Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit Mystery

I have added to The Database some more Jerome Gambit (and Jerome-ish) games played online at FICS from the first quarter of 2020. Making my way through some of them, I came upon a small mystery.

Here is the game. By the way, drumme is well-versed in the Jerome Gambit, having 589 games in The Database, scoring 55%.

drumme - talyprossoneri
4 0 blitz, FICS, 2020

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 7.Nx6 hxg6 8.Qxg6+ Ke7 9.d3 Black resigned

Black's resignation is puzzling. He has two extra pieces for four pawns - perhaps a practical challenge in a 4-minute game (for the record, in the 45 games in The Database with this position, Black won only 16, and drew 2) - an advantage that Komodo 10 assesses at about a pawn and a half.

Maybe the outside world intruded to call him away. 

If the reason was chessic, I can make a guess. Suppose talyprossoneri was intending on playing the pawn capture and fork 9...Nxc2+, followed by 10.Kd1 Nxa1 - when he suddenly realized that his opponent would then have 11.Bg5+, as in paddjaa - vlas, blitz, FICS, 2011, which would lead to checkmate after 11...Nf6 12.Qxf6+ Ke8 13.Qg6+. Ouch.

analysis diagram





However, Black did not have to go after the poisoned Rook, as he had at least two other reasonable moves to consider.

The first was 9...Ne6, although, after 10.Bg5+ Nxg5 11.Qxg5+ Black still has to solve the problem of the f6 square and the d8-h4 diagonal. A 1-minute game, jollygeoff - brouchek 1 0 lightning, FICS, 2016, finished things off from that position with 11...Kf7? 12.Qxd8 and Black resigned a few moves later. The proper response was 11...Nf6, as after 12.e5 Kf7 13.exf6 Qxf6

analysis diagram




Black's two Bishops (one, the extra piece) are probably better than White's three extra pawns.

The second choice for Black is the somewhat stronger (according to Komodo 10) 9...Nf6, as long as the defender meets 10.e5 with 10...Ke6!? (Instead, 10...Ne8? was seen in KingAsh - NightEagle, 1 0 lightning, FICS, 2015 [1-0, 40, time forfeit], when the game should have continued with 11.Bg5+, again leading to checkmate). Best, then, for White would be 11.exf6 Qxf6, as opposed to 11.0-0, from GOH - gruzanin, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 42, time forfeit).

Analysis position







In club play, of course, in both cases, White might have some practical chances with his three passed, connected passed pawns against the enemy Bishop. Especially, as we have seen in some of the example games, time appeared to be on the attacker's side.

Jerome Gambit: A Sideline, Then Another

There are many refutations to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and its relatives, but that does not mean that every defense will be successful.

In the following game, White is headed for the Jerome, when his opponent takes a sideline - and, then, another. It is time to administer the "Jerome cure" to Black, although the patient did not survive.

hastrman - KingRuffus
FICS, 2020

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.Nc3 Na5 

Black's position can tolerate either his 3rd or his 4th move, but the combination of the two spells disaster, as White quickly points out.

5.Bxf7+ 

The Database has 88 games with this move. White scores a healthy 86%.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Kf6 

Black's best move was 6...Ke6, but his King would still be in great danger after 7.Qh5. White's Knights would have many brutal forks after the second one joined in at d5, definitely a position worth exploring. 

White now has a forced checkmate, and his opponent ends the game quickly.

7.Qh5 Qe7 8.Qf5  checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Finish Quickly

There are so many ways for those who defend against the Jerome Gambit to wander off of the main lines. In the following game, the attacker strikes quickly, before his opponent has any more ideas.

Wall, Bill - Guest2021162
PlayChess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Ke7 

Ah, yes. As I noted in the game ZahariSokolov - mmamaju
standard, FICS, 2015 (0-1, 44) - See"Jerome Gambit: Chaos Rules")

Here we have the "Jerome Gambit, Paulsen Variation", otherwise known as "An Odd Line in an Odd Line". It is more of a psychological ploy than a solid defense...

It is a rare line - there are only 13 examples in The Database, with White scoring 77 percent - but it is worth knowing the best response, if only, like in the current game, you want to finish quickly.

