Return of an Old Friend

When it comes to a happy-to-see-it defense from Black when White offers the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) there's nothing quite like the "Optical Illusion variation": a little bit of the "Halo Effect" and a whole lot of the "Disdainful Defender Defense".

You are always welcome, old friend!


perrypawnpusher - recreation
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

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

Last year my opponent played the equally fine 6...Kf8 in perrypawnpusher - recreation, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 13).

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6

A very sound and practical move.

9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 Nf6 11.d3 Rf8

The moves have been flying quickly, as Black first held onto his extra material with 6...Ke6; then brought out a strong defender with 8...Qf6, threatening to diffuse the attack with the exchange of Queens; then hammered at White's e-pawn with 10...Nf6; and finally with 11...Rf8 lined up heavy artillery on the f-file with White's Queen. Take that, you impudent Jerome Gambiteer!

This is all well and good – unless Black has temporarily, momentarily and inexplicably, but unquestionably and unfortunately, overlooked something.

12.Bf4

Black resigned

(I am sure that if we were playing a standard game, and not blitz, that he would have ripped my lungs out...)