What an Idea

Gerald Abrahams wrote in his book, The Chess Mind, that the smallest unit in a chess game was not the move, but the idea. I've always believed that he was onto something, although I'm sure that he still divided ideas into good and bad ones, just as he divided moves into good and bad ones. After all, he once wrote

...and nobody in their right senses plays... Jerome's Gambit

perrypawnpusher - GiantReign

blitz FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6

The Two Knights Defense. No Jerome Gambit today, I guess. Unless... 

4.Nc3 h6 5.0-0 Bc5

6.Bxf7+

Ah, the Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit... But, do I really want that? As they say: be careful what you wish for, you just might get it!

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

8...Neg4

Fascinating.

Maybe I'm supposed to kick the Knight with h2-h3, while Black withdraws his Bishop to b6 and looks at the possibility of  h6-h5, opening the King's Rook file...? 

9.dxc5 Re8

I settled for just taking the Bishop. In turn, Black's move prepared for castling-by-hand. He also prepared an unfriendly retort to my see-able 13th move... 

10.h3 Ne5 11.f4 Nc6 12.e5 Nh7

Those frisky "Jerome pawns"! The game is about even.

13.Qd5+ Kf8 14.Bd2 d6 15.cxd6 Be6

After the game Rybka suggested a line that was stronger for Black then this move, but messier: 15...cxd6 16.Ne4 Qb6+ 17.Kh2 Be6 followed by 18.Qxd6+ Kg8 19.Qd3 Qxb2 20.Nd6 Rad8 21.Rab1 Qxa2 22.Rxb7 Re7 23.Rfb1 Qd5 with an even game. 

16.Qe4 cxd6

Probably an oversight: 16...Kg8 minimized White's edge. 

17.Qxh7

17...dxe5

Still hammering at the center pawns, but the game has taken a bad turn in any event.

18.fxe5+ Ke7 19.Qxg7+ Bf7 20.Qxf7 checkmate