Jerome Gambit: Quite Strange

The Jerome Gambit leads to some strange games. However, some games are stranger than others.

The following game is the strangest one that I have seen in a while.

Wall, Bill - Guest371494
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Nf6

So far, pretty "normal" - for a Jerome. Black's choice to keep developing and let White "waste" time recovering one of two sacrificed pieces is reasonable, if not best.

7.dxe5 Bxf2+ 

Black decides to return another piece, as well. Suddenly White's King is exposed.

8.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 9.Ke1 

The position is kind of strange - but not unknown. In fact, it is difficult to find a line that is totally unfamiliar to Bill. For example, previously he has played:

9.Kg1 Rf8 (9...d5 10.Nc3 (10.Qf3+ Kg6 11.Nc3 Rf8 12.Qd3 Bf5 13.Nxd5 c6 14.Nf4+ Kf7 15.Qc4+ Ke8 16.Be3 g5 17.Nh5 Bg6 18.Qe6+ Qe7 19.Ng7+ Kd8 20.Rd1+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Szachowski, playok.com, 2017) 10...Nxc3 11.Qf3+ Ke8 12.Qxc3 Be6 13.Be3 c6 14.Rd1 Rf8 15.h3 Qh4 16.Rd4 Qg3 17.Rd3 Qg6 18.Kh2 Kd7 19.Qb4 b5 20.Qd6+ Black resigned, Wall,B - MyDrunkAccount, lichess.org, 2016) 10.Qd5+ Ke8 11.Qxe4 Qe7 (11...Rf7 12.Nc3 d6 13.exd6+ Kf8 14.Qxh7 Qxd6 15.Qh8+ Ke7 16.Bg5+ Kd7 17.Rd1 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest902091, PlayChess.com, 2017) 12.Nc3 Black resigned,Wall,B - Guest7889049, PlayChess.com, 2018.

9...Qh4+

This is an interesting and consistent idea - not found elsewhere in The Database - but it doesn't work. The pedestrian 9...d5 was more likely to be of help.

10.g3 Nxg3 11.Qd5+ 

This is why Black's idea doesn't work, as White protects his Rook. 

11...Ke7 12.hxg3 Qxg3+ 13.Ke2 Rf8 14.Be3 d6

The typical Jerome Gambit roles have been reversed: White has the extra piece, Black has two extra pawns.

15.exd6+ cxd6 16.Nc3 Rf5 

Some things in the Jerome Gambit don't change, however. Once again, Black's Bishop is at home, blocking a Rook. White's active pieces are ready to make the difference.

17.Rag1 Qxg1 18.Rxg1 Rxd5 19.Nxd5+ Kf7 20.Rf1+ Ke6 21.Nc7+ Black resigned

After the upcoming Nxa8, even if Black recovers the cornered Knight (not likely, as the Bishop will help it escape) he will remain down a Rook.