Jerome Gambit: In the End, the "Jerome Pawns" (Part 1)

White's extra pawns in the following Jerome Gambit game ultimately help decide the game.

Much of the following analysis, this post and next, is post mortem.

perrypawnpusher - benjicappy

Chess.com, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 b6 

An interesting idea.

More mainstream is 9...Nf6 10.O-O d5 with advantage to Black.

10.O-O Bb7

Or 10...Nf6 11.f4 Qe7 12.d3 Bb7 as in perrypawnpusher - MRBarupal, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 22) and perrypawnpusher - alvarzr, blitz, FICS, 2013 (0-1, 59). 

11.Nc3 

Or 11.d4 Nf6 12.Nc3 as in perrypawnpusher - ponomargoal, Giuoco Fun, Chess.com 2024 (0-1, 40). 

11...Nf6 12.d3 Qe7 13.f4 Kd7 

Black has a piece for two pawns, and leads in development. Still, Stockfish 16.1 assesses the second player's position is about 2/3 of a pawn better. 

14.Qh3+ Kd8 15.f5 

Possibly premature.

15...Ne5 16.Bg5 Kd7 17.d4 Nf7 18.Bh4 Rae8 19.Rfe1 Kc8 

benjicappy is well-placed to resist any aggression I might conjure, but it still must be tried.  

That said, it might better begin with a2-a4, with a focus on the enemy King. 

[to be continued]