Jerome Gambit: A Recent Silicon Defense

There is something silly about the following game, not at all unusual for a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

ILUVSACS - djh2075

2 1 bullet, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 

I have called this line the "Silicon Defense" or "Annoying Defense"- a relative of the "Sillycon Defense" - as it has been played by many computer programs, going back to Knight Stalker (an early version of Fritz) in 1993, and including Alaric, Alfil, Andscacs, AnMon,  Bison, Comet, Fritz, Hiarcs, Junior, Komodo, Shredder, Stockfish, and Talking LCD. The earliest human game that I have in The Database is D'Aumiller, A.D - A.P., Livorno, 1878 (1-0, 19).  

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ 

Main line play for White requires a lot of exercise by the Queen.

9...Kd6 10.Qd3+ Ke7 11.Qg3 Qd4 

Black does not appear to be amused.

12.d3 g6  

However, this is a slip, as the game shows. Accurate was 12...Ke8. 

13.c3 Qd6 14.b4 Bb6 15.Na3 Be6 

Stockfish 15.1 evaluates this position as even.

16.Nb5  

A little bit better was 16.Nc4 Bxc4 17.dxc4 c5, although the related 16.Bg5+ Ke8 17.Nc4 Bxc4 18.dxc4 c5 would also be interesting. 

16...Qd7 

Hoping to eject the Knight.

17.Bg5+ Ke8 18.Qxe5 

18...a6 

Missing something.

19.Nd4 Bxd4 20.cxd4 Qd6 21.Qxh8 

The end has a hurried feel.

21...Kd7 22.O-O Ne7 23.Qxa8 Black resigned