Jerome Gambit: Not Quite Defending Well Enough

The following Jerome Gambit game shows the defender's defense not quite defending well enough. Certainly the time control was a factor.

angelcamina - eugenl

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian opening.

The goal is to safeguard the Black King by keeping a piece off of g5. 

4.O-O Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+ 

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

There are 21 games in The Database with angelcamina playing this position. He scores 76%.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qc4+ Be6 12.Qb5 Qc8 

Instead of the text, Black could afford to give up the b-pawn with 12...Re8 13.Qxb7 Qd7 with good play.

13.b3

Going ahead with 13.e5 was possible. 

13...Bd7 14.Qc4+ Be6 15.Qe2 Bg4 16.Qc4+ Qe6 17.Qb5 Qd7 

Enough cat and mouse. Black has used up almost half of his clock time.

18.Bb2 Rhb8 

Putting a Rook on either e8 or f8 looks better.

White's fianchettoed Bishop aims at the Kingside.

19.Rae1 a6 20. Qc4+ Be6 21.Nd5 Nxd5 

5 seconds left on Black's clock?

22.exd5 Bf5 

Allows checkmate. 

23.dxc6+ Qe6 

Interposing the Bishop was a bit better, but the defender's game is collapsing.

24.Rxe6 Bxe6 25.Qd4 Kg8 26.Qxg7 checkmate