Jerome Gambit: Direction

There is an old saying (more of a warning): If you keep on heading in the direction you're going - you'll get there.

The following game shows Black taking an interesting step toward the unknown - but he does not continue. As a result, the game ends pretty much as expected.

Wall, Bill - Guest2781227
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 

Black decides that the gift of one piece is enough, thank you very much. This is not a "refutation" of the Jerome Gambit, but it is the kind of move that can set White to thinking, if he is not familiar with it.

6.Nxc6 dxc6 

The recommended move, instead, is the wild 6...Qh4!? which would lead to a complicated game where White might have a small edge. Not surprisingly, The Database still has no game examples.

The problem with the "normal" text is that it allows the first player to just go about his business.

7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxc5 Qd6 

An exchange of Queens might break White's attack, and straighten out Black's Queenside pawns, but it would simply leave him down a couple pawns. Still, Bill is not interested in helping out.

9.Qc3 Qf6 10.d4 Qe6 11.O-O Nf6 

If this game were a scary movie, this is about where the ominous background music would begin.

The e-file and the a1-h8 diagonal have problems for Black, and resolving those issues will open up other points of danger.

12.d5 cxd5 13.exd5 Qd6 14.Re1+ Kf7 15. Bg5 Bf5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxc7+ Kf8 18.Qxb7 Black resigned

White is 4 pawns up. Black's King remains at risk. The direction that the game will take is clear.