JeromeGambit: Snappy Ending

Here we have another Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ) Blackburne defense game from the ongoing Chess.com "Giuoco Piano Game" tournament.

I am happy with my 14th move and the snappy ending.

perrypawnpusher - marvinni

3 d/move, Giuoco Piano Game tournament, Chess.com, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

This is Blackburne's defense. In his notes to the game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884, Joseph Henry Blackburne said of this move, "Not to be outdone in generosity".

As I pointed out in "Jerome Gambit: As Advertised (Part 1)"

Black is not just blocking the check and kicking the White Queen. This move leads to complications that include sacrificing the Rook at h8 - see "What About the Rook?"

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.d4 

I have played 9.d4 only twice before, in perrypawnpusher - bakker, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 33) and perrypawnpusher - DocBrowne, 3d/move, Giuoco Piano tournament, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 19). 

A quick look at The Database shows 101 games with 9.d4, with White scoring 78%, compared to 143 games with 9.0-0, where White scored 65%. Hmmmmm.....

9...Nf6 

The text is Stockfish 15's first choice. 

The computer's second choice, 9...Bb4+, was seen in perrypawnpusher - bakker, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2007.

Further on down the line is the exciting 9...Qxe4+, seen in  perrypawnpusher - DocBrowne, 3d/move, Giuoco Piano tournament, Chess.com, 2021.

10.Nd2

This move was recommended by Hindemburg Melao, in a 2003 internet article at www.superajedrez.com, in his notes to Amateur (Melao gave the name "Millner") - Blackburne, London, 1884.

The Database has only one other game with 10.Nd2, dj222 - invincible1, GameKnot.com, 2003 (1-0, 17).

Capturing Black's Bishop with 10.dxc5 could lead to 19...Qxe4+ 11.Be3 Qxg2 12.Rf1 which is looked upon with disfavor by National Master Bruce Pandolfini in his Chess Openings: Traps & Zaps (1989).

For the record, after the game Komodo 13.02 suggested 10.e5 dxe5 11.Nd2 with advantage to White.

10...Bxd4 11.O-O 

In this position it looks like Black has all the tactical shots, but if White can get his Knight to f3 in time, he will maintain his advantage.

Simplest at this point for Black - if you are thinking of giving up your Queen - is 11...Qxh2+ 12.Kxh2 Ng4+ 13.Kg1 Bxh8, grabbing a pawn. I don't think Black's two Bishops would be enough compensation for being down the exchange, however. (Maybe in a master game.)

11...Ng4 

Similar to the line given above, Black also had the direct 11...Qxh2+ 12.Kxh2 Ng4+ 13.Kg1 Bxh8.

Tricky is 11...Bh3 12.Qxa8 Qg4  but White has enough material to give some back and find a way out, 13.g3 Qe2 14.Qxb7 Bxf1 15.Qb3+ Ke8 16.Qf3. The Queen arrives in time.

12.Nf3 Bxf2+ 

12...Qxh2+ and 12...Qxf2+ are the right sacrifices, followed by 13...Bxh8.

13.Kh1 

Necessary, as 13.Rxf2 would lead to me being checkmated: 13...Qxf2+ 14.Kh1 Qf1+ 15.Ng1 Nf2#. That is probably what my opponent had in mind. 

13...Qh5 

Black keeps the pressure on White's King, while protecting his h-pawn so that White can not play Qxh7+.

Black's problem is his King on the f-file, as my next move shows. The only way he can develop his Bishop is to surrender his Rook - under circumstances quite different than the famous Blackburne game.

14.Be3 Nxe3 15.Rxf2 Ng4 

"Best" according to Stockfish 15 is 15...Bf5, which is terrible and tandamount to resigning.

The text allows a pleasant double check.

16.Ng5+

The checking Knight is not protected. The checking Rook is not protected. It doesn't matter.

16...Ke7 17.Rf7 checkmate