Wall's Wall

The tension in the following game comes from the advance of Bill Wall's wall of "Jerome pawns". His opponent's return of a piece was an interesting idea, but it turned out not to be enough.

Wall,B - Guesty1960624
Playchess.com, 2013

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

White is usually happy to see this move, as it means that he will be able to capture Black's pesky dark-square Bishop, freeing the "Jerome pawns" to advance.

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ N8e7 9.0-0 d6 10.Qc4 

10...Bd7 11.d4 Nc6 12.f4 Qf6 13.f5 Nge7 14.Be3 Rc8 15.Nc3 Qf7 16.Qd3 a6 

The game appears about even, although Black's King prevents his Rooks from communicating, and he may become ill at ease behind his Queen, if the f-file opens.

17.g4 h6 18.h4 Qf6 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5 Qf7 

Black's plan is to show that White's pawns have advanced too far, leaving the White King at risk. He is willing to return a piece to make his point.

21.f6 Qh5 22.fxe7+ Kxe7 23.Nd5+ Kd8 24.Kf2 Rf8+ 25.Ke1 Qh4+ 

This gives White's King a jump on his escape. Probably better was 25...Rxf1+ 26.Qxf1 Qh4+ 27.Kd2 Qxe4 with a messy, but balanced, game.

26.Kd2 Qh2+ 27.Kc3 Rh8 28.Rf7 g6 29.Qf1 Ke8 30.Qf6 Black resigned

Even giving up most of his army will not save Black from mate: 30...Qh7 31.Rf1 Bf5 32.Rxf5 Qxf7 33.Qxh8+ Kd7 34.Rxf7+ Ne7 35.Rxe7+ Kc6 36.Qxc8 b6 37.Qe8+ Kb7 38.Rxc7#