Jerome-Knightmare

I would like to add a couple of things concerning the line 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Bxf7+, a Jerome Gambit relative, to the posts "Jerome Gambit: Review of the Jerome-Knight Gambit" and "Jerome-Knight Gambit".

First, it is worth going back to the pair of posts, "A GM plays the Jerome Gambit ??" and "Here, have a bishop..." to take look at Grandmaster Larry Christiansen's blitz game, LarryC - therealwizard, blitz, 3 0 blitz, Internet Chess Club, 2008 (1-0, 51).

Also, here is a recent bullet game where Black underestimates his opponent's chances.

dziuba - KnightOfZero1205

1 0 bullet, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 

The earliest example that I have of this beginning in The Database is R.W. - H., Leipzig, 1874 (1-0, 8)  given the December 1874 issue of Schachzeitung.

Of course, as Yury V. Bukayev points out, Wikipedia shows even earlier examples

The Bishop's Opening is one of the oldest openings to be analyzed; it was studied by Lucena and Ruy Lopez. Later it was played by Philidor, whose influence gave the opening long-lasting popularity.

3.Bxf7+ 

Stockfish 16.1 (42 ply) evaluates this position as about 3 1/4 pawns better for Black - pretty sobering when you consider that, from a material perspective, White has given up a piece (3 pawns) and gotten a pawn (1 pawn) in return, only a 2-pawn investment. Does that mean that the computer assesses Black's positional "advantage" at 1 1/4 pawns?

By the way, the earliest unambiguous example of this sacrifice in The Database is Cunningham - Brookshire, IECC, 1999.

3...Kxf7 4.Nf3 

The computer suggests 4.f4, which is either very adventurous, or a sign of dispondency - Go ahead, play anything, it doesn't matter...

 4...Nxe4 

This position can also arise from the Petroff Defense, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Bxf7+

5.Nxe5+ Kf6 

Looking for trouble. The safe move was 5...Kg8.

6.Qf3+ 

Sharp, and in 1-minute games sharpness counts for something.

Duller, but more sound, was 6.d4.

6...Ke6 

Unless you have examined this line previously, you would be unlikely to see as "best" 6...Kxe5 7.d4+ Ke6 8.d5+ Ke7 9.d6+ Nxd6 10.Bg5+ Ke8 11.Bxd8 Kxd8 when White has 3 pieces for his Queen, and Stockfish 16.1 evaluates the position (29 ply) as a bit better for the first player.

7.Qxe4 Bd6 8.Nc6+ Black resigned