Jerome Gambit: It's the Check that Counts

I recently (in "Jerome Gambit: Gift Horses") mentioned the "Counter-Jerome Defense" or the "Counter-Jerome Gambit" as a strategy that defenders might use - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+

The idea is to follow up 8.Kxf2 with 8...Qf6+ and exchange of Queens. In effect Black returns a sacrificed piece to stifle White's brutal attack and force him to play an (allegedly) painful pawn-up game.

Sometimes White tries to counter this counter with a counter of his own, by declining the Bishop. That might be a bit too much "psychology". 

Black has a quirky 8th move alternative to 8...Qf6+ that I have looked at in the past (see"Jerome Gambit: In The End A Win", "Jerome Gambit: How Much A Victory For Black?", "More Useful Junk" and "I don't get it") and which appeared in a recent game.

What if the second player avoids the Queen swap and threatens to fork the enemy King and Queen all in one move - with 8...Nf6 ?

I know, it all sounds a bit theoretical, and not a little sketchy, but it has happened in 4 previous games. Admittedly, White won 3 of the games, but ironically he dropped a game where he later did allow Black to fork his King and Queen.

Let's take a look at the recent outing, a 5-minute blitz game. There is a lesson in there, somewhere.

Selrah - Fernandoagua

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

Reaching the above diagram.

8.Kxf2 Nf6 

The alternative.

9.Rf1 

Thinking ahead.

9...Ng4+ 10.Kg1+ 

Played with check. Bummer.

It is easy to overlook such a thing in blitz play.

Now Black is in trouble.

10...Kg8 11.Qd5+ Kg7 12.Qd4+ 

It is already possible to point out 12.Qf7+ Kh6 13.d3+ Qg5 14.Bxg5+ Kxg5 15.Qf4+ Kh5 16.Rf3 Nf2 17.g4+ Kh4 18.Qh6+ Kxg4 19.Rg3#.

White has his own ideas about winning. He checkmates faster than my suggestions, anyhow.

12...Kg8 13.Qc4+ Kg7 14.d3 

For the record: 14.Qf7+ Kh6 15.d3+ Qg5 16.Bxg5+ Kxg5 17.Qf4+ Kh5 18.Rf3 g5 19.Qf7+ Kh4 20.Rh3#. Not that it matters.

14...Qh4 15.Qf7 checkmate

Brutal.