Every once in awhile, some beginner will play this. The only worse second moves for Black are 2... Ba3 and 2... Ke7. The refutation is to simply take the e-pawn. If Black suddenly starts playing like a grandmaster, the best he can hope for is 3. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 Qxe4 5. Be2 with a significant advantage to White. And if 3... fxe5 4. Qh5+ Ke7 5. Qxe5+ Kf7 6. Bc4+ d5 7. Bxd5+, etc. It's not a forced win if Black defends like a GM, but then GMs don't play moves like 2... f6, do they...? 
Damiano Defense
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Apr 24, 2008
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#2
Apr 24, 2008
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#3
Right on, Wildman. Poor Damiano. He said 2...f6? is a bad move, but has it named after him.
This is how it plays out if 3...fxe5 as Ye Olde Wildman described, which is probably going to be reponse most beginners have to Nxe5 because they lack the foresight to see the massive positional advantage sacrificing the knight here gives white.
It is a forced mate if you know what you are doing.
Since posting I did a little research and saw what followed:
6 h4!
and then 6... h5 or h6. Then things can get ugly: mate, massive loss of material, mortgage foreclosure . . . okay, that last one I made up but you get the idea. All in all, pretty ugly
Actually i think if black takes the knight it is a forced win.
damn, too slow. still, i have a movelist with a bit extra
Apr 24, 2008
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#8
Hey, KillaBeez! Thanks for working that out... Now I won't have to think at all the next time I encounter this thing... Actually, 6... d5 is really a much better defensive move than you're likely to see in practice by someone playing this. More likely is 6... Kg6 7. Qf5+ Kh6 8. d4+ g5 9. h4, etc., and Black dies a few moves sooner...
Hi BenetictXVI! I knew it was called the Damiano Defense, but I don't know who Damiano was. I agree it seems very unsporting to have named it after the guy who first analyzed it if that's who he was... 
Sounds like one of those "no good deed goes unpunished" sorts of things.
Does anyone ever use this opening or have they come across it in their games?