Not So Much With A Bang As With A Whimper

I've been enjoying sharing some games by aymmd, who plays online at FICS and whose games began to show up in The Database in the fall of 2010. Until recently, he has only been represented on this blog by one unfortunate loss (see "Challenges"). Today's game does not end in devastation (see "Delayed Devastation" and "More Devastation") but in the quiet acceptance of defeat by Black.

aymmd - rtglass
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Bxf7+

A Delayed Jerome Gambit, although, after 5...Kxf7, the game will have transposed into a "modern" variation, i.e. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6.

5...Kf8

Black does not want to give his opponent the opportunity to play his prepared lines.

6.Nxe5

Temporarily complicating things. Instead, there is the straight-forward 6.Bb3 d5 as in HauntedKnight - bozidaranas, blitz, FICS 2010 (1-0, 13); or  6.Bb3 Ng4 as in jfhumphrey - Dpouchy, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49).

Note that if Black responds to 6.Bb3 with 6...Nxe4 then White has 7.Nc3!? with a kind of Boden Kieseritzky Gambit!

6...Nxe5 7.Bb3

Despite Black's extra piece (for two pawns), White is better.

7...d6 8.d4 Nxe4

Black chooses to return the sacrificed piece, but, in this case 8...Bxd4 was the right move, even thought it would still leave White better.

9.dxc5

Either piece was available for capture. 9.dxe5 might have been a bit stronger.

9...Qh4

Black looks at his lead in development, White's undeveloped Queenside and unprotected Kingside, and thinks: attack.

His move seems to be an all-around attacking strike, but it worsens his situation. Rybka suggest that Black settle down with 9...Nxc5, followed perhaps by 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.Bf4 Qe7 (or 11...Nxb3 12.axb3) 12.Bxe5 dxe5 13.Nd5 Qd7 14.Bc4 c6 15.Ne3 Qxd1 when White's advantage is not too large.

10.Nc3 Nxc3

This is not "settling down" (even if it does compromise the pawns on White's Queenside).

11.bxc3 Qf6 12.cxd6 cxd6 13.Ba3 Nf7 14.c4 Be6 Black resigned

At first Black's decision may come as a surprise, as he is not being crushed. Yet, after 15.Bxd6+ Nxd6 16.Qxd6+ he will be down a couple of pawns; and a sharper move like 15.c5!?, while not winning a pawn for White, might be even more troublesome (note the Rook trapped at h8).