Jerome Gambit: Taking Charge

It is hard not to chuckle at the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game. White attacks, Black unleashes a violent counter-attack, and White stumbles to meet it.

Just when it looks like Black will prevail, the enemy King leads his troops into battle - and suddenly White delivers checkmate.

Of course. It is the Jerome Gambit.

panpured - motab4

10 5 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ 9.g3 Nf3+ 

The "Nibs" variation.

10.Ke2 

Not the best choice - The Database has 20 games, White scores 18%. The King should go to either f1 or d1.

10...Nd4+ 11.Kd3 Nxf5 12.gxh4 Nxh4 

White has a pawn for two sacrificed pieces. He can count on two things: this is a blitz game, where anything can happen; and White's King has great plans.

13.e5+ Ke6 14.Kc4 Bb6 15.d4 c6 16.Nc3 Ne7 17.Ne4 

17...Nhf5  

Moving the offside Knight back into the action.

18.Ng5 checkmate

Nice.