Smooth Sailing

I received another interesting game from Dave Black, who commented on how "Sometimes games just seem to flow. In this game i just seemed to make natural moves, looking to stay as active 
as I could and that was enough."


It is hard to argue with him: smooth sailing.


mrddblack - ammagamma


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening.


4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+


The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.


5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ng6 8.Qd5+ Ke7 

I was amazed to see that in over 3,700 Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit games in The Database, this was the first with 8...Ke7.


The move itself is not "bad", but it might indicate a casual approach to defense, depending on what Black's plans are. As the game goes, the second player wants to castle-by-hand, and his King is not slowed by the text (in comparison with the more often played 8...Ke8).


Now Black secures his King while White mobilizes his "Jerome pawns".


9.Qxc5+ d6 10.Qe3 Nf6 11.f4 Rf8 12.Nc3 Kf7 13.f5 Ne5 14.d4 Nc4 15.Qd3 Nb6 

The position is about equal. I doubt that Dave used much time in reaching it, it is so "Jerome-ish".


16.Bf4 Nh5 17.Ne2 Nxf4 18.Nxf4 Bd7 19.Rae1 Kg8 

20.Ng6 Rf7 21.e5 dxe5 22.dxe5 Qg5 

Black reaches for more, but obtains less. He was counting on the threat to g2, but overlooked that White will have a move with an attention-demanding check. 


23.e6 Bc6 24.exf7+ 


The proof that ...Bc6 should have come a move earlier.


24...Kxf7 25.Qg3 Qxg3 26.hxg3 

White is up the exchange, plus two annoying "Jerome pawns."


26...Nd5 27.Ne5+ Kf6 28.Nxc6 bxc6 29.Re6+ Kg5 

Black avoids the long, uphill struggle that would come after 29...Kf7 30.Rxc6 by falling into a mating net.


30.Rg6+ Kh5 31.Kf2 Rf8 32.Rh1 checkmate