Jerome Gambit: Tactics

The following game has some interesting tactics - those played and those missed. It might well have been decided by those imagined.

zzbaobao - givemeabreak
5 12 blitz, FICS, 2020

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

4....Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qc3

The Queen most often goes to e3, but White wants it to aim toward the enemy Kingside - the original intention of his 6th move. 

8...Nf6 9.d3 Re8 10.O-O Be6 11.Bg5 Qd7 

Unpinning the Knight, but also removing one of its defenders.

Jerome Gambiteers will also notice that the Queen move blocks in Black's light-squared Bishop, making it vulnerable to the thematic f2-f4-f5. As the game goes, it appears that this may not have been an oversight by the second player.

12.f4 Bg4 13.h3 Bxh3 

Tactics. Now, after 14.gxh3 Qxh3, Black would have an edge.

14.f5 Bxg2 15.fxg6+ 

The alternative, 15.Kxg2, was of about equal worth.

15...Kxg6 

Keeping his pawns intact? Komodo 10 prefers the fireworks. 15...Kg8 16.Rf4 Nh5 17.Rh4 h6 18.Be3 Bh3 19.Nd2 Bg4 20.Qb3+ Be6 21.Qc3 Nf6 22.Bxh6 gxh6 23.Qxf6 Rf8 24.Qd4 Qe7 25.Rh2 Qg7 and things are unclear, perhaps even.

Now, White sacs decisively.  

16.Rxf6+ Kxg5 17.Rf5+ 

17...Qxf5

Either a miscalculation, or a sense of panic. Still, 17...Kg6 18.Qd2 h6 19.Qxg2 would be good for White, as well.

18.exf5 Bc6 19.Qxg7+ Kxf5 20.Qxh7+ Ke6

With a Queen for a Rook, White is better, even undeveloped with a naked King.

21.Nc3 Rg8+ 22.Kf2 Rg2+ 23.Ke3 Rag8 24.Re1 R8g7 25.Kd4+ Kd7 26.Qf5+ Kd8 27.Qf8+ Kd7 28.Qe8 checkmate