Jerome Gambit: Wild Ride

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) often leads to a wild ride of a game.

Add to that excitement the racing speed of a bullet game, and things can quickly get out of hand for the defender.

stolar2972 - yingzchess

2 1 bullet, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 

As old as the article "New Chess Opening" Dubuque Chess Journal April 1874" and the game Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875 (1/2 - 1/2, ). For some thoughts, see "Critical Line: 5...Kf8"

6.Qh5 

The "Banks Variation," after Jerome Gambiteer Pete Banks.

Also possible was 6.Nxc6.

6...Qf6 7.Ng4 

According to the Database, introduced in erik - jiml, 4 0 blitz, FICS, 2001 (0-1, 38) and then not seen again for 20 years, when DutchLiLi played it in 4 bullet games at lichess.org. 

7...Qd6 

Not as strong as 7...Qe7, which also protects the Bishop on c5, but which does not block the d-pawn, which would then not block the light square Bishop, which would then not hem in the Rook.

8.O-O Nf6 

It is not immediately clear that this move is an error, but the computer thinks so. It would have been better to un-block the d-pawn.

9.Nxf6 gxf6 

This is an interesting position. Stockfish 15, at 30 ply, sees it as equal. Yet, it is a good example of the old aphorism, If the attacker slips up, he loses his attack; if the defnder slips up, he loses his King.

10.d3 Ne5 

Right square, wrong piece. 10...Qd5 would hold.

As always, it is important to remember that this is a bullet game, and analysis can not always run deep.

11.Bh6+ Ke7 12.Nc3 Bd4 

Too slow. The knee jerk reaction 12...c6 would be best.

13.Nd5+ Kd8 14.Bg7 Re8 15.Bxf6+ Black resigned