Jerome Gambit: That's Where The Fun Is

 

When he was asked why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton said, “Because that's where the money is.”

I suppose if I asked club players why they "borrow" the Bishop sacrifice from the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) they would say "Because that's where the fun is."

The following game is a good example, as Black quickly is relieved of a full point.

Guest1008137605 - Guest9071308852

10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 

The Petroff or Russian Defense.

3.Bc4 

The Italian variation of the Petroff.

3...Nxe4 4.Bxf7+ 

This line shows up in The Database about 100 times, with White scoring 40%. A good place to learn more about it is an earlier post, "Jerome Gambit: Two Outstanding Marks of the Jerome Gambit".

White could also consider the Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit with 3.Nc3.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7 

The proper response was 5...Kg8, seen as early as in R.W. - H., Leipzig,1874. White now has clear compensation for his sacrificed piece.

6.Qe2 Nf6

Again, had Black thought of 6...d6 (a thematic Petroff move) 7.Nf3 Kf7, he could have surrendered his Knight to 8.Qxe4 Qe7, when he would have simply been a pawn down.

The Bishop sacrifice seems to have distracted the defender.

7.Nc6+ Kf7 8.Nxd8+ Black resigned

Nicely and quickly done.