Reader Thomas recently shared his first Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) win. In the game, he took a risk going down a particular line - but he was taking quite a risk playing the Jerome Gambit, anyhow. When his opponent apparently mixed up defensive variations, the reader showed a precocious understanding of the position, and scored the full point.
Anonymous - Anonymous
3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2022
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. Qh5+ g6
This block of the Queen usually leads to either the Blackburne or the Whistler defense. In each case, the defender has to be aware that he will be offering a Rook. See "Jerome Gambit: What About the Rook?"
7.Qxe5 Qe7
Whistler's Defense, named after Lt. G. N. Whistler, secretary of the Lexington, Kentucky Chess Club, who played the defense - successfully - against Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in a correspondence match in 1876.
The alternative is Blackburne's defense, 7...d6, named after the most well-known and notorious early Jerome Gambit game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884 (0-1, 14).
8.Qxh8
This is a dangerous move, despite the fact that The Database has 144 games with it, and White scores a surpring 52%. It is a measure of the complications that can follow, as well as the creativity, inspiration and luck of the attacker, that White does so well.
8...Nf6
Black protects his pawn on h7, and plans on locking in White's Queen, eventually attacking it with his Rook on a8. Given enough time, this strategy can succeed, so the first player should not dither.
By the way, the best move was the alternative 8...Qxe4+, taking the counter-attack directly to White's Queen. Stockfish 14.1 evaluates Black as a Rook and a piece better.
One inaccurate move shifts the game to White's favor.
9.d3
Protecting the e-pawn. It will soon be clear why neither 9.f3 nor 9.Nc3 will do.
One move, and the nature of the game has changed. Nicely done.
9...b6
Thematic defensive moves in the Jerome Gambit like 9...d6 and 9...d5 do not advance Black's plan quickly enough.
10.Bg5
Very much to the point: if White's Queen cannot escape, then it can quickly be exchanged at f6.
An alternative was seen in Littleplayerparis - Vitros724, lichess.org, 2021 (1-0, 41): 10.Bh6 Bb7 11.Qg7+ Ke6 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 13.Bg5 and the exchange of Queens was effective.
10...Bb7
According to plan.
Black could try 10...Bd4, but besides the ordinary 11.Bxf6 there could be 11.c3 and Anonymous - Anonymous, lichess.org, 2020 ended quickly after 11...Bb7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Qxh7+ Kf8 14.Qxe7+ Black resigned. Again, the White Queen seeks safety in an exchange.
For fun, the defender could try 10...Bxf2+, when the continuation could be as in Rami_CAB05 - L_Taveira, lichess.org, 2021: 11.Kf1 (capturing the piece was also okay) Ng4 (ineffective; 11...Bd4 was best, but was easily met by 12.Bxf6) 12.Bxe7 Bb7 Black resigned.
11.Bxf6
Or 11.Qxf6+, e.g. 11...Qxf6 12.Bxf6 Kxf6 13.Nd2 d5 14.f3 Re8 15.O-O-O dxe4 16.Nxe4+ Bxe4 17.fxe4 Kg5 18.c3 Be3+ 19.Kc2 h5 20.Rhe1 Bf4 21.g3 Bd6 22.d4 c5 23.e5 Bc7 24.Re4 Kf5 25.Rf4+ Kg5 26.Re1 cxd4 27.cxd4 Rc8 28.Kd3 b5 29.h4+ Kh6 30.d5 Ba5 31.Re2 g5 32.Rf6+ Kg7 33.hxg5 Rd8 34.Ke4 Rc8 35.b3 Rc3 36.e6 Rxg3 37.Rf7+ Kg6 38.Ref2 Bb4 39.R2f5 h4 40.Rxa7 h3 41.Ra8 h2 42. Rh8 White won on time, aezama -Prince_Skytres, lichess.org, 2021.
11...Rxh8 12.Bxe7 Kxe7
White is ahead the exchange and two pawns. Black's two Bishops are not enough compensation.
13.O-O Rf8 14.Nc3 h5 15.Rad1 Bd6 16.f4 Black resigned
Nicely played.
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