Jerome Gambit: Despite

Despite the fact that the Jerome Gambit and its relatives are considered "refuted" openings, devotees continue to play the lines, with success.

The Database has almost 1,300 games by angelcamina, who scores 64% - all at bullet speed.

In the following game, he collects another point.

angelcamina - GGGOKHANSS

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit

4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Ke7 

"The only way to defeat a gambit is to accept it." - Steinitz

"I don't believe in psychology. I believe in good moves." - Fischer

"Capturing the Bishop is about a pawn better for Black; Declining the Bishop is about 3 pawns better for White" - Stockfish 16.1, if it could talk

5.Nxe5 

The text is about as strong as retreating the Bishop to c4 or b3 - or capturing the Knight: 5.Bxg8 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 d6 7.Bb3 Qe8 8.d4 exd4 9.Bg5+ Kd7 10.Qf5+ Kc6 11.Ba4+ b5 12.Qxb5 checkmate, angelcamina - Black_attac, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 

5...d6 

Or, 5...Nf6 6.Bb3 d6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.c3 Nxf3+ 9.gxf3 Bh5 10.d4 Kd7 11.Be3 c6 12.Nd2 Kc7 13.Qc2 Be7 14.O-O-O Rc8 15.Bf4 Kb8 16.e5 dxe5 17.dxe5 Nd5 18.Ne4 Ka8 19.Bg3 Bf7 20.Nd6 Bxd6 21.exd6 Qb6 22.c4 Nb4 23.Qf5 Bg6 24.Qg5 Rhe8 25.d7 Black resigned, angelcamina - BatuBey_22, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022 

6.Bxg8 dxe5 7.Bc4 

Or, retreating further, 7 Bb3 Ke8 8.O-O Be6 9.Bxe6 Nxe6 10.c3 Ng5 11.d4 Bd6 12.dxe5 Bxe5 13.Qxd8+ Rxd8 14.f4 Nxe4 15.fxe5 Ng5 16.Bxg5 Rd5 17.Bf4 Rd2 18.Nxd2 Black resigned, angelcamina - nicolasabra, lichess.org, 2019

7...Ke8 

This looks something like the position after move 3, with one less Knight for White and two fewer pawns for Black. Oh, and Black's King can no longer castle.

White now collects some material.

8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxe5+ Kd7 10.Qxd4+ Ke8 11.Qxh8 

Down a Rook, a Knight, and 3 pawns, Black decides to continue playing. Perhaps he has an eye on the clock? It is a 1-minute game, after all.

11...Bg4 12.Qe5+ Be7 13.d3 c6 14.Bg5 Qd7 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 

Did Henry David Thoreau play chess? In any event, his advice here was followed: Simplify, simplify simplify.

17.O-O Be6 18.Bxe6 Kxe6 19.Nc3 Rd8 20.f4 b5 21.Rae1 a5 

In short order, White now opens lines, creates a passed pawn, and always has his eyes on checkmate.

22.f5+ gxf5 23.exf5+ Kf6 24.Ne4+ Ke5 25.f6 Rf8 26.f7 Ke6 27.Ng5+ Kd7 28.Nxh7 Rxf7 29.Rxf7+ Kd6 30.Ng5 Black resigned