Most players, if they are aware of the Jerome Gambit at all, remember something about J.H. Blackburne destroying it in a wonderful miniature ending with a Queen sac and mate.
We've discussed the topic before: what if you only remember parts of Blackburne's counter-attack?
After all, the Jerome isn't really worth the defender's full attention, especially in a blitz game, is it?
perrypawnpusher -NN
blitz, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bd6
Okay, okay, Blackburne actually played 7...d6 here, but perhaps my opponent was thinking of an "improved Blackburne Defense"?
(Actually, in The Database Black scored 9% in 32 games, so it's not really much of an improvement.)
8.Qxh8 Nf6
I'm pretty sure that Blackburne trapped White's Queen with this move...
9.Qxd8 Black resigned
Sure, an example of taking advantage of my opponent's distractedness. Still, this is the fifth example of such a Queen "sacrifice" in The Database, so I have to encourage readers: the next time your opponent looks at your opening disdainfully and says "I have half a mind to..." – say Thank you!
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