Jerome Gambit: You Gotta Believe

I recently received an email from someone just starting with the Jerome Gambit. He passed along the following 3-minute FICS blitz game which was eye-opening for me: White never gives up! He uses all the weapons available to him, including the clock, and triumphs in the end.

He has asked me to disguise his identity, as he is considering playing the Jerome Gambit in over-the-board games. I decided on naming him "Cliff Hardy" (look it up). I also sent him a link to some of Pete Banks' OTB Jerome Gambits.

Play through the game. Do not become anxious over White's fate, however dire things look. He will prevail.   

"Cliff Hardy" - NN
3 0 blitz, FICS, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6

8.d4

"Cliff" wrote that "Maybe the Tonetti gambit is not the best way to play this..." referring to the game Tonetti - Ruggieri, Rome, 1863 (1-0, 23).

8...Bxd4 9.f4 Nh6 10.fxe5+ Bxe5 11.Qf3 Rf8 12.Qa3+ c5 13.Be3 Qh4+ 14.Kd1 b6 15.Nd2 Ng4 16.Kc1 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Rf2 18.Rd1 Kc7 

19.Nf3 Bf4 20.Nxh4 Bxe3+ 21.Kb1 Bb7 22.Nf5 Bh6 23.Nd6 Rd8 24.a4 

Yes - the Jerome Gambit is all about attack.

24...Bc6 25.a5 Bd2 26.axb6+ Kxd6 27.bxa7 Bxe4 28.Ra4 Ke5 29.g4 Bb4 30.Ka2 Bxc2 31.Rxb4 cxb4 

"With Crafty now assessing the position as -32749.00, it is apparent my position could do with some improvement" wrote "Cliff".

32. Rxd7 Be4 33. Rxd8 Rxh2 34. Re8+ Kf4 35. Rxe4+ Kxe4 36. a8=Q+ Kf4 37. Qb8+ Black resigned