Jerome Gambit: Secret No More

 Jerome Gambit Secrets continue to be revealed. Most recently, I had to cross #13 off the list, as it was not longer secret. This one was on behalf of the defender, and to White I can only say with a smile "Don't say I didn't warn you"

Mstrvampire - S__one

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

I used to routinely say that this move leads to either the Blackburne or the Whistler defense. However, these days I need to add the possibility of the Counter-Jerome Gambit.

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

The idea is to meet 8.Kxf2 with 8...Qf6+ and exchange of Queens, neutralizing the large part of White's planned attack - at the cost of a pawn. The psychological impact is twofold, as White might become frustrated with the work ahead of him in a Queenless middlegame; and Black gets to return the "favor" of displacing the enemy King, who can no longer castle. 

8.Kd1

This has almost a playground feel to it. Black offers If you are going to sacrifice a piece to kick my King, then I will sacrifice a piece to kick your King. White responds But I don't have to take your piece.

It is worth pointing out that the Counter-Jerome Gambit is slightly better for White, with little risk. White should capture the Bishop.

In an earlier game, TacticalRain - sriramv, Internet, 2020 (1-0, 21), Black responded to 8.Kd1 with 8...Qf6, anyhow. I pointed out

[T]he real danger came from 8...Qh4, threatening 9...Qg4 mate! This is not an idle threat - for example, if White guards the g4 square with 9.h3, then 9...d6 both attacks White's Queen and threatens 10...Bg4+ 11.hxg4 Qxg4 mate.

White can answer 8...Qh4 with 9.c3, creating an escape outlet for his King, but the situation remains dire: 9...Nf6 10.d3 Qg4+ 11.Kc2 Qxg2 12.Nd2 Qxh1, although White can recover a piece with 13.Qf4 followed by e4-e5. He can improve the line by checking the enemy King a bit, first: 9.Qd5+ Kg7 10.Qe5+ Nf6+ 11.Qe7+ Kg8 12.c3, because now 12...Qg4+ 13.Kc2 Qxg2 would lead to 14.Qxf6 Qxh1 15.Qd8+ Kf7 16.Qxh8 Qxh2 when Black would have only a small edge. However, instead of hunting material, Black improves with 12...b6 and 13...Ba6, or 12...d5 and is still better.

8...Qh4 9.Rf1 Qg4 checkmate

Ow.