Looking Toward the New Year

On the first day of 2010 I offered interested Readers a PGN database of Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+), and Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0-0/4.Nc3/4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+) games (see "Happy New Year!") – over 17,000 games, at that time. 

I have updated the file over the year. It is still available for free – just email me: richardfkennedy@hotmail.com.

On January 1, 2011, I will add games with the move order 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Na5 4.Bxf7+ (variation so far unnamed) to the database (which I will start referring to as "The Database".)

This seems like a logical expansion, as in this line of play Black tries with his third move to avoid a possible Jerome Gambit, only to face the Bishop sacrifice anyhow. White's chances are similar to those in the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. (Of course, White can also simply play 4.Nxe5 with advantage.)

The database will then contain about 22,222 games, which seems fitting for its second version.

(By the way, today marks the 900th consecutive post to this blog. The Jerome Gambit and its variants have not gone away, and neither have I.)