Revisiting a Strange, But Intriguing Path

The following miniature is a gift from Jerome Gambiteer shugart, of FICS, who has almost 100 games in The Database. I think his opponent tried to fool him with a tricky 5th move, but the joke was on Black when he missed a critical defense.

shugart - miatero
blitz, FICS, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6

There were 10 games with this position in the forerunner of The Database in early 2010 when I looked at "A Strange, But Intriguing Path (Parts 1, 2 & 3)". The Database now has 23 games and White's scoring has increased to 63%.

This game should boost that percentage for those who follow in shugart's footsteps.

6.Qg4+ Kxe5

Five years ago I wrote 

If White is going to have a chance in this variation, he must sacrifice the second piece [with 6.Qg4+]. If Black then wishes to play on, he must accept the piece.
If 6.Qg4+ Kf6, then 7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qf7+ Kd6 9.Nc4 checkmate.
If 6.Qg4+ Kd6 7.Nf7+ wins.
If 6.Qg4+ Ke7 7.Qxg7+ Kd6 8.Nf7+ wins.

7.d4+ Kxd4

Black's King takes one bite too much. The necessary capture was 7...Bxd4, after which White can win Black's Queen, i.e. 8.Bf4+ Kf6 9.Bg5+ Kf7 10.Bxd8. The resulting Queen vs three pieces middle game is interesting, but probably favors White, e.g. 10...Nxd8 11.Qg3 d6 (or 11...Nf6 12.Nc3 d6 13.O-O-O Nc6) 12. Nc3 Nf6 13. O-O-O Nc6. There are currently no games with 7...Bxd4 in The Database.

8.Be3+ Kc4 9.Qe2+ Kb4 10.Bd2+ Ka4 11.b3 checkmate