Return of the Negative Halo Effect in the Jerome Gambit

As I have pointed out before on this blog, when people notice a good trait in a person, they often assume other positives. However, with the Jerome Gambit often a negative halo effect occurs – if the early moves are bad, the defender reasons, many of the following ones must be bad, too. So - why waste time figuring out the Jerome Gambit?

The following game is a good example of this dilemma for Black.

perrypawnpusher - NN
Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament
Chess.com, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Bd6 

Black has two extra pieces. Why not give one back? How hard can the defense be?

8.Qf5+

8.d4  worked for White in  Philidor 1792 - Guest839182, PlayChess.com, 2014, (1-0, 16), but I prefer the text.

8...Ke7 9. fxe5 Bc5 

10.d4 Bb4+ 

The Bishop is not having a good day.

11.c3 Ba5 12.Bg5+ Nf6 13.exf6+ gxf6 14.Qxf6+ Ke8 15.Qxh8+ Black resigned

Black will lose his Queen and be checkmated: 15...Kf7 16.0–0+ Kg6 17.Bxd8 a6 (or just about anything else) 18.Qg8+ Kh6 19.Qg5 checkmate