Jerome Gambit: Ideas From Bullet

While I look over Jerome Gambit games played at bullet speed (1-minute or 2-minute games) for entertainment purposes, I often find interesting ideas in the play, and sometimes uncover questions that beg to be answered.

The following game is a good example. The story is more in the notes than in all of the moves. 

Falador07 -Jboy86

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6  

Blackburne's defense. Now capturing the Rook leads to a complicated game.

8.Qxh8 Bg4 

When I saw this move, I was puzzled. Then I reminded myself: this is a bullet game. Many moves are "playable" if they are played quickly.

I checked with The Database, and it actually had 13 earlier games with this move. Not surpringly, White has scored 88%. 

How should White respond?

9.e5 

This move retains White's advantage.

Since a major danger for the first player in the Blackburne defense is his Queen getting into trouble on the 8th rank, something to remember is the direct and stronger 9.Qxh7+, which The Database shows had led to 10 wins and 1 draw. As Stockfish 14.1 points out: 9...Ke6 10.Qxg6+ Nf6 11.f3 Qg8 12.Qxg8+ Rxg8 13.fxg4 Rxg4. 

9...Qh4 

Another plus for the alternative 9.Qxh7+ is that it can prevent this move.

Now White needs a plan to protect his Kingside. One idea is 10.g3, although then 10...Qh3 looks ominous, and the best response, 11.d4, does not immediately come to mind, and leaves Black slightly better.

White's best response to 9...Qh4 is that quirky move 10.d4!? Of course, now if Black plays 10...Bxd4, White first nudges away the Bishop's protection with 11.g3 and then has 12.e6+, which uncovers an attack on, and thus wins, the Bishop.

Stockfish 14.1 recommends 9...Qh4 10.d4 Re8 (scary for White, but it still sees the first player as better) 11.Be3 when Black can win the enemy Queen with 11...dxe5 12.dxc5 Nf6 but after 13.Qxe8+ Kxe8 White still is better, with two Rooks and a pawn for that Queen.

10.Qf6+ 

An unfortunate slip, but these things happen in bullet play.

10...Nxf6 11.exf6 Qxf2 checkmate

So, here we have another example of when one player wins the game, but the other one wins the analysis.

White has no reason to fear the surprise 8...Bg4.