6.Qh5

Brute threat.

6...Nf6

Okay, it turns out that Black is not messing with his opponent's head, he's lost in an opening that he was not prepared for.

Komodo 10 suggests that the defender's only hope is 6...Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2 Qf8+ when White can settle for a somewhat boring pawn-up Queenless middlegame: 8.Kg1 Nd4 9.Nf3 Nxf3+ (if 9...Nxc2, then 10.Qc5+ will win the Knight) 10.Qxf3 Qxf3 11.gxf3 Nf6.

On the other hand, perhaps a Jerome Gambiteer, seeking a wild attacking game, would be upset by a boring, pawn-up Queenless middlegame? Perhaps, with the right opponent, at the right time, Black might do well to try...

7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Nc4 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Another Recovered Game

In the previous post (see "Jerome Gambit: His Trap Was Part of My Trap") I noted that I had stumbled over another one of my blitz games that I had not yet posted on this blog. (With over 600 of my games in The Database, that seems quite possible.)

Playing over the game, it is hard to figure out why it did not appear: it is not an embarassing loss - or an interesting win, either. Play simply continues until Black errs, wherupon he resigns. 

perrypawnpusher - lixuanxuan
blitz, FICS, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 

In the main line Jerome Gambit, retreating the Bishop this way can lead to trouble, but, in the Four Knights variation, Black has protected against annoying Queen checks from d5.

8.dxe5

Back in 2011 - 2013, Philidor1792 experimented with the extravagant 8.f4!? in blitz play, scoring 7 - 2 - 1.

8...Bxe5 9.Bg5 

Often the Bishop goes to g5 in the Jerome Gambit, to put pressure on the enemy Knight, possibly in conjunction with Nc3-d5. Previously, I had played 9.f4 in perrypawnpusher - joseluizlopez, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 55), and, just recently, I had played 9.Ne2 in perrypawnpusher - AndrewLLL, Italian Game Battlefield, Chess.com, 2020 (1-0, 18).

8...h6 10.Bh4 Qe7 

11.Nd5 Qd6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.O-O c6 14.Nxf6 Qxf6 15.c3 d5

16.exd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5+ Kg6 18.Rad1 Be6 19.Qe4+ Bf5 

White has 2 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but they are on either side of the board, and whatever passers they promise to produce are a long way into the future - if ever.

20.Qe3 h5 21.Qg3+ Bg4 

A strange slip - given that the time control was 14 minutes, no increment, and he had 9 minutes left on the clock - as it allows his Bishop and Queen to be pinned to his King. I chose the Queen

22.Rd6 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Careful What You Wish For

?!?

Now that you have what you want, do you really want what you have?

The above question appears twice in the first six moves of the following game. The game turns on the answer to each of the questions.

Wall, Bill - Guest1573554
PlayChess.com, 2020.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 

"The Italian Game", perhaps Black muses. "I wish I had a few more defenders to play against it."

4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 

"Wow! An extra Knight and an extra Bishop!" celebrates Black.

"I would like to get a return on my investment," thinks White. "As in my earlier games."

6.Qh5+ Kf6 

"This will do," smiles White.

7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ 

Black resigned here in Wall,B - Guest2892618, PlayChess.com, 2015.


8...Kf8 

Or 8...Kf7 as in Wall,B - Guest1468523, PlayChess.com, 2013 (1-0, 14). 

9.Qxc5+ d6 

Bill has also seen 9...Ne7, as in Wall,B - SMNN, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 27). 

White has regained his two sacrificed pieces, and remains two pawns up. There is still more work to do, but this is a decent start.

In the meantime, too, Black has to figure out what he is going to do.

10.Qb5 Nf6 

Or 10...c6 as in Wall,B - Guest733407, PlayChess.com 2014 (1-0, 21).

11.O-O 

White could have protected his e-pawn  - e.g. 11.d3 as in Wall,B - KSPF, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 23) - but he would happily respond to 11...Nxe4 now with 12.Re1.

11...h5

Black considers activating his Rook, to attack White's King. He is not finished fighting - but what to do?. Perhaps White's Queen is misplaced?

