Deja Vu for Me (not U)

In this game it was nice to find myself with a familiar opening, a familiar arrangement of pieces – and a familiar "optical illusion" plaguing my opponent...

perrypawnpusher - Padalino
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6


The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Opening.

6.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4

8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Re8 12.Bd2 Kg8 13.Rae1

A typical position for this variation: Black has castled-by-hand while White's Rooks back up his "Jerome pawns". White does not have full compensation for his sacrificed piece.

13...Nb4

A typical blitz oversight for this kind of position: the temptation to "kick" the Queen is too much for Black, as has been seen in:

perrypawnpusher - amirelattar, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 50)
perrypawnpusher - Angstrem, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 35)
perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 32)

I am sure that under slower time controls, none of my opponents would have made this error.

14.Qc4+ Be6 15.Qxb4 b6 16.h3 Bf7 17.Qd4 a5 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5

Black is down a pawn, but the open e-file and unblocked a1-h8 diagonal offer a way to exchange the heavy pieces, after which the Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame has serious drawing potential. With this in mind, Black might now try 19...Qf6.

19...Qc8

Quickly highlighting the difference between a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame and a Bishops-of-opposite-colors middlegame:  the former is drawish, the latter gives the attacking side the advantage.

20.Bc3 Black resigned

It will cost Black a Rook to block the checkmate at g7, but White will have other mates available soon after 20...Re5 21.fxe5.