Jerome Gambit: For Giggles

From a recent email

Today I decided to play the Jerome Gambit for giggles and surprisingly, it destroyed my opponent in this high elo game. I hope that you can add to your research with this game.

Readers, see for yourself.

WaterBottleOne - ZeruHmyz

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

The game has quickly reached a standard Jerome Gambit position - found in over 500 games in The Database. 

White has two center pawns for his sacrificed piece. Advancing the pawns will move his attack forward. Black's King can not castle, although he can spend a few moves castling-by-hand. His extra piece should give him a small advantage.

10.d3 Kf7 11.O-O Re8 12.f3 Kg8 

White's pawn phalanx is usually played in response to ...d5. Soon, his f-pawn is encouraged forward.

13.Nc3 Be6 

Vulnerable to f3-f4.

14.f4 Bd7 15.h3 

This move brought a smile to my face, and is probably better than my 15.f5 - in perrypawnpusher - stcamillis, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2010, (1-0, 19) - which was met by 15...Ng4.  

15...Bc6 16.Qg3 Qd7 17.f5 

White's pawns will soon be compliented by a Bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal. 

17...Ne5 18.b3 Kh8 19.Bb2 Qf7 20.d4 

20...Nc4 

This is a slip. It could be due to the time control - a 3-minute blitz game - or it could be an oversight, as White's dark-sqare Bishop usually goes to g5, not b2.

Black could have dissolved the position with 20...Bxe4 21.dxe5 Rxe5 22.Nxe4 Rxe4 23.Rae1 Rae8 24.Rxe4 Nxe4.

21.bxc4 Qxc4 22.d5 Bd7 23.Qd3 

White is fine with the exchange of Queens.

23...b5 24.Qxc4 bxc4 

White is ready to play this position, in which the computer says says he is about 3 1/2 pawns better.

25.Rae1 c6 26.g4 cxd5 27.exd5 h6 28.Kf2 

White is rated 2578, Black is rated 2494. White activates his King to lead his pieces like a boss.

28...Kg8 29.Ba3 Rab8 30.Bxd6 Rb2 31.Rxe8+ Nxe8 32.Be5 Rxc2+ 33.Ke3 Nd6 34.Rb1 Kf7 35.Kd4 

Give the position a good look. Stockfish sees White as being almost a Queen better. This is the Jerome Gambit played at the GM level.

35...Rd2+ 36.Kc5 Ne8 37.Rb7 Ke7 38.Rxa7 Rd3 39.d6+ Kd8 40.Nd5 c3

About all Black has left is the distraction of promoting his c-pawn.

41.Ra8+ Bc8 42.Nb6 Nxd6 43.Bxd6 Ke8 44.Rxc8+ Kf7 45.Rf8 checkmate