Jerome Gambit: To Exchange or Not Exchange?

In 1-minute bullet chess, decisions have to be made quickly, and ordinary choices can become critical.

In the following game, the defender can either exchange pawns or move an attacked piece away. His choice clearly impacts upon the outcome.

angelcamina - ArZion

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 h6 5.O-O Bc5 6.Bxf7+ 

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit - a little bit stronger than the Four Knights Jerome Gambit, but not quite as strong as the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit. Just in case you were wondering.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 

The Database has 61 games with this position, with White scoring 75%.

Stockfish 15.1 is not impressed. 

Just another example of how familiarity with an opening, at the club level, can lead to advantage.

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qc4+ Be6 12.Qb5 Rb8 13.e5 

The game has reached a critical point: to exchange pawns on e5 or not? In a 1-minute bullet game, there is not a lot of time to ponder the possibilities.

13...Nd7 

Unfortunately, Black makes the wrong choice.

Instead, 13...dxe5 14.Be3 (14.dxe5 Qd4+ 15.Rf2 Nxe5) a6 15.Qe2 Kg8 would have kept him firmly ahead.

Critical is White's Rook on the f-file.

14.f5 Nd4

An attack on the Queen has to be attended to in most cases. 

Here, however, Black would hold on by returning material, 14...Ndxe5 15.fxe6+ Kxe6 

15.fxe6+ 

15...Kxe6 

The retreat 15...Kg8 was safer, but 16.Qd5 Kh7 17.Qe4+ Kg8 18.exd7 dxe5 19.Qd5+ Kh7 20.Be3 Rf8 21.Qe4+ Kh8 22.Bxd4 exd4 23.Qxd4 would leave Black, a piece down, with few prospects.

16.Qd5+ Ke7 17.Qf7 checkmate