Jerome Gambit: Maybe Yes, Maybe No

What can you say about a one minute, no increment, chess game?

Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe rain, maybe snow.

Unless the opening is the Jerome Gambit. Then, put your bets on angelcamina, playing White, whether he is better or worse off, "objectively".

angelcamina - KPDGE
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ng6 8.Qd5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5+ d6 10.Qe3 Qf6 

Sometimes in Jerome lines, it is useful for the defender to have his Queen on f6. In this case - with the King on the same file? Probably not. But, remember, this is a 1-minute game, and it will not be decided by nuances.

11.O-O Ne5

Reminds me of the Joker, in "The Dark Knight", saying he wants Batman to hit him.

12.f4

Hitting with the right. It might have been stronger to hit with the left, 12.d4.

12...Nc4 13.Qe2 Nb6 14.e5 

14...Qe6 15.d4 Ne7 16.f5 Qc4 17.Qg4 

Instead, 17.f6 works, but it allows Black to exchange Queens. Instead, White is going after the King.

17...Bxf5 18.Rxf5+ Nxf5 19.Qxf5+ 

19...Ke8 

Freeing the f-file for his h-Rook. Stronger was 19...Kg8, freeing the file for his a-Rook. Who has time to figure this all out?

20.e6 

Easy to understand (Attack! Attack!) but it leaves Black a way out.

20...Qxd4+ 21.Kh1 Rf8 22.Qg6+ Ke7 23.Bxh6 

Nice. White is objectively in trouble, but this offer of a sacrifice - a bluff? - intimidates Black, and turns the game around. (The Bishop must be taken.)

23...Qf6 24.Bg5 

Ow. Certainly the clock must have been a factor at this point.

24...Rae8 25.Bxf6+ Rxf6 26.Qxg7+ Kxe6 27.Re1+ Kf5 28.Rxe8 Kf4 29.Qg3+ Kf5 30.Qf3+ Black resigned