Jerome Gambit: Un-Grandmaster Draw & The Mystery of Chess

Checking the internet, you can find

A grandmaster draw is a chess game where players agree to a draw after making little to no effort to win, usually within the first 20 moves.

I suspect that non-grandmasters can also have a "grandmaster draw", if they want to split the point quickly, for reasons of time, effort, or tournament position. 

The following game is a recent example.

pajeloi_skripach - polvorito

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit. 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Nc3 Qg5 8.Qf3+ Qf6 

8...Nf6 was a very reasonable alternative. In either case, Black is clearly better.

9.Qh5 Qg5 10.Qf3+ Qf6 11.Qh5 Qg5 12.Qf3+ Qf6 13.Qh5 Qg5 14.Qf3+ Qf6 15.Qh5 Qg5 Draw

What was that all about? It is clear that Black went along with White's plan, but what was White up to? Did White get cold feet after sacrificing two pieces?

Ah, the mystery of chess - and the Jerome Gambit.