Jerome Gambit: Dismiss At Your Own Peril Redux

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is another example of the kind of trouble tht can befall Black when he refuses to give the opening the proper respect, and constructs his defense with routine ideas.

Of course, the time control is a factor, too. White hurls his attack, and Black has to decide how to counter; for so many players, the first is easier than the second.

NJ-Avrel - Niaaax

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

Once again, a "modern" variation of the Jerome Gambit.

5...Nf6 6.c3 Re8 

NJ-Avrel faced 6...Rf8 in at least a couple other games: 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.e5 Nd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 (10...Ke6 11.Ng5+ Kf5 12.Qf3+ Kg6 13.Qxd5 Nxd4 14.Na3 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Nxc1 16.Raxc1 Qxg5 17.Nc4 Bxf2 18.Qd3+ Kf7 19.Rxf2+ Kg8 20.Qd5+ Kh8 21.Rxf8 checkmate, NJ-Avrel - Qweek, 5 0 blitz, lichess.org) 11.Bg5 c6 12.Nc3 Kg8 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qxd5+ Kh8 16.Rae1 Qb4 17.a3 Qxb2 18.Qd6 Rg8 19.Ng5 h6 20.Nf7+ Kh7 21.Qd5 Black left the game, NJ-Avrel - wamity, 5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021.

7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bxd4

Black would have done better retreating the Bishop, as in NJ-Avrel - korao, 5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021 (1-0, 11)

9.Ng5+ 

NJ-Avrel likes this move, although Stockfish 13 recoils in horror, preferring, of course, 9.Nxd4. But we are about to enter interesting waters, again.

9...Kg8 10.Qb3+ Kh8 

Again, this seems like a safe place for the King, but it is really disastrous. The second player would have been much better off after 10...d5 11.exd5 Qxd5.  

11.Nf7+ Kg8 

Similar to yesterday's game, Black is about to lose his Queen, which should be enough to produce a resignation.

12.Nxd8+ 

And, similar to yesterday's game, White also had the opportunity to "lose" his own Queen with 12.Nh6+ Kh8 13.Qg8+ Nxg8 14.Nf7 checkmate.

12...Kh8 13.Nxc6 

Certainly good enough to win, although there was still the smothering 13.Nf7+ Kg8 14.Nh6+ Kh8 15.Qg8+ Nxg8 16.Nf7 checkmate. 

13...dxc6 

Black's chances lie solely with the clock.

14.Bg5 Nxe4 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.fxe3 Nd2 

At first blink, this looks powerful, forking the enemy Queen and Rook - but, but, but...

17.Qd1 

Tick, tick, tick. Both players overlook 17.Nxd2, but it really doesn't matter. 

17... Nxf1 18. Qxf1 Bd7 19. Nc3 Rxe3 20. Qf7 Be6 21.Qxc7 b6 22.Qb7 Rd8 23.Qxa7 h6 24.Qxb6 Re2 Black resigned

 White can gather up both Rooks and then checkmate at his leisure.