Jerome Gambit: Dealing With the Annoying

The opening line in the computer vs computer Jerome Gambit game, Stockfish 15 - Lela, 2022 (0-1, 69) mentioned in the previous post has an interesting history.

The line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 can appropriately be seen as the "silicon" or "annoying" defense.

The earliest game example with this position in The Database is D'Aumiller, A. - A.P., Livorno, 1878 (1-0, 19). Alonzo Wheeler Jerome played two uncompleted correspondence games against S.A. Charles in 1881, and defeated J.K. Zimmerman in a correspondence game the same year.

However, I started referring to the line as the "silicon" defense because computer chess engines have an affinity for it, including Alaric, Alfil, Bison, Comet, Critter, Demon, GriffyJr/Sr, Hiarcs, Junior, Knight Stalker, La Dame Blanche, Lc0, Talking LCD, Fritz, Rybka, Shredder, Spike and Zarkov. I am sure there are others.

It is also known as the "annoying" defense - because it is. (I recall MrJoker's concerns expressed in "Jerome Gambit: Time For A Sobering Cup of Coffee" a few years ago.)

The Database has 370 games with the defense, with White scoring 46%.

It dawned on me that, from the point of view of The Database, Stockfish 15 - Lela, 2022 featured the highest rated individual (human or computer) playing the Jerome Gambit against the highest rated defender. What was there to learn from such an encounter?

The continuation 8.fxe5 dxe5 seems clear, followed by 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Kf7 11.Qxe5 - White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece, and nervous players might have already veered off and settled for a draw by repetition.

The further, 11...Qh4+ 12.g3 Qe7 13.Qh5+ g6 14.Qe2, looks like the kind of position that computers like to grind; in the game, 69 moves.

I have only one human vs human game with this position, and it is neither exciting nor encouraging - Wall,B - Guest3551214, playchess.com, 2013.

Certainly, I have to do more work here.

Is it helpful to consider going back to the original games for ideas? D'Aumiller tried 8.d4!?, instead of capturing the Knight. Jerome tried 8.Qh3!?+ and 8.f5+!? in his games with Charles, and 8.f5+!? in his game with Zimmerman.

Or, is it necessary to postpone f2-f4 until after 7.Qf5+ Kd6, according to traditional thinking?

Also, what about Yury V. Bukayev's modern 7.Qh3+ Ke7 8.Qc3 Bd6 9.f4 ? (For a lot to think about, review "JG: The New in Its Opening Theory, in Its Psychology [Parts 1, 2, 3, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11]"  and"Jerome Gambit: Analysis Leads the Way [Parts 1 & 2]" )