A Strange, But Intriguing, Path (Part 3)

Let's take a final look at a strange variation of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf 7+) that we started with two days ago, and continued yesterday – see "A Strange, But Intriguing, Path (Part 1)" and (Part 2).

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

 

 
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5 Ke6
 

6.Qg4+ Kxe5

If White is going to have a chance in this variation, he must sacrifice the second piece. If Black then wishes to play on, he must accept the piece.

If 6.Qg4+ Kf6, then 7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qf7+ Kd6 9.Nc4 checkmate.

If 6.Qg4+ Kd6 7.Nf7+ wins.

If 6.Qg4+ Ke7 7.Qxg7+ Kd6 8.Nf7+ wins.

7.d4+

Again, best.

Two games with the alternative 7.f4+:  7...Kf6 8.Qg5+ (8.Qh4+ Kf7 9.Qxd8 Nxd8 10.c3 Nf6 11.d4 Bb6 12.e5 Nd5 13.0-0 d6 14.Nd2 dxe5 15.fxe5+ Ke7 16.Ne4 g6 17.Bg5+ Ke8 18.Rae1 Rf8 19.Rxf8+ Kxf8 20.Bxd8 Bf5 21.Bg5 Bxe4 22.Rxe4 c5 23.c4 Ne7 24.d5 Nf5 25.g4 Nd4 26.d6 Ne6 27.Bd2 Ke8 28.h3 Kd7 29.Bc3 Rf8 30.Bd2 g5 31.Re2 h6 32.Kh2 Nd4 33.Rg2 Nf3+ 34.Kg3 Nxd2 35.Rxd2 Ke6 36.Re2 Ba5 37.h4 gxh4+ 38.Kxh4 a6 39.a3 b5 40.cxb5 axb5 41.b3 b4 42.a4 Bd8+ 43.Kh5 Rf4 44.Re3 Bg5 45.Rd3 Black forfeited on time, Petasluk - Ijon, blitz FICS, 2007 ) Kf7 9.Qd5+ Ke8 10.Qxc5 d6 11.Qf2 Qe7 12.d3 Nf6 13.Nc3 Be6 14.h3 Kd7 15.Be3 g6 16.0-0-0 a5 17.Rhe1 a4 18.d4 Bc4 19.e5 Nd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.c4 Bxc4 22.d5 Nb4 23.exd6 Qxd6 24.Bc5 Nd3+ 25.Rxd3 Qf6 26.Rc3 Bxd5 27.Re7+ Kd8 28.Rxc7 Ke8 29.Qe3+ Be6 30.Re7+ Qxe7 31.Bxe7 Kxe7 32.Rc7+ Kf6 33.Rxb7 Rac8+ White forfeited on time, Petasluk - scaccopazzoo, blitz FICS, 2004.

7...Bxd4

Capturing with the Knight turns out worse in the end: 7...Nxd4 8.Bf4+ Kf6 (8...Kxe4 9.Nc3 checkmate) 9.Bg5+ Kf7 10.Bxd8 and Black's threat to fork White's King and Rook doesn't work, i.e. 10...Nxc2+ 11.Kd2 Nxa1 12.Qh5+ Kf8 13.Qxc5+ Ke8 14.Bxc7 as White will get two pieces for the Rook after, say, 14...Nf6 15.Nc3.

analysis diagram







8.Bf4+ Kf6 9.Bg5+ Kf7 10.Bxd8 Nxd8

Or 10...Bxb2 11.Qf3+ Ke8 12.Bxc7 Bxa1 13.Na3 Nf6 14.0-0 when, despite Black having two pieces and a Rook for the Queen, Rybka sees White as a bit better!

analysis diagram




11.Qg3

Again, Rybka gives White the edge, not only because the b-pawn is protected (11...Bxb2 12.Qb3+) but because Black is undeveloped and his King is at risk.

This kind of analysis, treating the Jerome Gambit as if it were a "real" opening, is becoming more necessary as knowledge of the opening increases and its use becomes more widespread. Some lines now need preparation beyond a brave sense of advanture.