Jerome Gambit: Sillycon Defense?!

One criticism that has been leveled against some who favor a particular opening or defense is that they, in their fervor, tend to overlook sharing effective responses.

I have not heard this charge leveled at this blog, and for a good reason. If there is a refutation to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), you will find it here.

In the following game, I was pretty much destroyed by my opponent. 

Part of this comes, no doubt, from my choice to play the Jerome in a game with a very generous time limit of 1 move / 3 days, instead of blitz. 

The main reason, though is that Alfil_7 was well-prepared and willing to pursue his counter-attack with gusto.

Obviously, I have some repair work to do.

perrypawnpusher - Alfil_7

3 d/move, "Piano Piano", Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Kc6 

Nine years ago, I presented Philidor1792 - NN, casual game, 2012 (0-1, 17), and commented

A new move, as far as I can tell. When you are two pieces up, as Black is, you can simply give one back, and remain with the advantage.

The anonymous NN was not soon alone: VMACforever - Sillycon, standard, FICS, 2013 (0-1, 23) was played a year later. Since Black in that game was a 2369-rated computer program, it is tempting to label 8...Kc6 the "Sillycon defense".☺

Six years ago, when I posted "A Surprising New Defense Against the Jerome Gambit", I asked

Can Black's King simply walk away from his Knight like that??
The remainder of the game suggests that he can.

One year ago, when I presented the game Lc0 - Stockfish 11, 2020 (0-1, 43), I warned "Jerome Gambit: The Future Is Here".

In all, The Database shows 11 games with 9...Nc6, played before mine, with White scoring 4 - 7 (36%). By comparison, the basic 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ scores 48%

9.Qxe5 Nf6 10.d3 

Although I did not know it at the time of this game, this move seems to have been introduced in Jagulep - jitendrabhand, 10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2018 (0-1, 38).

My reason for playing 10.d3, as opposed to 10.d4, was given in my notes to the Lc0 - Stockfish 11, 2020 game

This [10.d4] is a typically aggressive Jerome Gambit move, that, superficially, blocks Black's dark-square Bishop, which is essential for White to castle. However, Komodo 10 was suspicious, preferring 10.d3, realizing that castling will not be possible, and resisting what danger might come down the e-file.

10...d5 11.Qc3 Re8 12. b4 

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

12...Nxe4 13.dxe4 Rxe4+ White resigned

Wow. 

There is nothing but pain and sorrow ahead.

Very fine game, Alfil_7!