Jerome Gambit: Iconic 9-move Checkmate

There has been a flurry, recently, of Jerome Gambit treatments of the Two Knights Defense. By now, the iconic 9-move checkmate from the following game has become well known.

Rawnessman - chepea2019
1 0 bullet, Chess.com 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights Defense. One way to avoid the Jerome Gambit.

4.Bxf7+


Or, not.

I have been calling this the "impatient Jerome Gambit" because White does not wait for ...Bc5 before sacrificing his Bishop.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4

There are 2 games in The Database with 6.Qh5+? which look like White was in too much of a hurry to play Jerome Gambit moves. Impatient, indeed.

A couple of recent games:

6.O-O Bc5 7.d4 Bd6 8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.Bg5 d5 10.exd5 Qxd5 11.Bxf6 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 gxf6 13.Nc3 Rg8 14.Rd3 Bh3 15.Rxh3 Bxc3 16.Rxc3 Rg5 17.Rxc7+ Kg6 18.Rxb7 Kh6 19.h4 Rag8 20.g3 Rg4 21.Rd1 Rxh4 22.Rdd7 Rc4 23.Rxh7+ Kg5 24.Rxa7 Rxc2 25.b4 Rc1+ 26.Kg2 f5 27.a4 f4 28.a5 fxg3 29.Kxg3 Rc2 30.Kf3 Rf8+ 31.Rhf7 Rc3+ 32.Kg2 Rxf7 33.Rxf7 Rb3 34.Rf3 Rxb4 35.Rg3+ Kf4 36.Rf3+ Ke4 37.Rg3 Ra4 38.Rg4+ Kf5 39.Rxa4 Ke5 40.a6 Kd6 41.Ra1 Kc7 42.a7 Kb7 43.a8=Q+ Kb6 44.Qa2 Kc5 45.Qb2 Kd6 46.Ra3 Ke6 47.Qa2+ Ke5 48.Rb3 Kd5 49.Qa4 Ke5 50.Rb5+ Kd6 51.Qa6+ Kc7 52.Rb7+ Black resigned, Uarekomodo9 - khalilmansour123, 1 0 bullet, Chess.com, 2020; and

6.f4 Nc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.e6+ dxe6 9.f5 exf5 10.O-O Qf6 11.d3 Bc5+ 12.Kh1 Bd4 13.Nc3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Qxc3 15.Rxf5+ Ke6 16.Bd2 Qc5 17.Qe2+ Kxf5 18.Rf1+ Kg6 19.Qe4+ Kh5 20.g4+ Kh4 21.h3 Qe7 22.Qe1+ Qxe1 23.Rxe1 Bd7 24.Rf1 Rhf8 25.Re1 Rae8 26.Rb1 Nd4 27.c4 Ne2 28.Rxb7 Ndf4 29.Rxc7 Be6 30.Rc5 Rc8 31.Re5 Bd7 32.Bxf4 Nxf4 33.d4 Nd3 34.Ra5 Rxc4 35.Kh2 Rxd4 36.Rh5 checkmate, MrBizkit - reza6666666666, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020.

6...Ng6 

Or:

6...Bd6 7.dxe5 Bxe5 8.f4 Re8 9.fxe5 Rxe5 10.O-O Rxe4 11.Nc3 Re6 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Nxf6+ Rxf6 17.Qg5+ Kf7 18.Rxf6+ Qxf6 19.Rf1 Qxf1+ 20.Kxf1 d6 Black resigned, KNVB - boringhard, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020; 

