In the "good old days" of chess, it was considered valiant to offer sacrifices, and craven to refuse them. These attitudes produced some very entertaining games - and a plethora of virtual tut tuts from the computers that came after, and supplied skeptical analysis.
The world of "bullet chess" - in this case, a time limit of one minute with no increment - has brought back wild play, and, a person can win the game, even if he loses the annotations. The following game is an enjoyable example.
angelcamina - shahramkhoshseffat
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit - a practical choice in bullet chess. It is one of those openings that an opponent can be expected to disarm and defeat, if he has enough time; of course there often is not enough time in bullet chess.
4.Bxf7+
However, angelcamina has come prepared! This is the infamous Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
(You are right, Reader: there are no game examples of Joseph Henry Blackburne ever playing 3...Nd4. And, you are right again: there are no game examples of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome playing 4.Bxf7+ as a response. However, the opening calls out for the name, and I have supplied it.)
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Qh5
White's "strongest" move is 6.c3, leading to an even game, but angelcamina is planning to sacrifice his way to victory.
6...Nf6 7.Qf7+ Kxe5 8.f4+ Kxe4 9.Nc3+ Kxf4
What if Black plays 9...Kf5 instead? It turns out that White has already answered that question (more sacrifice), in angelcamina - rabirabi, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 13).
10.d3+
Warning: if you follow this line of play in the future, angelcamina will improve with 10.0-0+.
10...Ke5 11.O-O Nxc2
One last grab of material.
12.Bf4+ Kd4 13.Qc4 checkmate
White is on familiar ground in the following game, and he seems quite prepared when his opponent improves on earlier defenses White has faced. Alas, for Black, he needed to continue improving, in order to win the game; and there doesn't seem to have been time for that.
angelcamina - aldiardiansyah
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+ g6
Instead, 6...Ke7 was punished quickly in angelcamina - umutkaraca09, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019, (1-0, 9).
7.Nxg6 hxg6
An improvement over:
7...Nf6 in angelcamina - Skhokho1507, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019, (1-0, 19);
7...Qf6 in angelcamina - felix_paton, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019, (1-0, 12); and
7...Nxc2+ in angelcamina - eloali, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019, (1-0, 30).
8.Qxh8 Ke7
A mistake, and a losing one. At first, it looks like a mouse slip for 8...Kf7, although White would then be better after 9.Qxd4.
Black had to accept the Rook sacrifice with 8...Nxc2+ followed by 9...Nxa1, but there are times in the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit when that is wise, and there are times when that is not very wise; in a 1-minute game, it can be hard to know which case this is.
Now White collects the Knight a d4, castles, and is a comfortable exchange and 3 pawns up.
9.Qxd4 Ke8 10.O-O Be7
11.f4
Cold-hearted was 11.Qg7!?, but the text fits into White's plan.
11...Nf6 12.e5 Ng4 13.f5 b6
Drops another piece, but nothing works.
14.Qxg4 gxf5 15.Qg6+ Kf8 16.Rxf5+ Bf6 17.Rxf6+ Ke7 18.Rf7+ Ke8 19.Qg8 checkmate
In the following bullet game - one minute, no increment time control - White throws threat after threat against Black, knowing that they all can not be stopped.
This is a game that reminds me of a friend's complaint: I was winning, right up until the time you checkmated me. Ouch.
angelcamina - rabirabi
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6
angelcamina has also seen the alternative 5...Ke8: angelcamina - umutkaraca09, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 9); angelcamina - felix_paton, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 12); angelcamina - Skhokho1507, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 19).
6.Qh5
This move is scary, but not if you think about it. Of course, in a 1-minute game, who can do that?
6...Nf6
The weaker (but still okay) alternative, 6...Qf6, did not work for long in angelcamina - Skhokho1507, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 12)
7.Qf7+
Another scary Queen move. Black had to be thinking: Can he really do that? Sitting poolside with a cold drink, we can all answer that question, but - with the clock ticking? Anyhow, Black grabs another offered piece.
7...Kxe5 8.f4+
8...Kxe4 9.Nc3+ Kf5
Wisely avoiding 9...Kxf4? 10.0-0+! as 10...Ke5 (others lead to checkmate) 11.Rxf6! will lead to the recovery of the sacrificed material (or checkmate).
