Jerome Gambit

ECO C50intermediate

The Jerome Gambit gives away a bishop on f7 and a knight on e5 to drag Black's king into the open, and it is objectively losing. It survives because the defence is genuinely uncomfortable: the black king stands on f7 with pieces hanging and checks arriving, and finding the right moves at the board is harder than the evaluation suggests. This page treats it as what it is — a trap worth understanding from the defending side, and a lesson in why material still wins when you keep your head.

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Main line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

1.e4 This move immediately claims space in the center, which is a key strategic goal. It also opens diagonals for both your queen and bishop, paving the way for your pieces to develop quickly and actively.
1...e5 This move stakes an equal claim to the center and frees your bishop and queen. It immediately challenges White's central pawn and opens lines for your own pieces to develop.
2.Nf3 This knight move develops a piece, attacks the central e5 pawn, and prepares for kingside castling. It's a standard developing move that contests the center immediately.
2...Nc6 This move develops a knight toward the center, contesting White's control of the d4 and e5 squares. It also prepares for the important ...d5 pawn break, which can challenge White's central pawn and open lines for Black's pieces.
3.Bc4 This move develops a bishop to an active diagonal, targeting the vulnerable f7-square. It also supports White's central pawn on e4, helping to control the important d5 square.
3...Bc5 Develops the bishop to its most active diagonal, immediately pinning the white knight on f3 to the queen. This challenges White's control of the center and pressures the key e4 pawn.
4.Bxf7 This sacrifice disrupts Black's king safety by removing the pawn cover, while also gaining a tempo by attacking the rook. It creates immediate threats that can disrupt Black's development and open lines for an attack.
4...Kxf7 This sacrifices the king to expose Black's monarch and disrupt its pawn shelter. It also sets up a discovered attack, as moving the knight on f3 will reveal an attack from the queen on d1.
5.Nxe5+ This knight sacrifice opens lines against Black's exposed king on f7. White aims to exploit the pinned f7-pawn and create immediate attacking chances before Black can complete development.
5...Nxe5 This move captures Black's central knight, forcing the king to recapture and lose castling rights. It also opens lines for your bishop and queen to target the exposed king.
6.Qh5+ This check forces Black's exposed king to move, disrupting their development. It also attacks the knight on e5, preparing a tactical follow-up.
6...Ng6 This move drives away the attacking queen, ensuring your king's safety. It also develops the knight to a strong central square where it defends key squares and supports further development.

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Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Rating	Games	White wins	Draws	Black wins	Position after
400-600	893	50.2%	7.3%	42.6%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
600-800	95	40%	5.3%	54.7%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
800-1000	682	44.4%	2.8%	52.8%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
1000-1200	210	44.8%	2.4%	52.9%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
1200-1400	5,035	44.1%	3.2%	52.7%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
1400-1600	6,706	46.3%	2.8%	51%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
1600-1800	551	49.5%	3.3%	47.2%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
1800-2000	390	49%	3.8%	47.2%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
2000-2200	188	54.8%	1.1%	44.2%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
2200-2400	44	43.2%	4.5%	52.3%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

Most played continuations (1400-1600 rating)

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7 Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6:

Qxc5 — played 68% of the time (White wins 43.1%, draws 2.9%, Black wins 54%)
Qd5+ — played 29.2% of the time (White wins 55.4%, draws 2.5%, Black wins 42.1%)
Qf5+ — played 2.2% of the time (White wins 29.9%, draws 3.4%, Black wins 66.7%)

Related openings

Frequently asked questions

Is the Jerome Gambit ever sound?

No. Black is two pieces up after the sacrifices and every engine gives a decisive advantage from move five. There is no line in which White has genuine compensation; the entire value of the gambit is that the defence must be found over the board, quickly, by a human.

How should Black refute it?

Return material to break the attack and finish developing. Trying to hold every piece keeps the king exposed and gives White the tactical chances he was hoping for. Handing back one piece to reach a safe position with an extra piece is the cleanest path, and it is nearly always available.

Why is it worth learning at all?

Because someone will play it against you, and the position is unpleasant if you have never seen it. It is also a clear illustration of a broader principle: a sacrifice that only works because the defender is surprised is refuted by knowing about it, which is the whole reason to look at unsound gambits.