6...Nc6 7.e5 Nd5 (7...Ng4 8.Qxg4 Bb4+ 9.c3 Be7 10.Qf3+ Ke8 11.O-O Rf8 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qxh7 Bh4 14.Qxg6+ Ke7 15.Bh6 Bxf2+ 16.Rxf2 Rf3 17.Rxf3 Black resigned, Littleones21 - PonyoTWm, 5 3 blitz, lichess.org,  2020; 7...Qe7 8.O-O Nd5 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Qf3+ Ke8 11.Qxd5 d6 12.Qb5 dxe5 13.d5 a6 14.Qa4 b5 15.Qb3 Nd4 16.Qc3 Qb4 17.Qc6+ Nxc6 18.dxc6 Qd6 19.Be3 Qxc6 20.Na3 Bxa3 21.bxa3 Qxc2 22.Rac1 Qxa2 23.Rxc7 Qxa3 24.Bc5 Qa4 25.Re7+ Kf8 26.Ra7+ Kg8 27.Rxa8 Qg4 28.f3 Qf5 29.Rd1 Kg7 30.Ra7+ Kh6 31.Be3+ g5 32.g4 Qf6 33.h4 Qxf3 34.Bxg5+ Kg6 35.Rd6+ Qf6 36.Rxf6 checkmate, lautrec404 - pollen24, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020) 8.Qf3+ Kg8 9.Qxd5 checkmate, ChessBrah - kevvvvvvv, 5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020; and

6...Nc4 7.e5 Nd5 8.Qf3+ Ke8 9.Qxd5 Nb6 10.Qf3 d6 11.Qe4 dxe5 12.O-O Nc4 13.b3 Nd6 14.Qxe5+ Kf7 15.Bg5 Qd7 16.Re1 Nf5 17.Nc3 Qxd4 18.Qxf5+ Kg8 19.Qd5+ Qxd5 20.Nxd5 Bb4 21.Re8+ Kf7 22.Rxh8 Bc3 23.Rd1 Bg4 24.Rd3 Be5 Black resigned, mdc995 - Lukeskyrocket, 10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

7.e5 Nd5 

Black has also recently tried:

7...Qe8 8.O-O Bb4 (8...Nd5 9.Qf3+ Kg8 10.Qxd5+ Qf7 11.Nc3 Qxd5 12.Nxd5 c6 13.Nc7 Rb8 14.f4 d6 15.f5 Bxf5 16.Rxf5 Rc8 17.Ne6 dxe5 18.Be3 Ne7 19.Rf2 exd4 20.Bxd4 b6 21.Raf1 Ng6 22.Rf7 a5 23.Nxf8 Rxf8 24.Rxg7 checkmate, Anonymous - Anonymous, Chess.com, 2020) 9.f4  d6 10.c3 Ba5 11.f5 dxe5 12.fxg6+ Kxg6 13.d5 Bb6+ 14.Kh1 Bg4 15.Qd3+ Kf7 16.Bg5 Rd8 17.Qc4 Qd7 18.Nd2 h5 19.Nf3 Qxd5 20.Nxe5+ Ke8 21.Qa4+ c6 22.Rae1 Bh3 23.Nf3+ Kf7 24.gxh3 Rhe8 25.Rd1 Qe4 26.Bxf6 Qxa4 27.Bxd8 Rxd8 28.Ng5+ Kg8 29.Rxd8+ Bxd8 30.Re1 Bxg5 31.Re8+ White resigned, TheCuriousGreg - nik11131719, 15 10 blitz, Chess.com 2020; and

7...Ne8 8.Qf3+ Kg8 9.Qd5 checkmate,  aniketbhave - LaReinaLoca, 10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020; but not everybody caught the checkmate right away: 9.O-O h6 10.Nc3 Kh7 11.Qh5 d6 12.f4 Rg8 13.f5 Bxf5 14.Rxf5 dxe5 15.dxe5 Qd4+ 16.Kh1 Bc5 17.Rf1 Qh4 18.Qf3 Nxe5 19.Qf5+ Ng6 20.Qxc5 b6 21.Qf5 Nf6 22.Bf4 Rgf8 23.Bg3 Qg4 24.Qd3 Nh5 25.Rxf8 Rxf8 26.Ne2 Kg8 27.h3 Qg5 28.Bxc7 Ne7 29.Bd6 Nf5 30.Qd5+ Kh8 31.Bxf8 Nfg3+ 32.Nxg3 Nxg3+ 33.Kh2 Qxd5 34.Kxg3 Black resigned, Hipernight - salissi, 5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020; and 9.Qb3+ d5 10.exd6+ Be6 11.Qxe6 checkmate, gerodes - crappycovers4charity, 3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2020. 

