Jerome Gambit: An Idea - What Could Be More Natural?

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ) creates complications that can be "solved" by Black - if he has enough time to analyze deeply enough... In blitz games, that time is often not available.

The following game is another example of the defender doing fine - until he isn't. A problem arises when he chooses to play a very "natural" move that would come quickly to anyone who took a moment to look at the position... But a moment would not be long enough.

Carlos_Ricardo - Keran137

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ 9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kd1

As I noted in an earlier post

An interesting line that I refer to as the "Nib's Defense," which made its first appearance in the American Chess Magazine of June 1899 in a comical article lampooning a new pastime, chess by phone. 

In a constructed game the author, "R.F.," overcame continued line noises and interruptions to use the Jerome Gambit to defeat "Nibs" in a dozen moves -- erroneously claiming checkmate, by the way. 

In 78 previous games in The Database, White scored 62%. This is the practical evaluation of the position. 

Komodo 12.1, however, rates Black almost a piece better.

10...Qf6  

There are 28 games in The Database with this position, with White scoring 50%.

"R.F." played 10...Ne7.

11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.Qxc5+ Kd8 13.e5 

Bothering the enemy Queen. There are many places she can go.

Counting this game, The Database records 7 games with this position, with White still scoring 50%.

13...Qc6

Offering the exchange of Queens. What could be more natural?

14.Qf8 checkmate

Blitz games can break your heart.