Jerome Gambit: Threats and More Threats

The following game says something about both blitz chess and the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+): Success often comes from making a series of threats, even if they can be defended, one-at-a-time.

It is particularly interesting, given the rating of the two players. Perhaps it was all just in fun. 

KarmaAkabane32 (2772) - Lordermord (2298)

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Ng5+

As I wrote in "Jerome Gambit: Developing (Part 2)"

I think I betray my skepticism of this move in calling it the "face palm variation". See "Jerome Gambit: The Face Palm Variation" and "Jerome Gambit: Return of the Face Palm Variation".

5...Kf8 

However, Black recoils from the threat. He could easily have captured the Knight with 5...Qxg5, as the "trick" behind White's threat, 6.d4, attacking both the Queen and the Bishop, can be aggressively met with 6...Qxg2 when Black would be much better.

6.Qh5

Threatening checkmate-in-one.

 6...g6 7.Nxh7+ 

I am pretty sure that the old lament is Patzer sees check, patzer gives check, not 2700 sees check, 2700 gives check, but this is a 3-minute game, and it is the Jerome Gambit.

7...Kf7

Again, the threat has its impact. Is the defender anxious, or just underestimating the move? Black would be fine after 7...Kg7, when he will then go on to win the Knight.

8.Ng5+ Kf6 

Not doing himself any favors. Komodo 12 suggests 8...Kg7 9.Qxh8+ Kxh8 10.Nf7+ Kg7 11.Nxd8 Nxd8 when Black would have an edge.

9.Qxh8+

The check makes all the difference.

9...Kxg5 10.d4+ Kg4 11.f3 checkmate

The moral of the story: threaten, threaten, threaten.