Although Blackburne's Defense to the Jerome Gambit had an exciting introduction, those who have studied it can see plenty of play for White, too, even if it technically leads to a draw. Of course, if White mis-plays the opening, he can expire just as quickly as Blackburne's opponent did. (What a "remedy" for a "big head"!)
The Blackburne Defense. I have taken the offered Rook a dozen times, going 11-1, and that one loss was when I resigned in a winning position.
8.Qxh8 Qg5
The Black Death played 8...Qh4.
9.Qxh7+ Kf8
White now has 9.0-0, but I was suddenly worried that White could continue with 9...Bh3, winning the exchange. Of course, that was all chess blindness, as White's Queen covers the h3 square.
I do not get to play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), or even chess in general, very much any more, so I was pleased to be able to get in the following game, which certainly has its shortcomings but which shows (again) that "won" games often do not "win themselves," they need proper follow-up...
perrypawnpusher - hamaru blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5
The classical variation of the Jerome Gambit. Black now has a won game. *Yawn*
This is a new move, according to The Database. Instead of moving the Knight to e5, where it can be kicked with d2-d4, he keeps it closer to home.
13.Qb3+ d5 14.d3 Qd6 15.Bf4 Qb6+ 16.Qxb6 axb6
Black has forced the exchange of Queens, and soon will castle-by-hand, so he feels relatively comfortable and is not aware of impending dangers.
Were this a movie, however, instead of a chess game, it might be titled "Rise of the Planet of the 'Jerome Pawns' " as White puts his compensation for the sacrificed piece to good use.
In this kind of a situation it is natural to think about Black exchanging his stabled Knight at f8 for White's two advanced pawns, relying, perhaps, on the possibilites of a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame to save 1/2 a point.
However, White's compensation for his sacrificed piece has grown to 5 pawns, so simply getting 2 pawns back may not be enough for the defender.
As Black works on his strategy, White moves his pawns forward.
White is clearly winning. I focused my planning on getting a pawn (or some pieces) to the 8th rank. After the game, Houdini suggested that I could combine this with a mating attack, i.e. 32.Re1-e3-g3+
The text offers Black the possibility of sacrificing the exchange for a pawn, which would slow White's plans down; but Black does not go in that direction.
32...Be833.Rd1Bd7 34.g4 Rxc2
I decided to kick Black's Knight protecting f8. In turn, my opponent decided it was time to counter-attack. 35.g5 Bxh3
