Jerome Gambit: Secret Attacking Idea

The popularity of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) among new and improving chess players has been growing, in large part because, I suspect, it provides a lot of tactical play swirled into a chaotic setting that is not familiar to the defender, and is definitely not "book".

Strong players can look on and mutter "tut-tut" but they can't escape the fact that the players are having a lot of fun.

Anonymous - Anonymous

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

Black was feeling comfortable, having reeled off three moves of "theory", but now what is this?? Nobody has mentioned this before. Is this some secret attacking idea that he has overlooked?

A thousand gained rating points later, he would grab the Bishop and smile, saying "Show me!" - but first he has to get through this game. After all, White wouldn't give up a piece for nothing, would he?

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ 

This makes no sense, sacrificing a second piece, but it feels... dangerous.

5...Nxe5 6.Qh5+ 

I knew he had something up his sleeve!

But, wait, can't I just punch his Queen in the nose?

6...g6 

There!

7.Qxe5 

One piece gone, but I can protect the other!

7...Qe7 

8.Qxh8 

Rats! I was afraid he would see that...

(Black has unknowingly stumbled upon Whistler's Defense, which offers a Rook for a violent, if somewhat complicated, counter-attack, starting with 8...Qxe4+! Today, however, White is unaware of the danger and is pleased to recover some more material.)

8...Ke6 

Yipes!

The enemy Queen has invaded my back rank! Escape! Escape!

9.Qxg8+ Kd6 10.Qd5 checkmate

What do you call that opening? It's brutal!