Jerome Gambit: Zoinks!

Facing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be an upsetting experience. 

For every defender who assesses Great! I have a win in 4 moves! there is one who responds Zoinks! What now?

In the following game, Black defends, until something, suddenly, goes wrong. 

joker0909 - peglaczavjese

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Bb6 

The Database has this retreat in 19 games, with White scoring 74%.

More reliable were 7...d6, Blackburne's move, and 7...Qe7, Whistler's move. 

8.Qxh8 Qf6 

Black does not appear familiar with the Jerome, and he tries to shore up the defense of his King. More consistent would have been 8...Qh4. 

9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.d4 Qxf2+ 

Zoinks! The specter of blitz chess - or is it the Jerome Gambit? - strikes. Black's best chance was 10...Bxd4 11.O-O Bxb2 12.Bxb2 Qxb2 13.Nd2, although he would be down the exchange and a pawn. 

11.Kxf2 Bxd4+ 12.Ke2 c6 13.Qxg6 

Threatening mate; although, at this point, there was already 13.Rf1+ Nf6 14.Rxf6+ Bxf6 15.Bh6+ Ke8 16.Qg8+ Ke7 17.Bf8+ Kd8 18.Bd6#.

13...d5 14.exd5 

Foreshadowing: 14.Rf1+ Nf6 15.Rxf6+ Bxf6 16.Qxf6+ Ke8 17.Bg5 Bg4+ 18.Kd2 Kd7 19.Qe7+ Kc8 20.Qd8#. 

14...cxd5 15.Rf1+ 

Here it comes.

15...Nf6 16.Rxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qxf6+ Ke8 18.Bg5 Bd7 19.Qe7 checkmate