Jerome Gambit: Does Not Require A Serious Defense

One reason that club players like playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is that their opponents can draw the wrong conclusions about the opening.

What is this? the defender might think. I have never seen this attack before. It must be wrong.

All that is good and right, as far as it goes: the Jerome is a "refuted" opening. But then the thinking often goes one step further.

Since this is not a serious attack, it does not require a serious defense.

And this is how we wind up with games like the following.

Of course, we also have to make allowances for the fact that it was a 1-minute game, something that does not always allow deep analysis.

angelcamina - LeBuchs

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6 

By protecting my Knight, I can remain up two pieces. Silly attack!

This position shows up in 289 games in The Database, with White scoring 79%. 

7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qc4+ Black resigned

White is ahead two pawns. His King is safer.