Visit From An Old Friend

Black's tactical oversight on move 12 is like a visit from an old friend. (As the Beatles sang, "I get by with a little help from my friends.") It is an interesting variation on the old "optical illusion" which has garnered me a few points.

perrypawnpusher - johnEjohnE
blitz, FICS, 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 a6 

Okay, no Jerome Gambit - yet. Patience.

4.O-O 

Here Bill Wall jumped the gun with 4.Bxf7+ and earned a quick victory in Wall,B - GuestDLNJ, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 11). 

A Scotch variation was seen with 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bc5 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qh5+ Black resigned, Melenos - Rocangus, FICS, 2010. 

4... Nf6 

Stubborn. After 4... Bc5 I played 5. Bxf7+ in perrypawnpusher - Tlslevens, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28). 

5. Nc3

I could have played 5.Ng5, as in the Two Knights Defense,  5...d5 6.exd5 Na5 7.d3 etc., but I was still angling for a Jerome Gambit.

5... Bc5 6. Bxf7+ 

At last. A Delayed Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Nf3+ 

A bright idea, similar to the move by AirmanLeonidas, when he had advanced h7-h7 instead of this game's a7-a6.

The equally interesting 8... Qe7 was seen in Wall,B - Pawndering, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 16). 

9. gxf3 

Writing about my game against AirmanLeonidas, I commented about the pawn capture vs the Queen capture

Going with the "Jerome pawns," but not the best. After the game Rybka suggested: 9.Qxf3, since if 9...Bxd4 White can regain the pawn with 10.Nb5 Be5 11.Qb3+ d5 12.f4 Bd6 13.Nxd6+ Qxd6 14.e5 Qb6+ 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.exf6 gxf6 when Black may have a small edge if he can use his open lines.

However, in the current game, the helpful 10.Nb5 is not playable, due to Black's pawn on a6.

Still, a long-time Jerome Gambiteer once went with the Queen capture: 9.Qxf3 Bxd4 10.Nd5 c6 11.Nxf6 Qxf6 12.Qb3+ Qe6 13.c4 Re8 14.Be3 Qxe4 15.c5+ Re6 16.Rae1 Ke7 17.Bxd4 Qxd4 18.Rxe6+ dxe6 19.Qc2 g6 20.b4 Black forfeited on time, jfhumphrey - spince, FICS, 2013.

9...Bb4 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 d6 12.Qd3

Black misunderstands the reason for this move, and overlooks my response. It's blitz. It happens.

12...Rf8 13.Qc4+ Be6 14.Qxb4 Bh3 

Black's pressure on White's King does not compensate for being behind two pawns, with the smaller center. He appears to have been shaken by falling for the cheap tactic.

15.Rfe1 Kg8 16.e5 dxe5 17.dxe5 Qe8 18.exf6 Qf7

Here Black forfeited by disconnection.

After 19.fxg7 Qxg7+ 20.Bg3 White would clearly be better.