Rematch

Here is the second of three Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games, printed in the Preston Guardian, provided by Tim Harding, from the deep resources of his correspondence chess databases. (See also "Preston Guardian".)

The notes are by Harding, and from the Preston Guardian of August 25, 1880.

Lowe,E - Parker,J
friendly thematic correspondence, 1879

These two players seem to have played a few games to test the gambit; the Preston Guardian published an earlier one with Black's fifth move.

Hull Bellman of September 11, 1880 confirms they agreed to play this test game afterwards for a 5 shilling book.

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8!?

6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.d3

8.e5  was, Lowe - Parker, Preston Guardian, December 31, 1879; 8.Qf3 with the idea of d3, is the correct continuation says the Preston Guardian editor.

8...Bg4 9.Qe1 Qe7 10.Kh1

10.c3? failed in Lowe-Parker from a Preston Guardian correspondence tournament. "Mr Lowe, however, maintained that Mr Parker did not play the best defence to White's 8th and following moves, so challenged him to play another game for a 5 shilling book, commencing at White's 8th, with the result given below."

10...Kf7 11.f3

11.f4!? Lowe

11...Bd7 12.b3

12...b5 13.Bb2 h5 14.e5 Nd5 15.Qg3 Rag8 16.d4 h4

17.Qe1 Bb6 18.Qe4 Rh5 19.f4 Rf5

20.c4 bxc4 21.bxc4 Nf6 22.Qe1 Nh5 23.c5 g5

24.cxb6 gxf4 25.Rf3 Qg5 26.Qf2 cxb6

27.Nd2 Qg4 28.h3 Qg6 29.Ra3 Rg5 30.Rg1 a5

31.Nf3 Ng3+ 32.Kh2 Ne4 33.Nxg5+ Qxg5 34.Qe2

34...Bf5

Rybka suggests that Black can reach a draw after: 34...Qg3+ 35.Rxg3 hxg3+ 36.Kh1 Nf2+ 37.Qxf2 gxf2 38.Rf1 Be6 39.a3 Bd5 40.Rxf2 Ke6 41.Kh2 Rg3.

analysis diagram

35.Re1 Ke8 36.Qf3

This time, the computer shows how White wins: 36.Bc1 Ng3 37.Qf3 Qg6 38.Bxf4 Be4 39.Qg4 Qxg4 40.hxg4 Rxg4 41.Bxg3 Bd5 42.Rb1 hxg3+ 43.Rxg3 Rxd4 44.Rxb6 Kf7 45.Ra6 Ke6 46.Rxa5 Kxe5 47.a4 Kd6 48.Rg6+ Kc7 49.g4.

analysis diagram

36...Rg6? 37.Rxe4 Black resigned