Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Jerome Gambit: Watch Your Step



If you are standing on ice, a dozen paces from the shore, you need to make twelve good steps - or you will fall.

That warning - in this case, to Black - reminds me of the following game.


MUNJA666 - rajesh99999

10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening

4.O-O Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 


The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

Stockfish 17.1 (30 ply) evaluates the position about 2 1/2 pawns better for Black.

MUNJA666 has 42 games in The Database, scoring 70%.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ke6 8.Kh1 


A careful step, preparing f2-f4.

There are only 2 games in The Database (143,000 games) with this position.

8...Qg5 

Black hopes to stymie the attack by exchanging Queens.

Also 8...g6 9.Qh3+ Kf7 10.c3 Nf6 11.d4 d5 12.dxe5 Bxh3 13.exf6 Be6 14.e5 d4 15.Nd2 dxc3 16.bxc3 Qd3 17.Rb1 b5 18.Rxb5 Qxb5 White resigned, Robepersky - scalaQueen, 15 0 standard, FICS, 2025 

9.Qh3+ Qg4 10.Qb3+ Ke7 


Black has two extra pieces to White's two extra pawns. 

A 10-minute game is still kind of speedy, but the second player seems to have things in hand.

11.Nc3 Bb6 12.h3 Qg6 13.f4 Nc6 


Black's pieces (except for his King) are safe and sound.

14.f5 Qg3 

Oh, no! Watch your step!

15.Nd5+ Kd8 16.Qxg3 Black resigned

As baseball player and manager Yogi Berra once said, "It ain't over 'til it's over".

(I suspect that Yogi played chess, but not the Jerome.)


Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Abrahams Jerome Gambit: Another Look


Below, is another look at a Jerome Gambit relative.

The line looks interesting and quite playable - and I wonder why I still haven't tried it..


josesandrasofia - sevilla-ole

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 


This is the Abrahams Jerome Gambit line, the attribution based on Gerald Abraham's The Chess Mind (1951) and The Pan Book of Chess (1965).

From a few months ago, the post "Jerome Gambit: One of the Reasons"

One of the reasons that a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) player might want to occasionally toss in a few Abrahams Jerome Gambits is that not all of Black's defenses transfer well from the former opening, to the latter.

josesandrasofia has 348 such games in The Database, scoring 61%. That is well above the average - currently there are 21,025 games, with White scoring 51%.

(For comparison, josesandrasofia has 16 Jerome Gambit games in The Database, scoring 75%.)

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ g6 

Again, from "Jerome Gambit: One of the Reasons"

See "The Abrahams Jerome Gambit (Part I and Part II)" for details...

The only move that keeps Black's advantage is 4...Kf8.

For some numbers from The Database:

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 20,477 games, White scores 52%

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19,775 games, White scores 51%

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+ Kf8 6,989 games, White scores 41%

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+ g6 5193 games, White scores 63%

 So, we can see that 4...Kf8 is the best move for an advantage for Black. 

The game is even - for now.

5.Qxe5 Qe7 


Whistler's move from the main line Jerome Gambit is not sufficient in this situation.

Another indication of the quirkiness of the Abrahams is that now 5...Bxf2+ is the only move to keep the game even, instead of White having an advantage. 

For example, 5...Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Qf6+?! (6...Nf6) 7.Nf3 Ne7 (7...Qxe5 8.Nxe5+ Ke6 9.d4 b6 10.Rf1 Bb7 11.Nc3 Bxe4 12.Nxe4 Nf6 13.Ng5+ Kd5 14.c3 Ng4+ 15.Nxg4 Rf8+ 16.Nf3 h5 17.Ne3+ Kc6 18.Kg1 d5 19.Ne5+ Kd6 20.Rxf8 c5 21.Nxg6 cxd4 22.cxd4 b5 23.Nf5+ Ke6 24.Bf4 a5 25.Re1+ Kd7 26.Bxb8 Rxb8 27.Rxb8 Kc6 28.Re6+ Kd7 29.Re7+ Kc6 30.Rd8 Kb6 31.Rd6 checkmate,  josesandrasofia - sevilla-ole, lichess.org, 2025) 8.Rf1 d6 9.Qb5 Bg4 10.Kg1 Bxf3 11.Rxf3 Qxf3 12.gxf3 Nf5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.Qxb7 Nc6 15.Qxc6 Rae8 16.Qxc7+ Re7 17.Qxd6 Rhe8 18.Nc3 Re1+ 19.Kf2 R8e7 20.Qd5+ Kg6 21.d3 Rh1 22.Qd6+ (22.Qg8+ Rg7 23.Qe6+ Kh5 24.Qh6#) 22...Kf7 23.Bg5 Rxh2+ 24.Qxh2 Rb7 25.Qxh7+ Ke6 26.Qxb7 f4 27.Bxf4 (27.Qd5#) 27...a5 28.Ne4 Kf5 29.Qd5+ (29.Qf7#) 29...Kg6 30.Qe6+ Kh5 31.Qg4 checkmate, josesandrasofia - sevilla-ole, lichess.org, 2025

