Jerome Gambit: First The Idea Arrives...

When I am playing blitz, I noticed that first an idea for a move arrives, then I evaluate it.

Only, sometimes I don't evaluate, I just play the move, because it feels right.

That is certainly a time-saving practice that I sometimes get away with, and sometimes not. I can not recommend it to others.

Think first, then evaluate, then play the move.

 

perrypawnpusher - GuestHTXV

5 5 blitz, FICS, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 

For 7...Ke8, see perrypawnpusher - Lark, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 59)

8.Qxc5+ Qe7 9.Qe3 

9.Qxc7 is too dangerous for White because of 9...Qxe4+. It certainly did not feel right.

9...Nf6

Or 9...d5 as seen in perrypawnpusher - marbleschess, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 26) 

10.Nc3 

10.d3 was played in perrypawnpusher - hogmaster, Jerome Gambit 3 thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net 2008 (1-0, 37) and perrypawnpusher - pfink, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 25) 

10...c6

Stronger was 10...d5 as in perrypawnpusher - jjdd57, Piano Piano tournement, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 56). 

11.d4 Kf7 

Preparing to castle-by-hand.

12.O-O Rf8 13.f4 Kg8 

What do you think?

White has two pawns for a piece, and a strong pawn center. I was happy with my position. After the game, Stockfish rated White a little less than a pawn better. 

14.f5 Nh8 15.e5 Nd5 

I expected the consistent defensive move 15...Ne8.

In the post mortem Stockfish 15.1 suggested 15...d5 with an edge to White.

16.Qg3 

I did not want to spend a move on 16.Nxd5 and I was not stressed by the idea of Black exchanging Knights on c3 (his best response). I did know where I wanted my Queen to go.

16...Nf7 

Activating the cornered Knight - a good idea in the abstract, but flawed in this particular case.

17.f6 

The proper response. 

17...Nxf6 

Giving back some of the sacrificed material, but it is too late.

18.exf6 g6

Protecting against mate at g7, but costing the Queen. ("Best" was giving up Her Majesty with 18...Qxf6)

19.fxe7 

Here my opponent had about 5 1/2 minutes left on his clock, and he let it run. I figured he preferred to lose on time instead of resigning. However, when about half of the time had run off, he disconected, which led to a forfeit.