Delayed Devastation

The following game is one of several where White, aymmd, has played a delayed Jerome Gambit. The slight difference in move order seems to have caught his opponent off-guard, allowing him to choose a second-best defense that, in other circumstances, would have been the best... The misunderstanding grows, and then suddenly: devastation.

aymmd - Gremar
standard, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7

This "delayed Jerome Gambit" can also be reached by the "modern" path of 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6

6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6

The best reaction to White's pawn fork here is 7...Bxd4, keeping Black's advantage.

In contrast, in lines where White already has a Knight on c3 (see "Quick Reaction" and "Even is Only Half-Way There"), the text is the best reaction.

Black's mixing of the two lines allows White to equalize.

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4

If Black now gives back a second piece with 9...Bd6, the game is even, e.g. 10.e5 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 and either the Black Knight or the Black Bishop will fall to White's Queen.

Instead, Black fashions a defense that on the surface looks sufficient, and gives him play against White's soon-to-be-isolated e-pawn.

9...Re8 10.fxe5 Rxe5

Black's idea is to doubly attack the pawn at e4, after he has castled-by-hand to remove the pin on his Knight.

11.Nc3 Kg8 12.Bf4

White maintains the initiative, however, and it is remarkable how fast Black's situation deteriorates.

12...Re8 13.e5 Rf8

Sadly, the second player must give up a third piece.

14.exf6 Rxf6 15.Nd5

Black is not allowed time to catch his breath.

15...Rf7 16.Bxc7 Rxf1+

This gives White his choice of checkmates, but there was no easy (or difficult) way out.

17.Qxf1 Qg5

18.Qc4 Kh8 19.Rf1 h5 20.Rf8+ Kh7 21.Qe4+ g6 22.Bd8 Qc1+ 23.Rf1 Qxb2 24.Nf6+ Kg7 25.Qe7+ Kh6 26.Ng8 checkmate