Jerome Gambit: Inspiration Is All Around

I was wandering through my databases the other day when I ran across the following game:

Solovjov, Sergey (2436) - Kuerschner, Matthias

EU-ch Internet qual, PlayChess.com, 2003

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe4 e5

Black is better, according to Hugh Myers in his The Nimzovich Defense (1973).

6.Qf3+ Kg8 7.Ng5 Qxg5 8.Qd5 checkmate

This reminded me of one of the many "impatient Jerome Gambit" games that I have posted on this blog. The following example arises from the Two Knights Defense.

ChessBrah - kevvvvvvv
5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Nc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Qf3+ Kg8 9.Qxd5 checkmate

Even moreso, it reminds me of the historical Vienna Game

Kutjanin - Jakobjuk

Moscow, 1940

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe4 Nc6 6.Qf3+ Kg8 7.Ng5 Black resigned

And then we have a 120+ year old Bishop's Opening game, which brings us back around to where we started

Imbusch - Goring

Munchen, Germany, 1899

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nxe4 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe4 Nc6 6.Qf3+ Kg8 7.Ng5 Qxg5 8.Qd5 checkmate

I have spent a lot of time over the last 2 decades looking for the opening variation or game that caused Alonzo Wheeler Jerome to create his Gambit. These games suggest that the ideas were "in the air" all around him, and as other players were inspired, so was Jerome.