Jerome Gambit: First Comes Disrespect

I just received 10 new Jerome Gambit games from Bill Wall, certainly one of the strongest players to routinely use the Jerome.

Which games to share? Which one to share first?

Those are funny questions.

I often start with a game that shows a defender who does not give the Jerome Gambit the "proper" amount of respect. Sometimes that shows up in overly casual play - because, as we all know, the Jerome is a refuted opening and therefore is hardly worth any attention at all...

In the following game the defender starts out with gusto, but loses focus before a dozen moves are played. That's okay, right? I mean, a garbage opening can be defeated with half your brain tied behind your back, right?

Wall, Bill - Guest2293428
PlayChess.com, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb6 

A reasonable line. This is a good start.

7.dxe5 Qh4 

This is properly aggressive, even if Bill has seen it before.

8.Qf3+ Ke7 9.O-O Nh6 

Development, that's the key.

10.Nc3 Rf8 11.Nd5+ Kd8 

Uh, what was the question...? 

12.Qxf8 checkmate

If you play the Jerome Gambit, you have to grab these opportunities when they occur - and they will occur surprisingly often.