Scared to Death

Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (and its relatives) can have a frightening impact on those who face it, causing them to make decisions that they might not make during calmer times... Here are three recent example.

jollygood - kremba
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Qh5 Nf6 7.Qg5 h6 8.Qf4 Nxc2+ 9.Kd1 Nxa1 10.d4 d5 11.Re1 Nxe4 12.f3 Bb4 13.Re2 g5 14.Qg4+ Kd6 15.Nf7+ Kc6 Black resigned

It is true that Black's Queen is threatened, and that White will win it with check, 16.Nxd8+. After 16...Rxd8, though, Black will have a Rook, a Knight and a Bishop for his Queen; and after, for example, 17.Qh5 Nd6 18.Qxh6 Bf5 he has already begun to consolidate his position.Verdict: complicated, but too soon to resign.


fianchettosstorm  - fwenkey
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Ng5+ Kg8 7.c3 h6 8.Nf3 Nxe4 9.d4 exd4 10.cxd4 Bd6 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Bxe5 13.Re1 Black resigned

It is true that White will now win back a piece, but this will still leave Black up a pawn, and he can add a couple more with 13...Bxh2+ 14.Kxh2 Qh4+ 15.Kg1 Qxf2+ (when he still has a draw in hand via repeated Queen checks).

Declining the Bishop with 13...Bxh2+ 14.Kf1 (14.Kh1? Nxf2+ winning the Queen) still leaves Black up three pawns after 14...Nf6 15.g3 d5 16.Kg2 Bxg3 17.fxg3 Bf5. Verdict: complicated, but too soon to resign.


Petasluk - mihck
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

The Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Black resigned

Verdict: complicated, but too soon to resign.