Some Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games feel like White is racing to attack and win material or checkmate the enemy King. Here's what I have, the attacker says.
Other games move along at a leisurely pace, with White comfortable inquiring of his opponent, What do you have?
In the following game, Bill Wall takes the path between the two, slowly advancing, gaining ground until his pieces spring into action. Black is not prepared to defend, and, so, expires.
Wall, Bill - Naren
internet, 2025
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
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There are almost 1,000 games with this position in The Database.
White scores 50%.
Bill has 136 games with this position in The Database. He scores 90%.
Stockfish 16.1 evaluates the position as about 2 1/2 pawns better for Black.
You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Practically a null move, asking Black What do you have?
According to The Database, the only Jerome Gambiteer to play this move is Bill.
8...Nf6
Or 8...h6 9.O-O Nf6 10.Nc3 a6 11.f4 Nc6 12.Qd3 Rf8 13.Bd2 Kg8 14.Qc4+ Kh8 15.Rfe1 Bd7 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Ne7 18.Ba5 b6 19.Bd2 c5 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Rxe7 Qxe7 22.Qxc6 Rac8 23.Qxb6 Rxc2 24.Re1 Qf6 25.Qe3 Qxb2 26.Rd1 Rfc8 27.f5 d5 28.h3 a5 29.Kh1 d4 30.Qd3 R8c4 31.f6 gxf6 32.Qg6 d3 33.Qxh6+ Kg8 34.Qg6+ Kf8 35.Re1 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest7904333, PlayChess.com, 2018.
9.Ra3
Allowing a possible Rook lift.
He has also played 9.Nc3 c5 10.Qd2 Re8 11.O-O Be6 12.Rd1 d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Qxd5+ Qxd5 16.Rxd5 Nc4 17.h3 Re1+ 18.Kh2 b6 19.b3 Ne5 20.Bb2 Re8 21.Rxe1 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest3174027,PlayChess.com 2019.
For the next 10 moves, the players arrange their pieces and skirmish, but Black remains with the advantage.
9...Rf8 10.Nc3 c5 11.Qd1 Kg8 12.O-O h6 13.Re1 Bg4 14.f3 Bh5 15.Nb5 d5 16.exd5 Nc4 17.Rc3 a6 18.Rxc4 axb5 19.Rxc5 bxa4
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One positive thing in White's position is his passed d-pawn, and he uses it to spearhead a piece invasion.
20.d6 Be8 21.Rc7 b5 22.Ree7
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22...Nd7
In club level play (and likely elsewhere) defending is often more difficult than attacking. Attack poorly, you may lose time or material; defend poorly, you may well lose the game.
Simplest was 22...Rf7, although 22...Bf7 would also do the job.
23.Bxh6
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This probably came as a shock.
23...Rf7
If 23...gxh6, then 24.Qd5+ Bf7 25.Qf5 would threaten to win material, as well as close in on checkmate.
24.Qd5 Nf6
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White's attack is so powerful, he can offer his Queen.
Black's best defense now still allows checkmate: 25...Qxc7 26.Rxf6+ Qf7 27.Rxf7 Bxf7 28.Qxa8+ Kh7
29.d7 Kxh6 30.d8Q Be6 31.Qh4+ Kg6 32.Qe8+ Kf5 33.Qeh5+ g5 34.Q4xg5#
23...Nxd5 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rh7+ Kg8 28.Rcg7+ Kf8 29.Rh8 checkmate
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A fitting game for post #4,700 of this blog.
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