10.h3
This almost looks like a gotta-make-a-quick-move bullet style move, and it encourages Black to go after a poisoned Rook. Instead, the second player should initiate the exchange of Queens with 10...Qe7+, pretty much safe-guarding his game.
10...Nxc2+
White now has a checkmate in 14 moves, starting with 11.Kf2.
11.Kd1
This gives White the advantage, too.
11...Ne3+
Deciding that the Rook is not worth it, but it is too late.
12.dxe3 d5 13.g4 checkmate
I try as often as possible to aim toward the Giuoco Piano in the opening, so that I can surprise my opponents with the Jerome Gambit. Occasionally, I meet a defender who wants to surprise me with the Blackburne Shilling Gambit. I usually surprise him with the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit - and, quite often, my junk opening beats his junk opening.
perrypawnpusher - bandiahegyrol
2 12 blitz, FICS, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. Black wants to see 4.Nxe5?!, so he can respond with 4...Qg5!?. It may be true that White would still have a slight edge after 5.Bxf7+, but Black would be playing the kind of wacky, unbalanced game that he was seeking.
Of course, White can pursue a safe advantage with 4.Nxd4, 4.0-0, 4.Nc3, 4.c3, 4.d3 - and probably even 4.a3 and 4.h3, if Stockfish 10 is to be believed.
I prefer "Jerome-izing" the game, however, even if it should only lead to an even position.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. The Database has 6,091 games with this move, with White scoring 56%. (Fair enough, but I have played the line in 44 games, and have scored 92%.)
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8
6.Qh5+ Ke7
This is one of the reasons that I play the Queen check, although the strongest response is 6...g6, when Black seems to cede the exchange after 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Qxh8 - which is why some players avoid (or miss) the line in blitz. See "Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit: Black Runs Out of Energy" for some examination.
For the record, The Database has 339 games which reach the position after 6...Ke7. Pay attention, students: White has a forced checkmate!
7.Qf7+
Only 178 games (53% of the games that reached 6...Ke7) in The Database include this move.
7...Kd6 8.Nc4+
Only 94 games (53% of the games that reached 7...Kd6) in The Database include this move. (Even so, White lost from this position - a checkmate of Black in 3 moves - 4 times.)
8...Kc6
Or 8...Kc5 9.Qd5+ Kb4 10.a3 Ka4 11.Nc3#
9.Qd5 checkmate
The following game is a mess. White makes mistakes (more than usual). Black makes mistakes (plenty enough to lose). Quickly.
Because, to be fair: in a 1-minute (no increment) game, advantages often shift back and forth, until someone wins, or time runs out.
Also, the game is a Jerome Gambit variant, and we know that the Jerome is an oft-refuted line of play. White purposefully gets himself a worse game - and then, often wins. So, maybe things are not so surprising, after all.
angelcamina - eloali
1 0 bullet, lichess.org
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. It can work as a surprise, eating up response time, containing tactics that impact on the clock.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. White has his own tactical surprise.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8
At first glance, this looks safest. As angelcamina knows from earlier experience, however, this move allows the action to focus on the Black King.
6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 Nxc2+
White's opening continues to cast its spell. This counter-grab of a Rook is always tempting, but, here, it should only lead to an even game, or maybe and edge for White. The correct move was 7...hxg6.
8.Kd1 Nxa1 9.Nxh8+ Ke7
10.Qf7+
The game wouldn't be nearly as interesting after 10.Qe5#, but it would be over.
10...Kd6 11.d4
Highly unusual. angelcamina now misses 11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.Qe5#. It is not safe for Black to keep dancing on the edge of the abyss, however - after the text, White is still better.
11...Kc6 12.Qd5+ Kb6 13.Nc3 c6
14.Qb3+ Kc7
Okay, a couple of "Think Quick!" surprises, there.
15.Bf4+ d6 16.Qf7+ Ne7 17.e5 d5
White has two pawns for a piece in this strange position - and his King is safer.
18.e6+ Kb6 19.Na4+ Ka5 20.b3 b5 21.Bd2+ Ka6 22.Nc5+ Kb6 23.Qf4 Ng6
24.Qe3
Saving the Queen this time, but hanging the Knight. Time had to be a factor.
