Thursday, June 17, 2021

Jerome Gambit: "Automatic" Recaptures



Black does well in the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) until he falls prey to an automatic recapture he should have avoided. Sometimes even good positions have their dangers for the less careful player.


iammahgoat - AkaBiru1417

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Qf6 9.d3 Be6 10.h3 11.Nc3 c6

As Black develops his pieces, his King grows safer. What should his game plan be? Exchanging Queens is a good idea.

12.Bg5 Qg6 13.f4 h6 

The enemy Bishop is in the way of the proposed exchange, so why not kick it away? There is an oversight lurking, however.

14.Bxe7+ 

Here is the problem. The Bishop moves - with check.

14...Kxe7 

This automatic recapture overlooks the fact that his Queen is unprotected. White is better after 14...Kf7 15.Qxg6+ Kxg6 16.f5+ Kf7 17.Bh4 Bd7 18.Bf2 Bb4 19.0–0–0 Rae8 20.a3 Ba5 21.g4 but after the text move, the game is over.

15.Qxg6 Black resigned




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