Jerome Gambit: GMHikaruOnTwitch; Well, of course...

Grandmasters do not always choose the "best" move in every position in their games, but they consistently find "very good" moves, and that is usually plenty enough for them to win their games against weaker opponents.

The following Jerome Gambit is a good example. It is not so much a smash/bang game as it is a business-like one where, when Black resigns, one likely thinks, Well, of course.

GMHikaruOnTwitch - FM Susal_de_Silva

3 0 blitz, chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5  6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 

Or 8...Qf6 9.c3 Qg6 10.f3 Ne7 11.d4 Bb6 12.Bf4 Qxg3+ 13.hxg3 Be6 14.Nd2 Kf7 15.g4 Rad8 16.Rh5 h6 17.Kf2 d5 18.Kg3 c5 19.dxc5 Bxc5 20.Re1 Ng6 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Rxe3 d4 23.cxd4 Rxd4 24.Nb3 Bxb3 25.Rxb3 b6 26.Rc3 Rhd8 27.a4 Rxa4 28.Rc7+ Kg8 29.Rf5 Rf8 30.Rd5 Rf7 31.Rd8+ Nf8 32.Rcc8 g5 33.e5 Raf4 34.e6 Re7 35.Re8 Rxe8 36.Rxe8 Kg7 37.e7 Ng6 38.Rg8+ Black resigned, GMHikaruOnTwitch - Fischerev7, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021. 

9.d3 

Or 9.Nc3 Qe7 10.d3 Be6 11.O-O Ke8 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Qxe3 Kd7 14.f4 Ng4 15.Qe2 Qh4 16.h3 h5 17.Rf3 Rae8 18.d4 Kc8 19.d5 Bd7 20.a4 g5 21.Nb5 a6 22.Rc3 axb5 23.axb5 Kd8 24.e5 Qf2+ 25.Qxf2 Nxf2 26.Kxf2 Bxb5? 27.Ra8+ Kd7 28.e6+ Ke7 29.Rxc7+ Kf6 30.Rf7+ Kg6 31.f5+ Kh6 32.Ra7 Ba6 33.Rf6+ Kg7 34.Rf7+ Kh6 35.b4 g4 36.b5 Bxb5 37.Raxb7 gxh3 38.gxh3 Bc4 39.h4 Ref8 40.Ke3 Bxd5 41.Rbd7 Rxf7 42.Rxf7 Re8 43.Kd4 Bxe6 44.Rf6+ Kg7 45.Rxe6 Rxe6 46.fxe6 Kf6 47.Kd5 Ke7 48.c4 Black resigned, GMHikaruOnTwitch - MikeSailer, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021. 

9... Bb6 10.Nc3 Be6 11. Ne2 Qd7 12. Be3 Bf7 13. h3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Re8 15. O-O d5

It is intersting that here, and for several subsequent moves, Stockfish 13 (which often does not appear to have a "feel" for the Jerome Gambit) prefers 15...h5, followed by a Rook lift ...Rh8-h6-g6.

The text allows White to create a protected passed pawn which factors into his winning chances thereafter.

16.e5 Nh5 17.Qh2 g6 18.Rf2 Kg8 19.Raf1 Be6

20.g4 Ng7 21.Rf6 c5 

Better 21...h5. 

22.d4 b6 23.Nf4 g5 24.Nxe6 Nxe6 

25.c3 

With a glance at the endgame.

He could also have tripled on the f-file with 25.Qf2. I recall watching GM Nakamura comment during one of his 3 0 blitz games when he made a comment to the effect that tripling heavy pieces on a file always won. A bit of hyperbole, but solid wisdom. 

25...Kg7 26.h4 h6 27.Qc2 Nf8 28.R1f5 

The triple was still there with 28.Qf2, but White had other ideas. 

28...gxh4 29.Qf2 Re7

White applies pressure until the position cracks.

 30.Qxh4 Ng6 31.Qh5 Qe8 32.Rd6 Rf8 

Here we go.

33.Rxg6+ Qxg6 34.Qxg6+ Kxg6 35.Rxf8 Kg5 

36.Rg8+ Kh4 37.Kf2 Rf7+ 38.Kg2 h5 39.gxh5 Kxh5 40.e4 dxe4 41.e6 Re7 42.d5 e3 Black resigned

White's "Jerome pawns" are too much to deal with.