Jerome Gambit: Bad Moves

Some commentators have suggested that Emanuel Lasker would purposely play "bad" moves in order to upset his opponents, making it easier for him to win a game. As someone who plays the Jerome Gambit, I guess I understand that argument.

It is also possible that Lasker won because he understood, better than his opponents, the positions that he played, both "bad" and "good".

The following game has several times when I can not understand what was going on - only that Bill understood the positions better than his opponent, and that was enough to fashion a win. 

Wall, Bill - Guest4919498
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Qd2 

Okay, I don't get it. I would suggest "mouse slip", but Bill has played the move before. Given that there's about a 500 rating point difference between him and me, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt and continue to try to figure it out.

8...Nf6  

Bill has also faced 8...Be6 9.O-O Nf6, in Wall,B - Guest477, ICC, 2017, (1-0, 25). 

9.Nc3 c6 10.f4 Ng6 11.O-O 

Bill has suggested that here, and the next few moves, he could have played Qd3. This re-positioning suggests that 8.Qd2 might have been a search for novelty, as he had seen the position after 7...d6 in over 70 games.

11...Re8 12.Re1 b5

When you have the advantage, you are obliged to attack, said Wilhelm Steinitz.

So, once again, the Jerome Gambiteer tests the attacking prowess of the defender.

13.a3 Qb6+ 14.Kh1 Ng4 15.h3 Nf2+ 

16.Kh2 d5 17.exd5 

17...Rxe1

Bill points out that 17...Bf5 was stronger.

18.Qxe1 Bd7 

Stockfish 8 gives a mind-numbing, attacking, alternative: 18...Bxh3!? 19.Kg3!? Nd3 (the piece was lost, any way) 20.cxd3 Bf5 21.Qe3 Qd8 22.Kh2!? cxd5 23.Nxb5 Bd7 24.f5 Kg8!? 25.Kg1!? Nh4 26.Nd4 Qf6 27.Bd2 Re8 28.Qf2 Nxf5 29.Bc3 Qg6 30.Nf3 Bb5 31.a4 Ba6 32.Ne5 Qb6 33.d4 Qf6 34.b4 with an even position. Um, sure.

19.Be3 Ng4+ 

Black has to give up his advanced Knight, but at least gets to dent White's pawn structure.

20.hxg4 Qc7 21.Kg3 

The King has to help out on defense.

21...Qd8 

Eyeing h4.

22.Qh1 Qe7 23.Re1 Qf6 

Now Black's game crashes. He had better chances of survival after 23...Kg8 24.dxc6 Bxc6 25.f5 Qe5+ 26.Kh3 Nf4+ 27.Bxf4 Qxf4 but White would still have the advantage.

24.Ne4 Qd8 25.Ng5+ Kf6 26.Bd4+ Black resigned

Black faces checkmate, the quickest of which is 26...Ne5 27.Rxe5 Bxg4 28.Re6+ Kf5 29.Qxh7+ g6 30.Qxg6 checkmate. Ouch!