The Jerome - Norton Games (Part 2)

A second Alonzo Wheeler Jerome - D.P. Norton correspondence game was published in the September 1876 issue of the American Chess Journal.

The ACJ editor, William Hallock, was at times skeptical of the value of the Jerome Gambit, and this led to exchanges with Jerome (see "A sparkling variation to the tiresome Piano game"), and to a game between Hallock and Norton.

The notes to the game below are from the American Chess Journal.

Jerome,A - Norton,D.P.
1876

One of a series of games now being contested by corresondence between A.W. Jerome of Paxton, Ill. and D. P. Norton of DesMoines, Iowa, for the purpose of testing the merits of the Double Opening invented by Mr. Jerome.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Nf3+

A new departure. 8...Qf6 is the usual play. The text move prevents White from castling.

9.Kf1

9.Kd1 seems better.; If 9.gxf3 Qh4+ 10.Kd1 Qf2 and Black has the better position.

9...c6

If 9...Ne7 10.e5+ Kc6 11.Qe4+ d5 etc

10.gxf3 Qe7

10...Bd4 is good; 11.c3 Nh6 12.e5+ Kc7 13.Qe4 Bc5

11.b4

A beautiful attacking move.

11...Bb6

Weak and inconsiderate, losing a Pawn and the exchange. If Black captures the pawn then 11...Bxb4 12.c3 Bc5 13.d4 Bxd4! 14.Ba3+ c5 15.cxd4 Kc7 16.dxc5 Qf6! and White has the better game. 11...Bd4 was better, followed by 12.c3 Nh6 etc.

12.Bb2 Kc7 13.Qe5+ Qxe5 14.Bxe5+ d6 15.Bxg7 Bh3+

16.Ke2 Bg2 17.Rd1 Ne7 18.Bxh8 Ng6

If 18...Rxh8 19.f5 and Black's game is seriously cramped while White's Pawns would be very strong and difficult to stop.

19.d4

Preferring to save his centre Pawns and [to play]

19...Rxh8 20.Kf2 Nxf4 21.c3 Rg8 22.Nd2 Kd7 23.Ke3 Rf8 24.Rg1 Bd8 25.Kf2 Rg8 26.Ke3 Nh3 27.f4 Nxg1

28.Rxg1 Rg4 29.Nf1 Bh3 30.Ng3 Rh4 31.Nf5 Bxf5 32.exf5 Bf6 33.Rg3 Rxh2 34.a4 Rh1 35.a5 Re1+ 36.Kf3 Re7 37.Rh3 c5! 38.bxc5 dxc5 39.Rh6 cxd4! 40.cxd4 Bxd4 41.f6 Rf7 42.Ke4 Bxf6 and wins