Another Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament (Part 7)

In the following game, Black uses Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's defense against Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's gambit, so it can be argued that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome was vindicated.

"For Jerome!" as Canadian Grandmaster Aman Hambleton might say.

KevinOSh - Duckfest

Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

Seen in Jaeger - Jerome, correspondence, 1880 (0-1, 14).

7.Qxe5 d5 

This is, by far, the strongest move in this position, although, according to The Database, it is quite rare. White has scored 2- 8 when facing this line. Fair warning.

8.d4 Bb6 9.c3 Nf6 10.Bg5 

There was also the possibility of reinforcing the center with 10.f3, a new idea. 

10...Kf7 

Or he could have tried 10...dxe4 11.O-O h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxe4 Kf7 14.Re1 Rf8 15.Nd2 Kg8, also, having castled-by hand, with the advantage of a piece for two pawns, and the two Bishops.

11.O-O Re8 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxd5+ Be6 14.Qxb7 

This is riskier than 14.Qh5+ or 14.Qb5, but White has to do something. 

14...Qg5 

This move is aggressive-looking, but it actually leads to an even position. He could have pushed his opponent around a bit more with 14...Bc4 15.e5 Qe6 16.Rc1. 

15.f4 

Overlooking something. White's chances rested with 15.Qc6 Kf8 and then 16.f4. 

15...Qb5 

White's Queen now has nowhere to go. Black has two threats now.

16.a4 

There is no joy in 16.Rf2 Rab8, either, but it addresses one of the threats. Instead, the text hopes to move Black's Queen, so that White's Queen can move to freedom.

16...Bxd4+ White resigned