Jerome Gambit: The Little Things Add Up

The following game is a good example of how the little things on defense in a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game can add up to a significant advantage for White, over time. 

Wall, Bill - Yapwx

internet, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+

I am not saying that this is a bad move, but The Database shows that Bill is 45 - 0 against it. (Better was the straight forward 6...Bxd4.) 

7.c3 Bxc3+ 

Facing 6.d4, Black had to return a piece. This is how he does it.

8.bxc3 

In the past Bill has shown a preference for 8.Nxc3, although he has occasionally played the text.

8...Ng6 9.O-O d6 

Black plays defensively / preventively against White's pawns. He might have tried 9...d5 with the idea that if 10.e5, he could blockade the advanced pawn.

10.f4 Ke8 

Getting off of the dangerous f-file.

11.Qf3 

Already we see a premonition of White's winning move. 

11...N8e7 12.f5 Nh4 

It can not be a good thing to waste time annoying the enemy Queen, when you are lagging in development. White's punishment is swift.

13.Qh5+ Nhg6 14.fxg6 Nxg6 15.Nd2 

Material is even, but development and King safety clearly favor White.

15...b6

 How to go about developing the Bishop? Not this way.

16.Qd5 Rb8 17.Qf7 checkmate