Almost Irresistible

The Jerome Gambit often contains the opportunity for Black to kick the White Queen around, and such a thing is almost irresistible. In the following game, the "Jerome pawns" get a chance to become almost irresistible as well. 

perrypawnpusher - yuriko
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+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Re8 12.Bd2 Nb4

In the Jerome Gambit, some ideas are almost irresistible: Knight harasses Queen!

In our 2010 game, my opponent played 12...Kg8, and only after 13.Rae1 did he succumb to 13...Nb4, in perrypawnpusher - yuriko, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 31). Earlier this year he showed that he had learned his lesson, playing 13...Be6 in perrypawnpusher - yuriko, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1/2-1/2, 37).

13.Qc4+

I always like to remember that here Black resigned, in perrypawnpusher - susant, blitz, FICS, 2010

13...Kf8 14.Qxb4 b6 15.Rae1 Ba6 16.Rf2 Ng4 17.Rf3 Kg8

Yuriko certainly has the right idea: move #12 only gave back the "extra" piece. It is still time to attack and defend.

18.h3 Nf6 19.Nd5 c5

Still harassing the Queen.

It was probably better to chop some wood with 19...Nxd5 20.exd5 Rxe1+ 21.Bxe1 Qe7, thinking of the drawable Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame that might be reached, even a pawn down.

20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Qc3 Qg6

By not exchanging Queens, Black takes on additional risk. Opposite-color-Bishop middlegames favor the attacker. The Queen move makes g7 more vulnerable.

22.Rg3 Qh7 23.f5 Bb7 24.f6 g6

25.Qf3

After the game Rybka 3 suggested the clearance sacrifice 25.f7+ and after 25...Kxf7 26.Rf1+ Kg8 27.Qb3+. The same idea would work against 25...Qxf7.

25...Rf8 26.Bc3 Rae8 27.Qg4 g5 28.Rge3 Bc8 29.Qg3 Rf7

30.Qxd6 Qg6 31.e5 Kh7

The blockading 31...Be6, so natural in Bishops-of-opposite-colors positions, would have been stronger.
32.e6 Bxe6 33.Rxe6 Qxc2 34.Rxe8 Black resigned