Yesterday's post (see "A Question of Theory and Practice") referred to Hindemburg Melao, Jr.'s 2003 internet article at Superajadrez.com, with significant analysis of the famous Amateur - Blackburne Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game.
I would like to point out that at about the same time as Melao, Catalan Master Richard Guerrero Sanmarti wrote an article for Ajedrez en Madrid on the Blackburne game, with equally relevant analysis, some of which I'd like to share. [Be warned, my Spanish translation skills are poor.]
Stranger - Blackburne
London, 1880[sic]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+?
Absolutely impressive! ... but totally incorrect!
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6!
...[I]t seems evident that 6...Ke6 was somewhat dangerous... it was also possible for Black to choose simple 6th move answers: 6...Kf8! 7.Qxe5 d6; or 6...Ng6!
7.Qxe5 d6?
...To sacrifice a Rook, it was far better to do it with 7...Qe7! 8.Qxh8 Qxe4+ 9.Kd1 (9.Kf1 Qh4! 10.g3 (10.d4? Bxd4 threatening captures on f2 and to the White Queen on h8) 10...Qh3+ 11.Ke1 (11.Kg1 b5! -+ followed by Bb7! and the Bishop captures on g2) 11...Qe6+ 12.Kf1 (12.Kd1 Qg4+ 13.Ke1 Qe4+ 14.Kf1 with a decisive advantage for Black (14.Kd1 Qf3+! 15.Ke1 Bxf2+ 16.Kf1 Bxg3+ 17.Kg1 Qf2#) ) 12...Nf6! -+ and the unprotected White King can not be saved from Black's imminent attack) 9...Qxg2 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.Re1 d5! -+ and Black has a decisive attack when adding the Bishop on c8 and the Rook on a8.
8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0! Nf6 10.c3?
... 10.Qd8! +/- was essential and White not only defends but obtains a clear advantage. The keys of the play are the attack on c7, and the pin of the Black Knight on f6 that cannot now be added to the attack; the "natural" 10.d3? also was losing after 10...Bh3! 11.Qxa8 ( or 11.Qxf6+ Kxf6! 12.gxh3 Qxh3 with a winning position) 11...Qg4 12.g3 Qf3
10...Ng4! -+
The brilliant romantic Englishman will execute the extraordinary combination that he prepared with 6...g6!
11.h3
...after 11.Rd1 Qxf2+ 12.Kh1 Qg1+! 13.Rxg1 Nf2#
11...Bxf2+ 12.Kh1
And now comes the skillful play that makes Blackburne's sensational finish possible. Clearly if 12.Rxf2+ Qxf2+ 13.Kh1 Qf1#
12...Bf5!
A fantastic move!
13.Qxa8
To eat or be eaten. 13.exf5 Rxh8 -+ with checkmate in a few moves.
13...Qxh3+! 14.gxh3 Bxe4
A really spectacular checkmate!
