Jerome Gambit: Recently Covered

The following game touches on topics we have recently covered in this blog - coincidentally, as it took place 7 months ago. 

silva69 - Batuhankzk

15 10 standard, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nxe5 

I have called this the Overlook gambit

Recently I took another, brief, look at what I have called the Overlook Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nxe5 (see "Jerome Gambit: Wandering [Part 1]) - because it looks like White overlooked the fact that Black's e5 pawn was protected.

In that, the Overlook is similar to the Chicago or Irish Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nxe5 and the Halloween Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5 although the presence of the Bishops makes a difference.

I might as well have called the opening the Ooops Variation of the Jerome Gambit - if playing the Jerome Gambit is what White was intending - only he accidentally played his 5th move before his 4th move (Ooops), in the sequence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+.

4...Nxe5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 

Black transposes to the Jerome Gambit. The alternative, 5...Nxf7, preserving the right to castle, was stronger.

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qf8 

The Freddy defense, not to be recommended in serious play, but the same can be said about the Jerome Gambit - for a GM-GM (!) level game and for a classic (!) time control.

8.Qxh8 Bb6 9.Qxh7+ Ke8 10.Qxg6+ Kd8 11.d3 

White rightly concludes that the risk to his f2 square is less consequent than his chances to play Bg5.

11...Qc5 

It is a bit fatalistic to bypass 11...Qxf2+ 12.Kd1 Ne7, even if it does not lead to anything promising.

12.Bg5+ Ne7 

It is either this or give up his Queen.

13.Qg8 checkmate

Oh, well, tomorrow's going to be another day...