Brawl

With the time control being a speedy 5 5, the following "Delayed Jerome Gambit" game was more of a brawl than anything like serious chess. I'm glad that I got the last clout in.

perrypawnpusher - Tlslevens
blitz 5 5, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 a6

Okay, this is not a "proper" Jerome Gambit, but there is always the possibility of a "Delayed Jerome Gambit," should my opponent choose.

4.0-0 Bc5

Other delayed Jerome Gambits arrived after 4...Bb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.Bxf7+ (perrypawnpusher - dabbling, blitz, FICS, 2009); and
4...h6 5.Nc3 Nf6 (5...Bc5 6.Bxf7+ perrypawnpusher - angelosgoulianos, blitz, FICS, 2007) 6.d3 Bc5 7.Bxf7+, perrypawnpusher - tschup, blitz, FICS, 2010.


5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke6

I've looked at this move in the regular Jerome Gambit, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6, in "A Strange, But Intriguing, Path (Part 1)", "(Part 2)" and "(Part 3)".

It's funny that in two subsequent games (perrypawnpusher - johnde, blitz, FICS, 2010 and perrypawnpusher - crayongod, blitz, FICS, 2010) I forgot my recommended continuation, 6.Qg4+!?.

It should come as no surprise that I forgot it in the current game in the Delayed Jerome Gambit, too...

7.Qh5

White gets the advantage with 7.Qg4+ Kxe5 8.d4+, whereas the text allows Black to keep his advantage – and transpose back into more "normal" Jerome Gambit lines. 

7...Nxe5 8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4

The position is similar to one from the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit, where Black has played 3...h6 instead of the 3...a6 in this game. Because the Black Bishop is still alive at c5, White has to make the less effective d-pawn move, instead of being able to play f2-f4.

9...Bxd4 10.Rd1 c5 11.c3 Nh6

Who invited him to the fight? Black chooses an "aggressive" move, when he should have stayed with the more purposeful 11...Kc7.

12.Qh3

White would have an edge after the complex 12.Bxh6 Rf8 13.Bg5 g6 14.cxd4 gxf5 15.dxe5+ Kxe5 16.Bxd8 Rxd8 instead. 

12...Kc6 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.Rxd4 d6

White has a pawn for his sacrificed piece, but Black's vulnerable King makes the game close to even.

15.Qc3+ Kd7 16.Bf4 Nhg4

This Knight can provide its support more effectively from f7.

17.h3 Nxf2

A wild sacrifice – but this kind of thing can be successful in fast games, where attacking is everything.

After the game Fritz8 recommended 17...Qf6 18.Bg3 Nh6 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Nd2 Qe7 when White is better.

18.Kxf2

Sloppy. Best was 18.Bxe5, as the Knight on f2 has nowhere safe to go. After 18...Qh4 19.Bg3 Nxh3+ 20.gxh3 White is up a piece and clearly better. 

18...Qh4+

Swinging wildly. The proper way to counter-attack was 18...Qf6 leading to a balanced game.

19.g3

Better 19.Bg3.

19...Qxh3 20.Bxe5 Rf8+ 21.Ke2

As smart as poking myself in the eye. Instead, 21.Bf4 kept White's advantage, while now Black has a forced checkmate.

21...Qg2+

Now Black is landing the punches, but he missed 21...Qf1+ 22.Ke3 Rf3+ 23.Kd2 Rf2+ 24.Ke3 Qe2 checkmate. We were moving quickly.

22.Kd3 Rf3+ 23.Kc4 Rxc3+ 24.Nxc3

White has only a Knight and a Rook for his Queen, and his King is in more danger than Black's. 

24...Qxb2 25.Rxd6+ Ke7

A blitz slip.

26.Nd5+ Kf7 27.Bxb2

Whew! Now I'm winning again.

27...Be6 28.Rf1+ Black resigned