Jerome Gambit Declined: Different Line, Better Result

Declining the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) leads to a different kind of game for White - in fact, it is as if Black becomes the gambiteer. Yet, White's advantage, while small, can be useful, especially when it is blended with some additional aggression, as we see in the following blitz game.

chuzzyy - Rexabbas

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kf8 

Jerome Gambit declined. The players' roles are reversed, as if Black were sacrificing material - a pawn - for mostly psychological reasons.

5.Bd5 Nf6 6.d4 

In the previous post we saw a Jerome Gambit declined with a similarity to the Ruy Lopez exchange variation. Here we have one similar to the Scotch Gambit.

6...exd4

It may not be a hard and fast rule, but when Black has a pawn, a Knight and a Bishop focused on the d4 square, he probably does best to capture with 6...Nxd4.  

7.Bg5

Both 7.O-O and 7.c3 also come to mind. The text move prevents Black from playing ...Nxd5, unless he wants to open up his Kingside - which he proceeds to do 

7...h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 

An extravagant move, played in Jerome Gambit style, instead of the expected 9.Bg3. White's aggression is aided by the fact that this is a blitz game.

9...hxg5 10.Bxg5 Qe7 11.Qf3 

More pressure on the Knight at f6, and along the f-file.

11...d3 

I am not sure of the intent of this move. Perhaps Black expected 12.cxd4, when 12...Bd4 would provide more protection of the Knight, and attack White's Queenside as well.

In any event, White now clearly takes control.

12.Bxf6 Bxf2+

This almost looks like a "spite check".

13.Qxf2 d2+ 

Ditto.

14.Nxd2 Qb4 15.Bc3+ Black resigned

Black will lose his Queen or be checkmated - or both.