Jerome Gambit: What's A Pawn Among Friends?

The following Jerome Gambit game ends with White still in possession of all 8 of his pawns. A peek into the notes will reveal that he had chances to give one or more away - but who can complain about an interesting win? Enjoy

thedarkdanster - MadCircle

3 2 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+  

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

10.Nc3

Also recently seen: 10.f4 Ng4 11.Qf3 Qe7 12.f5 N6e5 13.Qe2 g6 14.d4 gxf5 15.dxe5 Qxe5 16.O-O Qxh2, checkmate, Atti0130 - StephanBerg, 5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020.

10...Ng4 

When in doubt, attack the White Queen.

11.Qe2 Kf7 12.h3 

An alternative was the humorous 12.f4, as if 12...Nxf4, play might continue 13.0–0 Qf6 14.Qf3 g5 15.Nd5 Qd4+ 16.Kh1 Rf8 17.h3. White takes a short cut and winds up with h2-h3 immediately.

12...N4e5 13.d4 Nc6 14.Qc4+ 

Protecting the d-pawn, but, again, it could be let go, as 14.0-0 Nxd4 15.Qc4+ Ne6 16.f4 would be the answer.

14...Ke7 

These kind of things happen in 3 2 blitz games, alas. Perhaps Black was too busy trying to unravel the mysteries of the Jerome Gambit.

15.Bg5+ Kd7 16.Bxd8 Rxd8 17.O-O-O Ke7 

White has to keep moving forward, with one eye on the clock.

18.Nd5+ Kf8 19.Nxc7 Rb8 20.Ne6+ Bxe6 21.Qxe6 Nb4 22.a3 Na6 23.g3 Re8 24.Qxd6+ Kg8 

25.e5 Rbd8 26.Qxd8 

He has plenty of pawns.

26...Rxd8 27.f4 Nc7 28.c4 a6 29.d5 b6 30.Rhe1 Kf7 31.f5 Nf8 32.g4 h6 33.d6 Ne8 34.b4 a5 35.e6+ Kf6 36.e7 Black resigned

White threatens to "lose" a pawn in the most delightful way: promotion.