Jerome Gambit: Beware Free Hugs

I was recently challenged to a game by an online player new to, and excited about, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). He took White, and I decided to play my favorite defense, although, in retrospect, I could have chosen something that would have allowed him to bash me all over the board...

Anyhow, I probably should have suggested "Jerome Gambit: What About the Rook?" as pre-game precautionary reading.  

 NN - perrypawnpusher

Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

This move often leads to either the Blackburne or Whistler Defense, and in either case there will be a dangerous offer of a Rook.

7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Whistler's Defense.

8.Qxh8 

I have touched upon the dangers of this move in the aptly titled post "There Are Some Risks We Should Not Take."

8...Qxe4+ 9.Kf1 Qh4 

I recommended this move in a blog post about 6 years ago. According to The Database it has been played only twice, since, with effect.

A couple of years ago I saw it in analysis in one of the Hindi Chess Videos - see "Jerome Gambit: Interesting Sideline".

10.g3 Qh3+ 11.Kg1 Qe6 

A blunder, after which the game should only be drawn. Instead, 11...b6 (or 11...b5) would lead to checkmate, once Black's Bishop gets on the a8-h1 diagonal.

Also seen: 

11...d5 12.Qe5 Bd6 13.Qxd5+ Be6 14.Qf3+ Nf6 15.Qg2 Qh5 16.Nc3 c6 17.d3 Bh3 18.Be3 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Re8 20.Rae1 Nd5 21.Nxd5 Qxd5+ 22.Kg1 Bc5 23.b3 Qf3 24.h4 Bxe3 25.fxe3 Rxe3 26.Rxe3 Qxe3+ 27.Kh2 Qf2+ 28.Kh3 h5 29.Rh2 Qf1+ 30.Rg2 Kf6 31.d4 Kf5 32.Kh2 Kg4 33.c3 Kf3 34.Rc2 Qd3 35.Rg2 Qxc3 36.g4 Qxd4 37.gxh5 Qxh4+ 38.Kg1 gxh5 39.a4 Qe1+ 40.Kh2 h4 41.a5 Qf1 42.Rc2 Qe1 43.Rg2 h3 44.Rc2 Qg3+ 45.Kh1 Kg4 46.b4 Qf3+ 47.Kh2 Qf4+ 48.Kh1 Qe4+ White resigned, ZahariSokolov - MadonnaFn, FICS, 2015; and

11...b512.d4 Bb7 13.Qxh7+ Qxh7 14.Nd2 Qh3 15.f3 Bxd4 checkmate, ZahariSokolov - ekwador, FICS, 2017. 

12.Kg2 

I was shocked to see this move (the time control was 3 days per move, so the play was not continuous) because I had set the position up wrong, and thought that my opponent had played 11.Ke1, not 11.Kg1.

Instead of the text, White had 12.Qxh7+ Kf8 13.d4, forcing Black to consider a draw by repetition, e.g. 13...Qe1+ 14.Kg2 Qe4+ 15.Kg1 Qe1+ etc. Otherwise, Black can play on, down the exchange and a pawn.

Now Black can force checkmate.

12...Qe4+ 13.Kg1 

Or 13.Kf1 Qxh1+ 14.Ke2 Qe4+ 15.Kf1 d5 16.Qxh7+ Kf8 17.Qxc7 Qh1+ 18.Ke2 Bg4+ 19.Kd3 Qf3 checkmate

Or 13.Kh3 d5+ 14.g4 Qxg4 checkmate

13...Qe1+ 14.Kg2 Qxf2+ 15.Kh3 d5+ 16.Kh4 Be7+ 17.Qf6+ Bxf6 checkmate

Now, I get to play the Jerome. I wonder what defense he will play?