Crash and Burn

If a chess game were a rocket, then the opening moves would be the first stage of the vehicle, designed to boost further stages and the payload into orbit. In the following game the Jerome Gambit does its duty and propels the game to equality. Shortly afterward, though, everything crashes and burns...

perrypawnpusher - roccovargas
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Game.

6.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Kg8

I was surprised to see that this move was not in The Database.

8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.d3 Bg4

The two Black Bishops remind me of the game Lowe-Parker, correspondence, 1879 as well as two of my contests against MRBarupal.

10.Qe1 Bb4 11.f4 Kh7

Black has castled-by-hand. White's "Jerome pawns" are sufficiently robust as to suggest an even game.

But that "problem" can be "fixed".

12.h3 Bd7 13.g4 Rf8 14.g5 hxg5 15.fxg5

White is "attacking", but the problem is similar to several previous debacles (see "Slaughter") where I left my King insufficiently guarded.

15...Nh5 16.Rxf8 Qxf8 17.Qh4

Still "attacking". Combine this with criminal neglect of defense, and my game falls apart quickly.

17...g6

More painful would have been 17...Bc5+, which my opponent and I both overlooked.

18.Be3 Qf3 19.Qf2 Qxf2+ 20.Kxf2 Bxh3 21.Rh1 Rf8+ 22.Ke2 Ng3+ White resigned