe2 b6 17.Rad1 Qc5+ 18.Be3 Qxc3 19.f6 Rf8 20.fxg7 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Black resigned, angelcamina - LoFi_Lxgend, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024.

12.Bg5+ Kd7 13.Bxd8 Rxd8 

Or 13...Kxd8 as in angelcamina - adriannez, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org. 2019 (1-0, 44). 

14.exd6

1-minute chess games can go back and forth. Here, White swaps pawns - and gets away with it. Better was 14.O-O-O Re8 15.Rhe1 h6 16.e6+ Ke7 17.Qh4+ g5 18.Qxh6 Bxe6 19.Qxe6+ Kf8.

14...cxd6

Missing a chance to win the enemy Queen with 14...Re8.

It is time for White to wrap thing up.

15.O-O-O Kc7 16.Qc4+ Kb8 17.Rhe1 b6 18. Re7 a5 19.Qc7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Positional Oddity & Sharp Tactics

The following Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+) game has both a positional oddity and sharp tactics to bring the pawn home.

angelcamina - Mauricio26

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4

Black's pieces own the field - for now.

8.dxe5 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Ne8 

How quickly things change.

Black has an edge. White has the initiative.

10.Qd5+ Kf8 11.Ba3+ d6 12.exd6 cxd6 13.O-O-O 

13...Nf6 

Attacking the enemy Queen, but overlooking something.

Stockfish 16.1 suggests 13..Qe7, but then 14.Rhe1 would keep the pressure on. 

14.Bxd6+ Ke8 15.Qe5+ Kf7 

16.Qg3 

A bit more accurate was 16.Qf4. 

16...Qe8 

Escaping the file with the enemy Rook. He could have held on with 16...Re8, e.g. 17.e5 Ng4 18.h3 Nh6 19.Bb4 Qb6 and an equal game. 

17.e5 Ne4 18.Qf3+ Nf6 19.exf6 g6 20.Rhe1 Qc6 

Looking at White's development and the placement of Black's King, it is not hard to see that there is now a forced checkmate.

21.Re7+ Kg8 

If, instead, Black plays 21...Kf8, then White exchanges Queens  22.Qxc6 bxc6, and then has 23.Rxa7+ Ke8 24.f7+ Kd8 25.Be7 checkmate. Nice. 

22.f7+ Kg7 23. Be5+ Kh6 24. Bxh8 Qxf3 25.gxf3 

Ramarkable. White has 7 isolated pawns: two singles plus doubled pawns plus tripled pawns.

And the forced checkmate is still on.

25...Bf5 26.Re8 Rd8 27.f8=Q+ Kg5 28.Bf6+ Kf4 29.Rdxd8 Kxf3 30.Bd4 h5 31.Rd5 Kg4 32.Rxf5 Black resigned