Rampaging

Black's 3...h6 in the Semi-Italian Opening suggests a wish for a calm, safe game. In reply, in the following game, White, instead, goes on a rampage, playing the Jerome Gambit with wild abandon. Is it sound? Perhaps not. Did it win? Yes, quickly.


Manishsprasad  - TimJonez
standard game, FICS, 2010

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

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

Despite my preference for 4.0-0, I noticed that the New Year's Database has twice as many 4.Nc3 games.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ke6 8.Qf5+ Kd6

This position is similar to one from the main line classical Jerome Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6. White's extra move, Nc3, seems more helpful to him in the current game than Black's extra move, ...h6.

9.Nb5+ Kc6 10.d4

Forking two pieces and opening lines. White gets away with it this time, but perhaps next time he might try the less flashy 10.Qxe5.

10...Kxb5

In the games of the old Masters we see many an opponent grab the offered material, only to regret it soon after. Here, 10...d6, protecting the attacked pieces and counter-attacking the Queen, was the proper defense. But, where's the fun in that?

11.Qxe5 d6 12.Qd5 Ne7

Visceral chess. Get that Queen out of here!

Is there a defense for Black, however?

Rybka suggests 12...a5 giving the King some breathing room, and after 13.dxc5 it likes 13...Nf6. At that point White has to retreat his Queen with 14.Qd3+ Kc6 (14...Kxc5 allows a draw by repetition after 15.Be3+; other moves lose) and after a flurry of tactics the computer sees Black as slightly better with a Knight for four pawns: 15.a4 b6 16.cxb6 Ba6 17.bxc7Qxc7 18.Qc3+ Kd7 19.Qxc7+ Kxc7 20.f3 Rhe8

13.a4+ Ka6 14.Qc4+ b5 15.Qxb5 checkmate