Jerome Gambit: I'll Take Your Word For It

When you are playing a bullet game of chess, it helps to be able to rapidly calculate variations and choose your move quickly - over and over again.With one or two minutes to work with, however, it is sometimes helpful to "cut analytical corners" and believe in the reliability of a particular move, because it fits into your opening, or because your opponent wouldn't have played it unless it fit into his defense: I'll take your word for it.

That is a useful lens through which to view the following game.

linganno - reimannhalf

2 1 bullet, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qh5 

One feature of the Jerome Gambit is early activity of the Queen. In fact, that is why Joseph Henry Blackburne referred to the opening as "the Kentucky Opening" in his book Mr. Blackburne's Games at Chess (1899) - there was at the time a line of play, 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 which was called the Kentucky Opening.

In this game, White shows that he believes in the Jerome Gambit.

8...Nf6 

Skepticism.

9.Qf3 Re8 10.O-O Kg8

Black has castled-by-hand. I don't know how much experience he had with the Jerome, but with this move he takes White's word that it is tricky to deal with - otherwise he would have grabbed a pawn with 10...Rxe4.

11.Re1 Ne5 

Ah, yes, disbelief - which often shows up in If I can't think of anything to do, I will attack the Queen. Black overlooks 11...d5. 

12.Qg3 Nh5 

Nothing to this silly gambit.

13.Qc3 Bd7 

Still, maybe I need more development. I will put my extra piece to good use. Black overlooks the very strong 13...Qh4.

14.d4 Nf7 15.Qf3 Nf6 16. Bg5 h6 

All of a sudden Black is willing to take White's word for it, pulling his forces back, and even overlooking the possible 16...Nxg5. 

17.Bh4 Qe7 18.Nc3 Qe6 19.h3 Ng5 20.Bxg5 hxg5 21.e5

 The typical Jerome Gambit pawn break. You gotta believe.

21...dxe5

This move is okay, and many defenders feel required to make the pawn exchange, although in this case there was also the consistent 21...Bc6. 

22.dxe5 Nd5 

Black is fully under the sway of the Jerome Gambit: White is kicking my pieces around!

23.Qxd5 Black resigned

White is up two pawns, and his opponent takes his word that he can take it from there...