8.Qf3+ 

8.c4 Nb6 9.Qf3+ Kg8 10.c5 Bxc5 11.dxc5 Qf8 12.Qb3+ Qf7 13.Qxf7+ Kxf7 14.cxb6 axb6 15.O-O Nxe5 16.f4 Ng4 17.Nc3 d6 18.Bd2 Be6 19.Rae1 Rhg8 20.h3 Nf6 21.g4 Bd7 22.f5 Bc6 23.g5 Nh5 24.g6+ hxg6 25.fxg6+ Kxg6 26.Re6+ Kh7 27.Ne2 White won on time, justaddblu - Czechgrinder, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020 

8...Kg8 

Ending things quickly. Instead:

8...Ke8 9.Qxd5 Nf4 10.Qe4 Qg5 11.Bxf4 Bb4+ 12.c3 Qe7 13.cxb4 Qxb4+ 14.Bd2 Qe7 15.O-O d6 16.Nc3 c6 17.d5 Bd7 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.exd6 Qxe4 20.Nxe4 Bf5 21.Nc5 Rd8 22.Rfe1+ Kf7 23.d7 h6 24.Rad1 Bxd7 25.Ba5 Rde8 26.Rxd7+ Re7 27.Rexe7+ Kf6 28.Rxg7 Re8 29.Bc3+ Kf5 30.h3 Re2 31.g4+ Kf4 32.Ne6+ Kf3 33.Rd3+ Ke4 34.Rd4+ Kf3 35.Rf7 checkmate, campani - rahulkonapur, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020; or

8...Ngf4 9.Bxf4 Nxf4 10.Qxf4+ Kg8 11.d5 d6 12.e6 c6 13.Qf7 checkmate, Anonymous - Anonymous, Chess.com,  2020; and

8... Ke6 9.c4 Nb4 10.d5+ Kxe5 11.O-O Bc5 12.Re1+ Kd6 13.Bf4+ Nxf4 14.Qxf4 checkmate, ashwin2305 - GlobalWarmingOP, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

9.Qxd5 checkmate

This was also how the game 19Kuq-Zi85 - Tibob73, 5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020 went.

Jerome Gambit: Winning in the End

The well-rounded Jerome Gambit player knows his opening, but he also knows how to play the middle games that could arise, and he is ready to carry the fight into the endgame.

The following game shows the "1-0" arising from the threat to promote a passed pawn in a Rook and pawns endgame.

bgl001 - Kelv60.
5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

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.Qd4 

The Queen often retreats to e3, in the process preventing 9...Qg5. Here, she eyes the dark squares.

9...Nf6 

Recently played: 9...Qe7 10.Nc3 c6 11.d3 h6 12.O-O Nf6 13.Re1 Qe5 14.Qe3 Ng4 15.Qg3 Rf8 16.Qxe5+ N6xe5 17.f3 Nf6 18.Bf4 g5 19.Bg3 h5 20.d4 Ng6 21.Bxd6 Rf7 22.e5 Nd5 23.Nxd5 cxd5 24.e6 Rh7 25.Re2 Nf4 26.Bxf4 gxf4 27.Rae1 Ke7 28.Re5 b6 29.Rxd5 Bb7 30.Rd7+ Black resigned, DropBearMKJ-brianthehammer, Chess.com, 2020.

10.d3 Kf7 11.Bg5 Be6 

Black is happy to further his development, but this Bishop placement, along with the Knight at g6, encourages White's next move.

12.f4 h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qxf6+ Kxf6 

Black captures with his King to keep his Kingside pawns intact.

15.f5 Nf4 16.fxe6 Nxg2+ 17.Kf2 Nf4 18.Ke3 Nxe6 

The game is balanced. White is going to have to out-play his opponent. This is a 5 minute game, and the surprise and strangeness of the Jerome Gambit may have given him a lead on the clock.

