In the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, play enters the very complicated and dangerous (for both players) historical "Nibs" variation. Only when Black overlooks a few things can White take control of the game, and take the full point. The notes only touch on a few of the difficulties.
For the origin story of the line, see "Repairing A Variation (Part 2)"
Boris - NN
2020
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+
Sometimes Black plays this move to weaken the White Kingside, before retreating his Queen to f6.
9.g3
9...Nf3+
Black's counter attack is very strong. I have had my own troubles with the line (see "Jerome Gambit: Against the Titans"), and my record of 16 - 3 is a bit misleading.
Stockfish 11 shows the tiniest preference (about 1/4 pawn) at 30 ply for this move over 9...Qf6.
10.Kd1
The first big decision. His Majesty enters A Dangerous Place.
The Database has 26 games with 10...Kd1; White scores 65%. The Database has 19 games with 10...Kf1; White scores 74%. (Don't bother with 10...Ke2. White has scored 1 - 9 - 1 - 14% - with the move, according to The Database. See "Jerome Gambit: Amusement".)
Both Komodo 10 and Stockfish 11 clearly favor 10.Kf1. How does that fit with the practical results reflected in The Database? As always, the player more comfortable and more familiar with Jerome Gambit positions tends to do better, despite "objective" measurements.
10...Ne7
Another developing move. For a long time I was convinced that this was the strongest continuation, although lately the computer engines have been pushing 10...Qh6 as even stronger. (The Database shows two games, with White scoring 50%).
White goes after the King. The computer engines suggest that he sigh deeply and give up on the idea of rescuing his Queen, settling for 11.Qxc5+ Kxc5 12.gxh4 with Black clearly for choice.
11...Kc6
The only move.
12.Qe4+ d5
Boris noted
Here my opponent was shocked, spent much time and lost his confidence - he was waiting for Qxf3 to execute a totally crushing move Bg4!!!, but he completely forgot the possibility of en-passant.
Black has only one move that keeps the advantage, and he doesn't find it.
13...Kxd6
Through the fog he had to see 13...Nd5 14.gxh4 Bg4, with the advantage, for example 15.c4 Ng5+ 16.Kc2 Nxe4 17.cxd5+ Kxd6 and White's extra pawns are too weak, while Black's development (and extra piece) likely give him a winning advantage.
14.gxh4 Bg4
The position still looks very scary for White, but he has a new response that keeps Black's advantage small.
15.f5 Nxh2+ 16.Ke1 Nf3+
Rescuing the Knight, with check, looks reasonable, but this is where the complications overwhelm Black. He needed to find 16...Nxf5 17.Rxh2 Rae8 18.d3 Rxe4+ 19.dxe4 Nd4 when his lead in development counts more than White's material advantage of the exchange.
17.Kf1 Bxf5 18.Qxf3 Rhf8 19.Ke1 Rae8
White's Queen is facing two Bishops, a Knight and two Rooks. Boris gives the proper perspective, though
Funny position - he seems to have two horrific discoveries, however there are no good attacks with the knight and lightsquared bishop, so I just smiled and made a room for my bishop, also taking e4 away from his bishop.
20.d3
If you are not chuckling at this move, you have not been paying attention. Boris has ice water in his veins.
20...h6
Stockfish 11 worries that Black has allowed the game to slip away. White's Queen-for-Knight material advantage is now the most important factor.
21.Nc3 a6 22.Bf4+ Kd7 23. Kd2 Kc8
Black's King is safe, but so is White's.
24.Rae1 Bb4 25.a3 Bxc3+ 26.bxc3 Rf6 27.Rhg1 Bg6
Boris effectively described the situation
Black has no useful move.
28...Kb8 29.Re3
Boris, again
At first I wanted to double rooks and win his knight, but now I realised that a rook-queen battery is better, because I can give up my bishop for his bishop with an invasion on the 7-th rank.
29...Kc8 30.Qe2 Rxf4 31.Rxe7 Black resigned
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