Jerome Gambit: Stockfish vs Mittens (Part 2)

[continued from the previous post]

I would like to examine the recent Stockfish - Mittens bot Jerome Gambit game, played well above my own skill level; but, in my defense, I quote a relevant John Heywood from 1546:

A cat maie looke on a kyng.

So we shall be looking at a cat's King, as it were.

In effect, Stockfish, the higher rated chess engine, is giving Mittens "Jerome Gambit odds".

Stockfish  - Mittens bot

Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

I would be surprised (and delighted) if the Jerome Gambit were actually in Stockfish's opening moves "book".

It is more likely the position was set up, as part of the match.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4

At first, Alonzo Wheeler Jerome preferred 6.d4 in his games, but he later switched to 6.Qh5+.

Stockfish 16.1 (30) ply prefers 6.Qh5+ by about 1/4 pawn.

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 Re8 

11.O-O-O Ng6 12. Bg3 Qe7 13.f4 Kg8 

White has castled Queenside. Black has castled-by-hand.

The computer evaluates Black as about 2 1/2 pawns better.

The Database does not have much advice, here, as there is only one game that reaches this position - a 39-move draw.

14.f5 Ne5 15.Bh4 Qf7 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Rhf1 Bd7 

18.Nd5 Qg5+ 19.Kb1 c5 20.Qc3 Bb5 21.Rf4 Be2 22.Re1 Bc4 

Initiating skirmishes.

23.h4 Qd8 24.Ne3 b5 25.Rh1 Qf6 26.Qd2 Bf7 27.g4 Nc6 

28.Nd5 Qd4 29.Qxd4 Nxd4 30.Nc7 

White's Knight fork is a clear threat to gain material. Still, Black is better.

Now come pawn storms on both sides.

[to be continued]