Steady as she goes...

After early uneasy seas common to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) the following game settled down to a calm affair, evenly balanced and headed for the split point – until a squall upset Black's chances.

perrypawnpusher - Jore
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6

Here we have a common setup for this variation of the Jerome Gambit. Black has a piece for two pawns, but his King cannot castle and is currently in the middle of the board. Castling-by-hand is a natural short-term goal.

10.f4 Rf8 11.0-0 Kf7 12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Neg4

A recurring theme: Knight(s) harassing Queen.

In this situation 13...Nc6 was probably better.

14.Qf4

After the game Rybka recommended: 14.Qb3+ Ke8 15.h3 Nh6 16.Bxh6 gxh6 preventing Black's King from reaching safety and destroying the monarch's sanctuary.

14...Kg8 15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Nxe5

Black has gotten his King to safety, and now returns a piece for the two pawns, and active play. A more effective way to accomplish this was through 16...Bxf5.

17.Qxe5 Ng4 18.Qf4 Rxf5

19.Qc4+ Qd5 20.Qxd5+ Rxd5 21.Nc3 Rd8

22.Bf4 c6 23.Rad1 Bf5

24.h3 Bxc2

A mis-calculation. Retreating the Knight with 24...Nf6 kept the game even.

25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.hxg4 Rf8 27.Be3

27...Re8 28.Bxa7 Bd3 29.Rd1 Bg6 30.a3 b5 31.Rd6 Re1+ 32.Kf2 Black resigned