Jerome Gambit: Many Choices

Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) leads to an attack with many choices to enforce checkmate.

vrajeshpadiyar - caliako1

5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Ng6 

Black appears unfamiliar with the Jerome, and chooses to save his Knight, not the Bishop. Main line was either 7...d6 or 7...Qf6. 

8.f5+ 

An interesting idea, played only a few times before, according to The Database. Simplest was 8.Qxc5. 

8...Ke5 

Bold, but the retreat 8...Ke7 was required.

9.fxg6+ Kxe4 

 Suicidal. White has many choices as he pursues checkmate.

10.Qxc5

Strong, although he had the alternative 10.Nc3+ Kd4 11.Qd5#

10...d6

This does not stop 11.d3#

11.Qe3+ Kf5 12.O-O+ Kxg6 

There is no escape.

 13.Qg3+ Kh6 14.d4+ Kh5 15.Qf3+ Bg4 16.Qf7+ g6 17.Qd5+ Kh4 18.g3+ Kh3 19.Qg2 checkmate