19.Rf1+ Ke7 20.Nc3 Raf8 21.Nd5+ Kd7 22.a4 c6 23.Nf4 Nxf4 24.Rxf4 Rxf4 25.Kxf4 Rf8+ 26.Ke3 Ke6 27.Rg1 g5 28.h4 gxh4 29.Rh1 Rh8 30.Rxh4 h5 

Black's h-pawn has no future. The game is still even, and it is hard to know if White is disappointed because he doesn't have a checkmating attack, or relieved that he is no longer down two pieces. In any event, he presses on.

31.Kf4  Kf6 32.d4 a5 33.e5+ dxe5+ 34.dxe5+ Kg6 

35.e6 

Premature, but he gets away with it.

35...Rf8+ 

Forcing White's King to go where he wants to go. Black would have all the chances after 35...Kf6.

36.Ke5 Rf5+ 37.Kd6 Rf6 38.Kd7 c5 39.e7 Rf7 40.Kd8 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: How Much A Victory For Black?

If White is looking to play a wild attack in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), how much of a victory is it for Black to deny him that? What is the appropriate "price" to pay?

In the following game the defender might have felt pleased that he was not over-run by enemy pieces, but he still had a game to win - or draw. By the time he had made any progress on that goal, it seems he might have tripped over his clock, in which case, White was quite happy to show how to secure the win, and it only cost Black a full point.


Eelco_Niermeijer - sobhandavoodi2
10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 Nf6 

Usually the counter-sacrifice at f2 is followed by an exchange of Queens, to reduce White's attacking chances, even if that means that Black is, in effect the one offering a gambit.

A few recent alternatives to the text:

8...Qh4+ 9.g3 Qf6+ 10.Qxf6+ Kxf6 (10...Nxf6 11.Nc3 (11.Rf1 Re8 12.d3 Ng4+ 13.Kf3 d6 14.Kg2+ Kg7 15.Bf4 c6 16.Nc3 Be6 17.h3 Nh6 18.Bxd6 Rad8 19.e5 Nf5 20.Rae1 h5 21.Ne4 h4 22.Bc7 Rd7 23.Nd6 Rf8 24.Nxf5+ Bxf5 25.Bd6 Re8 26.g4 Be6 27.Rf2 Bd5+ 28.Kh2 Bxa2 29.b3 b5 30.Ra1 Bxb3 31.cxb3 Kh6 32.Ra6 g5 33.Rxc6 Black resigned, alex836 - Greg11, 5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020) 11...Rf8 (11...d6 12.d4 Bg4 13.Bg5 Rhe8 14.Rae1 a5 15.Kg2 Ra6 16.Rhf1 Re6 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 Rac6 19.Bxf6 Bf5 20.g4 Bxc2 21.Bd8+ Ke8 22.Bxc7 Rxc7 23.Nd5 Rc5 24.Nf6+ Ke7 25.Re2 Bd3 26.Ng8+ Ke8 27.Nf6+ Ke7 28.Ng8+ Ke8 29.Nf6+ Ke7 drawn,  NN - NN, 1 0 lightning, 2020) 12.Kg2 d6 13.d3 b6 14.Bh6 Re8 15.Rhf1 Re6 16.Rf4 Kg8 17.Raf1 Nd7 18.Rf8+ Nxf8 19.Rxf8 checkmate, Eelco_Niermeijer - brewek, 2 1 blitz, Chess.com, 2020) 11.Kg2 (11.d4 d6 12.Nc3 Kg7 13.Nd5 Nh6 14.Nxc7 Rf8+ 15.Kg2 Rb8 16.Bf4 Rf7 17.Nd5 b6 18.Rhf1 Ba6 19.Bxh6+ Kxh6 20.Rxf7 Re8 21.Re1 Rc8 22.c3 Bb7 23.Rxb7 Black resigned, Packersuck - Aidar_Khusnutdinov, 5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020) 11...Nh6 12.Nc3 Rf8 13.d4 Kg7 14.Bxh6+ Kxh6 15.Raf1 Rxf1 16.Rxf1 b6 17.Nd5 Ba6 18.Rf2 Re8 19.Nxc7 Bb5 20.Nxe8 Black resigned, shubhxo - ilPerozzi, 5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020;

