Jerome Gambit: Straying From the Right Move, Good and Bad

When I play the Jerome Gambit, I struggle to play the "right" move all the time. I have largely exhausted my creativity at moves 4, 5 and 6. From there, on, it's a question of survivial.

Some players have a different approach - they explore alternatives, within reason but with the idea of exploration for its own sake.

An example is the following game. The attacker strays and creates; the defender strays and does not survive.

Wall, Bill - Guest1061862
PlayChess.com, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.Qc3

Black's idea is to play ...Nf3+ and capture White's Queen, if it is unprotected, so that is White's primary concern - how to react to that threat. 

Is there a "best" move here? I am not sure. In this position Bill has also tried 8.Qc5, 8.Qe3, 8.Be3, 8.Qd2 and 8.Nd2 - all successfully.

8...d6 9.Qxc7+ Ne7 10.O-O Rf8 

Black prepares to castle-by-hand. This is a very good idea. His main concern should not be losing a pawn or two, but protecting himself against the dangers along the 7th rank and f-file. 

11.f4 Ng4 

Worrying about the wrong piece. Black could confidently play, instead, 11...Kg8 when White's annoying f-pawn is suddenly pinned (12.fxe5? Qxf1 checkmate), giving the defender time to retreat his Knight to c6. 

12.e5 dxe5 

Going along with White's plan. It was time for Black to safeguard his King and return a piece: 12...Qh4 13.h3 Kg8 14.hxg4 Bxg4, and the game is about equal. Instead, he gives up his Queen.

13.fxe5 Qxf1+ 14.Kxf1 Kg6+ 15.Kg1 Re8 

Black has a piece and a Rook for his Queen. (He is also down a couple of pawns.)  

16.h3 Nh6 17.Qd6+ Kf7 18.Bxh6 Black resigned

Black can see far enough - 18...gxh6 19.Qf6+ Kg7 20.e6 - to know that he will have to surrender another piece (20...Rf8 21.Qxe7 or 20...Bxe6 21.Qxe6), and there is no future in this game.