Monday, October 28, 2024

Jerome Gambit: Quite A Game


The following Jerome Gambit is quite a battle, showing knowledge of the opening by both players. It follows what is perhaps the best known Jerome Gambit, from Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884, which was a crush for the second player, but, subsequently play was found for White that indicated a draw was a more accurate outcome.

Black's innovation on his 9th move did nothing to overturn what became White's advantage.

Quite a game, given the speed of play!

penguingm1 - sutcunuri

30 seconds bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's variation. It's complicated, but White can afford to capture the Rook. 

8.Qxh8 Qh4 

Here comes Black's counter.

9.d4 Bh3


This move is a novelty, according to The Database. Likely Black's hope is now 10.gxh3 Qxe4+ followed by 11.Qxh1. At this time control - 1/2 minute bullet - it could work.

White has also faced 9...Qxe4+ 10.Be3 Qxg2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Rf1 Bh3 13.Nd2 Nf6 14.Bh6+ Ke8 15.Qh8+ Kf7 16.Qg7+ Ke6 17.dxc5 Rg8 18.Qxg8+ Nxg8 19.Be3 Kf7 20.cxd6 Qc6 21.dxc7 Qxc7 22.Rg1 Bf5 23.c3 Qc4 24.Nxc4 Black resigned penguingm1 - sutcunuri, lichess.org, 2020

10.Be3 

Only a computer like Stockfish 16.1 would prefer 10.dxc5 Qxe4+ 11.Be3 Qxg2 12.Qxh7+ Ke6 13.Nc3 (13.Kd2) 13...Nf6 14.Qxc7 Qxh1+ 15.Kd2 Qxa1 16.Bd4 dxc5 17.Qe5+ Kd7 18.Nd5 Ne4+ 19.Qxe4 cxd4 20.Qe7+, even if it was, technically, better than the move played.

10...Re8 11.dxc5 Nf6 

Black traps the Queen. White could respond to 11...Bxg2 and 11...Rxe4 with 12.Qc3

12.Qxe8+ 

White will get a Rook and a Bishop for his Queen. Despite the pyrotechnics, his King will be safe in the center.

12...Kxe8 13.gxh3 Qxe4 14.Rg1 Qxc2 15.Nd2 dxc5 

16.Rg5 b6 17.Rd1 Qxb2 18.Nf3 Qxa2 


Black's attack has run its course. It is now White's turn.

19.Re5+ Kf7 20.Ng5+ Kg7 21.Re7+ Kg8 22.Rd8+ Black resigned


It is checkmate next move.


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