A few other, related, lines:

5...Nh6? 6.Qxc5 d6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.d4 Bg4 9.Bxh6+ Ke8 10.Qxb7 Na6 11.Qxa6 Rb8 12.b3 Rf8 13.Bxf8 Kxf8 14.Qd3 Qg5 15.Nd2 Bh3 16.Qxh3 Qb5 17.Ne2 Re8 18.c4 Qg5 19.f4 Qe7 20.0–0 g5 21.fxg5+ Kg8 22.Rf4 Qxg5 23.Rg4 Qg7 24.Nf4 Re7 25.Rxg7+ Rxg7 26.Ne6 Re7 27.Qg4+ (27.Rf1 Rf7 28.Qg3+ Kh8 29.Rxf7 d5 30.Qg7#) 27...Kf7 28.Qf5+ Ke8 29.Qf8+ Kd7 30.d5 (30.Rf1 Re8 31.Rf7+ Kc6 32.Qxe8+ Kb7 33.Rxc7+ Kb6 34.Qb5#) 30...Re8 31.Qxe8+ Kxe8 32.Nxc7+ Kd7 33.Ne6 a6 34.Rf1 a5 35.Rf7+ Ke8 36.Rxh7 a4 37.g4 axb3 38.axb3 draw, josesandrasofia-sevilla - ole, lichess.org, 2025

5...Nf6?! 6.Qxc5 Nxe4 7.Qd5+ Kg7 8.Ne2 Qf6 9.0–0 Nxf2 10.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 11.Kxf2 d6 12.b3 Rf8+ 13.Kg1 Bg4 14.Bb2+ Kh6 15.Ng3 Bd1 16.d3 Bxc2 17.Bc1+ Kg7 18.Nc3 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 Nc6 20.Nd5 Rae8 21.Qc3+ Kg8 22.Nf6+ Rxf6 23.Qxf6 Rf8 24.Qe6+ Rf7 25.Bb2 Nd4 26.Bxd4 c5 27.Rf1 cxd4 28.Rxf7 d3 29.Qe8  checkmate, josesandrasofia-sevilla - ole, lichess.org, 2025; and

5...Qf6? 6.Qxc5 d6 7.Qxc7+ Qe7 8.Qxc8 Nf6 9.Qxh8 Qxe4+ 10.Kf1 Qxc2 11.Nc3 Nc6 12.Qxa8 Nd4 13.Qxb7+ Ke6 14.Qc8+ Ke5 15.Nf3+ Kf4 16.Nxd4 Qd3+ 17.Nde2+ Ke5 18.f4 checkmate, josesandrasofia-sevilla - ole, lichess.org, 2025.

And now, back to the game...

6.Qxh8 

This Rook is not poisoned. 

6...Qf6 

Black threatens White's King

Against 6...Qxe4+, White tried7.Kf1 Qxc2 8.Nc3 Qd3+ 9.Nge2 Bb4 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.Qh4 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qc2 13.Ba3+ Ne7 14.Qxe7+ Kg8 15.Qf8+ Kh7 16.Qf7+ Kh6 17.Bf8+ Kg5 18.h4+ Kh5 19.Ng3+ Kg4 20.Qf3 checkmate, josesandrasofia-sevilla - ole, lichess.org, 2025

7.Qxh7+ Kf8 8.Nf3 d6 


It is Black's King who is in danger. He is also down the exchange and three pawns in material.

9.c3 Bg4 10.d4 Bxf3 11.gxf3 

11...Bxd4 

This looks like desperation, but Stockfish 17.1 sees it only about 1/4 of a pawn worse than retreating the Bishop.

The clock might also be affecting play in this 3-minute game..

12.cxd4 Qxd4 13.Qxg6 Qb4+ 

Ideas, anyone? Black really does not have anything.

14.Nc3 Qd4 15.Be3 Nd7

At this point, it really does not matter.

