New Refutation Trap for the Blackburne Shilling Gambit

Looking for more "applications" of the Jerome Gambit idea Bxf7+, I encountered a series of posts at the Chess.com Openings Forum, titled New Refutation Trap For the Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

I would like to share some of the many comments in the discussion. (If you look closely, you will not only find Bxf7+, but a near transposition to the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. There are now 30 game examples in The Database.)

BlackLawliet,  January 31, 2021

So I was playing a game, and my opponent played the notorious Blackburne shilling gambit, but instead of trading knights, I set up a trap that I find almost everyone falls for; 4.b4!...

The point is that almost everyone plays Bxb4 which is actually a blunder because: 5.c3... 

After this, you may think that your opponent can just trade knights and then just retreat the bishop, but why this trap is so good is because people fail to see is that after they take your knight, and you capture with the queen, you are threatening Qxf7# which is checkmate...

And after they protect f7 you can simply take their bishop.

I've played quite a few games using this trap and not once has someone not taken the pawn. Also, I checked the data base and this move is actually a novelty, so I'm calling it the Flint Lock trap, The reason being that after 4. b4, the developed pieces resemble the shape of a flint lock...

Deranged, January 31, 2021

Nice trap! Black can save the piece, but only if he gives up a pawn + completely ruins his position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 b5 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.cxd4 Kf8 8.dxe5

tactixianchess, January 31, 2021

Nice opening trap! However, the brilliancy is pushed even further. (Add this variation to your trap)

Write my name in the books when I contribute to opening theory. 

Nice name for the trap as well. 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.b4 Now we have the trap on the board. 4...Bxb4 Black accepts. 5.c3 b5 Trying to counterattack (cxb4 and cxd4 are met by bxc4) 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 The King must take. 7.Nxe5+ Kf8 8.cxd4 And White is completely winning. (Do Not play 8.cxb4 after 8...Qe7. This is not looking good for White (Granted White is stillslightly better but it is a very uncomfortable position. I would rather play as black.) 9.Ng4 All other moves are losing. 9...Qxe4+ 10.Ne3 Bb7 By the time you reach this position you willbe regretting playing cxb4...

horselover123 February 1, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.b4 d5 5.Bxd5

5.exd5 Bg4 counterplay, threatening to double the pawns and play e4 6.Be2 A safe move to not weaken the kingside but really Bxd5 should've been played earlier 6...Bxf3 this is what the engine recommends, but many moves can be played here (6... Nxe2 7.Qxe2 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nf6) (6... Nxf3+ 7. Bxf3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nf6) 7. Bxf3 Nf6 

5...Nf6 near equality, black plans to eliminate the bishop by Nxd5 and make the d5 pawn a target, and also take b4 when safe 

6.c3 Preserve the b4 pawn while making a threat, but Nxd5 still (6.Bb3 well you could retreat the bishop but this doesn't benefit you, as now black has a comfortable position 6...Bg4 one of many moves that can be played, pressures knight (6...Bxb4 also playable, c3 doesn't work because of Nxf3+ or Nxb3) 

6...Nxd5 7.exd5 don't take d4 with cxd4 as b4 will hang (7.cxd4 Nxb4,  Nd3+ and exd4 are both threats 8.dxe5 doesn't help (8.d5 probably a safer move; here material is even but after Nd3+ you are uncastled 8...Nd3+ 9.Ke2 (9. Kf1)) 8...Qd3) 

7...Nxf3+ 8.Qxf3 Not much to say about this position.. white is momentarily up a pawn but it is doubled and over-extended black has clear development plans with Bd6 and Be7 followed by 0-0, it will probably fall later on, so I would say this is about equal

horselover123 February 8, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.b4 b5 Trying 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke8 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.Qxh8 Nxc2+ 10.Kc1 Nxa1 11.Qxg8 black is momentarily up a piece for two pawns, and the piece will be regained with Bb2, so black will be down material, but black will also end up in an endgame with the bishop pair and has counterplay with Bb7and moves like Qf6 and Qg5, if you don't believe me check the engine..

It continues...

Later there is a link to a YouTube video on the line.