On the other hand (see "Beware, Hubris"), just as a player facing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and other similar manisfestations benefits from taking the opening "seriously" enough to avoid over-confidence and self-inflicted disaster, so, too, does the player of the White pieces benefit from serious attention to the opening he plays. This means not only knowing significant lines of play, but committing energy to the necessary struggle that always arises.In the following game the first player only accomplishes one of the two goals, so he is unable to pull himself back from the precipice.
NN -Brunhold
Kempten, 1988
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, from Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885 – the best known Jerome Gambit game. Less well known is that the Rook sacrifice, so incredibly successful for "The Black Death" in his game, is actually an error. Black gets his desired crush, instead, from 7...Qe7, Whistler's Defense.
8. Qg3
8... Qf6
This move is often a part of a successful defense. A bit more accurate is 8...Nf6, but the text allows Black to maintain his advantage.
9. O-O Be6 10. c3 h5
While White goes for the "Jerome Center", Black counters creatively. It is still possible for the first player to make a game of it.
11. d4 h4 12. Qd3 Bb6 13. Be3
White has focused his energies on development and using his advantage of the extra pawns in the center. He would have been wise to acknowledge Black's threat, however, and played 13.h3 before 14.Be3. Now his Kingside is breached, and the effort poured into his last few moves is wasted.
This move is often a part of a successful defense. A bit more accurate is 8...Nf6, but the text allows Black to maintain his advantage.
9. O-O Be6 10. c3 h5
While White goes for the "Jerome Center", Black counters creatively. It is still possible for the first player to make a game of it.
11. d4 h4 12. Qd3 Bb6 13. Be3
Rybka gives 13.h3 Kg7 14.Be3 c6 15.c4 d5 16.e5 Qf5 17.Qa3 and says that White is about 1/2 a pawn behind.
13... h3 14. g3
Ruinous, but 14.Re1 hxg2 is very good for Black
14... Qf3 White resigned
