Jerome Gambit: Keep Shaking Until Something Shakes Loose

Sometimes your opponent becomes so intimidated by the Jerome Gambit attack that he quickly makes mistakes and hands the game over to you.

Other times - as in the following game - the defender is more resolute. Still, if White keeps applying pressure, shaking things, he may yet induce the error that he is hoping for.

Wall, Bill - Akela

internet, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.O-O Nf6 9.Nc3 Rf8 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Kg8

Black has kept his cool and castled-by-hand. He has the advantage. Unfortunately for him, his opponent is interested in playing on.

12.Bd2 h6 13.Rae1 a6 

The last two pawn pushes are not blunders, but they slightly weaken the defender's position and suggest that he may have exhausted his ideas for improving his position. 

14.Rf3 b5 15.Nd5 Bb7 16.Rg3 Ne7 17.Nxf6+ Rxf6 18.f5 

Attacking ideas begin to bubble.

18...Kh8 19.Bc3 Rf7 20.Bxg7+ 

This move says "blitz" to me. Shake things up, see what shakes loose.

20...Rxg7 21.Qc3 Qg8 22.Rxg7 Qxg7 23.f6 

Black: Think! Think! Think! Was there really something to that silly opening??

23...Qf7 24.fxe7+ Kg8 

Stepping out of the line of fire - but into the way of a possible counter-attack. Instead, 24...Qg7 would keep options open, as 25.Qxc7 could be met by 25...Rg8. 

Now, however, White has all the advantages.

25.Qxc7 Bc8 26.Qd8+ Black resigned

White's pawn will promote, and checkmate is inevitable.