Unsung Heroes

The updated New Year's Database, with almost 17,500 Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+), and Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0-0/4.Nc3/4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+) games, includes the inspiration and effort of many, many players.

Only a few of these chessers are known to this blog and its readers, however.

Because a large number of the games were played on the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS), I have reached out to a dozen players there who have lots of Jerome Gambit experience and asked them to share their stories.

Of course, there are many places to play chess: ICC, Chess.com, PlayChess, GameKnot, RedHotPawn, Chess World, ChessHere, and Yahoo & MSN, for starters.

I would like others to drop me an email or add a "comment" to one of these posts – tell us how you got started with Bxf7+ in the double e-pawn openings, what was your greatest triumph, and what was (if you can) your deepest disappointment.

The whole Jerome Gambit Gemeinde is interested and waiting to applaud your efforts.