Jerome Gambit: More Complicated Than It Appears

It is a good idea to play over the various YouTube videos covering the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), especially those that feature a strong player handling the White pieces - even at blitz time control. See "Jerome Gambit: Recent Videos" and "Jerome Gambit: More Recent Videos", as well as "Jerome Gambit: Coach" and "Jerome Gambit: The Jerome Gambit is Over Powered Actually" for examples.

It is not only helpful to see the Jerome Gambit played well - it is also helpful to hear some of the thinking that goes into making the moves that the players produce in their games. A plain game score may look masterful, while a video of the game in progress may show the thoughts, evaluations, worries and self-criticisms that underlie it all. 

A successful game is often more complicated than it appears. The following game by two club level players is a good example. Do not get so caught up in the notes that you miss appreciating the play.

surasmen - kumroha87

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6  

I am a bit surprised that the computer analysis at lichess.org - Stockfish 11, although I do not know the depth of its search (18 ply?) - gives this move a "??". It prefers 6...Ke6, which is fine; but the text is a reliable defense, as well.

7.Qxc5  d6  8.Qc4+ 

8...Kf8

The stronger 8...Be6 was recently seen: 9.Qc3 (9.Qb4 b6 10.d4 Nf6 11.d5 Bd7 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Nc3 Ne5 14.O-O-O Qc8 15.Rde1 a5 16.Qd4 h6 17.Bh4 g5 18.Bg3 Nh5 19.Rhf1 Kg8 20.f4 Nxg3 21.hxg3 Ng6 22.fxg5 hxg5 23.Qf6 Ne5 24.Qxg5+ Kh7 25.Rh1+ Black resigned, zzbaobao - givemeabreak, blitz, FICS, 2020) 9...Qg510.h4 Qxg2 11.Rf1 Nf4 12.d3 Nh3 13.Nd2 Nf6 14.f4 Nxf4 15.Rxf4 Qg3+ 16.Rf2 Qxh4 17.Nf3 Qh1+ 18.Rf1 Qxf3 19.Rxf3 Bg4 20.Qc4+ Kg6 21.Rg3 Rhe8 22.Be3 d5 23.Qxc7 dxe4 24.Qd6 exd3 25.Rxg4+ Kh5 26.Rg3 Rad8 27.Qc5+ Kh4 28.Qg5 checkmate, Skye816 - SextThang101, 10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020) 

9.O-O Nf6 10.Nc3 d5 11.exd5 c6 

An interesting idea, and Black has extra material he can return.

12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Qxc6 

Although White has 4 pawns for his sacrificed piece, Stockfish 11 (30 ply) sees the position as even. Perhaps Black can make use of the open lines. I would prefer to play White. 

13...Bd7 14.Qc5+ Kg8 

15.Re1 Rc8 16.Qd4 Ne8 

Black's last move is difficult to figure out. Perhaps a mouse slip? The computer recommends the subtle 16...h6 17.Qxa7 Kh7, with a slight edge to the second player.

17.d3 

With the plan of developing his Bishop. A little deeper was 17.Qd5+ Kf8 18.b3, which also allows his Bishop to get into the game - from a3. For example, 18...Ne7 19.Ba3 and the pin on the Knight will lead to a gain of material.

Black misses the threat, as does his opponent (again) 

17...Rc6 18.Ne4 Nd6 

I think the clock was becoming a factor.

19.Bg5 Qc7 20.Nxd6 Rxd6 21.Qc4+ Kf8

Ooops.

22.Qxc7 Black resigned