GM Larry Evans and the Jerome Gambit

I just received an interesting email from Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Gemeinde member Bill Wall. Below is his discovery, with some notes that he has added (in blue). I've added a few things (in red) as well.


Rick,

I just noticed a Jerome Gambit in Chess Catechism by Larry Evans. I had not seen it before or paid attention. On page 42-43, he writes:

3. Trying for a First-Round Knockout

Where angels fear to tread, the slugger rushes in. He is "head-hunting" from the sound of the gong. Pawns, pieces, material – they are so much clutter! He throws everything at you – one sacrifice after another – often without follow-up. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

The important thing to remember is that a premature attack must fail against proper defense. A rather crude example:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

So far, so good. Both sides have developed their pieces toward the center with economy. But now, for some reason, the slugger feels that he "has something" in the position and decides to sacrifice.

4. Bxf7+!?

4...Kxf7

White keeps punching.

5.Nxe5+!? Nxe5 6.Qh5+

Now we see White's "idea." He figures that, on 6...Ng6 7.Qxc5, he regains one piece and, even though he is still a Knight down, has two Pawns for it, with the semblance of an attack. Then, again, Black might always stumble into 6...Kf6?? 7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5, regaining all the loot plus two Pawns. But no such luck!

6...g6! 7.Qxe5 d6!

Black sacrifices his Rook and lures his hunter on to destruction.

8.Qxh8 Qh4! 9 O-O

Now White looks safe enough.

9...Nf6!

White's Queen may as well be behind bars now.

10.Nc3 Bh3! 11.Qxa8 Qg4 12.g3 Qf3

White resigns; he cannot avert mate. His "attack" has boomeranged.

Well, here are my comments.

If 6...Ng6, 7.Qd5+ seems stronger than 7.Qxc5.

6...g6 may not be the best move. 6...Ke6 seems stronger, or even 6...Kf8.

Evans gives 6...Kf6 two question marks, but that may be too much. Black may be able to hold in some variations after 6...Kf6 7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 (or 8...Kf8) 9.Qxc5 Nf6, with some advantage to White, but not an overwhelming advantage.

Evans gives 7...d6 an exclamation point. But 7...Qe7 seems stronger for Black.

Evans says that after 9...Nf6! "White's Queen may as well be behind bars now." Well, White can escape with advantage after 10.Qd8, since 10...Bh3? allows 11.Qxc7+ and Qxb7, and White is probably winning.

After 9...Nf6 10.Nc3? Black has a stronger move than 10...Bh3. He can play 10...Ng4!, threatening 11...Qxh2 mate. If 11.h3, then 11...Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5! 13.Qxa8 Qg3! 14.hxg4 Qh4 mate.

In Evan's analysis, after 10...Bh3, 11.Qxa8?? does lose, but White can offer more resistance with 11.Qxf6+ Kxf6 12.gxh3 Qxh3 13.d3 or 13.Nd5+ perhaps.

Bill




Both Evans and Wall pay homage to the notorious Jerome Gambit game, Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0 Nf6 10.c3 Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4 checkmate.

Evans' 10.Nc3? (instead of the 10.c3 played against Blackburne) is a curious move, showing up only once in the 24,500-game collection The Database – and White won when Black misplayed Blackburne's "mating attack": 10.Nc3 Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4+ 15.Nxe4 Black resigned, KONB - elmflare, standard, FICS, 2011.


Rick