Jerome Gambit: Passing Through Some History

In the following game, GeNer4tion_KiLL finishes off his opponent in 11 moves, in a 3-minute blitz game. In the process, he passes through some Jerome Gambit history.

GeNer4tion_KiLL - mahan9191

3 2 blitz, Streamer Arena August '25, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's defense.

As given in "It's A Small World After All (Part 2)"

Blackburne's "generous" offer of a Rook.

Those slightly familiar with Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885, will remember the game ending in a crush of White.

Those a bit more familiar will recall that later analysis suggested that White was winning.

Regular Readers will know, however, that the move actually leads to a complicated draw. (See "Flaws" Part 1 and Part 2.) 

There is also "Updating the Blackburne Defense (Part 1 and 2)".

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.d4 

This is White's strongest line, something he he can rely on after grabbing the Rook at h8. See "A Closer Look (Part V)".

9...Qxe4+ 10.Be3

Recall "The Jerome Gambit Article (Part 6)"

It is not clear exactly when the idea 9.d4 Qxe4+ 10.Be3, which may reverse the assessment of the Blackburne game and give White chances, was discovered - Fletcher’s Gambit’s Accepted (1954) is an early source – but 9.d4 by itself was a suggestion of Munoz and Munoz, in 1885 (BCC 8/1885). Hindemburg Melao, in a recent internet article (not currently available), where he identified the player of the white pieces against Blackburne as “Millner,” gave 9.d4 Nf6 10.Nd2 Bxd4 11.O-O as good for White. (It should be noted that Bruce Pandolfini, in his 1989 Chess Openings: Traps & Zaps gives the line 9.d4 Nf6 10.dc, and after the further moves 10...Qxe4+ 11.Be3 Qxg2 12.Rf1 reflects: “Don't be misled by White's extra Rook. It's a meaningless ornament. White is in serious trouble. His King is exposed and his cornered Queen is in danger of being trapped. The cruncher is …12...Bh3 which wins White's Queen by discovery from the a8-Rook. If White tries to save the Queen by capturing the Rook, 13.Qxa8 then 13...Qxf1+ 14.Kd2 Ne4#” Of course 10…Qxe4+ deserves a “?”)

10...Bb6 

According to The Database, first seen in MrJoker -carrotop, Internet Chess Club, 2011 (1-0, 22).

Instead, 10...Qxg2 looks scary, but 11.Rf1 Bh3 12.Nd2 Bb6 13.0–0–0 takes White's King out of danger and keeps White better.

From "It's A Small World After All (Part 2)"

Houdini recommends 10...Qxg2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Rf1 Bb6 13.Nc3 Bf5 14.0-0-0 Qh3 15.Qxh3 Bxh3 16.Rfe1 Bf5 17.f3 Ba5 18.Bd2 Nf6 when White is better.

11.Qxh7+ 

Here Black resigned 

White is up two pawns and the exchange. After 11...Kf8 12.0-0, White's King is safer, as well.