JeromeGambit: Uncomfortable

I feel a bit uncomfortable fighting against, and then defeating, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) but the tournament requires Jeromes in every game.

Perhaps there is something to reconsider in White's play.

yoyokskr - perrypawnpusher

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

A"modern" variation of the Jerome, bypassing 5.Nxe5+. It seems less risky, but it is not nearly as sharp.

Of course, there is also 5.Ng5+, the "Face Palm Variation" (see the post "Jerome Gambit: The SMH Variation", among others) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+.

5...Nf6 6.d4 exd4 

Reminiscent of the Macbeth Attack or the Haxo Gambit.

7.Ng5+ 

 I was surprised to find 27 games with this move in The Database, with White scoring 48%.

7...Kg8 8.Re1 

I suppose that White could also continue with 8.c3, if he were thinking of the Goring Gambit, or 8.b4 Bxb4 9.c3, if her were partial to the Evans Gambit. Both might lead to exciting play, but Black would still be better.

8...h6 9.Nf3 d6 

Black's development is superior, even given the placement of his King's Rook. His extra piece counts, too.

10.e5 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Rxe5 Bb6 

Instead, 12...Bd6 had a bit more bite to it.

13.c4 

Cute. Of course, now 13...dxc e.p. would drop the Queen. In the meantime, the text threatens the annoying c4-c5. Fortunately there is a straightforward solution.

13...c5 

14.Qf3 Bc7 15.Re2 

A slip. The Rook needed to go all the way back to e1.

15...Bg4 16.Qd3 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Qd6 

Turning my attention to the Kingside.

18.g3 Re8 19.Qd2 Kf7 

Making way for the Rook on h8 to come to the center files.

It was also possible to leave the Rook in place and try 19...h5.

20.b3 Re6 21.Qd3 Rhe8 22.Bf4 

Hoping to blunt Black's Queen-plus-Bishop battery.

There are other attacks, howevr.

22...Re1+ 23.Kg2 Qc6+ 24.f3 

Or 24.Qf3, when 24...Qxf3+ 25.Kxf3 Bxf4 25.gxf4 would be followed by 25...Rg1 and a doubling of Rooks on the first rank, or by 25...d3; both of which would win at least a piece.

24...R8e2+ 25.Kh3 Qe6+ 26.g4 Bxf4 27.a4 Rxh2 checkmate