BSJG: Remembering

Analyzing a recent Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game, I suddenly realized that the play - and the notes, and The Database -  rewrote my evaluation of a particular line of defense.

Actually, it reminded me of earlier - stronger - recommendations that I had made and then forgotten.

Fortunately, the player of the White pieces in the following game was able to procede to a successful finish anyway. (Warning: Stockfish's suggestions are quite bizarre.)

I think it is worth sharing, in case it appears on your chess board one of these days. 

maraeka - Lizano

5 10 blitz, FICS, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

Of course, White can also play 4.Nxe4 or 4.d3 or 4.c3 or 4.0-0. He should avoid the complications of 4.Nxe5 Qg5!?, however.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.c3 Qg5 

Black plays his signature move. Stronger was 6...Nc6 7.d4.

The most recent blog post on this line was "Jerome Gambit + blitz chess = exciting play". Some history can be found in "Meeting A Surprise With a Surprise".

7.cxd4 Qxg2 

Although this looks scary, The Database shows that White has scored 68% in this position.

Most recently, I have recommended the logical 8.Qf3, protecting the Rook and offering to exchange Queens, with White having a material advantage.

8.Qf3 

The thing is - see "Finishing It Off Smartly" and "Mate is Mate, Mate" for examples - 8.Qb3+ instead would now lead to checkmate, refuting Black's whole counter-attacking idea.

8...Qxf3 9.Nxf3 Nf6 

I do not think that Black's well-developed King compensates for the lost pawn.

10.d5+ Kd6

The King wishes to demonstrate his courage, but 10...Kf7 was wiser. 

11.e5+ Kxd5 12.Nc3+ Kc4 13.exf6 gxf6 

It makes sense to advance your King in an endgame, the better to help control play. However, this is more of a Queenless middlegame, and Black's King is in grave danger.

14.b3+ Kd3 15.Bb2 

Logical and strong.

One indication that the end is almost near is the quirky line offered by  Stockfish 13: 15.Kd1 Rg8 16.Re1 Rg1 17.Rxg1 d6 18.Re1 Bh6 19.Re4 Bxd2 20.Bxd2 b6 21.Rd4 checkmate. Not the kind of thing you would discover in a blitz game. 

15...Bc5 16.O-O-O Bxf2 

17.Rhg1 

Creative. A deflection sacrifice.

Again, an un-human line would have been 17.Rde1 Rg8 18.Nd1 Bc5 19.Bc3 Ba3+ 20.Kb1 f5 21.Re3 checkmate

17...Bxg1 18.Rxg1 

This works well.

A humorous alternative was 18.Re1 Bf2 19.Re7 Re8 20.Rxe8 d6 21.Nd1 Be6 22.Rxe6 Re8 23.Nxf2 checkmate.

18...d6 

White's lead in development is crushing.

19.Re1 Bf5 20.Re3 checkmate

A fine creation!