My last two Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games have featured sacrifices of the exchange (see "Jerome Gambit: Those Jerome Pawns, Again (Part 1)" and "Jerome Gambit: Zzzzzz.... Huh? (Part 1)"), so I was pleased to receive the following game, where White sacrifices a Rook for a minor piece - twice.
What makes the exchange sacrifices attractive is that they were not grand surprises, they were just parts of some very practical play. White was just on his way to winning the game.
n0freelunch - Ninjaaa5000
3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6
A standard position in this line that shows up 150 times in The Database.
10.O-O Be6
Black is developing by rote, and will soon have to retract this move.
11.f4
Of course. White threatens to fork Black's Bishop and Knight.
11...Bd7
I was amused - but enlightened - to see that this position occurred in perrypawnpusher - Mences, 2 6 blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 38) with Black to move, as my opponent had taken only 1 move to place his Bishop on d7.
12.e5
A bit stronger was 12.f5, but White was ready to get his attack going, starting with opening lines.
12...Nd5 13.Qe2 dxe5 14.fxe5+ Kg8
15.e6 Bc6 16.Qf2 Qf8 17.Qf7+ Qxf7 18.exf7+ Kf8
White's advanced passed pawn gives Black something to constantly think about.
19.b4 Nxb4
It is tempting to suggest that Black had pawns on his mind. This grab is dangerous. Simply returning the Knight to f6 was better.
20.Ba3 Bb5
Following the old rule: If your opponent attacks one of your pieces, you don't have to defend it, you can simply attack a more valuable piece of his.
The problam for Black here is that White can capture with check.
21.Bxb4+ Ne7 22.Na3
Practical chess. Stockfish 13 objects, but White wants to keep his f7 pawn protected.
Remember, too, that this is a 3-minute game. That's not a lot of time for Black to unravel all of the mysteries of the Jerome Gambit.
22...Bxf1 23.Rxf1 g6
If only it were possible for Black to play ...Kg7 and ...Rhf8, he might finally get the enemy passer under control. Alas, there is no time - and the idea does not work, anyhow.
24.Nb5 Kg7 25.Bc3+ Kh6 26.Bxh8 Rxh8
27.f8=Q+ Rxf8 28.Rxf8 Nf5 29.Rxf5
Simplify, simplify, simplify.
White has enough extra material to win. He removes Black's last defending piece. Giving up the exchange does not matter.
29...gxf5 30.Nxc7 Kg5 31.Nd5 f4 32.Kf2 Kf5 33.Ne7+ Ke5 34.Nc8 Kd5 35.Nxa7 Kc5
36.Nc8 Kc6 37.Ne7+ Kd6 38.Nf5+ White won on time
Black can not protect his Kingside pawns, stop White's passed d-pawn, and defend against White's wily Knight, so perhaps the clock did him a favor.
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