Do Not Panic

Strakh - Dporth, lightning, FICS, 2012

In the position above, White, to move, is down a piece, but his lead in development, and his opponent's unfortunately placed King and Queen make the game about even. If White could be assured of reaching this position regularly, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) would be seen much more often!


13.e5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.Rae1 

15...Qxe1 


Panic. (After all, this is a lightning game.) Instead, Black can give the extra piece back with 15...Ne4 16.Bh4 Kf8 17.Qc2 d6 and keep the even game.


Mate now follows, and Black can only avoid it by resigning.


16.Rxe1+ Kf8 17.Bxf6 d6 18.Be7+ Ke8 19.Bxd6+ Black resigned