16.Bxd4 Re8 17.Qg7 checkmate



 

Monday, August 17, 2026

Jerome Gambit: It's Time



Jerome Gambit players know that if they keep pressing, playing their game, there is a good chance tht the defense will suddenly fail...

angelcamina - Arves_1

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 

9.Qc4+ Ke8 

Sharper was 9...d5.

10.O-O

Or 10.Bg5 as in angelcamina - Kostya_N, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024 (1-0, 24),

10...d6 

Or 10...Rf8 first, then 11.f4 d6 12.b3 Bd7 13.Ba3 Qe7 14.e5 dxe5 15.Bxe7 exf4 16.Bxf8 Kxf8 Black resigned, angelcamina - sarina86, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 16).

11.f4 

Or 11.Bg5, as in angelcamina - e4bout, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 19) and angelcamina - DorianW, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 26).  

11...Qe7 

Or 11...Nd7 as in angelcamina - Dome1411, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (0-1, 26); or 11...Be6 as in angelcamina - vryzrtr, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024 (1-0, 36).


White has a pawn for his sacrificed piece, but he keeps making solid moves. He can always keep in mind the post "Waiting for the Blunder Bomb"
One theory of chess play is that each person has a set of imaginary "blunder bombs" inside of himself or herself that explode rarely if the player is very strong, but explode frequently, if the player is not so strong. Under this model, a stronger player can expect to win if he or she plays simple, safe moves, waiting for the weaker player's "blunder bomb" to go off first. Of course, if the stronger player introduces an unusual and tricky opening such as the Jerome Gambit, the opponent's bomb might go off even sooner...

12.b3 Be6 

Or 12...Na5 13.Qa4+ Nc6 as in angelcamina - majorj10, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2021 (1-0, 33). 

13.Qb5 Rb8 14.Ba3 a6 15.Qd3 Kd7 


Black's King moves and connects his Rooks, but this placement is risky. There is danger along the a3 - f8 diagonal and the center files, as White demonstrates.

16.Rae1 Rhg8 17.e5 

17...Nd5 

Remember, this is a 1-minute game, and such slips happen.

18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Qh4 

This counter allows checkmate.

20.exd6 Rge8 21.dxc7+ Kxc7 22.Bd6+ Kb6 23.Qc5 checkmate




Sunday, August 16, 2026

Jerome Gambit: Fort Zinderneuf (Part 2)


[continued from the previous post]


Marching out to the battlefield...


perrypawnpusher - rffuse

Chess.com, 2026

                                   

20...Kg8 

The King steps out of the line of fire and protects the h-pawn.

Instead, he could have braved 20...dxe5 21.fxe5+ Kg8, as his extra and well-placed Knight would rule the field.

21.Rae1 

Missing my last chance: 21.f5 Nb4 (21...Qxe5 22.Rae1 Ne3 23.Rf3) 22.Qc3 Qxe5 23.Qxb4 with an even game.

21...dxe5 22.Rxe5 Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Rxe5 24.fxe5 Ne7 


White's isolated, passed pawn is no match for Black's Knight.

25.Qd7 Rf8 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.e6 

I thought I might have a chance, until I saw my opponent's next move.

27...Qd6 


Now what do I do?

28.h3 

After the game, Stockfish 17.1 (34 ply) suggested that the pawn take 2 steps, although it saw the text as only 6/100th of a pawn worse than that choice.

28...g5 

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

                              - Bob Dylan,  "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

Black plans simply to have his King cooperate with his Queen to capture my advanced pawn, extinguishing all hope.

29.a3 Kg7 30. Kg1 Kf6 31.Kf2 Qxe6 


32.Qxc7
 

Overlooking Black's response.

32...Qb6+ 33.Qxb6+ axb6 34.Ke3 Ke5 White resigned

Nicely done, my friend!

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Jerome Gambit: Fort Zinderneuf (Part 1)



The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can lead to adventurous games - not, necessarily, successful ones, but adventurous.

The following game shows a chessfriend who is familiar with the Jerome, handing me a well-deserved defeat: there are moments in the opening where White has to act decisively, or lose the thread of the game.


perrypawnpusher - rffuse

Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

I usually play 6.Qh5+.

The one time I tried 6.d4, the game was a swindle of a draw: perrypawnpusher - 4xel, Jerome Gambit Fun tournament, Chess.com, 2017 (1/2-1/2, 29).

I am 5 - 0 against 6.d4, however.

6...Bxd4 

The alternative 6...Qh4 (the so-called Pie-in-the-Face Variation, played as early as Sorensen - Anonymous, Denmark 1888was seen in my game against 4xel.

