Jerome Gambit: Keep Pressing

In the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), White has to keep pressing for an advantage.

Take the following game.

After 6 moves, Black is better.

After 12 moves, Black is still better.

After 18 moves, Black is ready to resign.

Wall, Bill - Gordy

SparkChess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7. f4 Qf6 8.Rf1 g6 

Kicking the enemy Queen.

9.Qh3+ 

This plan holds more promise for White than 9.Qxe5+ Qxe5 10.fxe5 Bd4.

9...Ng4 

This is one way to return the sacrificed piece. There was also 9...Ke7 10.fxe5 Qxe5. 

10.Qxg4+ Ke7 11.Nc3 c6 12.e5 Qf5 

Black understands that an exchange of Queens would be in his favor.

13.Qe2 Nh6 14.Ne4 Bb6 15.h3 

I suppose that you could update the childhood reassurance

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me

to something like

Bishops and Knights may give me frights, but pawns will never hurt me.

Except, in this case, Black's Queen needs to watch out.

15...Rf8 16.g4 Qe6 17.b3 Bc7 18.Ba3+ 

Winning the exchange. But, wait, there's more.

18...Kf7 

Carelessness or shock. The King could guard the Rook from e8.

19.Ng5+ Black resigned