Jerome Gambit: Old Friends

The following game has a line of play that brings together "old friends" along the way to White's victory.

Wall, Bill - Guest901255
PlayChess.com, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian opening. Black wants to keep a knight off of g5, even at the cost of a tempo and the possible weakening of his Kingside.

4.O-O Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+ 

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. (Welcome, Knights.)

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 

I think I have been in this position almost 20 times. More to the point, Bill has been here several times as well.

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Rf8 12.Bd2 Kg8 13.Rae1 Bd7 14.Rf3 

"Jerome pawns"? Check.
Backed by White's two Rooks? Check.
Black castles-by-hand? Check.

14...Nb4

Impetuous attack on the White Queen? Check. (Oh, how we have missed you.)

15.Qc4+ d5 16.Qxb4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 

White is a pawn ahead. The opposite-colored Bishops hint at a possible drawn endgame - but in the current middle game they will benefit the attacker.

18...Bc6 19.Qe6+ Kh8 20.Rd3 Qf6 21.Qxf6 Rxf6 22.Re7

22...Rc8

Black does not want to give up another pawn, but this move allows White to put deadly pressure on g7.

23.Rg3 Bd5 24.Rgxg7 Be4 25.Bc3 Black resigned