8...Nh6 9.Rf1 Rf8 10.Kg1+ Kg8 11.d4 Rxf1+ 12.Kxf1 Qf8+ 13.Kg1 Ng4 14.Qg3 d6 15.Be3 Bd7 16.c3 Bb5 17.Nd2 Re8 18.h3 Nf6 19.c4 Nxe4 20.Nxe4 Rxe4 21.cxb5 Qe7 22.Bd2 Re2 23.Re1 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 Qxe1+ 25.Bxe1 Kf7 26.Bf2 Ke6 27.a4 c6 28.bxc6 bxc6 29.b4 Kd5 30.Kf1 Kc4 31.b5 cxb5 32.axb5 Kxb5 33.Ke2 a5 34.Kd3 Kb4 35.Bg3 Kb5 36.Bxd6 a4 37.Bf8 h5 38.Ke4 Kc4 39.d5 Kb5 40.Ba3 Kc4 41.d6 Kb5 42.d7 Kc6 43.d8=Q Kb5 44.Qg5+ Kc4 45.Qxg6 Kb3 46.Qxh5 Black lost on time, milomallaby - Darkwarriorofthenite, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com 2020;

8...Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.e5 Ng4+ 11.Ke1 Nxe5 12.Rf1+ Kg7 13.d4 Nc6 14.Bg5 Re8+ 15.Kd2 Nxd4 16.Bf6+ Kg8 17.Bxd4 d6 18.Nc3 c5 19.Bf2 a6 20.Rae1 Bf5 21.h3 b5 22.g4 Be6 23.Ne4 Bxa2 24.Nf6+ Kf7 Black resigned, amazonriver17 - Nguyenxuanhieu47, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020. 

9.Rf1 Rf8 10.Kg1 Kg7 

Both Kings have castled-by-hand, a wise choice. White's edge is clear.

11.b3 d6 12.Qd4 c5 13.Qe3 Ng4 14.Rxf8 Qxf8 15.Qf3 Qxf3 16.gxf3 Ne5 

Perhaps Black was happy here, as he could hope for a transition to a drawn Bishops-of-opposite-colors ending. As the game goes on, the clock seems to make itself felt.

17.Bb2 Kg8 18.Kf2 Be6 19.Nc3 

Developing a piece, but leaving his pawn at f3 vulnerable.

19...c4 

Missing his chance for 19...Rf8.

20.Rg1 cxb3 21.axb3 Rc8 22.Ra1 a6 23.Ke3 Rf8 24.Rf1 Ng4+ 

25.Ke2 Nxh2 26.Rf2 Ng4 

It is unclear if Black was trying (mistakenly) for a repetition of moves here (if so: the clock) or if he just overlooked 26...Nxf3, since 27.Rxf3 would have been met by 27...Bg4.

In any event, White is happy to exchange places, as it were - he will now have the extra piece for a pawn, with more material to come. 

27.fxg4 Bxg4+ 28.Ke3 Re8 29.Nd5 Be6 30.Nf6+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: It Helps to Be Prepared

Opponents facing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) would do well to be prepared. Even if the opening is officially "refuted", any old response will not do. The following game is a good example of how things can quickly go bad for the defender.

The games in the notes provide additional proof that Black needs to be careful.

Eelco_Niermeijer - CatharWitch
2 1 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qxh8 

Here, Black resigned recently in Martynas-S - OkKidA, 5 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2020.

