Jerome Gambit: Rapid Wandering Queen

One criticism of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is that White's Queen is developed too early and moved too often. Time and again, though, White keeps things together and succeeds.

The following 1-minute bullet game is a radical example. White's Queen wanders - but gets back into play in time to help checkmate the enemy King.

Impressive.

angelcamina - Baronvontotterkind

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 Nf6 9.Nc3 d6 10.Qb5+ 

White's Queen embarks on an adventure...

10...c6 11.Qb3 Qe7 12.d3 Be6 13.Qa3 b5 14.O-O a5 15.b4 a4 

White's Queen is temporarily out of play. On the other hand, Black has spent time with his pawn moves. Who benefits? Black continues to have his piece-for-two-pawns advantage. 

16.f4 Bf7 17.Bd2 Rf8 18.Rae1 Kd7 

19.Qb2 a3 20.Qa1 Rab8 21.Ne2 22.Ng3 d5 

Even with White's Queen offside, opening up the center (where his King is) does not look like a good idea. Additionally, White can advance his e-pawn instead of exchanging it, bringing more problems to his opponent.

23.exd5 Qd6 24.dxc6+ Qxc6 25.Nf5 Qxc2 

Now it is Black's Queen that goes wandering. It is not immediately dangerous, but it allows White's Queen to finally return to the game.

26.Qd4+ Kc7 

A slip in a complicated position - as time runs down.

Stockfish 14.1 shows exchanging to an even endgame: 26...Bd5 27.Rf2 Rfc8 28.g4 Ra6 29.g5 Qb2 30.gxf6 Qxd4 31.Nxd4 gxf6 32.Be3 Nh4 33.Kf1 Ra4 34.Rb1 Re8 35.Bc1 Rc8 36.Nxb5 Rxb4 37.Rxb4 Rxc1+ 38.Ke2 Rc2+ 39.Ke1 Ng2+ 40.Rxg2 Rxg2 41.Rd4 Kc6 42.Nc3. Not so easy. 

27.Rc1 Qxc1 28.Rxc1+ Kb7 29.Nd6+ Ka6 30.Rc6 checkmate