12.d3 Ng4 13.Nc3 c6 14.Qb3 Qe7 

Where to put the Queen? Can the Bishop move without giving up a pawn? Must the King Rook stay at home? Things to figure out.

15.f4 h4 16.h3 Nf6 17.f5 Black resigned

I think Black decided that his game was just too uncomfortable, and that there were better opportunites, elsewhere.

Jerome Gambit: Another Historical "Oversight"

My game against AndrewLLL in the third round of the "Italian Game Battlegrounds" tournament at Chess.com (see the previous post) has already progressed enough that I can now correct a historical "oversight": despite my commitment to share all of my Jerome Games, regardless of outcome, on this blog, I sort of "overlooked" the game perrypawnpusher - joseluislopez, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 55).

You might notice that I lost that game against joseluislopez, and that maybe I was too embarassed to share it. That is not quite right: I did post an endgame position from our game that featured a double blunder, before my eventual loss by checkmate.

Yet, fair is fair, so here is the game - with a couple of lessons to learn.

perrypawnpusher - joseluislopez
blitz, FICS, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 8.dxe5 Bxe5 

9.f4

Starting the advance of the "Jerome pawns".

9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 

I willingly traded my Queenside pawn structure for some time - Black's Bishop moved 4 times before leaving the board, while my Knight moved once. This was probably a mistake. A master would find active play to compensate, but I am not a master. Well on into the endgame, you will still be able to see the effect of the different Queenside pawn structures.

11.O-O Bg4 12.Qd3 Re8 13.h3 Bh5 14.g4 Bg6 

So far, White is playing aggressively, in true blitz style. Black probably should have returned material with 14...Bxg4!? which would have led to some danger to White's King.

15.f5 Nxe4 

This is a mis-reading of the position, as it allows White to open the f-file. Instead, Komodo 10 suggests the bizarre 15...Bh5!?, and has Black holding on to a small advantage.

16.fxg6+ 

This move leads to White's advantage, but the alternative, 16.Qd5+, would have led to checkmate: 16...Kf8 17.fxg6+ Qf6 18.Rxf6+ Ke7 19.Rf7+ Kd8 20.Qxb7 Re7 21.Rxe7 Kxe7 22.Qxc7+ Ke8 23.gxh7 Nf6 24.h8/Q+ Ng8 25.Qxg8 checkmate..

16...Kxg6 17.Qf3 

Looking to put more pressure on the enemy King, but overlooking Black's response, which is an effective remedy. More accurate would have been 17.Qd5, when 17...Nf6 (the only move to prevent checkmate) 18.Qf5+ Kf7 19.g5 would have led to a clear advantage.

17...Qf6 

White's dynamic compensation for his structural defects has been wasted. Black now grinds his opponent down - and a significant part of his plan is to take advantage of White's isolated Queenside pawns.

18.Qxf6+ Nxf6 19.Bd2 Re4 20.Rab1 b6 21.Rb4 Rae8 22.Rxe4 Rxe4 23.Kg2 Re2+ 24.Rf2 Rxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Ne4+ 26.Ke3 Nxd2 27.Kxd2 Kg5 28.Ke3 h5 29.gxh5 Kxh5 30.Kf3 Kh4 31.Kg2 g5 32.c4 c6 33.c3 b5 34.cxb5 cxb5 35.Kh2 a5 36.Kg2 b4 37.cxb4 axb4 38.Kh2 d5 39.Kg2 d4 40.Kf3 Kxh3 41.Ke4 g4 42.Kxd4 g3 43.Kc4 g2 44.Kxb4 g1=Q 45.a4 Qb6+ 46.Ka3 Kg4 47.Ka2 Kf4 48.Ka3 Ke4 49.Ka2 

I do not remember why I was playing on, a Queen down; most likely, my opponent was short of time. Only a miracle would save me - and I was not ready, when it came.

49...Qb5?? 50.Ka3?? 

Capturing the Queen would have led to a draw, even a pawn up. Probably I was short of time, too.

50...Qa5 51.Kb3 Kd4 52.Ka3 Qc3+ 53.Ka2 Qb4 54.Ka1 Kc3 55.a5 Qb2 checkmate

(My personal notes to this game suggested that I avoid 9.f4, and try something like 9.Ne2 - which I did, against AndrewLLL. We shall see how that works out.)

