The Jerome Gambit: Long ago, and far away...

Friday, August 22, 2008

Long ago, and far away...

St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat
Sunday, September 11, 1881
Mackenzie's chess column

[diagrams added, notation changed to algebraic]

...The Australian game which we print to-day is somewhat lengthy, but it is full of interesting points, and is well worth playing over, were it only from the fact that it is the only partie on record, we believe, in which the Jerome gambit is adopted in a correspondence game...

Chess in Australia
We are indebted to the Adelaide Observer for the subjoined interesting game. It was played recently by correspondence between Messrs. Charlick and Mann, two of the leading amateurs in Australia.

The Adelaide Observer
Saturday, May 28, 1881

CHESS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
(From the Melbourne Leader.)

The following fine game is one of those in the closely contested match by correspondence to which we lately referred, between Messrs. Charlick and Mann. The time occupied in playing it was six months. It abounds in interesting and difficult positions. Another game has since been finished ending in a draw, making the score - Charlick 4, Mann 3, drawn 6.

[Since, Mr. Mann has won a game, making the score perfectly even. - Mackenzie]

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

This ingenious sacrifice was invented by Mr. Jerome, an American player, in 1874, and, unless correctly answered, yields a strong attack. It seems rather rash to venture on it in a correspondence game - Mackenzie

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5

5...Kf8 is, we think, better - Mackenzie

6.Qh5+ Ng6

6...Ke6 is preferable - Mackenzie

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3

The authorities give 9.Qc3 but White prefers the text move - Mackenzie

9...Nf6 10.d4 Qe7

10...Kf7 is surely stronger, bringing his R in to immediate action, and threatening to take KP with Kt - Mackenzie

11.0-0 Ng4

This only assists White in developing his game by driving back the Kt presently; 11...b6 seems the best method of getting his forces into action - Mackenzie

12.Qe2 Qh4 13.h3 Nf6 14.f4

White has now a most formidable attack - Mackenzie

14...Nh5 15.Qf2 Qxf2+ 16.Rxf2 Rf8 17.f5 Ne7 18.c4 c6

Again we should have preferred 18...b6 - Mackenzie

19.g4 Nf6 20.Nc3 d5 21.e5

White's pawns now look quite irresistable - Mackenzie

21...Nd7 22.cxd5 Nxd5 23.Ne4 N7b6 24.b3 a5 25.e6

This, we believe, is premature. 25.Bg5 is a very strong move - Mackenzie

25...h6 26.Bb2 Ke7 27.Re1 Ra7

Black's game is so cramped that defeat is inevitable - Mackenzie

28.Nc5

White might also have obtained a fine game by advancing the KRP here - Mackenzie

28...Na8 29.Nd3 b5 30.Ne5 Kd6 31.Rc1 Ra6 32.Rc5 Bb7 33.Rfc2 Rc8 34.Bc1 a4 35.b4

Very well played - Mackenzie

35...a3

Had he taken P with Kt, White would have gained a winning position by 35...Nxb4 36.Bf4 - Mackenzie

36.Bd2 Nab6 37.Be1 Na4

Mackenzie passes over this move without comment, but Rybka suggests that it is a serious error, suggesting that instead 37...Nc4 38.Nxc4+ bxc4 39.R2xc4 Raa8 40.Rc1 g6 41.Bh4 Ra4 42.Rb1 Rg8 43.Bg3+ led to an even game.

38.Bg3

Likewise, Rybka suggests that this gives Black a slight edge, preferring 38.Ng6 Nf4 39.Bg3 Kc7 40.Rxb5 Kb8 41.Bxf4+ Ka7 42.Ra5 Nb2 43.Ne7 Re8 44.Nxc6+ and White is winning.

38...Ke7 39.Nd7 Nxc5 40.dxc5 Rg8 41.Bd6+ Ke8 42.Rd2 Ra4

This, we believe, is his best play; had he moved 42...Nf6 White could have replied with 43.Be5 forcing the game in a few moves.; If 42...Nxb4 White wins off-hand by 43.f6 - Mackenzie

43.Rxd5

Well played, obtaining a winning position, through it still requires great care to bring about that result - Mackenzie

43...cxd5 44.f6 gxf6 45.Nxf6+ Kd8 46.e7+

Rybka prefers capturing the Rook.

46...Kc8 47.Nxg8 Bc6 48.Nf6

Rybka sees this as a serious error, leading to an advantage for Black, preferring 48.Nxh6 Rxb4 49.g5 Rb1+ 50.Kf2 Rb2+ 51.Kg3 Be8 52.c6 Rxa2 53.Nf5 Bxc6 54.g6 d4 with a roughly equal game.

48...Rxb4 49.e8Q+ Bxe8 50.Nxe8 Rb1+ 51.Kf2 Rb2+ 52.Kf3 Rxa2 53.Nc7