Jerome Gambit: Those Who Fail

It is especially true in chess that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

The following miniature game illustrates.

joker0909 - H_o_j_a_t

3 2, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxd5 d6 8.Qxh8

The game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884, showed that the capture of this Rook can lead to complications that could favor Black.

Analysis by Chandler and Dimitrov showed that informed play by White could lead to a draw.

8...Qe7

This would have been powerful a move earlier. As it is, it looks like Black has mixed up Blackburne's defense (7...d6) and Whistler's defense (7...Qe7). 

Best was 8...Qh4 9.d4 Nf6 with complicated play. 

9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 Bf5 

This cute move was not as strong as a belated 10...Qh4.

11.Qxf5+ Nf6 12.d3 Black resigned

Black is down a Rook and four pawns.