Missed Opportunity

Here is another example of the difficult line (for White) in the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit discussed in the last post (see "Updated"). 

I would like to call your attention to the position after Black's 31st move.

Skirving - PAMpamPAM
standard, FICS, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 8.f4 Neg4 9.0-0 Bb4 10.e5 d6 

Already seen was 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxh2 12.Kxh2 Nd5 in Philidor1792 - Computer, 2011, (0-1, 43)] 

11.h3 Re8 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.g4 Kg8 14.Qd3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 d5 16.f5 Ne4 17.g5 Nxg5 18.Qg3 Ne4 19.Qg2 Qf6 20.Bf4 c6 21.Be5 Qg5 22.Qxg5 Nxg5 23.f6 Bxh3 24.Rf4 g6 25.Kh2 Bf5 26.Rxf5 gxf5 27.Kg3 Nf7 28.Kf4 Nxe5 29.dxe5 Re6 30.Kxf5 Rae8 31.Rg1+ Kf7 

White is a Rook down. After a spite check, he resigns. Perhaps he was also short of time.

As everyone in the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde knows, from Blackburne to Wall, in order to win White has to fight, and fight - and fight some more.

32.Rg7+ Kf8 White resigned

Amazingly enough, instead, after 33.Rxh7, the game would be drawn, as White would threaten to move his King to g6 and deliver checkmate with Rh8. Of course, if Black replies 33...Kg8, White will check with 34.Rg7+ and look to repeat the position.

Perhaps White feared 33.Rxh7 Rxe5+, but after 34.Kg6 Black can only escape checkmate by returning a Rook with 34...Rg5+ 35.Kxg5, when White would have the better chances in the endgame (although Black might still draw).