Jerome Gambit: Onboard Computer Malfunction

I really like the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). I have spent years learning about the opening and sharing that knowledge with Readers.

Still, I like to think that I have an objective view of the Jerome, one that would allow me to defend against it effectively.

Most of the time, that has been true. But not in the following game.

shachaf2 - perrypawnpusher

Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

Before this game I was 12 - 2 defending against the Jerome Gambit. Knowledge has to count for something.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qd5+

This is the first time facing this move, but I have played it, in perrypawnpusher - moush54, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 11).  

For reference on 8.Qd5+, see "Anatoly Karpov & Jerome Gambit (Part 8)" and "Jerome Gambit: Risking  the Gutter".  

 I have faced (but not played, and do not recommend) the Rook grab 8.Qxh8 in blackburne - perrypawnpusher, JG3 thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2008 (0-1, 17); F0nix - perrypawnpusher, Chess.com, 2021 (0-1, 13);  NN - perrypawnpusher, Chess.com, 2021 (0-1, 17); and REustace - perrypawnpusher, Chess.com, 2022 (0-1, 20).

8...Kg7 9.d4 Bb6 10.Nd2 

10...Nf6 11.Qg5 Bxd4 12.O-O h6 13.Qh4 d6 

Black has a piece for a pawn, with a safe King. He is clearly better.

I should have been comfortable with my position, but, for some reason, as John Houseman talks about in "The Paper Chase", I suddenly had a "skull full of mush".

14.Nf3 Be5 

This is a very sad move.

Simple was 14...Bb6. Aggressive and playable was 14...g5 15.Bxg5 (15.Qg3 Nxe4) 15...hxg5 16.Qxg5+ Kf7 17.Nxd4 Bh3 18.Nf5 Rag8.

15.Nxe5 Qxe5 16.Bf4 Qe6 

Playable was 16...Qxb2 but I was no longer in the mood for adventure.

Things on the board were still fine, but facing continued pressure, my human "onboard computer" was having troubles.

17.Qg3 Nh5 

My original thought was 17...Qg4 to exchange Queens, which was fine: 18.Qxg4 Bxg4 19.f3 Be6.

Of course, 17...Nxe4 was also playable.

The text, to win "the minor exchange", is okay, but I totally overlooked my opponent's response, and that disturbed me. 

18.Qc3+ Kg8 19.Bg3 Rh7 

20.e5 Nxg3 21.fxg3 Qxe5

Please exchange Queens, please.

Sad.

After the game Stockfish gave 21...dxe5 as more than two pieces better for Black. 

My opponent immediately grasped the difference

22.Rae1 Qxc3 23.Re8+ Kg7 24.Re7+ Draw

Nicely done, shachaf2.