Jerome Gambit: Should Be Over Quickly, Right?

Wandering the internet, I came upon a video of an interesting Jerome Gambit game. I recorded the moves.

The game was a clear case of crime as punishment.

With a very surprising (for me) move at the end.

PlanB31304 - theNimbus1729

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

The Jerome Gambit. A "refuted" opening.

Black appears to be rated almost 500 points higher.

Should be over quickly, right?

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 

Some humans (and computers) prefer the "nudge" 7.Qd5+ first.

7...d6 8.Qc4+ Kf8

It has to be said: sometimes ...d5 is the right move for Black, sometimes it is not. In this position, it is.

9.O-O Nf6 10.Nc3 Ne5 

Never miss an opportunity to threaten the enemy Queen - watchwords of many Jerome Gambit defenders.

11.Qe2 Nfg4 

Past World Champion Steinitz believed that if you have the advantage, you have not only a right to attack, but also a duty to attack, otherwise there is the risk of losing the advantage.

Maybe not quite in this manner, however.

12.d4 Qh4 13.Bf4 

White combines defense with development.

He also could have played 13.h3.

13...g5

All in.

Remember, this was a 3-minute blitz game, and often such naked agression is successful.

Not this time. Black's forces are driven back.

14.Bg3 Qh5 15.f3 Nf6 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Bxe5 Kg7 

Stepping into it.

18.Nd5 Rf8 19.Nxf6 Rxf6 20.Bxf6+ 

20...Kf7 

Looks like a finger slip for 20...Kxf6. 

21.e5 Bf5 22.Qc4+ Be6 

Checkmate now will come.

23.Qxc7+ Kg6 24.Qg7+ Kf5 25.g4+ Qxg4+ 26.fxg4+ Kxg4 27.Qxg5+ Kh3 28.Rf3+ 

At this point in the video, a Black Knight suddenly appeared on the g3 square, blocking the check!

28... place Black Knight at g3

Aha! This was a bughouse game!

From Wikipedia

Bughouse chess... is a popular chess variant played on two chessboards by four players in teams of two. Normal chess rules apply, except that captured pieces on one board are passed on to the teammate on the other board, who then has the option of putting these pieces on their board.

However, White still continued

29.Qxg3 checkmate