Freedom From Choice

Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want
-- Devo, "Freedom of Choice"

Whether you are giving "Jerome Gambit odds" or simply playing an aggressive blitz game, it is often a good strategy to give your opponent plenty of choices in any given position. 

Your opponent may select a move based on deep tactical analysis and an appreciation of the strategic needs of the position.

Or not.

perrypawnpusher  - recreation
5 12 blitz FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8

The updated New Year's Database has 250 games with this position, with White scoring 46%.

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Qf6 9.0-0 Nh6

This Knight move is rare, but not bad. Alternatives were 9...Qg6, 9...Qe5 or 9...h5!?.

10.Nc3

In the two games in the database featuring 9...Nh6, Jerome Gambit Gemeinde members mrjoker and Petasluk preferred 10.c3, with 11.d4 to follow.

10...Kf7

Planning to castle-by-hand, a sensible strategy in the Jerome. In this particular position, however, 10...Qg6, threatening the exchange of Queens, was better.

11.Nd5 Qg6

Seeing the direct attack on his Queen, but missing both the attack on c7 and the growing pressure on f6.

Yet the common sense 11...Qd8 (best) was not a complete answer. White would respond with 12.d4!? when either taking the pawn with 12...Bxd4 or retreating from it with 12...Bb6 would be met by 13.Bg5.

analysis diagram
after 11...Qd8 12.d4




Two possible lines of play: 11...Qd8 12.d4 Bxd4 13.Bg5 Bf6 (if 13...Qd7 then 14.Rad1 is strong) 14.Nxf6 gxf6 15.Bxh6 is better for White; 11...Qd8 12.d4 Bb6 13.Bg5 Qf8 (best) 14.Rae1 is also better for White.

12.Qf4+

12...Ke6

Returning a piece with 12...Bf5 was a bit better.

13.Nxc7+ Black resigned

I suspect that my opponent was discouraged at the coming loss of a Rook, which would leave him the exchange and three pawns down. There is too much going on around Black's King for him to expect to be able to trap and capture the White Knight.