Jerome Gambit: Upon Further Examination

We continue the examination of the Blackburne Defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) started in the previous post, as experienced through a blitz game. Once again, the excitement, as well as the danger, is enhanced.

This is hard work, and we get to enjoy the benefits of their labor.

szachy1000 - Trickeryplayer

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5

This is actually where the game started, from a set position.

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's defense, from the famous game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884. Black offers his Rook, with the plan of both attacking White's King and trapping White's Queen.

There is theory involved, the kind best known beforehand as it can be difficult to uncover in a 3-minute game.

8.Qxh8 

This capture is playable, although the resulting positions can be complicated - and Blackburne did destroy his opponent after this move.

8...Qh4 9.O-O 

This move, quite sensible, leads to an even game.

The road to advantage is a tricky one: 9.d4 Bb4+ (9...Qxe4+ 10.Be3 Qxg2 11.Rf1 is uncomfortable, but in many cases White's King will O-O-O to safety) 10.c3 Bh3 11.gxh3 Re8 12.O-O Nf6 13.Qxe8+ Kxe8 14.cxb4 Nxe4 15.Nc3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qxh3 and White's material advantage is decisive.

9...Bh3 

This is one of those must-have-seen-it-in-a-book type moves. In fact, The Database has only one other example of a game like this, Fritz - RevvedUp, 2 12 blitz, 2006 (1- 0, 18). It is out of place, however.

Black had Blackburne's 9...Nf6 (preparing to lock the Queen in) 10.Qd8 (looking to escape; Blackburne's opponent missed this) Bh3 (now, although 10...Bb6, instead, would have forced the Queen to find another escape route, 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qd3) 11.Qxc7+ Kf8 12.Qxb7 Bxg2 (trying to avoid the draw by repetition that White has set up) 13.Qxa8+ Ne8 14.d4 (or 14.Kxg2 Qg4+ 15.Kh1 Qf3+ 16.Kg1 Qg4+ and Black sues for peace) Qg4 15.Bh6+ (just in time) Ke7 16.Qb7+ Kd8 17.Qb8+ Ke7 and White will have his draw after all. 

10.gxh3 

The advice in the face of an ever-ticking clock is Take the material. In this case, however, White would do best to rescue his Queen with 10.Qc3, when Black would rescue his light-square Bishop. White would then be up the exchange and a couple of pawns. 

10...Re8 

Despite the suggestions in the notes to this game, neither player is interested in pursuing a draw. Otherwise Black would have channeled Blackburne and tried 10...Nf6 11.Qxa8 Qxh3 12.Qxb7 Qg4+ 13.Kh1 Qf3+ 14.Kg1 Qg4+ Two pieces down, a draw would be his best bet.

11.Qc3 Re5 

Having sacrificed a Rook, Black seeks checkmate. He is encouraged by White's slow development.

12.Qg3 

Super sensible. He is willing to return material to take the pressure off of his King - and he sees a tiny glitch in his opponent's plan (and misses one in his own).

12...Rg5 13.Kh1 

Unpinning his Queen, but missing the fact that he had to play 13.d4! first. Unbelieveable. Something had to be done about the pin on White's f-pawn, and this both block's the Bishop and attacks the enemy Rook. Now 13...Bxd4 14.Bxg5 and 13...Rxg3 14.fxg3+ work.

Still, before moving now Black should ask himself: What has changed?

13...Rxg3 

Of course, this was the idea behind his previous move. He will win the Queen - and lose the game.

With 13...Qxe4+ 14.Kg1 Rxg3+ 15.hxg3 Qxc2 Black would have a Queen for two Rooks, and the advantage.

14.fxg3+ 

Capturing with check. Black has to return his Queen.

14...Qf6 15.Rxf6+ Nxf6 

Things have calmed down, and White is ahead a Rook and a couple of pawns.

16.b3 Nxe4 17.Bb2 Nf2+ 18.Kg2 Ne4 19.d3 Nd2 

A slip, but the game was largely over. 

15.Nxd2 Black resigned

Whew!