Here is an update of a Jerome Gambit variation, the Norton Defense, which is creative and interesting - even if it is not the strongest line available to Black.
I have covered the line extensively in earlier posts; however, there are three new games from last year and this, worth mentioning.
From a historical perspective, it is worth starting with "A sparkling variation to the tiresome Piano game".
For a serious examination, it is best to work through "Jerome Gambit: Deep Dive (Part 1 and Part 2)"
iammahgoat - Lalrindikachhangte
10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Nf3+
First seen in Jerome - Norton, correspondence, 1876 (0-1, 42).
The computer at lichess.org, rates the move a blunder, which is a bit harsh. It is true that the game is now about even, at least in an "objective" sense; but the psychological impact of the move on White should not be underrated.
Over 20 years after the Norton game, the even more complicated "Nibs" variation, 8...Qh4+ 9.g3 Nf3+ was a significant improvement.
9.gxf3 Ne7
This attack on the Queen is more significant after Black's ...Qh4+. In fact, one has to wonder if Black has simply mixed up the order of his moves.
At this point in the game, the Knight move is more of a lost opportunity.
Two recent games continued: 9...Qh4+ (the right idea) 10.Kd1 Ne7 (10...Qf2 11.Qe5+ Kc6 12.Qd5+ Kb6 13.e5 c6 14.Qb3+ Kc7 15.Na3 b5 16.c4 a5 17.cxb5 a4 18.Qc3 Bxa3 19.bxa3 c5 20.Rb1 Kb6 21.Bb2 Bb7 22.Re1 Bxf3+ 23.Kc1 Qxe1+ 24.Kc2 Be4+ 25.d3 Qe2+ 26.Kc1 Bxd3 White resigned, SensGuy - Hassan313, lichess.org, 2020) 11.e5 (better was 11.Qe5+ Kc6 12.b4 Bxb4 13.Nc3 b6 14.Nd5 Bd6 15.Nxe7+ Kb7 16.Qd5+ Kb8 17.Nxc8 Qxf4) 11...Kc6 12.Qe4+ Nd5 (better 12...d5) 13.Nc3 b5 14.Qxd5+ Kb6 15.Qxa8 Bb7 16.Nd5+ Ka6 17.Nxc7+ Kb6 18.Nd5+ Kc6 (better 18...Ka6 19.Qxh8) 19.Qxh8 Kxd5 20.Qxg7 Ke6 21.Qg3 (bettr 21.f5+ Kxf5 22.Qxd7+ Kxe5 23.Qxb7 Kd6 24.Qxb5 Qh5 25.Qd3+ Kc7 26.Qe4 Bd6 27.d3 Be5) 21...Qh5 (better 21...Qxg3 22.hxg3 Bxf3+ 23.Ke1 Bxh1 24.Ke2 Bc6 25.d3 Bd4 26.c3 Bxe5 27.fxe5 Kxe5 28.Bh6) 22.Qg4+ Qxg4 23.fxg4 Bxh1 24.d3 Bf3+ 25.Ke1 Bxg4 26.Kf1 Bh3+ 27.Ke2 Bg1 28.Be3 Bxh2 29.Rh1 Bg4+ 30.Kf2 Black resigned, Deuslevult - Lavrenteva, lichess.org, 2021)
Stockfish 14 winds its way through the line: 9...Qh4+ 10.Kd1 Nf6 11.e5+ Kc6 12.exf6 Qxf6 13.Qd3 Qd4 14.Qxd4 Bxd4 15.Nc3 Re8 16.Ne2 Bf6 17.h4 d5 18.a4 Bd7 19.Ng3 b6 20.d3 Kb7 21.a5 Rg8 22.h5 c5 23.axb6 axb6 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 with an edge to Black
10.Qe5+ Kc6 11.Qc3 a5
Black's Bishop is going to fall due to the pin.
12.d4 b6 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Be3 d6 15.Qxg7 Rg8 16.Qc3 Ba6 17.Nd2 Ng6 18.O-O-O Kd7
White's attack will come. Stockfish 14 recommends 18...Qb8 and 19...Qb4, hoping to get the Queens off of the board, but White would still be better.
19.e5 Be2 20.Ne4
White can afford to give up the exchange to keep things moving.
20...Bxd1 21.Rxd1 Ke8
22.exd6 c6
This hurries the end.
23.d7+ Kf7 24.Ng5+ Kf8 25.Nxh7+ Kf7 26.Ng5+ Ke7 27.Bxc5 checkmate
Impressive piece cooperation!
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