Counterplay!

Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be just plain fun: sacrifice a couple of pieces, create a crazy-mixed-up position, and confuse the opponent enough that he can be defeated.

But, what if your opponent fights back – hard?

That is what the following game is about, as we see Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Bill Wall overcoming some serious counterplay.

Wall,B - Letsplaychess
blitz 10 0, FICS, 2011
notes by Bill Wall [and Rick]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5

[Italian Four Knights Game]

5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Qe2

[I was always curious about the attraction of this move. The game continuation shows one reason to play it. - Rick]

6...d6 7.Qc4+ Be6? 8.Ng5+

[There's that pesky Ng5+ again! Letsplaychess has been officially identified as someone who does not read this blog, or he might have been forewarned. According to The Database, an FICS player named hinders pulled off this maneuver a half dozen times in 2000-2002. - Rick]

8...Kg6 9.Nxe6

[Black has returned the sacrificed piece, but he is not content to shiver and shake in the dark. Hinders had it easier. - Rick]

9...Bxf2+ 10.Kxf2 Ng4+ 11.Kg1 Qf6

Threatening ...Qf2 mate

12.Nd1 Na5 13.Qc3 Qxe6 14.Qxa5 Qc4

Threatening 15...Qe2

15.d3 Qxc2

Threatening 16...Qxc1+ 17.Qe1 Qxe1 mate

16.Qd2 Qc5+ 17.Nf2 Rhf8

Threatening 18...Qxf2+

18.Qg5+ Kf7

Threatening 20...Qxf2 mate

19.Qxg4 Kg8

Threatening 20...Qxf2 mate

20.Qe2 Rf7 21.Be3 Qb5 22.Qc2 c6 23.h4 Raf8 24.h5

24.Bxa7? b6 traps the Bishop

24...d5 25.h6 d4 26.hxg7 dxe3 27.gxf8Q+ Kxf8 28.Ng4 Qb6

Threatening 29...e2.

29.Qe2 Rg7 30.Rf1+ Kg8 31.Nh6+ Kh8 32.Rf8+ Black resigned