Jerome Gambit: Hollow Chess Men

T S Eliot played chess. If he ever wrote something like "Hollow Chess Men" he might have included the line

            This is the way the game ends, not with checkmate,

            but with resignation.

Just a thought, as I reviewed my recent game.

But that is not how the game ended.

perrypawnpusher - jan-por

"Italian Game" tournament, Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7. Qxe5 Qe7

Whistler's defense. I am 8 - 3 - 2 against it; and 10 - 0 - 1 with it.

8.Qf4+ Qf6

Or 8...Kg7 as in perrypawnpusher - tmarkst, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 43) 

9.Qg3 

9...Ne7 

Or 9...Kg7 as in perrypawnpusher - Tacotopia, Chess.com, 2020 ({1/2-1/2, 61); 

Or 9...Qe6 as in perrypawnpusher-IndeedPerhapsYes/3d/move, Chess.com 2021 (1-0, 32): 

Or 9...d6 as in perrypawnpusher - alvarzr, blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 49) and perrypawnpusher - rffuse, Chess.com, 2026 (1-0, 25); 

Or 9...d5 as in perrypawnpusher - MeisterBob, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 32)

10.d3 

Two reasonable alternatives : 10.O-O as in perrypawnpusher - Yaku, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1/2-1/2, 26) and 10.Nc3 as in perrypawnpusher - atastypawn, Chess.com, 2024 (0-1, 30) and perrypawnpusher - joro_videv, Chess.com, 2022 (0-1, 34) 

10...Rf8 

This move, starting to castle-by-hand, keeps Black's advantage, but is not as strong as the thematic 10...d5.

11.Nc3 Kg8 12.O-O d6 

13.Bg5 

Beginnig a battle for the dark squares around the enemy King.

13...Qf7 14.Qh4 Nc6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Nd5 

16...Nd4 

Instead, 16.Bd4 would have provided dark square protection.

My opponent was thinking attack, instead of defend.

Unfortunately, the move changes his game from winning to losing.

17.Nf6+ Kh8 18.Nxe8 

18...Qxe8 

White has grabbed a Rook; and Black's best chance was to try one more skirmish with 18...Ne6 19.Nf6 g5 but White counters with 20.Qh5 Qxh5 21.Nxh5 and maintains an advantage.

19.Qf6+ Kg8 20.Qg7 checkmate