Jerome Gambit: Routine-Looking

Sometimes Bill Wall makes his Jerome Gambit games look like routine wins.

Here is an example.

Wall, Bill - Pachuco

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

6...Qe7 7.dxc5 Qxc5 8.O-O Nf6 9.Nc3 Rf8 10.Be3 Qc4  11.f4 Nc6 12.e5

Black is moving along, a step away from castling-by-hand, with only the minor convenience that he will now have to retreat his Knight.

Instead, he decides that the Knight should advance.

12...Ne4 13.Nd5 Kg8

How can this move be a mistake?

14.b3

Well, that's rude.

14...Nc3 15.bxc4 Nxd1 16.Raxd1 

With the exchange of Queens, and the win of a piece, White is better, due to his "Jerome pawns".

16...d6 17.Nxc7 Rb8 18.e6 b6 19.f5 Black resigned

Although there is no imminent checkmate, Black's game holds no promise for him.