Jerome Gambit: Center Explosion

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game features a clear pawns vs pieces battle in the center of the board. When the smoke clears, Black is better - but not by much. Bringing home the full point requires accurate play, and in attempting that, the defender is overcome.

Thehunter02 - chancecooley

3 0 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.c3 

Recently seen in PedrosF1 - Raphcobra37, 10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021 (1-0, 12). See "Jerome Gambit: Captain's Log").

White wants a pawn center. With a slower time control, or against a computer, this would be unsuccessful - but in a 3-minute game against a human, it is a reasonable chance to take.

8...Qf6

Also possible is the interesting 8...Nd3+.

9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.d4 Bxd4 11.cxd4 Nc4 

The Black Knight gets away from the pawn center, but has plans to give itself up when the enemy e-pawn advances. Stronger was 11...Nd3+, but that is not readily apparent at first glance.

12.e5+ Nxe5 13.dxe5+ Kxe5 

Black has come through the storm and is up a pawn. Is his King at risk? White would like to think so.

14.O-O d5 15.Re1+ Kd6 16.Bf4+ Kc6 

Again, decisions have to be made quickly in a blitz game. There is a tactical problem with this King move, as opposed to 16...Kd7. 

17.Nc3 

Solid play. Development. There was a bit more in 17.Rc1+ Kb6 18.Bxc7+ however. 

17...d4 18.Ne4 Nxe4 

With a plan to further exhange down to a pawn up endgame. 

19.Rxe4 Bf5 

Giving up the pawn for development's sake. The clock might have had a hand in this move choice.

20.Rc1+ 

The killing response.

21...Kd5 21.Re5+ Black resigned