(This time I saw it)

Early last year I played a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) against Banassi (see "Platypus Perils and Follies"), and succeeded when my opponent lost his way in a complicated refutation line.

Although I won the game, I was so nervous at the time that I overlooked a checkmate-in-one along the way.

This time, I saw it.

perrypawnpusher - thinan

blitz FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

One of the many ways to defeat the Jerome Gambit, others being 6...g6, 6...Ng6 and 6...Kf8.

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+

Wow!

The simpler 8...Qf6 was an effective defense, as was 8...Qd8, or 8...Qd7 or even 8...Kc6. The text holds the promise of a Queen sac, however.

9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kd1

Now Black has 10...Ne7 11.e5+ Kc6 12.Qe4+ d5 13.exd6+ Nd5 14.gxh4 Bg4

analysis diagram







as in abhailey - peonconorejas, net-chess.com, 2008, which finished with 15.Qa4+ b5 16.Qa6+ Nb6 17.c4 Nd4+ 18.Ke1 Rhe8+ 19.Kf2 Nf5+ 20.Kf1 Bh3 checkmate.

analysis diagram







10...Qe7 

Taking the Queen out of danger, but allowing...

11.Qd5 checkmate

This was anticipated by CoachCrupp - jirikb, blitz FICS, 2008.

perrypawnpusher - Banassi, blitz FICS, 2009 continued: 11.e5+ Kc6 12.Qe4+ Kb6 13.Qxf3 d6 14.Nc3 Be6 15.Na4+ Kb5 16.Qxb7+ Bb6 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Qxa8 dxe5 19.a4+ Kc5 20.d3 exf4 21.b4+ Kd6 22.Bxf4+ Kd7 23.Qb7 Bg4+ 24.Kc1 Ke8 25.Qa8+ Kf7 26.Qd5+ Kf8 27.Qe4 Qxb4 28.Qxb4+ Black resigned.