Jerome Gambit: It's Complicated

Sometimes the Jerome Gambit features a brutal attack on the enemy King. Other times, such as in the following game, it showcases tactical skirmishes all across the board. The notes show several paths for Black where returning a piece is only part of a small plan to fight for play. It is the return of White's Queen from semi-isolation that suddenly changes things.

Wall, Bill - Guest683192
PlayChess.com, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Na3

A novelty, according to The Database. From here the piece figures in a number of lines unplayed, but in the "real" game remains unmoved.

8...Be6 9.O-O Nf6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Nb4 

Black harasses the enemy Queen, an idea that sometimes distracts his play. Here, it leads to some Queenside tussling.

12.Qb5 a5 13.e5 Ne4 

Instead, Stockfish 8 suggests a complicated and different campaign, having Black return the sacrificed piece but leaving Black a pawn better: 13...Bd7 14.Qc4+ d5 15.Qb3 Ne4 16.c3 Nc5 17.Qd1 Nbd3 18.f5 Re8 19.e6+ Bxe6 20.fxe6+ Kg8 21.Nc2 Rxe6 22.Be3 Nxb2 23.Qh5 Nbd3 24.Bd4 Qe7 25.Qxd5 c6 26.Qf5 Re2 27.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 28.Nd4 Qxf5 29.Rxf5. Whew!

14.c3 Nd5 

If you contrast Black's three central pieces with White's misplaced Queen, you might prefer the defender in this position. What tilts things slightly toward the attack is the "Jerome pawns".

15.f5 Rf8

Putting his Rook in play, and looking to eventually castle-by-hand, but it does not solve Black's problems. Again, the computer's alternate suggestion is a complicated brawl, starting with returning a piece, and leaving White only a tiny bit better, if at all: 15...dxe5 16.fxe6+ Kxe6 17.Qc4 Nef6 18.Bg5 Kf7 19.Qb3 Qd6 20.Nc4 Qc5+ 21.Kh1 Rhe8 22.Ne3 Kg6 23.Nxd5 Nxd5 24.c4 Nf4 25.Bxf4 exf4 26.Rxf4 h5 27.Raf1 Rf8 28.Qg3+ Kh7 29.Rf7 Rxf7 30.Rxf7 Qd4 31.h3. 

16.Qc4 Nc5 

Giving the piece back now does not work. The difference? White's Queen has taken a step to a more effective square. How odd.

17.fxe6+ Kxe6 18.Qg4+ Ke7 19.Qxg7+ Ke8 20.Rxf8 checkmate