Up-To-Date Blackburne Shilling Gambit

Concerning the Blackburne Shilling Gambit (see the previous post), 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4, it is clear that there are several good responses, including 4.0-0, 4.Nxd4, 4.c3 and 4.d3. Of course, if you are a Jerome Gambit fan, or if you want to try something that might be a surprise to the defender, there is always 4.Bxf7+...

The following game - another 3-minute blitz - is an up-to-date example. 

marciprevi - nchak
3 0 blitz, FICS, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Ke6

8.d5+

Possibly White's best response to Black's prudent King retreat. (7...Kxe4 is unnecessarily risky for the defender.)

8...Ke7 

It could be that 8...Kf7 is a tiny bit better. 

9.d4 d6 10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.e5 h6 

Black should probably have simply allowed the return of the piece with 11...dxe5 12.dxe5 Kf7 13.exf6 

12.exf6+ gxf6 13.Bh4 Bg7 

14.Qe2+ Kf8 15.O-O Bf5 16.Nc3 a6 17.Qf3 Bg6 

18.Ne4 

The trip to e2 and then f4 for the Knight, hitting the Bishop at g6 and eying the square e6, looked a bit better.

18...Kf7 19.Rae1 Re8 20.Ng3 Qd7 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Ne2 Be4

23.Qh5+ Bg6 24.Qf3 Be4 25.Qh5+ Bg6 26.Qf3 Be4 27.Qb3

Wanting more than the draw.

27...Bxg2 28.Re1 

A slip. 28.Kxg2 Rxe2 29.Qxb7 was the way to keep the game in balance.

28...Bf3

Returning the favor. Remember: this was a 3-minute blitz game.

29.Qxf3 Kg8 30.Kh1 f5 31.Rg1 Re4 32.Nf4 Qf7 33.Ne6 Rg4 34.Rxg4 fxg4 35.Qxg4 Kh7

36.f3 Bxd4 37.Qe4+ Kg8 38.Qxd4 Qxf3+ 39.Kg1 Black resigned