8...Qe7

Also seen, lately,

8...Qf6 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.Nc3 (10.d3 Ng4 11.f3 Ne5 12.Bf4 Nc6 13.c3 Bd7 14.d4 Bb6 15.Nd2 Re8 16.O-O-O Na5 17.d5 Kf6 18.b4 g5 19.Bg3 Be3 20.bxa5 h5 21.Rhe1 Bc5 22.Rf1 h4 23.Bf2 Ba4 24.Rde1 Ba3+ 25.Kb1 Ke5 26.Nc4+ Black resigned Nobody_WhtSoEvr - CASHDAVIS, 5 5 blitz, lichess.org, 2020) 10...Be6 11.a3 c6 12.O-O Rf8 13.b4 Bd4 14.Bb2 b5 15.d3 Kg8 16.Nd1 Bb6 17.Bxf6 Rxf6 18.Ne3 d5 19.exd5 cxd5 20.Rae1 Rf8 21.Nd1 Bg4 22.Nc3 d4 23.Nxb5 a5 24.Re4 Bd7 25.Nxd4 axb4 26.axb4 Kh8 27.c4 Ba4 28.Ne6 Rf6 29.c5 Bc6 30.Re3 White won on time, Atti0130 - Narsin, 5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020; 

8...d5 9.Qxh7+ Kf6 10.e5+ Kf5 11.O-O Kxe5 12.Qxg6 Bf5 13.Re1+ Kd4 14.c3+ Kd3 15.Qxf5+ Black resigned, HadesNoir - Ingerboi, 10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020;

8...Qg5 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.O-O Nh6 11.d4 Qg4 12.Qxh6+ Kg8 13.dxc5 Qxe4 14.Nc3 Qxc2 15.Be3 Qxb2 16.Bd4 Black resigned, gabrielebattaglia - FDACH00, 15 10, lichess.org, 2020;

8...Nf6 9.Qxd8 Black resigned, CasualGames4ever - Alanvarela10, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020 9...Nxe4 10.Qxc7+ Ke8 11.Qxh7 Nxf2 12.O-O Ng4+ 13.Kh1 Nf2+ 14.Rxf2 Bxf2 15.Qxg6+ Kd8 16.Qf6+ Ke8 17.Qxf2 Be6 18.Nc3 Rd8 19.d3 d5 20.Bg5 Rd6 21.Qxa7 Black resigned, akosimike - Dadlani_Harsh, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020; and

8... Qh4 9. O-O (9.d4 Qxe4+ [9...Bh3 10.Be3 Re8 11.dxc5 Nf6 12.Qxe8+ Kxe8 13.gxh3 Qxe4 14.Rg1 Qxc2 15.Nd2 dxc5 16.Rg5 b6 17.Rd1 Qxb2 18.Nf3 Qxa2 19.Re5+ Kf7 20.Ng5+ Kg7 21.Re7+ Kg8 22.Rd8+ Black resigned, penguingim1 - sutcunuri, .5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020] 10.Be3 Qxg2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Rf1 Bh3 13.Nd2 Nf6 14.Bh6+ Ke8 15.Qh8+ Kf7 16.Qg7+ Ke6 17.dxc5 Rg8 18.Qxg8+ Nxg8 19.Be3 Kf7 20.cxd6 Qc6 21.dxc7 Qxc7 22.Rg1 Bf5 23.c3 Qc4 24.Nxc4 Black resigned, penguingim1 - sutcunuri, .5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020) 9... Qxe4 (9...Nf6 10.Nc3 Bh3 11.Qxa8 Qg4 12.g3 Qf3 White resigned, flash_ahaaa - thefinalzugzwang, 2 1 blitz, lichess.org, 2020) 10.Nc3 Qf4 11.Nd5 Qg4 12.Qxh7+ Kf8 13.d3 Qg5 14.Bxg5 Black resigned, Jelks_Cabaniss - alessandrochiesa, 10 0 blitz, Chess.com 2020. 

9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxe7+ Kxe7 11.O-O Nf6 Black resigned

Interestingly enough, the same moves were played in youngrema - Stella-chan, lichess.org, 2020.

Jerome Gambit: It Is Easier To Attack Than Defend

The following game is a good example of how defense - especially defending against an attack on the King - is more difficult than attack. Black has ways for his King to escape punishment, but he is not able to find them, and the game ends as many gambits end, successfully for the attacker.

