Jerome Gambit: Objective vs Subjective

The following game got me thinking about something I wrote in "Blackburne Shilling JeromeGambit: Objective and Subjective"

When putting together a Jerome Gambit repertoire, it is useful to have access to both "objective" evaluations - say, from a computer chess engine - and "subjective" evaluations - as from a collection of games that can tell you how successful a line has been. Often a move that is not "objectively" best may score very well in actual play. 

angelcamina - LechstergFelix3

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. 

White has calmer and more sober responses in 4.0-0, 4.Nxd4, and 4.d3, but the Bishop sacrifice is more Jerome-ish.

To be fair, I have not found any games with Alonzo Wheeler Jerome playing this line. 

I also have not found any games with Joseph Henry Blackburne playing his "shilling gambit," either.

See "Jerome Gambit: Blackburne Shilling / Kostic Jerome Gambit (Parts 1 & 2)".

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 

An overview of angelcamina's games with the gambit can be found at "Jerome Gambit: No One Ever Won A Game By Resigning"  

It can be said that Stockfish 16.1, at 31 ply, evaluates the alternative 5...Ke8 as strong as 5...Ke6.

6.Qh5

angelcamina is 11 - 14 -1 in games with this position. Given that the computer rates Black as being 3 1/3 pawns better (30 ply), that is a decent result.

Also seen here is 6.c3. Play might continue 6...Nc6 (6...Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Ke6) 7.d4 Nxe5 8.dxe5 Kf7 (8...Kxe5 9.Qd5+ Kf6 10.Bg5+ Kg6 11.Qf5+ Kh5 12.g4#) 9.e6+ Ke8 (9...Kxe6 10.Qd5+ Ke7 11.Bg5+ Nf6 12.e5) 10.Qh5+ as in the twin games wolfpack123 - chessgeekdavidb, GameKnot.com 2006 and wolfpack123 - dbohm, GameKnot.com 2006 (1-0, 34).

6...Nf6 7.Qf7+ Kd6 

Black turns down the offer of a piece that he could have had with 7...Kxe5. With the clock ticking, quick decisions have to be made.

8.Nc4+ Kc5

8...Kc6 

If Black's King looks like he is in danger, that is because he is. He can survive his perilous position, but it will take care.

9.b4+ 

Throw another log on the fire.

9...Kxb4 

Skeptical. He figures he can give back a piece and survive.

10.c3+ Kb5 11.cxd4 

11...c6  

An escape hatch, if Black's King can reach it.

12.Nba3+ Ka6 13.O-O b5 

Probably better was 13...d5.

14.Ne3 Kb7 

White is now a pawn ahead, and Black has castled-by-hand, but the biggest disparity is the first player's lead in development.

15.e5 Nd5 

Stockfish 16.1 suggests the unpalatable 15...Ne8, instead.

16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5+ Kb8 

18.d3 Bb7 19.Qxb5 Qg5

Time slip? Mouse slip? It is now essentially Game Over.

20.Bxg5 h6 21.Bf4 

Setting up a discovered check, showing that angelcamina always has tactics in mind. Still, 21.Rab1 would put Black out of his misery quicker.

21...g5 22.Bg3 Bg7 23.e6+ Kc8 24.e7 Black resigned

Checkmate in 3 is threatened.