BSJG: Why?

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4!? - has one really risky response from White - 4.Nxe5?! - but several very acceptable responses for the first player: 4.Nxd4, 4.d3, 4.0-0 and 4.c3. So, why engage with 4.Bxf7!?, the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit? As we have seen recently, the move can be a surprising, unsettling challenge to Black, who had high hopes to be the one attacking.

The following game, played online at GameKnot.com, and recently retrieved, is a brutal example of White quickly wresting the game from his opponent.


xuam - maiden_coritiba
League division D2
GameKnot.com, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ 

I have long referred to this as the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit, with a knowing smile. Although the Bishop sacrifice - often followed by a Queen move - is typical Jerome play, there is actually no evidence that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome actually played it. On the other hand, there is no evidence (beyond assumption) that Joseph Henry Blackburne played "his" Shilling Gambit, as well.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Qh5 

White shows an interest in finishing off Black's King, quickly, even if the thematic move is risky.

It is interesting to note that "book" is 6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Ke6 
with a balanced game, although Black's King has to be feeling uncomfortable. Indeed, White has scored 12 - 3 in games in The Database. Stockfish 9 recommends the followup 8.O-O Kf7 9.Qf3+ Qf6 10.Qb3+ Qe6 11.Qf3+ Qf6 with a draw by repetition.

6...Nxc2+ 

It is tempting to go after White's Rook at a1, and this move has been a bit more successful for the second player, who has scored 19 - 17 - 1 in The Database. The "boring" but upright alternative is 6...Nf6!?.

7.Kd1 Nxa1 

Black has the Rook. One indication that he may have been hasty in doing so (a "deep sacrifice" by White, that often occurs in the BSJG) is that The Database shows Black's results dipping a bit, to 12 - 15 - 1.

Another indication is that Stockfish 9 now rates White as being almost a Rook ahead.

(Take a second to ponder the difference between club play, as represented by The Database, and "objective reality", as represented by the computer.)

8.Qf5+ 

Oh, dear. Given that Black's "best" response is now 8...Kd6 9.Nf7+, giving up his Queen, White has been amply rewared for his aggression.  

8...Ke7 

Find the checkmate.

9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.Nc4+ Kc5 11.b4+ 

Or 11.Qd5+ Kb4 12.a3+ Ka4 13.b3+ Nxb3 14.Nc3#

11...Kb5 12.Nc3+ Kxb4 13.Ba3 checkmate