Ponce, Justin - NN
internet, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.Nc3 Nh6 

An interesting idea: attacking the Queen and leaving the f-file open for the Rook.

Recently, we have also seen 8...Qf6 9.d4 (9.Qh3 Qxf2+ 10.Kd1 Nf6 11.d3 Kc6 12.Bg5 d6 13.Qg3 Nfg4 14.Ne2 Qf7 15.d4 Nf2+ 16.Kd2 Nxe4+ 17.Kc1 Nxg3 18.hxg3 Qf2 19.Kd1 Bg4 20.Re1 Nc4 21.dxc5 Qd4+ 22.Kc1 Qxb2+ White resigned, noory - emranhamidm, FICS, 2020) 9...Qxf5 (9...Bxd4 10.Nb5+ Kc5 11.Nxd4 Kxd4 12.Be3+ Kc4 13.Qh5 Kb4 14.Qe2 Qc6 15.c3+ Ka4 16.b3+ Ka5 17.b4+ Ka4 18.Qd1+ Kb5 19.a4+ Kc4 20.Qd4+ Kb3 21.Rb1+ Kxa4 22.b5+ Qc4 23.Rb4+ Black resigned,  NN - NN, lichess.org, 2020) 10.dxc5+ Kxc5 11.Be3+ Kc6 12.exf5 Nf6 13.O-O-O d5 14.Bd4 Re8 15.f3 Bxf5 16.b4 a6 17.a4 b5 18.Rhe1 Nc4 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Nxd5 Re2 22.Rd4 Rxc2+ 23.Kd1 Rd2+ 24.Rxd2 Nxd2 25.Ne7+ Kd7 26.Nxf5 Nc4 27.axb5 axb5 28.Nd4 c6 29.Ke2 Nd6 30.Nb3 Ke6 31.Kd3 Kd5 32.Nd2 Nc4 33.Ne4 Ne5+ 34.Kc3 f5 35.Nf6+ Ke6 36.Nxh7 Ng6 37.Ng5+ Kf6 38.Nh3 Ke5 39.g3 f4 40.Nxf4 Nxf4 41.gxf4+ Kxf4 42.Kd4 Kf5 43.Kc5 Kf4 44.Kxc6 Kxf3 45.Kxb5 Kg4 46.Kc6 Kh3 47.b5 Kxh2 48.b6 Kg3 49.b7 Kg4 50.b8=Q Kf5 51.Qb5+ Ke4 52.Qd5+ Kf4 53.Kc5 Ke3 54.Qd4+ Kf3 55.Kd5 Kg3 56.Qc3+ Kf4 57.Qd3 Kg4 58.Kd4 Kf4 59.Qe4+ Kg5 60.Qe5+ Kg6 61.Ke4 Kf7 62.Qf5+ White won on time, penguingim1 - sutcunuri, lichess.org, 2020) 

9.Nb5+ Kc6 10.Qxe5 Kxb5 

Black can capture the Knight, but it would be safer to play something like 10...d6 or 10...Qe7.

11.a4+ Kc6 

Maybe now Black thinks he can get in ...d6, but it is too late for that. He needs another plan. He could have tried 11...Ka6 12.Qxc5 b6!? and his King can escape to b7.

12.Qd5+ Kb6 13.a5+ Kb5 

Again, Black would have helped himself more with 13...Ka6, this time answering 14.Qxc5 with 14...d5 (14...b6 is not as effective) 15.b4 Qd7 16.0-0 and White has an edge, although a checkmate isn't available.

However, after the text, it is.

14.c4+ Kb4 15.O-O 

Good enough.

You might want to work out the alternative: 15.b3 Qf6 16.Ba3+ Kxb3 17.Qd3+ Ka4 18.Bb2+ Kb4 19.Bc3+ Kb3 20.Bxf6+ Kb4 21.Qc3#. 

