Mixed Feelings

I sometimes have mixed feelings about sharing the Jerome Gambit and related openings. Are they something that new or young or unpracticed players should be learning?

Then I remember that some coaches teach their players the Blackburne Shilling Gambit, and it would be a shame not to be able to meet that Jerome-ishly...

Olivera,T  - Khapizov,Z
U-10, World Youth Chess Championship 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. There are many ways to answer this last move – 4.Nxd4, 4.d3, 4.0-0, 4.c3, 4.d3 even 4.a3 – as long as you stay away from the hoped-for 4.Nxe5?!.

4.Bxf7+

Then, of course, there is the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

This is seen as "a courageous sacrifice" at Xadrez ms.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+

I have been experimenting with Stockfish as an analysis engine, and it suggested here 6.c3 first (an ideas once suggested by Tim McGrew), and after 6...Ne6 then 7.Qh5+. This bears further exploration.

6...g6 7.Qd1

If White is going to make the sacrifice at f7, then he has to follow through here with 7.Nxg6.

The Queen retreat leaves the first player without the initiative, which is part of the usual compensation for the sacrificed piece.

7...Qe7 8.Nc4 Qxe4+ 9.Ne3 d5 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Re1 Ne7 12.Nc3 Qf4 13.Nf1 Rf8 14.f3 Bc5

White is under serious pressure. He bravely continues to defend.

15.Ne3 Bd6 16.Nf1 Bc5 17.Ne3

Yes, at this point young Olivera would be happy with a draw (by repetition).

17...Qh4 18.Ncxd5 Nxc2 

Leading to complications for both sides – and eventually a chance for White.

19.Nxc7+ Kd8 20.Re2 Nxa1 21.Nxa8 Qc4 22.Kh1 Qxa2 23.d4 Bd6 24.Ng4 Bxg4 25.fxg4 Kd7

26.b4 Qb3 27.Qe1 Rxa8 28.Bg5

White is down two pieces, but with this move he conjures up an escape swindle.

28...Kc7 

It is not clear what Black feared here, as 28...Re8, 28...Nc6, 28...Nd5, 28...Qxb4 and 28...Nc2 (among others) were all good. Perhaps time was a factor?

29.Rxe7+ Bxe7

Leading to a forced draw. Black could have tried 29...Kb6 (other moves are disastrous), but 30.Re6 would have led to either 30...Kc7 31.Re7+ and a draw as in the game, or to 30...Qd5 31.Qe5 Qxe5 32.dxe5 when White has an edge.

30.Qxe7+ Kc6 31.Qc5+ Kd7 32.Qe7+ Kc6 33.Qc5+ Kd7 34.Qe7+ Draw