Jerome Gambit: "Nothing" Moves

It is a good idea not to ignore "nothing" moves by your opponent, as they may contain threats that need to be attended to.

chessriddler - CrazyHorses

5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ Qe7 9.Qe3 Nf6 

There are 225 examples of this position in The Database.

10.d3 d5 

A proper strike at the center.

11.b3 

This appears to be a "nothing" move, allowing Black to win the e-pawn. It can be properly met by 11...Qe5, but this is a blitz game, and things can be overlooked. 

11...dxe4 12.Ba3 Black resigned 

Ouch.

The game follows the path of shugart - pitagorico, blitz, FICS, 2013, which had the additional moves 12...c5 13.Bxc5 before Black resigned.