Jerome Gambit: Questionable Innovation

In the following game, Black plays - or starts to play - a reliable defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), only to switch to attacking, wherupon his game falls apart.

Idusha2010 - Egor_Shtanko

30 0, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4... Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.f4 d6 

The "silicon" or "annoying" defense which calmly returns one of the two sacrificed pieces and leaves the Black King in his advanced post, often untouchable.

The Database has 362 games, with Black scoring 53%.

8.fxe5 Qf8

Black decides he can switch plans and pursue an attack on White's King. The Database has only one other game with this line - played about a month earlier.

9.Rf1 

Defending and attacking.

9...Qe7 

Responding too quickly.

Sadly, perhaps the best move was 9...Ne7 which gives up the Queen with 10.Rxf8.

10.Qf5 checkmate