Jerome Gambit: Both Knights

The following blitz game moves quickly to the endgame - one which is both educational and a bit humorous.

Pablo_sko - Dominator696969

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

At first 6.d4 was Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's choice, although later he switched to 6.Qh5+.

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 

With the small trap, if now 8.Nc3 or 8.O-O, then 8...Nf3+ would lead to the win of the White Queen. This idea goes back to the correspondence game Jerome - Norton, 1876 (16 moves, unfinished).

8.c3 

White says Yes, I see it. I would have preferred the developing 8.Be3.

8...Ne7 9.O-O N7c6 10.Qd5+ Qe6 11.f4 

Allowing the exchange of Queens, which is usually fovorable for Black in the Jerome Gambit, as it blunts White's attack.

However, that is not the case here.

11...Qxd5 12.exd5 

White misses the intermezzo 12.fxe5+ when 12...Kg6 13.exd5 Nxe5 would produce a position where material would be equal, but in which the first player's King would be safer. But, remember, this is a 3-minute game; things happen.

12...Nb4

Both of Black's Knights are under attack, but he knows that White can capture only one of them. Can Black get this Knight to c2, to threaten the Rook at a1?

No. It was better to try 12...Nd3 13.dxc6 bxc6 with an edge.

13.fxe5+ Black resigned

The second Knight will be lost as well.