It's Not Over Until It's Over

I suppose that at least a few of the players defending against the Jerome Gambit figure that the game is over after the sacrificed Bishop is captured. Certainly, many believe that the game is over after the second piece is sacrificed and captured.


As more than a few discover, "it's not over until it's over."

soulman  - Pamswam
standard, FICS, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 

By transposition, via the Two Knights Defense, the game has reached a "modern" variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Not-Nxe5+) of the Jerome Gambit. White decides to "modernize" it after all.

6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Re8 8.dxe5 Rxe5 

Black has the better development and a piece for a pawn.

White has the pluck and the luck of the Jerome Gambiteer.

9.Kh1 d6 10.Nc3 Ng4 11.f4 Qh4 

Black's Queen swoops in to finish off the White King with checkmate. Things do not turn out as planned.

12.fxe5+ Kg8 13.Qd5+ Kh8 14.Rf8 checkmate

Now, it definitely is over.