Jerome Gambit: "Modern 5.c3"

Dan Middlemiss has contributed his latest collection of Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games to The Database, including a selection of games featuring the "modern" 5.c3. 

My first look at this idea in a while - "A Look at the 'Modern' Jerome Gambit: 5.c3" is 9 years old - starts with a game that takes a while before morphing into what we will be looking at.

vettow_cgn - Kderro

1 0 bulet, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 

The Bishop's Opening.

2...Nc6 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Nf3 Bc5 

Transposing to the Jerome Gambit.

5.c3 

White decides not to sacrifice the second piece with 5.Nxe5+, the "classical" line of play.

5...Nf6 6.d3 

Deciding not to hit the center with 6.d4.

6...d6 7.Qb3+ Be6 

In a 1-minute game, a quick response to a threat risks not being the best move. Glancing at The Database, I see this kind of thing happening in 375 games.

8.Ng5+ Kg6 9.Qxe6 Re8 

Hoping to eject the enemy Queen. 9...Qd7 would have better met the needs of the position, as we shall see.

10.Qf5+ Kh6 11.Nf7 checkmate