Jerome Gambit: How Jerome

The following game concludes quickly, for a couple of reasons

First, it is a bullet game, and those do not last long.

Second, the Jerome Gambit scores a quick win, in its own inimical style.

xElucidatoRx - FosterTrinh

2 1 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Nf7

The game is about even. Black has two pieces for two pawns, but he is about to lose one; and his King is at risk.

8.Qxc5 Qh4+ 9.g3 Qd8 

At the cost of 2 tempos, Black has weakened White's Kingside, and still protected his pawn at c7. It is not clear that he can afford the loss of time.

Instead, Stockfish 16.1 recommends 9...Qg4, although that would be met by the aggressive 10.f5+.

Possible in a bullet game would be the erronious retreat 9...Qe7, as it would lead to 10.Qd5+ Kf6 11.Qf5 checkmate 

10.O-O

Interestingly enough, as the computer has often shown that it does not "understand" the Jerome Gambit, its recommendation here is to get the "Jerome pawns" rolling: 10.f5+ Kf6 11.Nc3 Ne7 12.Qf2 Rf8 13.g4 Nd6 14.d4 Kf7 15.e5 Nc4 16.Qh4 with White clearly for choice.

10...Nf6 

Nothing's happening, might as well develop a piece.

11.f5 checkmate

White's hyperactive Queen works with the "Jerome pawns" to deliver checkmate. How Jerome.