Jerome Gambit: Too Many Decisions Too Quickly

In a chess game played at bullet speed - a time control of one minute, no increment - there are many decisions to be made quickly.

Sometimes, too many. Sometimes, too quickly.

The following game is an example.  

Anti-Duhring - GodSaveKing

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kf8

The Jerome Gambit Declined. 

If you want me to take the piece, then I don't want to take it.

Of course, if the move comes as a surprise to White, the thinking time it takes to respond could be significant in a 1-minute game.

The non-human computer program Stockfish 15.1 is not impressed, evaluating (32 ply) the position as almost 2 pawns better for White. This is why the Jerome Gambit player should have a plan, devised ahead of schedule, for facing Declined variations.  

5.Nxe5

White could simply retreat the Bishop with 5.Bc4 or 5.Bb3, or exchange it with 5.Bxg8. Perhaps that is what Black expected.

Instead, he decides to complicate things further. It's all part of the plan.

Although this line makes up only about 2% of the games in The Database, it has held a fascination for me, as I have posted on it a number of times, including "Jerome Gambit: First Steps (Part 5)", "Jerome Gambit: Keep It Simple", "JeromeGambit: It Is Supposed To Be Uncomplicated" and "Jerome Gambit: Ignore Me, Stay Aware".

5...Nxe5 

I suppose that you could be asking yourself, What if Black tried the wild 5...Qh4 instead? 

Yury V. Bukayev is way ahead of you, having considered that in his post "Anatoly Karpov & Jerome Gambit (Part 1)".

6.Bd5 

I suspect that the retreat was played quickly, saving the time for future tactics.

6...Qf6 

Black is on the attack.

7.f4 

Kick that Knight!

7...Ng6 

Stockfish recommends 7...c6 8.Rf1 Nd3+ 9.cxd3 cxd5 but it is easy to see why Black chose otherwise. 

8.c3 Qxf4 

Yikes! Moving too quickly.

9.Rf1 Black resigned

The Queen is lost.

Black's extra Rook and Knight do not make up for White's extra Queen and pawn - and there are still too many decisions to make in too little time.