Jerome Gambit: Can White Take the Rook?

In the following game, the question is, "Can White take the Rook?"

The answer, as he shows quite well, is simply "Yes".

The Jerome Gambit may be a disreputable opening, but it is still necessary to construct a viable defense in order to defeat it. If the defender is surprised and confused, his chances are much reduced, especially in a blitz game.

Anonymous - Anonymous
5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 

Will Black try the Blackburne Defense with 7...d6, or Whistler's Defense with 7...Qe7 ?

7...Be7 

This will only work if White does not capture the Rook, because then Black will be able to get in the move 8...Nf6.

8.Qxh8 Bf6 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 d6 11.d4 Bd7 

Black works on his development, but the game has already swung in his opponent's favor.

12.Bh6+ Ke7 13.e5 dxe5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.O-O Nf6 16.Re1 Kd6 

17.Nc3 Be6 18.Rad1+ Bd5 19.Rxd5+ Kc6 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Rxe5 b5 22.Qxf6+ Kb7 23.Qxd8 a5 24.Rxb5+ Kc6 25.Qd5 checkmate