Always New

Introducing others to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), either over-the-board, online, or via this blog, always seems to bring out players' creativity; so that an old, hackneyed opening is constantly experiencing new and interesting re-creations.

perrypawnpusher - nicholasjanssen blitz 10 0, FICS, 2009 

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 From here Black can defend with either Blackburne's or Whistler's defense.

7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne it is. (7...Qe7 is Whistler) 

8.Qxh8 Qf6 

This innovation (8...Qh4 is "book") is new to me. Black threatens havoc at f2.

9.Qxf6+ 

Or 9...Qxh7+ before exchanging Queens. 

9...Nxf6 10.d3 Be6 11.Nc3 Re8 12.0-0 d5 This all seems pretty natural to me, but I'm not sure that my opponent was happy with the amount of counter-attack that his Rook purchased. White is the exchange and a couple of pawns to the better. 

13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Bd2 Bb4 15.a3 Bd6 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Rae1 White doesn't need excitment; he only needs to exchange pieces.

17...b6 18.Rxe8 Kxe8 19.Re1+ Kf7 20.Bc3 a5 21.Be5 Mindlessness masquerading as technique. 

21...Ba2 

Not a safe place to hide. 

22.Bxd6 cxd6 23.b3 a4 24.bxa4 d5 Having freed the Bishop, Black slams the door on it again. It took me a move to notice. 

25.f3 h5 26.Ra1 b5 27.Rxa2 Faster is 27.axb5, but it doesn't matter. 

27...bxa4 28.Rb2 Ke6 29.Kf2 Ke5 30.Ke3 d4+ 31.Kf2 Kf4 32.Rb4 Ke5 33.Rxa4 h4 34.Rb4 g5 35.a4 g4 36.fxg4 h3 Black resigned