Jerome Gambit: Folie a Deux (Part 2)

[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - Sp1derR1c0
Italian Game Classic, Chess.com, 2020

12...Nc4 

Of course. (I write that now, but the move came as a surprise.) White's Bishop is unprotected, and it's capture would lead to a brutal fork. At the same time, the b-pawn is available for capture.

13.Bd4 

After the game, Komodo 10 suggested 13.Qc1, to protect the Bishop and the pawn. Assessing 13...Nxe3 14.Qxe3, Black would have exchanged a piece that had moved 4 times for one that had moved once. On the other hand, White's Queen would be pulled onto the same file as Black's Rook, with a possible ...d5 coming.

The text move avoids the Knight-for-Bishop exchange, while threatening Bxf6 - as if the piece had moved to g5 in the first place (but taking an extra move).

13...a6 

After the game, Komodo 10 recommended 13...Nxb2 14.Qb1 Nc4 15.Qxb7, when White's Queen would be drawn dangerously far away from the Kingside, should Black choose to attack.

Was my opponent planning to support his Knight at c4 with ...b5 ? I thought so, but his next move suggested otherwise.

14.Ne2 Ne5 15.Nc3 

A craven attempt to suggest a draw, by repetition of position - another symptom of my bad emotional state. 

I got a chuckle out of the quick assessment that the Chess.com site provided, after the game, labelling both my 14th and 15th moves as "excellent". Black's response was best.

15...Nc6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 

Breaking up the Kingside pawn structure, rather than play 16...Qxf6, losing a pawn to 17.Rxd6.

17.Qd2 Qe7 18.Rad1 Rad8 19.Qf4 Kh8 20.Rfe1 Ne5

Black is not in a hurry. Let White take the risk and make the mistake.

21.Nd5 Qg7

Giving up a pawn to get the Queens off of the board. The alternative was 21...Bxd5 22.Rxd5 (planning pressure on the d-pawn down the file), when one of Black's Rooks, or his Queen, can go to either of the semi-open files; perhaps 22...Rg8 was best.

One line I never considered at the time was 21.Bxd5 22.Rxd5 f5!?, which would have revealed some of the structural problems of my Kingside after 23.Qxf5?! Rg8. More about this, later in the game.

22.Qxf6 Qxf6 23.Nxf6 Re7 24.b3

With 3 pawns for the piece, White has probably equalized. Black's pawn on d6 is still a weakness, and if White can get in c2-c4, he can apply pressure to keep things in balance.

I was catching my breath, but the game was going to take a wild turn.

[to be continued]