It is time to take a break from "Return of Jerome Gambit for Dummies" to take a look at a recent blitz game from FICS. Black seems to be settling into his chair, becoming comfortable with his position (after all, it's only the Jerome Gambit), when things "suddenly" go wrong.
perrypawnpusher - Odeon
blitz, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 h6 5.0-0 Bc5
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Re8
I have had a habit of playing 11.Qd3 (most recently perrypawnpusher - kholthaus, blitz, FICS, 2011) in this and in similar positions, naively hoping for ...Nb4, which would drop the Knight to Qc4+.
My choice in this game was based on the idea that Black would be less likely to make that slip than to choose the move that he actually does make.
11.Qc4+ Kf8
This move is not an error (although 11...d5 is a bit stronger) but it does allow White to get a tighter grip on the center.
12.e5 Ng4
This looks like a "That's okay, I'll take care of it later" kind of play, in that Black sees no problem with moving his piece to a more aggressive position. Retreating to g8 or h7 was the prudent choice.
13.h3 Ngxe5
Played relatively quickly, as if "Hey, no problem, I'll return the piece for two pawns and active play." White would have an edge after 13...d6 14.hxg4 Bxg4
14.fxe5+
The check makes a big difference.
14...Ke7 15.Qf7 checkmate
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