If you face the Jerome Gambit, however, the best source of information on defending against the opening is - this blog.
Across the 10 years that I have shared history, games and analysis, I have done my best to give the lines that give White the greatest opportunities to snatch victory from the jaws of this defeated - er, "refuted" - opening.
I have also not shied away from presenting the various refutations, as well.
Sometimes players have used my suggestions. Sometimes they have not. The "Jerome Gambit Secrets" posts will re-visit suggestions that appear to remain unplayed. Occasionally, they will introduce new suggestions. Take for example, the following game.
MIG - jfer
3 0 blitz, FICS, 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian opening. Black is careful to prevent Ng5 by White.
4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxe5 Bd6
Perhaps Black remembered ...g6 from the Blackburne defense, and felt comfortable giving up the Rook on h8. If so, this game is not the best example of analysis by analogy. Maybe the 3-minute blitz game was going so fast...
9.Qxh8 Nf6 10.Qxd8 Be7 11.Qxc7 Black resigned
Okay, no disrespect to the players, but the game did not show either at the top of their skill level. Again, perhaps the time control was a major factor.
Still, Black could have offered the Rook with a different 8th move: 8...Bf8!?. White would take his Queen's life in his hands if he continued 9.Qxh8? Bg7 10.Qh7 Nf6 and Her Majesty is a goner.
The Database has a half-dozen games with the same position after 8.Qxe5 - all wins for White. In none of the games did Black find the dangerous Bishop retreat. (The Database needs some updating, but, when it is, I am confident that 8...Bf8 will not show up there.)
Stockfish 9 suggests a complicated line that leaves White with 3 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but still gives Black the advantage: 8...Bf8!? 9.Nd5 Nf6 10.Nxc7 d6 11.Qc3 Rb8 12.d3 Bg7 13.Qb3+ Ke7 14.Nb5 a6 15.Nd4 Nxe4 16.Qb4 a5 17.Nc6+ Kf8 18.Nxa5 Nf6 19.0–0 Nd5 20.Qb5 Be6 21.Re1 Bf7 22.c4 Nc7 23.Qb4 Na6 24.Qd2. I like Black's Bishop pair.
Analysis diagram
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