After the Refutation: Play On!

While it is nice to surprise an opponent with the Jerome Gambit, more and more often defenders are showing that they have an idea about how to defend - if not outright refute - the opening. What's an attacker to do?

Well, play on, of course!

Wall,B - Guest1839713
PlayChess.com, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 

The so-called "annoying defense" (see "Philidor1792 vs the Annoying Defense" Parts 1, 2 and 3; "Further Exploration" and "Theory from the Thematic Tournament" Parts 3 and 4), the refutation choice of most computers, which has even given Bill trouble from time to time.

It is interesting to put this in perspective, however, in light of the previous post on "refutation". 

The Database has over 10,000 games starting with the Jerome Gambit sequence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, with White scoring 45%. Interestingly enough, against the "annoying defense" White has scored 58%.

Bill has scored 70% against the "annoying defense" which looks good until you realize that his over-all Jerome Gambit score is 96%.

It is as if a sage has warned players: After the refutation, the gods have placed the rest of the game...

9.Qh3+ Kf7 10.Qh5+ Kf8 11.Qxe5 

11...Bd6

This certainly looks aggressive enough, but Bill recommends, instead,11...Qh4+ 12.g3 Qe7.

12.0-0+

Wise. As Bill points out, there is more danger in 12.Qd5? Qh4+ 13.Ke2 Qg4+ 14.Ke1 Qxg2 15.Rf1+ Nf6. 

12...Nf6 13.Qg5 Kg8 

Instead, 13...h6 14.Qh4 g5 was seen in Colossus - Spike1.2, Jerome Forced Computer Chess Match, 2006 (0-1, 43); while 13...Be6 was seen in several games in the legendary Fisher-Kirshner,M - Knight Stalker, Mission San Jose, Fremont, CA, 1993 match.

14.e5

White needs to push on, as Bill demonstrates. Not 14.Nc3? Bxh2+ 15.Kxh2 Ng4+

14...Bc5+ 15.Kh1 Be7 16.exf6 Bxf6 

What can I say?

Bill Watterson said it best when he titled one of his Calvin and Hobbes books:

To wit, Black has "scientifically" returned the sacrificed material to calm the storm. True, he is a pawn down, but he hopes that the "two Bishops" will compensate in an open position. 

17.Qc5 h6 18.Nc3 c6 19.Ne4 Bd4 20.Qc4+ Kh7

Black has castled by hand.

21.c3 Be5? 

Instead, Bill recommends 21...Re8 22.cxd4 Rxe4 with about an equal game, although 22.Ng3!? might be a way for White to maintain an edge.

22.d4 Bc7 23.Qd3 

This is a strong move, but Bill points out 23.Nf6+! gxf6 (23...Kg6 24.Qd3+ Kf7 25.Ne8+ kills) 24.Qf7#

23...Rf8 24.Nf6+ 

Better late than never: a nice discovered double check.

24...Kh8 25.Qh7 checkmate

Clever!