Jerome Gambit: Another Event That Took Less Time Than It Takes To Tell

Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games played at bullet speed can be both entertaining and educational. 

The following game "took less time than it takes to tell", and has a few serious points to make. 

LuffyChess8 - Champion_A1

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022

 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 g6 

Intuitive or played as a reflex, this move kicks the enemy Queen - which is a good idea, in general - but does not accomplish much.

8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxh8 

The Database has 46 games with this position, with White notably scoring 79%. 

White is ahead the exchange and two pawns, but "won" games rarely win themselves in bullet. He must continue his efforts - starting with moving his Queen out of the corner, in order to avoid future mishaps.

9...Qh4+ 

Queen counter attack.

10.g3 Qh5 11.Qe5 Qg4 

Black understands that exchanging Queens will not help him, but in avoiding the swap he overlooks something.

12.Qxc5 d6 13.Qf2 Bd7 14.O-O Rf8

Black is close to castling-by-hand.

White is material ahead, but most of it is undeveloped.

The clock is ticking.

15.e5 dxe5 

It is a secret that many Jerome Gambiteers know and take advantage of - many defenders can not ignore the chance to exchange pawns, even when it opens lines against themselves.

16.fxe5+ Ke8 17.Qxf8  checkmate