One of the joys of hosting this jeromegambit.blogspot.com blog is the contact that I have with adventurous chess players from all over the world.
I recently received an email from a modern Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Gemeinde member. Of course, he sent along a file of games that included almost 100 Jerome Gambit games!
Hello Richard,
I don't know if you remember me. We exchanged Jerome Gambit games some time ago, but we lost contact, and I just happened to find your blog today. Since last time I played many more games on ICC (time control 2 12) under the nickname mrjoker.
My current blitz rating is 1703, with a peak of 1885. My recent result is 57-25-5 [68%] with this gambit, slightly better than my overall result 1695-853-289 [65%] with all openings.
Surprise value is not the only factor, as shown by my 12-3 result against Phlebas, who virtually tried everything against the Jerome Gambit, without finding anything good...
Your blog is very interesting. I have only a minor criticism: perhaps you insist too much on the "unsound" character of the opening. I consider myself as a serious player, and would never play anything unsound. Even though 4.Bxf7+ may not be the very best move in the Italian, it seems to me that White gets reasonable compensation and a more or less playable game in all variations. I still have to try the opening in tournament games with slow time controls against 1700-2100 players (my usual opponents), but it will come when I feel ready.
I tried to find pgn files on your blog. Are there any? If so please let me know.
I hope you will enjoy the games.
Louis Morin
Of course, I sent him the file of all of the games given here in the blog's first year of existence.
And I'm working my way through the 100 games, too...


and now White plays 7.Qd5+ before the capture 8.Qxc5, instead of 7.Qxc5 directly.






Black is surprised, and makes a poor response.
Black has some open lines (that he has purchased with his pawns) which he can place his Rooks on, but they are not adequate compensation.
20.Qa6 dxe4 21.Rd1 Qb8 22.Nc4 

