Quit while you're ahead...?

It can be uncomfortable to play against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) or one of its relatives. That discomfort can lead to less-than-perfect play, or even outright mistakes. Sometimes the feel-bad defense can lead Black to give up the game prematurely, as happens in the following Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit game.

perrypawnpusher - JohnBr
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

The Bishop sacrifice is not forced, of course. White could continue instead with 5.c3 Bb6 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 d6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.h3 0-0 10.Re1 with a small advantage.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+

7...g6

Stronger, but requiring more courage, was 7...Ke6.

8.Qxe5 Black resigned

Certainly there is more in the position than Black sees, as he still has a slight advantage: see perrypawnpusher - islanderchess, blitz FICS 2008 (1-0, 46); perrypawnpusher - wadada, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0,19); and perrypawnpusher - PravinMamania, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 50).

The important thing to remember is that after 8...Bf8! White cannot capture the Rook, as the Queen will be trapped and won. White should play 9.d4 and attend to his "Jerome pawns."