Whistling by the graveyard... 2010

My favorite anti-Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) line is Whistler's Defense. It gave me a very nice game against Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Pete Banks ("blackburne") in one of our games in the 2008 ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Tournament. 

So far this year I've found only 3 examples of Black trying the Whistler: each time White took the poisoned Rook at h8, but twice he escaped. 

UNPREDICTABLE - sharepointme
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

7.Qxe5 Qe7

Whistler's Defense.

8.Qxh8

This should lead to disaster.

8...Qxe4+

The proper continuation.

Ineffective was 8...Qf6, as the White Queen escapes and causes problems: 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.0-0 (Black resigned here in Wall - Sepoli, Chess.com, 2010) Bd6 11.d3 Qe5 12.g3 Qg7 13.Qh4 Be7 14.Qf4+ Nf6 15.Qxc7 Qh6 16.Bxh6+ Black resigned, Chainbk - Baffipapa, FICS, 2010.

9.Kf1

Or 9.Kd1 Qxg2 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.d4 Qxh1+ and Black has the advantage.

9...Nf6

10.d3 Qa4

This turns the advantage over to White.

Black must play strongly and accurately: 10...Qd4 11.Be3 Qxb2 12.Nd2 Bxe3 (12...Qxa1+ 13.Kd2 Qxh1 14.Ne4 allows White to draw!) 13.Ne4 (13.fxe3 allows Black a timely check of the White King, either by Queen or Knight) Qxa1+ (now this is okay) 14.Ke2 d5 (but not 14...Qxh1, as 15.Qxf6+ allows White to draw through repetition!) 15.Qxf6+ (15.Rxa1 Bg4+ 16.Kxe3 Rxh8 is no better) Qxf6 16.Nxf6 Kxf6 17.fxe3 and White is down a piece with no counterplay.

11.Nc3

Developing a piece, attacking the Queen... and giving up the advantage.

Necessary was a continued focus on releasing or exchanging the White Queen: 11.Bg5 Qd4 12.Qxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bxf6 Kxf6 and White is up the exchange and a pawn.

11...Qxc2 12.Ne4

This move would work, if Black didn't have the following reply (or 12...Qd1 checkmate).

12...Qxd3+

It's all over but the shouting.

13.Ke1 Qxe4+ 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.fxe3 Qxe3+

16.Kd1 d6 17.Rf1 Bg4+ 18.Kc2 Rxh8

19.Rae1 Qc5+ 20.Kb1 Bf5+ 21.Ka1 Re8 22.Rc1 Qe3 23.Rxc7+ Kg8 24.Rcc1 Ng4 25.h3 Nf2 26.Rfe1 Qxe1 White resigned