"I don't get it"

Part of the fun of preparing games for this blog is looking into them and uncovering the logic (or illogic) behind a plan or a series of moves by one player or the other. This can bring to light all kinds of "errors of thinking". It can also leave me scratching my head in wonder, murmuring "I don't get it." 

The following game features blackburne, the top over-the-board (not just online) Jerome Gambit player, and Haroldlee123, who scored two serious upsets in the Chess World Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament. 

blackburne - Haroldlee123
Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament
ChessWorld, 2011

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+

I found 68 games in The Database with this move. White scored 67%.

8.Kxf2 Nf6

Most often Black has played 8...Qf6+, when "At the cost of exchanging a won game for one in which he is a pawn down, Black has reached a Queenless middlegame that is not what every Jerome Gambiteer wishes for." (See "Short and Unbecoming")

9.Qf4 d6 10.Rf1 Kg7 11.d4 h6 12.Kg1

Both sides have castled-by-hand.Black's next move was played too quickly and gets him in immediate danger.

12...Rf8 13.Qxh6+ Kf7 14.Qg5 Kg7 15.Qh6+ Kf7 16.Qg5

The games in this tournament were played with a time limit of 5 days per move, but there was nothing to prevent opponents from playing faster if they ran into each other online. That's what seems to be going on here. White is repeating the position for what reason? I don't get it. (Perhaps: psychology.) Certainly 16.Bg5 would have kept the heat on.

16...c6

Black is avoiding repeating the position (by 16...Kf7) for what reason? I don't get it. He is down two pawns and should be thrilled with a draw. Instead, the text tosses a piece.

17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 Ke6 19.exf6 Rxf6 20.Rxf6+

The endgame, a piece and a pawn up, will be pleasant. White could have played sharper with 20.Re1+ Kg7 21.Qh4, but why bother? Remember, each player had 28 games to contend with.

After Black's response there are a number of checkmating lines available, and White chooses one.

20...Ke7 21.Rxg6+ Black resigned