Jerome Gambit: Beware the e-File

Again, we have a recent Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game that emphasizes the dangers that can arrive along the opened e-file - for White, as well as Black. Both often do well to find their own versions of castling.

fcristian - rrw23

5 3 blitz, BLM tournament, lichess.org, 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.f4 Kf7 11.e5 

This should cost a pawn. Beware the e-file.

11...Re8 12.O-O Kg8 

Choosing to castle-by-hand, allowing White to reinforce his e-pawn.

13.d4 dxe5 14.dxe5 Nd5 

15.Qe4 Rf8 16.f5 Nge7 17.Bg5 Bxf5 18.Qc4 Be6 19.Nc3 c6 20.Rxf8+ Qxf8 21.Rf1 Qe8 

Black has reinforced his position, and remains better.

22.Ne4 Qd7 23.Nc5 Qc8 24.Qh4

White's threat is clear. Unfortunately, a couple of oversights now end the game quickly. Time issues?

24...Bf7 25.Bxe7 Nxe7 26.Qxe7 b6 27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.Ne6 Qd8 29.Qxg7 checkmate