Jerome Gambit: First Steps (Part 3)

 

There is another way that your opponent can try to trip you up on your way to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) - by playing the Blackburne Shilling Gambit, 3...Nd4.

This is another one of those situations where White can choose between the "right" way and the Jerome way.

I am not going to analyze the opening in depth, but will point out that there are 3 basic things to remember about the BSG

- do not capture the e-pawn with 4.Nxe5?!, as that allows Black to spring his Queen into activity with 4...Qg5!?, which gives him more chances than necessary;

- for the "right" move choose, instead, 4.Nxd4 or 4.0-0 or 4.Nc3 or 4.d3 or 4.c3; 

- for the Jerome-ish move, of course, choose 4.Bxf7+

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ White has two pawns for his sacrificed Bishop.

Now if Black advances his King with either 5...Kf6 or 5...Ke6, White does best with 6.c3, when the line featuring the mutual capture of the Knights, 6...d6 7.cxd4 dxe5 8.dxe5 Kxe5 9.d4 puts Black's King in greater danger.

Against 5...Ke7 or 5...Ke8, 6.c3 is also a good idea, although in the latter case 6.Qh5+ could be tried as well.

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The Database shows that White scores a solid 56% in the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.