Jerome Gambit: Uneven (Part 1)

The following Jerome Gambit game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is an uneven affair, showing White gaining more from his opponent's play rather than his own strength. It is redeemed, in small part, by the checkmate combination at the end.

I have added a number of links to related games, for those would like to read more about the early lines of play.

perrypawnpusher - dmarkg

"Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Be6 

10.O-O 

 Years ago, I got away with the alternative 10.f4, in perrypawnpusher - Kingsmeal, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 25) and perrypawnpusher - GabrielChime, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33), but Black's more enterprising 10...Qh4, as in perrypawnpusher - udofink, blitz FICS, 2010 (1-0, 29) was persuasive enough to move me to the text, as in perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 22),  perrypawnpusher - OverwiseMan, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 24), perrypawnpusher - dirceu, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 16)  perrypawnpusher - magza, blitz, FICS, 2011  (0-1, 40) and perrypawnpusher - Papst, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2017 (1-0, 61).

(Amazing. Is that last game one I neglected to post on this blog? I will have to remedy that quickly.)

10...Nf6 

Solid development. A bit more active was 10...Qh4. Black still has to deal with the threat of f2-f4-f5.

11.f4 Ne7 

The Knight on g6 or the Bishop had to move. The text is probably best.

12.d4 

Here we have the "Jerome pawns" versus Black's pieces.

12...Ng6

A slip. Perhaps he was anticipating 13.d5 or 13.e5. He winds up returning the sacrificed piece for a pawn.

Stronger was 12...d5, as in perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 22).

I have also seen 12...Kd7, as in  perrypawnpusher -Krisstianes_017, Chess.com,  2018 (1/2 - 1/2, 43) 

13.f5 Bxf5 

After the game, Stockfish 11 suggested that Black could wrigle with 13...Bc4 14.Re1 Ne7 15.b3 Bf7 16.Bb2 Kd7 but it still preferred White's position.

14.exf5+ Ne7 15.Nc3 Qd7 

16.Qf3 h6 

Rightly deciding that capturing the b-pawn would be a waste of time for White, he prevents Bg5.

17.Bd2 c6 

Black's King is still in the center, and White has the e-file to work with, assisted by his pawn at f5. It is time to apply some pressure.

[to be continued]