Whazzat?

The following game is played at lightning speed, where just about anything can happen. Black's improvised defense to the Jerome Gambit costs a Rook, but there are plenty of moves to play in the game - all of them quickly.

Petasluk, a regular Jerome Gambiteer, has a better feel for the resulting positions, can find his moves faster - and can outlast his opponent.


Petasluk - otllz
lightning, FICS, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Be7 

We have seen this defense previously (e.g. Mrjoker - parseltongue, blitz, ICC, 2008, [1-0, 15]) and it is not as sturdy as either Blackburne's Defense, 7...d6 or Whistler's Defense, 7...Qe7.

8.Qxh8 Nf6 9.Qxd8 Bxd8 10.d3 d5 

White is up the exchange and a couple of pawns, but that is small potatoes in a lightning game. He has to keep making good moves.

11.e5 Ng4 12.f4 Bh4+ 13.g3 Be7 14.Nc3 c6 15.O-O Bf5 16.Kg2 h5 17.h3 Nh6 18.Bd2 Rg8 

19.Rae1 Be6 20.Ne2 Nf5 21.Rf3 h4 22.g4 Nh6 23.Nd4 Bc8 24.f5 

The "Jerome pawns" put on the pressure.

24...gxf5 25.Nxf5 Nxf5 26. Ref1 Black forfeited on time 

After 26...Ke8 27.Rxf5 Bxf5 28.Rxf5 White will be a couple of protected passed pawns up.

Having said "A"...

Here is a tip for those who would defend against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+): if you are going to make use of the Blackburne Defense, 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6, then it is important for you to realize that the move 6...g6 commits you to sacrificing your King's Rook. It's that simple: having said "A" you must now say "B". Now, this can be a good thing, as in Whistler's Defense, or even a playable thing, as in the Blackburne Defense proper; but if it turns out to be an ooooops! thing, difficulties will arise – as the following game demonstrates.

mrjoker - Parseltongue blitz 2 12, Internet Chess Club, 2008 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

7.Qxe5

Now Black can play 7...d6, and after 8.Qxh8 he can counter-attack with 8...Qh4 – with best play by both sides, the game will be a draw. (Although see perrypawnpusher - Sgrunterundt, blitz, FICS, 2008 and perrypawnpusher - tejeshwar, blitz, FICS, 2009) Or Black can play 7...Qe7, and after 8.Qxh8 – again, after best play by both sides – he will crush White after 8...Qxe4+ (for example blackburne - perrypawnpusher, Chessworld 2008).

7...Be7

This move, while a novelty, does not stand up to the needs of the position.

8.Qxh8 Bf6 9.Qxh7+ Bg7 10.Qh3 d6 11.Qf3+ Nf6

White's Queen has escaped, and Black has no counter-attack to speak of.

12.Nc3 Bg4 13.Qe3 Qe7 14.f3 Bd7 15.d4 Black resigned

White is up the exchange and three pawns.