Jerome Gambit: Almost

In the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, White faces a defense that almost works. Given enough time, Black can pull things together, but his opponent moves quickly and gains an advantage. The game ends, perhaps with Black realizing that there are other games to play, with more opportunities elsewhere.

 

Atti0130 - tigrotto

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bf8  

This is an idea that almost works. It is not clear if the move is an oversight, or if Black mis-remembers a "secret" recommendation (see tomorrow's post).

8.Qxh8

Sure, why not?

The only other example that I found in The Database continued: 8.d3 Qf6 9. Qxf6+ Nxf6 10. Nc3 Bg7 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Re8+ 13. Be3 Ke7 14. O-O-O Kd6 15. Rde1 Kxd5 16. c4+ Kc6 17. d4 d5 18. cxd5+ Kxd5 19. b4 Bf5 20.Kb2 Rad8 21. Kc3 Kc6 22. Kc4 Be6+ 23. Kd3 Kb5 24. Kc3 Bf8 25. Kd2 Bxb4+ 26. Kd1 Bxe1 27. Rxe1 Kc4 28. Kd2 Rxd4+ 29. Bxd4 Kxd4 30. f3 a5 31. Rd1 b5 32. Kc2+ Ke5 33. Re1+ Kf4 34. g3+ Kxf3 35. Rf1+ Kg2 36. Rd1 Kxh2 37. Rd2+ Kxg3 38. Rd3+ Kh4 39. Rd1 g5 40. Rh1+ Kg4 41. Rxh7 Bf5+ 42. Kc3 Bxh7 43. Kb3 Kf5 44. Kc3 g4 45.Kd2 g3 White resigned, Tiny25 - volkan19058, lichess.org, 2021. 

8...Bg7 9.Qxh7 Nf6 10.Qh4 

White's Queen has escaped. Black has the open h-file as compensation, but it is not enough.

10...Qe7 11.d3 d6 12.O-O Be6 13.Nc3 Rh8 14.Qg5 Bh6 15.Qg3 Nh5 16.Qf3+ Black resigned

Black is down the exchange and three pawns.

After White exchanges Bishops, he can look forward to steadily taking advantage of his extra material. If the clock is not an issue, his chances look good.