Jerome Gambit: Brilliant and Brutal

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) always holds the possibility of a brutal attack.

The following game - a dozen moves - is a brilliant example. White gives and gives - and then gets the win.

Selrah - Gwaeren

5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6

Black declines the second piece. The earliest example I have of 5...Ke6 is an internet game from 2002, which clearly shows the limits of The Database - there has to be more out there.

On the other hand, the alternative 5...Kf8 is as old as Jerome's analysis in the Dubuque Chess Journal of April 1874, endorsed by Lt. Sorensen in his 1877 article on the Jerome Gambit in Nordisk Skaktidende and illustrated by the game Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875 (1/2 - 1/2, 29).

For some significant background on this position, see "Jerome Gambit: The Way It Is" and "Jerome Gambit: More Concrete".

6.Qg4+ 

The right, aggressive response.

6...Kxe5 

This capture is risky, but the alternatives are far worse.

7.d4+ 

Another sacrifice.

7...Bxd4 8.Bf4+ Kxe4 

What does White have for his two pieces?

A forced checkmate.

Yes, he can also now win Black's Queen with 9.Bxc7+ followed by 10.Bxd8, but he is hunting bigger game.

9.c4 

A quiet move that helps weave the mating net.

9...Qf8 10.Nd2+ Kd3 11.Qe2+ Kc2 12.Nf3 checkmate 

Very, very nice.