7.Qxd4 d6 8.O-O Qf6 


The position of both Queens should remind Readers of the threat covered in "Jerome Gambit: Beware Threat Position". White must protect his Queen - or move it.

9.Be3 Ne7 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.f4 N5c6 


Black is well-prepared for any action in the center.

12.Qd2 Rhe8 13.e5 

Probably premature. 13.Rae1 comes to mind.

13...Qe6 14.Nb5 

14...Nd5 

Black plays solidly in this game, and this move is a slip - although, it turns out, it does not cost him. 

Better is 14...Rac8 with a clear advantage.

15.c4 

Returning the favor. 15.Rae1 Kf8 16.f5 (or 16. Bf2) was more in the spirit of the opening.

15...Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Rac8 17.Qd3 

17...Nb4 

Attacking the Queen, and offering the h-pawn. Of course, if now 18.Qxh7, then 18...Rh8 and the Rook has an attacking file against the White King.

18.Qc3 Bxb5 19.cxb5 Nd5 20.Qd3 


White's Queen runs around like John, at Fort Zinderneuf, in P. C. Wren's novel Beau Geste.

[to be continued]


Friday, August 14, 2026

Jerome Gambit: Return of the Kat

 


Last year, Bill Wall informed me that there was a book on the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) out there, on the internet, and I spent time searching for and examining it, as related in a series of posts, "Jerome Gambit: Book (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 )"

Now, while using a search engine to look for something else, I ran across a couple more books from "Chess Notes" (nothing to do with Edward Winter and his better know Chess Notes), The Kitty Kat Collection 2000 Annoted Games (Volume 1 & 2).

Alas, there were no Jerome Gambits in either of the volumes.


Thursday, August 13, 2026

Jerome Gambit: Italian Game Tournament, Second Round

 



The second round of the "Italian Game" tournament at Chess.com has started.

I am in Group 2 (5 players), and already have three Jerome Gambits started - including one against the highest rated player in the group, and one against a player that I have previously dispatched with the Jerome.

Over the next couple of days we will see if any of my other games will go Jerome-ish, as well.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Jerome Gambit: Cranky

 



I think that I am getting cranky in my old age...

My latest online search turned up the recent YouTube video, "The Worst Gambit in Chess? ♟️ | Jerome Gambit", by Plychess.

I am not troubled that the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is identified as "the most dubious opening in chess", although others might have their own favorite dubious opening (see all the YouTube videos with "worst" in their titles).

According to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, "dubious" means 
"questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality".

One of the reasons that I play the Jerome is its dubiousness.

No, my gripe is that the proof of the Jerome Gambit's dubiousness that is given is yet another presentation of the game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885.

Yes, the master destroys the amateur's opening and wins the game brilliantly - so effectively that many writers use that game... over and over and over.

I would like critics to start using the second worst (or third, or fourth)  Jerome gambit as an example, for a change.

That, of course, raises the question: What is the second worst Jerome Gambit game?

I am not sure, although a 239-move draw comes to mind, as well as the 9 games won in 3 or 4 moves - on time.

Reader opinions are solicited.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Jerome Gambit: I Admire Blitz Players



I admire blitz players.

I am astonished by bullet players.

The game gets in my face too fast, events get too messy... I disagree with the Rolling Stones: Time is not on my side.

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) blitz game - not mine - has some fascinating twists and turns.


deusmach - Philas01

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kf8 

According to The Database, White scores 62% in this declined variation. That compares favorably with 53% for White in the main line 4...Kxf7

5.Nxe5 

From Jerome Gambit for Dummies 2.0 (Part 3)

Although 98% of the time (according to The Database) Black captures the Bishop [after 4.Bxf7+], the move is not forced. It is simply a choice for the second player between having an "objectively" winning game with 4...Kxf7 and having the worse position after 4...Kf8 or 4...Ke7...

Some players seeking greater complications have left the Bishop in place and tried 5.Nxe5, apparently hoping to continue along orthodox Jerome Gambit lines, gaining a tempo when Black finally plays ...Kxf7

5...Nxe5 6.d4 Qf6 
Sure, who needs to capture the Bishop?

7.Bxg8 Ng4

Wait a minute...

8.O-O

Why not 8.Qxg4 ? Things are messy after 8...Bxd4 9.Bb3 Qxf2+ 10.Kd1 d5 but White hangs onto his advantage with 11.Qe2.

Blitz. I blame it on the time control. On the clock.

