Jerome Gambit: And Yet Another Recovered Game

I have tried to post every one of my Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games; win, lose, or draw; good, bad or ugly.

Still, sometimes, something slips through.

Earlier this year (see "Jerome Gambit: A Bit Awkward") I noticed that I had missed a game from 16 years ago - from before I started this blog.

So - time to fix that oversight. 

perrypawnpusher - gtomlinson

5 2 blitz, FICS, 2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 

This position is as old as Jerome's analysis in the April 1874 edition of the Dubuque Chess Journal and his game against Shinkman (0-1, 21) the same year.

10...Ke7 

The King anticipates a future Bishop pin along the b8-h2 diagonal.

11.Nc3 d6 

Both Rybka and Stockfish prefer 11...Nf6.

12.Nd5+ Kd8 

13.d3 

In this messy position I learned after the game that I could have played 13.d4!? Bxd4 (13...Qxd4 14.Qf8+ Kd7 15.Qf7+ Kc6 16.Qxc7+ Kb5 17.Be3) 14.Bf4 Qe6 (14...Qe8 15.O-O-O c6 16.Rxd4 cxd5 17.Rxd5 Qf7 18.Rxd6+ Ke8 19.Rhd1 Be6 20.Kb1 Nf6 21.e5 Nd5 22.Rxe6+ Qxe6 23.Rxd5) 15.O-O-O Bc5 (15...Bb6 16.Bxd6 cxd6 17.Qf8+ Qe8 18.Qxg7 Ne7 19.Nf6 Qf8 20.Rxd6+ Kc7 21.Qg3) 16.b4 Bb6 17.Bxd6 cxd6 18.Qf8+ Kd7 19.Qxg7+ Ne7 20.Qxh8 Nxd5 21.exd5 Qg6) 

13...Ne7 14.Nxe7 

Missing my chance for 14.d4 and advantage. The game shifts towards Black.

14...Kxe7 15.Rf1 Be6 16.c3 Raf8 17.Qe2 Rxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Rf8+ 19.Ke1 

White has no compensation for his sacrificed material.

19...Qf6 

This move preserves Black's advantage. The computers suggest that there is even time to go pawn-grabbing with 19...Qxh2. 

20. d4 Bb6 21.Be3 Qh4+ 22. g3 Qxe4 

Uh-oh. Bad things can suddenly happen in blitz. Black munches on another pawn (threatening Qh1+ and winning the Rook) - and it does not agree with him.

23.Bg5+ 

Of course.

23...Kd7 24.Qxe4 h6 25.Be3 c5 

Black lashes out, but opening lines to your King when you have only a Bishop for a Queen is quite risky.

26.dxc5 dxc5 27. Rd1+ Kc8 28.Qxe6+ 

Black resigned

A happy escape, most likely aided by the clock.

Good luck, as they say, is better than a license to steal.