Out of a clear sky...

In posts like "I apologize, Jerome Gambit" and "Diagnosis: Misplaced Knight" I have fussed and fumed about the kind of bother that Black's Knights can cause, even in main-line Jerome Gambits (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), so when I saw the following game, I thought I'd share it: for those who defend the Jerome, another annoying idea; and for those who play the Jerome, something to prepare for...

mrjoker - weiran
blitz 2 12, Internet Chess Club, 2008

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6

I have 29 games in my database with this position – almost 2/3 by Louis Morin ("mrjoker") – so, you see, lightning can flash out of a clear sky and strike even the best of the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde.

10.0-0 Ng4 A new move. Where should the Queen go?

Rybka 3.0 suggests the line: 11.Qg3 Rf8 12.Nc3 Nf6 13.d4 Nh5 14.Qe3 Nhf4 15.g3 Nh3+ 16.Kg2 Kf7 17.f4 with a small, but bearable, advantage to Black.

The move White chooses seems thematic (i.e. centralized and on the file opposite the un-castle-able King) in a harmless position.

11.Qe2 Qh4

Suddenly, things are very bad.

12.h3 Nf4 13.Qf3 Ne5

Annoying, yes?

White's response now loses his Queen, but Rybka 3.0 suggests that the "best" move was to give it up anyway with 14.Qxf4.

14.Qc3 Ne2+ White resigned

A lesson worth remembering.

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, The Wizard of Draws