He did.
We swapped emails. Jim remembered his opponent and the game. Of the Jerome, he noted "It was, indeed, not much of a gambit."
All of which is a light-hearted introduction to a game that is of significant interest for the serious Jerome Gambiteer.
Marfia,J - Stelter,J
Offhand Game, 1964
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6
7.Qxe5 d6
Blackburne's "generous" offer of a Rook.
Those slightly familiar with Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885, will remember the game ending in a crush of White.
Those a bit more familiar will recall that later analysis suggested that White was winning.
Regular Readers will know, however, that the move actually leads to a complicated draw. (See "Flaws" Part 1 and Part 2.)
8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.d4
The Database has only 5 other games with this move, including perrypawnpusher - bakker, blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 33).
9...Qxe4+
Black's best was 9...Nf6, as detailed in "Traps and Zaps", leading to a complicated mess that favors the second player.
The text is tempting, but losing.
10.Be3 Qxc2
Houdini recommends 10...Qxg2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Rf1 Bb6 13.Nc3 Bf5 14.0-0-0 Qh3 15.Qxh3 Bxh3 16.Rfe1 Bf5 17.f3 Ba5 18.Bd2 Nf6 when White is better.
11.dxc5 dxc5 12.Qc3
Withdrawing the White Queen from mischief, guarding the White King, and offering a safety-making exchange.
12...Qxc3+ 13.Nxc3 Bf5 14.Bxc5 Re8+ 15.Be3 Re5 16.0-0 Bd3 17.Rfd1 Bc2 18.Rd7+ Re7 19.Rxe7+ Nxe7 Black resigned
A Rook is, after all, a Rook.
