Cheapo

 

The title of today's post is a word of caution to defenders - to beware of what the AI Copilot defines

In chess, a “cheapo” is slang for a simple, often crude tactical trick or swindle — usually a primitive trap — set to catch an inattentive, overconfident, or time‑pressed opponent, and sometimes to swindle a win or draw from a losing position 

So, I guess, I could also have used the word swindle.

Anyhow, the game I am going to share is a relative of the Jerome Gambit - the Noa or Monck Gambit. So far, I am 5 - 2 - 2 with it.

perrypawnpusher - NN 

Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 

The Two Knights defense.

4.Nc3 

Can I get a transposition to the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit with 4...Bc5 5.Bx7+ ?

4...Nxe4 

Not today.

Very well, you say No and I say Noa. 

5.Bxf7+ 

The Noa Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5 7.Neg5+ Kg8 

8.d4 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 

After the game, I checked with lichess.org. It has 584 games with this position, with about 2/3 of them having the recapture I chose - with the Queen.

10.Qxf3 

I played this move because it has what the guys at the club used to call "cheapo potential".

10...Qf6 

Instead, 10...Qd7 keeps the game even.

11.Qxd5+ 

Black resigned