Jerome Gambit: Not A Bad Move, But

In the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game the defender's move choices - not "bad" by themselves - add up to a quickly losing position and checkmate. 

angel_camina - Dino777mmm

1 1 bullet, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

Presented in the July 1874 Dubuque Chess Journal as "Jerome's Double Opening", likely referring to White's two piece sacrifices. 

7.Qxe5 Bd6 

Attacking White's Queen, which has to move again. It is not a bad move, but it does block the development of his other bishop. He would have done better moving his d-pawn one or two squares forward.

8.Qd4 Ne7 

Willy Hendriks wrote Move First, Think Later (2012), but I don't think this is what he had in mind.

Alas, in bullet chess it can sometimes look like move fast, think later.

9.e5 Nc6 10.Qf4+ Kg8 11.exd6 cxd6 12.O-O 

White has recovered his sacrificed material, with interest, and has the safer King. Black's d-pawns clog up his development.

12...h6 13.Nc3 Ne5 

Blocking the Queen's attack on the forward d-pawn, but this is easily dealt with.

14.d4 Ng6 15.Qxd6 Kh7 

Black has castled-by-hand.

16.f4 b6 17.f5 Ne7 18.f6

To open lines around the enemy King.

18...gxf6 

Better was 18...Ng6, but it would not save the game.

19.Rxf6 Rg8 20.Rxh6+ Kg7 21.Qf6 checkmate