Jerome Gambit: In Weakness There Is Strength

One of the strengths of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and its relatives is their weakness - opponents routinely underestimate White's chances, play routine moves, and get into trouble.

The following game is a good example.

TheOldgit - wopa

2 12 blitz, FICS, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Na5 

It looks like Black would like to win "the minor exchange" - 4.Bb3 Nxb3 5.axb3.

White can accomodate him now, and bag a pawn, with 4.Nxe5 Nxc4 5.Nxc4.

Instead, White prefers to follow the path of Jerome.

4.Bxf7+ 

This sacrifice is legitimate.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 

White also is a bit better after 5...Ke7 6.d4 d6 7.Nd3 Qe8 8.O-O Kd8.

6.d4 Bd6 

My daughter-in-law has a t-shirt that reads "Go ahead, underestimate me. That will be fun".

The words might as well refer to the Jerome Gambit.

Not to be too harsh on wopa. The Database shows a couple dozen games with the optimistic 6...Bd6. Of course, it scores 0 - 24. 

Better was 6...Nf6. 

7.Qg4+ Kf6 8.Bg5 checkmate

Ouch.