Jerome Gambit: Rough and Tumble

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) leads to positions that can be dangerous for both players. 

The following game shows opportunities - grasped and missed - that appear in play.

UmangKnightYT - NN

Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Ng6 8.Qxc5 Nxf4 

This pawn grab is very risky, if only because White can now play 9.Qf5+ and then grab the Knight, with advantage.

Stockfish 15 suggests that an even game would result from 8...Kf7 9.Nc3 Nf6. 

9.O-O 

King safety, development, and attack, all in one move. 

9...Ng6 10.Qd5+ Ke7 

Now - Which check to deliver?

11.Rf7+ 

The White Queen covers the squares in front of the Black King while the White Rooks moves in.

Apparently the stronger line was to check withe the Queen: 11.Qf7+ Kd6 12.d4 c5 13.Nc3 Kc7 14.Nb5+ Kb8 15.Bf4+ Nxf4 16.Qxf4+ d6 17.Nxd6 Qc7 18.Nf7 cxd4 19.Nxh8 

11...Ke8 12.Rxg7 

White threatens checkmate at f7. How to protect that square?

12...Qf6 

So often in the Jerome Gambit, Black's Queen finds a place at f6. Here, though, 12...Nh6 would hold the fort with an equal game.

Now White can grab material and advantage. 

13.Rxg8+ Rxg8 14.Qxg8+ Ke7 15.Qxh7+ Ke6 Black Resigned

White is up 3 pawns, his King is safe, his opponent's King is not.