My work is not nearly over...

Getting the word out on how to play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and related openings – with the black and white pieces – is a fun, but seemingly full-time job. As the following recent game shows, there is still a lot of the "basics" to teach and spread around.

vsvor - MULENGA

FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. Timely.

4.Bxf7+

The updated New Year's Database shows 2,349 games with this position, with White scoring 56%.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6

6.f4

The move recommended around these parts is 6.c3, which leads to an even game where White has chances. (For the record, in 180 games in the Database, White scored 57%.)

The text move shows up in 163 games in the Database, with White scoring 47%.

6...Nf6

When White has played f2-f4 before castling, it is always a good idea to check out the possibilites associated with a Black Queen check; here, 6...Qh4+. After 7.g3 Qh3, the White may have nothing better than the retro 8.Nf3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3, which keeps Black's advantage alive.

Of course,  you can always go your own way with 6.c4, as one Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member did: 6...Kxe5 7.f4+ Kxe4 8.Nc3+ Kxf4 9.d3+ Kf5 10.0-0+ Ke6 11.Qg4+ Kd6 12.Qxd4+ Ke7 13.Re1+ Kf7 14.Qd5+ Kf6 15.Bg5+ Kg6 16.Bxd8 Black resigned, GOH - crazymaniac, FICS, 2004. This game is worth a blog post of its own.

analysis diagram







7.d3

A bit better was the thematic 7.c3.

7...Bc5

Someday Black will play 7...d6, and his opponent will get immediate induction into the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde by playing 8.f5+, enticing Black to take another piece with 8...Kxe5. 

8...d6 9.f5+

Ah, yes, what a difference a delay makes... There is little danger in taking the Knight, now.

9...Ke7

By being careful, Black limits his risks – and his gains.

10.Ng4 Nxg4 11.Qxg4 Qf8 12.Bg5+

Here we have an interesting position.

Black will no doubt place his King on the unstable-looking d7 (12...Kd7), after which White might as well castle Queenside (13.0-0-0), leaving Black with an edge, as nothing (except some uneasy feelings for the defender) will come from advancing the f-pawn with discovered check (13.f6+)...

Actually, Black resigned. As this was a "standard" game at FICS, it is not likely that the second player over-stepped his time limit in 11 moves.

It'll take me some more work to explain that.