BSJG: Reaching Too Far

 

The following Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit is a good example of the defender over-reaching. 

First, rather than play a regular Italian Game, he tries the Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

Then, he underestimates the Jerome Gambit version of the BSG.

Finally, he makes a grab for a "free" Rook that turns out to be anything but free.

It cannot be much of a surprise that he lasts an unlucky 13 moves.

JefferyLu1 - Andymurray2811

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. White has a number of reasonable replies, including 4.Nxd4, 4.d3, 4.c3 and 4.0-0.

What Black is really hoping is that White will play 4.Nxe5, so he can respond with 4...Qg5 and complications. In a 3-minute game, that just might work.

4.Bxf7+ 

Applying the Jerome remedy, however: the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Qxg6+ 

Declining the Rook - he could have tried entering the wild position after 8.Qxh8 Nxc2+ 9.Kc1 Nxa8 10.Qxg8 Qg5.

White must have something planned. Black should be wary.

8...Ke7 9.d3 Nxc2+ 

A free Rook!

Black is much more interested in being a Rook and two pieces up than in exploring the more reasonable 9...Ne6 10.Bg5+ Nxg5 11.Qxg5+ Nf6 12.e5 Kf7 13.exf6 d5  when White would wind up with 3 or 4 pawns for his sacrificed piece.

10.Kd1 Nxa1 

It is interesting that Stockfish 13, which has little appreciation for the Jerome Gambit, suggests that instead of the text, Black "allow" White to reach a draw by repetition, 10...Bh6 11.Kxc2 Qf8 12.Bxh6 Nxh6 13.Qg5+ Ke8 14.Qe5+ Kd8 15.Qg5+ etc.

I don't know that White would be interested in a draw. I have seen in many club games that the extra pawns are at least equal to the enemy's extra piece, despite what computers tend to say. 

11.Bg5+ Nf6 12.Qxf6+ Ke8 13.Qg6 checkmate

Pretty.