Go, go, GOH!

With about 225 games in The Database, GOH (at FICS) is no slacker when it comes to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and its related openings. He did not quite make the list in yesterday's "Still King of the Hill", so I thought I'd point out his latest theoretical battle.

GOH - VasyaP
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

GOH is a specialist in this line: The Database has over 200 of his games with this move, going back to 2000.

All of the games mentioned in this post can be found in The Database.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf6

Usually the Black King goes to e6 or e8. See "BSG: Later on in the Discussion".

6.c3

This aims to move the game back into familiar territory, as 6...Kxe5 now would transpose into 5...Ke6 6.c3 Kxe5. See "Whose Territory Are We Fighting On?"

6...Ne6

An untried alternative is 6...Nc2+!?

GOH was successful against 6...d6 in GOH - dauerschach, FICS, 2003 (1-0, 20).


The indicated 6...Kxe5 led to a complex position that is roughly even, and which appeared in 32 of GOH's games. He scored 48%.

7.d4

Previously GOH had played 7.Qf3+ successfully in GOH - VictorOK, FICS, 2006 (1-0, 17).

The text move is deceptively simple, protecting White's Knight on e5. It had been played successfully previously in GOH - VictorOK, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 36).

7...d6

And that is that, as they say...

Instead, Black needed to move his King or Queen.

8.Qf3+ Nf4 9.Qxf4+ Bf5 10.Qxf5+ Ke7 11.Qf7 checkmate

Way to GOH!

graphic by the Wizard of Draws