A Strange, But Intriguing, Path (Part 2)

Let's continue to take a look at a strange variation of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf 7+) that we started with yesterday – see "A Strange, But Intriguing, Path (Part 1)"

blackburne - DREWBEAR

JG Tourney4, Chessworld, 2009

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6

This can't be good, can it?

6.f4

Inadequate is 6.Nc4 Qf6 (6...Qh4!? 7.Qe2 Nd4 8.Qd3 Nf6 [stronger than 8...Nxc2+ 9.Qxc2 Qxf2+ 10.Kd1 Qxg2 11.Re1 Qxh2] 9.Nc3 d5 10.exd5+ Kf7 11.Ne3 Re8 12.Ne2 Rxe3 13.dxe3 Bf5) 7.Qg4+ Ke7 8.0-0 h6 9.Nc3 d5 10.Nxd5+ Black resigned, jecree - larsgoran, FICS,  2008

Tricky is 6.d4, as the pawn is poisoned, provided that White responds to either 6...Nxd4 or 6...Bxd4 with 7.Qg4+ (7.Nf3 may draw).

After 6.d4 Nxe5 (6...Nf6 is best met by 7.Nf3 with an edge to White) 7.dxe5 d6 (7...Kxe5? 8.Qd5+ Kf6 9.Bg5+ Kg6 10.Qf5+ Kh5 11.g4 checkmate) 8.Nc3 Black has an edge. 

6...Nxe5

7.fxe5

This does not turn out well. Rybka actually recommends 7.d4 as best for White, although, as you might guess, Black has an advantage in all variations.

7...Qh4+

Here's the trouble.

8.Ke2

Worse was 8.g3 Qxe4+ 9.Qe2 Qxh1+ 10.Qf1 Qxf1+ 11.Kxf1 Kxe5 12.c3 Ke6 13.d4 Bd6 14.Nd2 b6 15.Ne4 Bb7 16.Ng5+ Kf6 17.Bd2 h6 18.Nh3 Rf8 19.Ke2 Re8+ 20.Kd3 Ne7 21.Rf1+ Kg6 22.Nf2 Rhf8 23.Be3 Nd5 24.Bd2 b5 25.g4 Rf3+ 26.Kc2 Ne3+ 27.Bxe3 Rexe3 28.h4 Re2+ 29.Kb3 Rfxf2 30.Rg1 Rxb2 checkmate, Superpippo - MrJaggers, FICS, 2002

8...Qxe4+ 9.Kf1 Nh6 10.Nc3 Rf8+ White Resigned