Jerome Gambit Book (Part 4)

                                  

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, which reflects upon two chess games having the same moves, I thought it would be fun to present a game from the Jerome Gambit book that is an exact replica of what is likely the most famous Jerome Gambit game - Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885.

Before we take a look, however, I would like to quote from my earlier article on the Jerome

Time suddenly ran out on the Jerome Gambit as the 1890s came to a close, with the publication, in 1899, of Mr. Blackburne’s Games at Chess, which included the game thereafter treated by most sources as the refutation of the attack

Amateur - Blackburne, London,  “about 1880” (notes by Blackburne) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ I used to call this the Kentucky opening. For a while after its introduction it was greatly favored by certain players, but they soon grew tired of it (Blackburne) 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 Not to be outdone in generosity 8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0 Nf6 10.c3 Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4# 0-1

There are a few things wrong with the generally accepted view of Blackburne’s miniature. The game was published at least fourteen years before Mr. Blackburne’s Games at Chess, in the August 1885 issue of the Brooklyn Chess Chronicle. It was played, according to the Chronicle, “some months ago in London” – that is, 5 years later than the “about 1880” that Blackburne recalled. Such an error in memory, from someone who played thousands of games is, of course, quite understandable. 

In addition, the BCC article included suggestions – “he should have attempted to free his pieces by 9.d4 before castling” and “the only hope he had was 10.Qd8,” which would have strengthened White’s game considerably.

With all this in mind, let's continue with the modern game.

(By the way, the player with the White pieces is a bot at the online chess site, lichess.org.)

Mr_Chess_Berserk - Didnt-play-badly-br0

45 30 classical, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's line, offering the Rook. 

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.O-O Nf6 

Black has succeeded in - at least, temporarily - trapping White's Queen, and needs only one wasted tempo by his opponent to begin a winning sacrificial attack, crowned by a Queen sacrifice.

Let's finish this game, and then come back to this critical position.

10.c3 

Hoping to get in d2-d4, blocking the diagonal of the attacking Bishop.

10...Ng4 

Black strikes first.

Modern defenders against the Jerome Gambit have Blackburne's example to follow.

Modern attackers with the Jerome Gambit have to do a bit more work.

11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 

Offering the other Rook.

13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4 checkmate

Beautiful play - but not as enjoyable for the first player.

Let's look at the "only hope" for White at move 10, as provided by the Brooklyn Chess Chronicle.

10.Qd8!?

Suddenly, Black has to be careful, and think clearly, as White is threatening to jailbreak his Queen. Still - Black has his other Rook to offer.

10...Bh3 

We can look at alternatives that leave White better - 10...Bb6, 10...Bd7, 10...g5 - at another time.

11.Qxc7+ 

White's resource is to check repeatedly, gaining a three-fold repetition of position.

Black has to allow the repetition - or repeat, himself - in order to avoid disadvantage.

11...Kf8 12.gxh3 

Or 12.Qxb7 Bxg2 (12...Qg4 13.Qxa8+ Kf7 14.Qb7+ Kf8 15.Qa8+ Kf7 16.Qb7+ Kf8 17.Qa8+ draw by repetition, forced by White) 13.Qxa8+ (13.Kxg2 Qg4+ 14.Kh1 Qh3 15.Rg1 Qf3+ 16.Rg2 Qd1+ 17.Rg1 Qf3+ draw by repetition forced by Black) 13...Ne8 14.d4 Qg4 15.Bh6+ Ke7 16.Qb7+ Kd8 17.Qb8+ Ke7 18.Qb7+ Kd8 19.Qb8+ draw by repetition forced by Black.

12...Qxh3 13.d4 Qg4+ 14.Kh1 Qf3+ 15.Kg1 Qg4+ draw by repetition

Related analysis can be found elsewhere on this blog, including "Updating the Blackburne Defense (Parts 1 & 2)"