Repairing a Variation (Part 1)

I know that the idea of "repairing" a variation in an opening like the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bx5 4.Bxf7+) – which has a number of refutations – seems kind of silly, if not impossible. Still, I remain troubled by the game last year in which my pal, abhailey, met a devastating Queen sacrifice by Black (see "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter II", "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XVI" and "A Dangerous Place") and, along with the opening, was hammered to pieces in a miniature. That just doesn't seem right...

First, here's a closer look at the game.

abhailey - peonconorejas
net-chess.com 2008

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

Defenders unfamiliar with the Jerome Gambit might find this move to be scary, but it is part of a number of established defensive schemes.

7.Qf5+

I have always preferred this nudge of the King (to in front of the d-pawn) to the straight-forward 7.f4 (see "Joker's Wild (1)", "Joker's Wild (2)" and "Joker's Wild (conclusion)" for some recent analysis of that line). That's one reason why I'd like to find a defense to peonconorejas' attack.

7...Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ This move is reminiscent of the counter-attack first played against Lt. Sorensen (see "Bashi-Bazouk Attack" for Sorensen's take on the Jerome Gambit; and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter: X" for the game): 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bx4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 Qh5.

9.g3 Nf3+

Black is clearly confused – or he has a specific plan.

10.Kd1 Ne7

Instead of moving his attacked Queen, Black counter-attacks. At first it seems that White's only task is to rescue his Queen, with checks. (During this internet correspondence game abhailey emailed me, pleased with his play and happy that he could see the win of the Black Queen.) Black's army of pieces, however, is a serious threat.

11.e5+ Kc6

The right escape square. If 11...Kd5 12.Nc3+ Kc6 13.Qe4+ Kb6 and Black's Queen can be captured.

12.Qe4+ d5

The only move, but it is very good.

13.exd6+ Nd5

Again, the best move. Leading to equality, even though Black will have only two pieces for a Queen and a pawn, was 13...Kxd6 14.gxh4, for example: 14...Bg4 15.f5 Ne5+ 16.Ke1 Bf3 17.Qa4

analysis diagram

14.gxh4 Bg4

15.Qa4+

Again, White seems to have rescued his Queen.

15...b5

Also winning, and perhaps simpler, was 15...Kxd6

16.Qa6+ Nb6

The position is not just complicated for White, but for Black, too. A better move here was 16...Bb6.

17.c4

After 17.h3 Bh5 18.d3 things are very unclear. Black might have a win in the long run, or White might eventually escape.

The text move allows a mate-in-three that Black overlooks.

17...Nd4+

This wins, but an even nicer ending would have been: 17...Ne1+ 18.Kxe1 Rae8+ 19.Kf1 Bh3+.

analysis diagram

18.Ke1 Rhe8+

There are just too many Black pieces in play.

19.Kf2 Nf5+ 20.Kf1

The alternative 20.d4 holds out longer, but why suffer?: 20...Bxd4+ 21.Be3 Rxe3 22.Qxb5+ Kb7 23.Qxf5 Bxf5 24.d7 Rd3+ 25.Ke2 Nxd7 26.Nd2 Re8+ 27.Kd1 Be3 28.Kc2 Rxd2+ 29.Kb3 Rd3+ 30.Kc2 Rd6+ 31.Kb3 Nc5+ 32.Kb4 Rb6+ 33.Ka3 Bd2 34.b3 Bc3 35.Rae1 Ra6#

20...Bh3 checkmate