Sometimes I will post a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game because it has an interesting line of play - even if I have posted similar games previously.
The following game is drawn from the 2020 thematic Jerome Gambit tournament mentioned in the previous post.
Wessel, Rudolf - Robers, Frank
Jerome Gambit thematic, 2020
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
7.f4 Ng6
Some reflections -
from "Superpippo!"
This move, despite the soundness of the basic idea – save one piece and return another – is too "creative" and leads to an even game. With a regular opening, having Black reach equality this early is an accomplishment for the second player, but in the Jerome Gambit – where White spots his opponent two pieces – it is a sign that something has already gone wrong for Black.
The kind of move - withdrawing a piece from attack - that someone unfamiliar with the Jerome Gambit might make quickly. (Best was 7...Qf6).
My guess is that at this point Bill got out his psychic micrometer, measured the apparent depth of his opponent's experience with (or understanding of) the opening, and chose a line of play that was most efficacious against an unschooled or uneasy opponent.
With more time to consider - the whole point of playing the Jerome Gambit... is that Black does not have much time to consider - Black would have found the less sensible (but stronger) 7...d6, 7...Nd3, 7...Qf6 or 7...d5.
Leading to an even game would have been the straight forward 8.Qxc5, but Wessel is happy to again trouble the enemy King, right away.
8...Ke7
Headed for safety.
9.fxg6 Nf6
How soon people forget. King safe, Attack enemy Queen.
But that overlooks something.
With 9...d6 Black could have protected his Bishop. Then it would have been White's turn to try to complicate, according to the computer, with something like 10.e5 Qe8 11.d4 Bb6 12.Qg5+ Kd7 13.gxh7 Ne7, although Black would still be technically better.
10.Qxc5+ d6 11.Qc3 Be6
12.gxh7 Rxh7 13.d3 Kd7 14.Nd2
14...c6
The text move is too routine. Stockfish 14.1 suggests 14...Qh8 15.Nf3 Bg4 16.Bg5 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Rxh2 18.Rg1 Rf8 19.O-O-O Kc8 as a way to stir things up a bit.
15.Nf3 Qe7 16.Bf4 Rf8 17.Qb4
White could have simply castled Queenside, as ...Bxh2 would not lead to anything, but he decides to apply pressure on Black's position, relying on the fact that his King could actually castle in either direction, if need be.
17...Kc8
A slip. After 17...b6 White could continue building his attack, with a safe King and two extra pawns.
18.Bxd6 Qf7 19.Bxf8 Black resigned
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