Jerome Gambit: Sometimes the Pawns Make It Look Easy

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is decided by an imbalance in material, but that is the result of White's advanced pawns. Sometimes the pawns make it look easy.

Yohannessen - Despicable212

3 2 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

It is fun to kick the Queen like this, but defenders must realize that they are offering to sacrifice their Rook. 

7.Qxe5 Bd6 

Either 7...d6 or 7...Qe7 will keep the game in hand.

8.Qxh8 b6 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 Bb7 

Black is down the exchange and four pawns, but hopes for attacking chances.

11.Nc3 Qe7 12.d3 Bb4 13.O-O d6 14.Bg5 Qf7 

An exchange of Queens might make Black's King a bit safer, but it unleashes the "Jerome pawns".

15.Qxf7+ Kxf7 16.f4 Re8 17.g4 Ke6 18.h4 

It is easy to imagine how the game will end.

18...Kd7 19.h5 Kc8 20.h6 d5 21.h7 Ne7 22.Bxe7 Bxe7 23.g5 Rh8 24.g6 dxe4 25.Nxe4 Kd7 26.g7 Black resigned