I suspect that some readers think that when I refer to our favorite chess opening, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) as being "refuted" that I am just trying to scare them by invoking something imaginary - like a boogyman.
Not so. The opening is best played at the club level, at quick time controls. It can be far more challenging, otherwise.
However, even in a risky opening, there are riskier lines. One such example is capturing the Rook on h8 in Whistler's defense.
Some Jerome Gambit enthusiasts are happy to take on the complications. They count on their experience with the opening, their tactical skills - and, often, their luck. But they are aware of the dangers that lurk.
This is all an introduction to some analysis (2004) by Brian Wall and Tyrin Price that I have occasionally referred to in past blog posts. It should be a caution to some, and a map of the difficulties ahead to avoid for others.
Some of the complications in analysis are due to tranlating the article to ChessBase and back. I have added diagrams. My occasional comments are in [blue].
Modern computers make it tough on old gambits - It is still personally interesting to investigate shaky openings and discover beautiful new positions hitherto unexplored. A few plausible mistakes by Black and voila! - tactical nightmares appear.
[Brian makes a good case for playing the Jerome - Rick.]
It appears that the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) made its debut in the April 1874 edition of the Dubuque Chess Journal (p.358), in an article titled "New Chess Opening," beginning "We have received from A.W. Jerome, of Paxton, Ford county, Illinois, some analyses of a new move in the Giuoco Piano, first played by him, which we offer our readers as: Jerome's Double Opening..."
Analysis was continued in the July 1874 issue of the DCJ (p.358), under the title "Jerome's Double Opening." There is the comment "Note: It should be understood that Mr. Jerome claims in this New Opening 'only a pleasant variation of the Giuoco Piano, which may win or lose according to the skill of the players, but which is capable of affording many new positions and opportunities for heavy blows unexpectedly.' "
Fittingly, the July 1874 DCJ issue also contained the game Jerome - Shinkman, which lasted 21 moves, and "Mr. Shinkman announced loss of the Queen or mate in six moves."
A. W. Jerome - W. Shinkman, 1874. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 Nf6 11.d3 Ke7 12.Nc3 g5 13.Rf1 c6 14.g3 d5 15.Bd2 Bg4 16.Qg2 Rhf8 17.h3 Nxe4 18.Bf4 gxf4 19.gxf4 Rxf4 20.Nxe4 Rxf1+ 21.Kxf1 and Mr. Shinkman announced loss of the Queen or mate in six moves. -----------------------------
The nice thing about the Jerome Gambit is that it is traditional in some circles to shout "Jerome!!" when you play 4.Bxf7+!! Then 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ and now Watson and Schiller recommend 6...Ke6 in Surviving Annoying Openings.[Survive & Beat Annoying Chess Openings, 2003]
I don't know if all this was considered old hat 150 years ago but Tyrin Price, who is on my Yahoo list for BrianWallChess@Yahoogroups.com and also with me in Chess_improvement@Yahoogroups.com, seems to have invented or possibly rediscovered a simple refutation.
[to be continued]
No comments:
Post a Comment