Jerome Gambit: Distant Psychological Effects

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game illustrates one of the benefits of the opening: psychological impact, beyond the direct cognitive challenge of having to solve tactical and defensive challenges when prepared for only the "quiet game" (Giuoco Piano).

gabrielebattaglia - Rumle

5 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's defense. It leads to a complicated game, where White should at least draw, but where Black has occasionally won brilliantly.

8.Qxh8 Qh4 

A quick peek at The Database shows 293 games with this position, with White scoring 56%. If White now plays the recommended 9.d4, there are 80 games with that position, and White's scoring has increased to 80%. It is worth checking out "Updating the Blackburne Defense" (Part 1 and Part 2).

9.O-O

We have seen this move recently, in "Jerome Gambit: Not So Easy". It is still quite playable. The Database shows 84 games with White scoring 68%.

9...Qxe4 

The pawn was there for the taking, but in doing so Black gives up a major plan in the Blackburne: lock in and threaten to win White's Queen.

Instead, 9...Nf6 was best, although then White has 10.Qd8 Bb6 (protecting the escape pawn at c7) 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qd3 and the Queen has escaped. 

10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.Nc3  Nf6 

This doesn't work, because... 

It reminds me of a reflection by Vladimir Tukmakov in his Risk & Bluff in Chess, after looking at the game Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Alexander Khuzman, Warsaw 2005

In this case, White's attempt to sharply change the position with a piece sacrifice was met poorly. But the decisive factor was the distant psychological effects of the action. The psychological stress undoubtedly has an influence on Black's condition. In addition, maintaining the status quo on the board required a great deal of time and strength.

Therefore it is not surprising that, having solved some serious problems, Alexander was eventually unable to cope with some relatively simple ones. The bluff used by Mamedyarov, as a lever with which to unbalance the position, proved an effective weapon. It did not lead to immediate success, but it nevertheless determined the final result.

12.Qh8+ Ng8 13.Nxe4 Black resigned