Jerome Gambit: Deep Dive (Part 3)

[continued from the previous post]

ZahariSokolov - GizmoClass
FICS, 2019

If you are attacking, and you slip up, you might be down some material. If you are defending, and you slip up, you might be down your King. Keep this bit of wisdom in mind, as the game progresses.

19...Bh3 

Black senses he has time to strike back, not only defend. He misses a couple of points.

First, White still has the threat of 20.Bb4, skewering Black's Queen and winning the Knight on e7; that was why 19...a5, covering the b4 square, instead of the text, was essential.

Second, White's last move contains the threat Qxb5 checkmate, if Black should ever move his Queen away from protecting the pawn at b5 - making 20.Be3, pinning and winning the Queen, a grave danger. (If 20...d4, then 21.Bxd4.)

20.Re1 

Saving the Rook, but missing the winning move just mentioned.

The game now has the feel of time pressure about it. 

20...Bg2 

Continuing to overlook the main threat, as does his opponent. 

21.exd5 Bxf3+ 22.Kc1 Bxd5 23.c4 

Dizzying. White did not have 23.Be3 at his disposal, instead of the text, because of 23...Qxe3+ 24.Rxe3 Bxb3 25.Rxe7 Rae8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Ke2 Bf7, and Black would have a piece for a pawn.

23...a6 

Not appreciating the fact that White's last pawn move restored a major threat. Better was 23...Kb7, tip-toeing away from the Bishop pin, and, after 24.Re5 Rhd8, maintaining a roughly balanced game.

24.Be3

Yes.

24.Bxc4  25. Bxc5+ Kxc5 26. dxc4 b4 27. Qe3+ Black resigned

Quite a battle!

Jerome Gambit: Deep Dive (Part 2)

[continued from the previous post]

ZahariSokolov - GizmoClass
FICS, 2019

The game is unblanced and getting more complicated by the move: both Queens are out, both Kings are uneasy. Black should try 10...Ne7, but he prefers to unblock his d-pawn, to allow him to develop his light-squared Bishop. White presses his attack. (Luckily, I have Komodo 10 to help explain things.)

10...Kc6 11.Qd5+ Kb6 12.Nc3 

White knows that he has the advantage, and that his focus is the enemy King. Development seemed most helpful, although Komodo 10 liked a few Queen checks followed by a pawn strike, instead: 12.Qb3+ Ka6 13.Qa4+ Kb6 14.b4!? when the Bishop will fall, one way or another. (Or, maybe not. Komodo 10 suggests that after 14...Bf2, White probably does best to play 15.Nc3, after which things continue 15...a6 16.Qa5+ Kc6 17.b5+ Kd6 18.Qb4+ c5 19.bxc6+ Kxc6 20.d4 when things are a royal mess, but the computer believes White to be better.)

12...Ne7 

In turn, Black would have done much better to move a pawn, first, tossing the extra piece to get his monarch some safety: 12...c6 13.Na4+ Kc7 14.Qxc5 Qxf4 15.Qf2 d6 and White is only up a pawn. 

13.Na4+ Ka5 

This is the kind of position that screams: tactics! White now has a checkmate - how?

14.Qb3

Another good move, although missing the better 14.b4+ Kxa4 15.Qb3+ Kb5 16.a4+ Kb6 17.bxc5+ Kxc5 18.Ba3+ Kc6 19.Qb5 checkmate. Nice.

14...Qh5 

Black protects his Bishop - and dreams of threatening ...Qxf3+, winning a Rook, if White ever leaves the pawn unprotected, or if he blocks his Queen's protection of f3 with Nc3 or c3 or d3.

15.Rf1 

The reasoning behind this move is unclear. White's best was probably 15.c4 c6 16.d4 and White's pressure would increase. As it is, Black gets a slight breather.

15...b5 16.Nxc5 

White could have grabbed a piece back with 16.Qc3+ b4 17.Qxc5+ Qxc5 18.Nxc5. 

16...Qxc5 

17.d3 d5

Overlooking a tactic.

18.Bd2+ Kb6 19.a4 

Missing the skewer 19.Bb4, winning the Knight on e7.

[to be continued]