24...Nxh8 25.Qc3 Bxc5
Falling in with White's plans - it is surprising how often defenders "believe" in their opponents' attacks. Best defense was to return the Knight with 25...Nxb3 26.axb3 a5, with advantage (but that is easiest to see after the game).
26.Qa5+ Kb7 27.Qxd8 Bb6 28.Qe7+ Ka6 29.Qxh7 Bb7
30.e7 Black resigned
In the following online blitz game, Black "surprises" White with the Blackburne Shilling Gambit - only to be surprised, in turn, by receiving the Jerome Gambit treatment. Things go steadily in White's direction, until he makes a slip, and that is Black's chance; but he misses it.
angelcamina - felix_paton
3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+
Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 Qf6
Interesting, but 7...hxg6 had to be played.
8.Nxh8+ Ke7 9.e5 Nxc2+ 10.Kd1 Qxf2 11.Qf7+
With fast time controls, this kind of thing can happen. The safe path was to snap up the advanced Knight with 11.Kxc2.
Okay, Black has his chance. Can he exit the highway to oblivion?
11...Kd8
Inertia. Instead, 11...Qxf7 12.Nxf7 Nxa1 would give him the advantage.
12.Qxf2 Black resigned.
And so it goes. angelcamina doesn't give many chances.
How many strong ideas can you come up with, at a minute a move? How about at a minute a game?
Again, angelcamina thrives in such an environment. He has met this opponent before.
angelcamina - Skhokho1507
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. I suspect it kills at bullet time control.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. White wishes to be the aggressor.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 Nf6
The position has gotten quite wild, but it is focused upon the Black King, which is the right idea in quick chess. Black's move looks inspired, but it is actually not as strong as 7...hxg6, which presents White with some difficulties after 8.Qxh8?! (8.Qxg6+ would be best)
8.Qe5+ Ne6 9.Nxh8 Bg7 10.Qf5 Bxh8
White has a Rook and three pawns for two pieces, but the game will not be decided by mere material.
11.e5 Nd5 12.Qxh7 Bxe5
13.Qg8+
The greedy 13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.Qxe5 was stronger, not just because it grabs a piece, but because it also reduces the defenders who want to counter White's Queen. But - Her Majesty has a one-track mind.
13...Nf8
You have to wonder what White would do after 13...Ke7 14.Qxd8+ (what else?) Kxd8. I imagine angelcamina would go with the direct 15.h4!?, but who knows?
14.f4
How does that song go? Kick 'em when they're up. Kick 'em when they're down... Surely, the piece grab, this time 14.Qxd5, would lead to a win, eventually, but White is not playing for the "eventually".
14...Nxf4 15.O-O
Of course. A bullet move if I ever saw one.
15...Ne2+ 16.Kh1 Qe7 17.d4
17...Bxd4
The computer recommends 17...Bxh2 18.Rxf8+ Qxf8 19.Qxf8+ Kxf8 20.Kxh2 Nxd4 when the game is mostly balanced.
18.Bg5
This move provides more heat and more pressure as Black's clock winds down. In a longer game, White would have found the thematic 18.Bh6.
18...Ng3+
Thinking of an escape line that will never come. Instead, 18...Qg7 would extinguish White's attack - But Black does not have the time.
19.hxg3
White won on time.
I ran across a copy of GM Lev Alburt's "Back to Basics" column in Chess Life, titled "How to Trick the Trickster", featuring my Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+) blitz game against PunisherABD, on FICS.
I want to quote from GM Alburt, as it could be applied to the Jerome Gambit, as well.
When is it OK to use traps that may be somewhat unsound? First, the potential punishment your well-prepared opponent can mete out to you should be relatively mild, while your reward (should he fall into your trap) should be much bigger. Two, at least three out of ten (30%) of your current opponents should go wrong! (When you are faced with the unenviable task of repeatedly defending a worse position rather than enjoying the fruits of your cleverness, it's time to quit. You've outgrown this particular trap.)
From my students' experience, the trap below (3...Nd4) works well up to the 1400 level. (Even higher in blitz: your opponent might be able to recall/find the right way, but it may cost him too much time for his comfort.)
Something to think about.
