A Jerome Look At The Semi-Italian Opening (Part 4)

The following game, from the ongoing Chess.com "Italian Opening" tournament, adds to the series of posts that started with "A Jerome Look At The Semi-Italian Opening (Part 1)".


diddan23 (1830) - Sirfixulot (1294)

"Italian Game", Chess.com, 2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening.


4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bc5

Possibly thinking of a transposition to the Scotch, but, as I've written elsewhere about White, Even the conservative player should be thinking "Jerrrrrrroooooommmmmme!"


6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxc5 

The Database shows White scoring 78% from this position (130 games).


8...Qe7 9.Qxe7+ Kxe7 10.Nxc6+ bxc6 

11.Nc3 Ba6 12.Be3 d6 13.0-0-0 Nf6 14.f3 Rab8 

Giving up a pawn for an attack, but not enough comes of it.


15.Bxa7 Rb7 16.Be3 Rhb8 17.b3 g5 18.h4 g4 19.Bxh6 gxf3 20.gxf3 Nh5 

Now Black's game goes all a-kilter.


21.Rhg1 Kf6 22.Rg4 Rb6 23.Rdg1 d5 24.exd5 cxd5 25.Nxd5+ Kf5 26.Nxb6 Rxb6 27.Rg5+ Kf4 28.Rxh5+ Kxf3 29.Rf5+ Ke4 30.Rf4+ Ke3

The game continues, but not for much longer.