Special Delivery from Russia

I have recently received a whole new selection of Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games from Philidor1792 (aka Филидор1792), whose earlier contributions (see "Where Do Ideas Come From?" Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) were good for a lot of new thinking.


This first game is a reminder to the defender of the old saying "Act in haste, repent at leisure."


Филидор1792 (1932) - Endeavornick (1934)
Internet online game, blitz, 2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 


The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.


5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4 

How much thought did Black put into this move?


Was he simply taking one piece away from the pawn fork?


Was he setting up a pin on the Knight on c3?


8.dxe5 Nxe4 9.Qd5+ Black resigned

My guess is that White's 9th move surprised Black, and hence the resignation. A more phlegmatic opponent might have hung around and seen if 9...Ke8 10.Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 d5 12.exd6 Qxd6 was worth some attention, as White's advantage would have been one doubled, isolated pawn; and a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame might develop.


On the other hand, maybe it was more fun to just set up the pieces again!