8...Bxd4 9.Be3 

Ignoring the Knight, again, and going for the knockout.

9...Bxe3 

To quote the sentient computer in 2001 A Space Odyssey
HAL: Well, I don't think there is any question about it. It can only be attributable to human error. This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error.
Uh, 9...Bxb2  10.Bb3 h5 and Black is better.

10.fxe3 Black resigned




Monday, August 10, 2026

Jerome Gambit: Short and Sweet


The following Jerome Gambit game is quickly decided: one King is threatened, while the other King faces checkmate.

HollowFabio - Aruto22

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 

HollowFabio has 805 games in The Database, scoring 55%. They are about evenly split between 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, as in this game, and 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bxf7+, coming out of the Two Knights Defense.

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 g6 

It is tempting to kick the White Queen, especially if a defender underestimates her sally to h5 - or the entire Jerome Gambit, itself.

8.Qxe5+ 

The year before this game, White tried 8.Qh3+ and was lucky to escape with the point: 8...Ke7 9. fxe5 d6 10.Qc3 Nh6? 11.d4 Black resigned, HollowFabio - byamba0316, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2023. 

8... Kf7 9.Qxh8 Qh4+ 

Instead, 9...Qf6?! did not work out as well, although HollowFabio still scored the point 10.Qxf6+ Kxf6 11.c3 d5 12.e5+ Ke6 13.d4 Bb6 14.O-O c5 15.Be3 Ne7 16.Nd2 Nf5 17.Bf2 cxd4 18.cxd4 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Nxd4 20.Nf3 Ne2+ 21.Kh1 Nxf4 22.Ng5+ Kxe5 23.Rae1+ Kf5 24.Nh3 g5 25.g3 Kg6 26.Nxf4+ gxf4 27.gxf4 (27.Re8!?) 27...Bf5 28.Rg1+ Kf6 29.Rg5 Rd8 30.Kg1 h6 31.Rh5 Kg6 32.Rh4 h5 33.Re5? Bg4? (33...d4!?) 34.h3 (34.Rg5+) 34...Bf3 $6 35.Kf2 Be4 36.Rhxh5 Rf8 37.Rhg5+ Kf6 38.Ke3 b6 39.h4 a5 40.h5 Rh8 41.Kd4 Rc8 42.Rxd5 Rc4+ 43.Kxc4 b5+ 44.Kxb5 Bd3+ 45.Kxa5 Be4 46.Rde5 Bd3 47.Rgf5+ Bxf5 48.Rxf5+ Kxf5 49.h6 Kg6 50.h7 Kxh7 51.Kb6 Kg6 52.Kc7 Kf5 53.b4 Kxf4 54.b5 Ke5 55.b6 Kd5 56.b7 Kc4 57.b8=Q Kc3 58.a4 Black resigned, HollowFabio - Diman43, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024 

10.g3 

The earliest example of this line in The Database now continued 10...Qh5 11.Qc3 d6 12.d4 Bb6 13.Be3 Bg4 14.Nd2 Re8 15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Ne7 (16...Qh3) 17.Bxb6 cxb6 18.Ne4 Bf3 19.Qc4+ (19.Qxf3 Qxf3 20.Ng5+ Kg8 21.Nxf3) 19...Kf8 20.Nf6 Qf5 21.Nxe8 Black resigned, filidor - frotz, blitz, FICS, 2000. 

10...Qh3 11.f5 

With his Queen on walkabout and enemy forces knocking at the door, White calmly moves to open the f-file against Black's King.

 11...Qg2 12.fxg6+ 

Precise.

Saving the Rook with 12.Rf1 allows 12...Qxe4+ 13.Kd1 Qg4+ 14.Ke1 Qe4+ etc. with a draw.

Likewise, after 12.Qxh7+ Kf8! White has nothing better than 13.Rf1, when 13...Qxe4+ 14.Kd1 Qg4+ 15.Ke1 Qe4+ etc. is again a draw.

12...hxg6 

Moving his King does not help.

13.Rf1+ 

Black must now give up his Queen - or his King.

13...Ke7 

There is now a checkmate in 6 moves

14.Qe5+ Black resigned

The ending might go 14...Kd8 15.Qg5+ Nf6 (15...Kf8 16.Qxg6+ Ke7 17.Rf7+ Kd8 18.Qxg8+ Bf8 19.Qxf8)16.Qxf6+ Ke8 17.Qh8+ Ke7 18.Qf8+ Ke6 19.Qf6 checkmate