15...c6 

16.Qd3 Bxf2+ 17.Rxf2 d6 18.Qc3+ Kc5 19.d4 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: A Position Worth Examining

The position after the 15th move in the following game is worth a close examination. It is clear that White has gotten enough in return for his material sacrifices, but the compensation is not in terms of a loose or hanging piece that will soon be scooped up - it is in the unrelenting pressure on the Black King. But, does he have more than an even game?

Anonymous - Anonymous
5 5 blitz, lichess.org. 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Qe7 

10.Nc3 c6 

A recent alternative, also designed to keep White's Knight out of d5: 10...Nf6 11.O-O Kf7 12.d4 c6 13.f4 Re8 14.e5 Ng4 15.Qf3 Nh6 16.f5 Bxf5 17.g4 Nxg4 18.Qxg4 Kg8 19.Rxf5 dxe5 20.Bg5 Qe6 21.Re1 Rad8 22.Bxd8 Rxd8 23.dxe5 Rd2 24.h4 Rxc2 25.h5 Nf8 26.Rxf8+ Black resigned, odoaker2015 - Marienkaefer24h, lichess.org, 2020.

11.f4 a6 12.O-O Nf6 13.e5 

White is in a hurry, otherwise he could have gotten in 13.d4, first.

13...dxe5 14.fxe5 Nxe5 15.b3 Ned7 

This is a very interesting Jerome Gambit position. Black has an extra piece, White has an extra pawn. Black's King is unsafe, however, and there is the typical defensive flaw: his Knight blocks his Bishop, which, in turn, blocks in his Rook. White's development is much more effective.

What can the first player do? First, there is the decoy sacrifice, 16.Ba3!?. After 16...Qxa3 17.Rae1 g6 18.Ne4 Kg7 19.Nxf6 Nxf6 20.Rxf6!? Rf8 21.Rxf8 Qxf8 22.Qd4+ Kg8 23.Qc4+ Kg7 24.Qd4+White forces a draw by repetition.

If Black is unhappy with this outcome, he can play 17...Qc5, and, after 18.d4 Qh5, 19.Qe7+ Kg8 20.Rxf6!? gxf6 21.Re3 he will see that his opponent has full compensation for his sacrificed Bishop and Rook, and Black will have to sue for peace, himself, with 21...Qd1+ 22.Kf2 Qxc3+ 23.Kg1Qb1+ 24.Kf2 Qc2+, etc.

White could also try something a little less flashy, say 16.Ne4 Kf7 17.Bb2 Re8 18.Rae1, but after 18...Qxe4 19.Qxe4 Rxe4 20.Rxe4 his Rook and pawn would balance out Black's 2 Knights, for an even game.

All of which probably at least partially explains the move White chose, which may not have been as powerful, but was easy to understand.

16.Qf3 h6 17.a4 

The Bishop would like to go to a3, without sacrificing itself. The calm move seems to have misled Black.

17...Rg8 18.Ba3 c5 19.d4 

Hitting the pinned pawn at c5. As in the notes above, 19.Rae1 was quite powerful.

19...b6 

It is time to recall that this is a 5-minute blitz game.

20.a5 

Undermining the pinned c-pawn.

20...Rb8 21.axb6 Nxb6 22.Bxc5 Qxc5 23.dxc5 Nbd7

White's plan to win the Queen has succeeded.

24.b4 Rxb4 25.Qc6 Rb8 26.Qd6+ Kf7 27.c6 Kg6 28.cxd7 Bxd7 

29.Rxf6+ gxf6 30.Qxd7 

The rest is mopping up.

31...Rbd8 31.Qg4+ Kh7 32.Qf5+ Rg6 33.Rxa6 Rdg8 34.Ra7+ Kh8 35.g3 R8g7 36.Rxg7 Kxg7 37.Nd5 Rg5 38.Qd7+ Kg6 39.c4 h5 40.c5 Rxd5 41.Qxd5 f5 42.c6 Kg5 43.c7 h4 44.gxh4+ Kxh4 45.c8=Q f4 46.Qcg8 Black left the game

White has enough time to be sure he avoids stalemate.