More Devastation

Here is another recent game by aymmd, featuring a variation in an opening line that looks good, but turns out to be significantly different than the original, much to Black's dismay. More devastation.

aymmd - LochChessMonster
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4

7...Nxe4

Black is up two pieces, and he finds a creative way to return one of them; but, as addressed in "Delayed Devastation", the strongest move here is 7...Bd6 (not 7...Bxd4). 

8.Nxe4 Bb4+

Other ideas: 8...d5 in HauntedKnight - astalaveesta, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 29); 8...Be7 in perrypawnpusher - sdockray, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28); 8...Qh4 in perrypawnpusher - kfollstad, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 24); 8...Bb6 in perrypawnpusher - BallsOfFire, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); while 8...Bxd4 seems best as in yorgos - josephjorkens, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 45).

9.c3 Qh4

Black plays va banque... This position is oddly like the one in "Beyond Gloom and Doom" only White has a Knight, not a pawn. at e4. The difference favors White.

Previously seen was 9...d5 in perrypawnpusher - richiehill, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 19); but 9...Re8 or 9...Nc6 are probably better choices.

10.Ng5+ Kg6

I suppose this move was inspired by Black's wish to keep the 8th rank open so that he could place his Rook aggressively. However, he would have done better to try 10...Ke8, e.g. 11.cxb4 h6 12.g3 Qg4 13.dxe5 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 hxg5 15.Bxg5 and White has a lesser advantage. 

11.dxe5 Be7

Black saves his Bishop and attacks White's Knight a third time – but the house falls in on him.

12.Qc2+ Kh6 13.Nf3+ Kh5 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.Qf5+ g5 16.g4+ Kh6 17.Qf6 checkmate