The Jerome Gambit: Half a defense is worse than none at all...

Monday, May 3, 2010

Half a defense is worse than none at all...

Joseph Blackburne's play against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) makes a powerful impression: it is a dangerous opening for White to play, one that may lead to a counter-sacrifice and a scintillating checkmate by Black.

But, it is helpful for those who wish to follow in The Black Death's footsteps to know the whole Blackburne Defense, not just the first few moves or the general idea...

perrypawnpusher - saltos
blitz FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

Last year our game went: 3...h6 4.0-0 (4.c3 Na5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke8 7.Qh5+ Ke7 8.Ng6+ Kd6 9.Qd5 checkmate, Ghandy - saltos, blitz FICS, 2009) Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ng6 8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qe3 Qf6 11.f4 N8e7 12.Nc3 c6 13.f5 Ne5 14.d4 Nc4 15.Qd3 b5 16.b3 Nb6 17.Bf4 Nd7 18.Rae1 Qf7 19.Bxd6 Nf6 20.Bxe7 Kxe7 21.e5 Nd5 22.f6+ Kf8 23.fxg7+ Kxg7 24.Rxf7+ Kxf7 25.Qf3+ Ke7 26.Nxd5+ Kd8 27.Qf6+ Kd7 28.Qe7 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - saltos, blitz FICS, 2009.

4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

This can be the beginning of the Blackburne Defense, or it can be a knee-jerk reaction by Black to the Queen check.

7.Qxe5 d6

Likewise, this can be Blackburne's brilliant offer of a Rook – or the quick protection of the Bishop on c5, with thought for little else (after all, how can White's opening be any good?).

8.Qxh8 Be6

Okay... It's not Blackburne's Defense, which would continue 8...Qh4.

9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6

White's Queen grabs some pawns – the extra material is nice – while making sure that Her Majesty will not be trapped behind enemy lines.

An alternative: 10.d4 Bxd4 11.Bh6+ Ke8 12.Nc3 Qf6 13.0-0 Bf7 14.Nd5 Qe6 15.Nxc7+ Kd8 16.Nxe6+ Black resigned, Petasluk - cuadriculas, FICS, 2008.

10...Qf6 11.Qxf6+ Nxf6

The exchange of Queens has removed any danger from Black's King, but White is the exchange and four pawns ahead in the late middlegame / early ending.

12.d3 Ke7 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Rf8 15.Rf1

White simply plans to exchange pieces and then get a passed pawn moving – while trying to avoid a blunder.

15...Ng4 16.Rxf8 Kxf8 17.h3 Nxe3 18.Na3 Nxg2+