Part of the fun of playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) comes when the opponent collapses in his defense, and White can finish him off with a series of aggressive blows.
Sometimes, however, Black slowly surrenders the advantage that he has gained from accepting the sacrifices. Like the tide coming in, his risk grows and grows - until his game is under water.
The following game is a good example.
Wall, Bill - Alfred
PlayChess.com, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb6
"Reasonable," but not best.
7.dxe5 Nh6
Again, reasonable, but not best. On the other hand, Bill has faced 7...Qh4 a half dozen times, and dispatched it just as many.
8.Nc3
Bill may have passed on playing 8.Qh5+!? (a novelty, according to The Database) because after 8...Kg8 9.Bxh6 gxh6 10.f4 White's "Jerome pawns" would be advancing without the support of a Rook on f1, as Black's Bishop prevents White from castling. A move later, he decides on the move, any way.
8...Re8 9.Qh5+ Kg8 10.Bxh6 gxh6 11.f4 d6
Black still has an edge, but he has to be careful.
12.Nd5 dxe5
This is one way of reacting to the threat of Nf6+, winning the exchange. Strongest, however, was 12...Kh8.
13.O-O-O
Safeguarding his King, and cooking up all sorts of mischief.
13...exf4
Missing the threat.
14.Nxb6 Qe7
15.Nxa8 c6 16.Rd6 Black resigned
Black gains nothing, now, from 16...Qxd6 17.Qxe8+, and when White's Knight escapes from the corner the defender will simply be down a Rook.
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