Another Puzzler

As previously mentioned, the top scorer in the 2nd Jerome Gambit Race at Chess.com was RRustyy1, with a score of 6 wins and two losses, clearly ahead of oleppedersen and Jordi-I, each with 4 wins and 4 losses. Curious was one of the losses the leader experienced: take a look, as it is interesting to see what each player saw (and overlooked), and it is unclear what White observed at the end.

RRustyy1 - oleppedersen
2nd Jerome Gambit Race, Chess.com, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Nf6 

This apparently knee-jerk reaction will cost Black two pieces.

8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qe3 

10...Re8

It is interesting that here and in none of the games in The Database did Black snap off the e-pawn with 10...Nxe4. To protect against this move, Houdini 2 suggests an odd line of play instead of 10.Qe3 for White: 10.Qb5 a6 11.Qb3+ Be6 12.Qf3 Bg4 13.Qg3 h5 14.d3 h4 15.Qf2 h3 16.Nc3 Qe7 17.Bd2 c5 18.Rg1 Rae8 19.gxh3 Rxh3 20.Rg3 Rxg3 21.Qxg3 Qd7 22.Be3 Kg8 23.f5 b5 with advantage to the first player.

11.d3 b6  12.Nc3

Running similar risks with the Queen and King on the same file. Prudent was 12.0-0 Kg8 13.Qg3.

12...Kg8 

Finding safety for his King. Stronger was 12...d5, taking advantage of the pin on the White e-pawn.

13.Bd2 c5

There was still time for 13...d5 and an equal game.

14.0-0-0 

14...d5 

Still good.

15.Qf3 

Played too quickly, as Black shows.

15...Bg4 16.Qg3 Bxd1 17.Rxd1 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.dxe4 Rxe4 

White has a pawn for the exchange. The game is roughly equal.

20.Bc3 Qe7 21.Be5 Re8 22.Qf3 Ra4 

23.b3 White resigned.

It is difficult to explain White's sudden capitulation, unless he was upset over having missed 23.Qb3+, winning Black's Rook. In the game, even after 23...Rxa2, White would not be worse.