Jerome Gambit: Anything Is Playable in 1-Minute Chess

msc87 - Xander1010

1 0 bullet, lichess, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d3 

One of the "modern" Jerome Gambit variations, unlike the "classical" 5.Nxe5+ lines played by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome.

5...Nf6 6.Ng5+ 

I have railed in the past against Ng5+ in the Jerome Gambit (see "Jerome Gambit: The Face Palm Variation" and "Back At Me" about 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+ for examples).

It is tempting to continue to put pressure on the Black King, but the Knight needs help in order to be effective - and help does not always come. There are 342 game examples in The Database, and White scores only 34%.

6...Kg6 

His Majesty would be safer at g8.

7.h4 h6 

Hoping to eject the annoying enemy Knight, and possibly create a space for his King at h7. However, it is also the enemy pawn that is a problem, and a stronger response was to be found in 7...h5, keeping the pawn back and holding ontohis advantage.

8.h5+ Nxh5 9.Qxh5+ Kf6 10.Qf7 checkmate

Ouch.