An Early Lewis Gambit

As a follow-up to yesterday's post on the Lewis Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.d4) (see "S.O.S.") I thought I'd pass along another early game, along with the same advice that I've given to those who defend against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+): If someone offers you a Bishop, Take it!

De Con - Amateur
correspondence, 1913

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 4...Kf8


It's not clear what Black gains by declining. Perhaps he is just trying to be difficult.

5.Bb3 Nf6

Hebert - Dumesnil, Masters - Juniors, 1997 continued 5...Qe7 6.Ne2 Qxe4 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Nd2 Qg4 9.h3 Qh5 10.Nf3 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Qxe5 12.Bf4 Qf6 13.Bxc7 d6 14.c3 d3 15.Qxd3 Ne7 16.Rad1 Bf5 17.Qg3 Nc8 18.Bd5 a5 19.Bxb7 Ra7 20.Bxc8 Rxc7 21.Bxf5 Qxf5 22.Nd4 Qf6 23.Rfe1 Re7 24.Rxe7 Qxe7 25.Qf3+ Qf7 26.Qa8+ Qe8 27.Qxa5 g6 28.Qc7 Qe7 29.Qc8+ Kg7 30.Ne6+ Kf6 31.Qxh8+ Black resigned


6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Ne8



8.Nf3 d6


The kind of error that a Jerome Gambit player can appreciate.


9.Bg5 Qd7 10.e6 Qc6 11.e7 checkmate


graphic by Jeff Bucchino, The Wizard of Draws