Always Dangerous

The Blackburne Defense to the Jerome Gambit leads to a tense and complicated game for both sides. As Joseph Henry Blackburne demonstrated early in the life of the Jerome, Black can generate a wild counter-attack by returning one sacrificed piece and offering a Rook as well. On the other hand, analysis since has shown that White can draw, and practical play shows he can often do better - in games in The Database White scores 68%.

Philidor 1792 - NN
2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qd5+ 

White decides to steer clear of the dangers of 8.Qxh8 and grab another pawn. He hopes to show his three extra pawns will outweigh his opponent's extra piece. Philidor1792 has had significant success with the pawns vs the piece in the Jerome Gambit.

8...Be6

Seen previously was 8...Kg7 in RevvedUp - Fritz 8, 2 12, 2006 (0-1, 19).

9.Qxb7

Or 9.Qd3 Nf6 10.O-O Qe7 11.b3 Ng4 12.Bb2 Ne5 13.Qf3+ Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 Bh3 15.Bxh8 Qg5+ 16.Kh1 Qg2 checkmate, hattta - VictoriaBot, FICS, 2012. 

9...Rb8

An anternate idea was 9...Rc8 seen in stampyshortlegs - Sir Osis of the Liver, JG Tourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 39). 

10.Qa6 Qh4 

At first glance it looks like Black is the one playing a gambit, with the subsequent lead in development of pieces. However, if White can consolidate his position behind his pawns, he can eventually put them on the march and look for balance.

As the game goes, Black uses his pieces to keep pressuring his opponent, and the point is his.

11.Qe2 Bg4 12.Qf1 Nf6 13.d3 d5 14.Nc3 Rhe8 15.h3 Bd7 16.g3 Qh5 17.f3 Bd4 18.Nd1 Kg7 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.Nxe3 dxe4 21.fxe4 Qa5+ 22. Kd1 Qc5 

So far White's pawn cover has held up, but his oppponent's pressure is relentless and his lead in development is crushing.

23.Qf2 Nxe4 24.dxe4 Rxe4 25.Re1 Rxb2 26.Re2 Bxh3 27.Ng2 Qd6+ 28.Kc1 Rbb4 29.Nf4 Bg4 30.Rxe4 Qd1 checkmate.

Another RHP Jerome Gambit Tournament - Game 2

If there is a theme song for the Jerome Gambit, it would have to be "I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends Opponents". One way of looking at the following game is that White did not get enough support to win.

musirapha (1874) - jankrb (2055) 
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.d4 

White goes all in. For an extra pawn he gets more open, attacking lines. I was surprised to find only 10 games with this move in The Database.

7...Bxd4 8.f4

Instead, 8.Qf5+ was tried in Philidor 1792 - guest2187, www.bereg.ru 2013 (1-0,17); 8.c3 was seen in stampyshortlegs - GladtoMateYou, JGTourney4, ChessWorld 2009 (1-0, 12); 
8.Bg5 was played in bhargavs - ehvmc, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 30); and
8.0-0 appeared in santaklaus - Wesson, FICS, 2006 (0-1, 33). 

8...Nc6 9.c3 Bb6 

Although Black's King looks ill at ease, he has an extra two pieces to comfort himself with. White is not able to make progress.

10.Qd5+ Ke7 11.f5 Ke8 12.h4 Nf6 13.Qc4 Qe7 14.Nd2 d5 15.Qb5 Bxf5 16.c4 Nxe4 White resigned.

It's Not Over Until It's Over (And Maybe Not Even Then)

The following game (and its notes) tests the assertion that It's not a blunder if it isn't refuted - the theme song of those who play the Jerome Gambit, after all.

fehim  - BlkSabb
blitz, FICS, 2013

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

The Blackburne Defense to the Jerome Gambit, based on the famous game, Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885.

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0 Nf6 10.d3

Fehim, who has been playing the Jerome Gambit on FICS since at least 2005, had only encountered the Blackburne Defense once before, and that game was something he probably wanted to improve upon, as it is a story all itself.

fehim - zsifkovitspeter, blitz, FICS, 2007, continued 10.d4 Bxd4 (the "only" move for Black was 10...Bh3 11.gxh3 Rxh8 12.dxc5 Nxe4 13.cxd6 cxd6 when he would be better) 11.Be3 (Leads to a big Black advantage, while 11.Qd8 Bb6 12.Nd2 Bh3 13.Nf3 Rxd8 14. Nxh4 Bd7 would let White hold on) 11...Bd7 (Continuing the friendly "give aways," when, instead, 11...Ng4 would be crushing.) 12.g3 (Instead, grabbing the Rook with 12.Qxa8 gives White the clear advantage.) 12...Qh3 13.Qxa8 Ng4 14.Rd1 Qxh2+ 15.Kf1 Nxe3+ 16.Ke2 Bb5+ 17.Kf3 Qh5+ 18.Kf4 Qg4 White was checkmated.

After the Blackburne game, the Jerome Gambit was largely seen as busted by the Rook sacrifice - although commentary at the time, suggesting 10.Qd8, actually gave White the advantage.

10...Ng4

Previously I noted

The problem with this move is that White has 32 possible responses: 31 lead to an advantage (most of them mate) for Black. However, one leads to a win for White. 

As seen before, 10...Bh3 wins, RevvedUp-Hiarcs 8, blitz 2 12, 2006 (0-1, 12).

10...Ke6 led to a sustained battle in Knightpusher - MiloBot, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 47).

11.Bf4

White tried another defense with 11.h3 - 11...Bf5 (Black would consolidate, instead, with 11...Ne5 12.Nd2 Bxh3 13.Qxe5 dxe5) 12.Qxa8 (Instead, White is saved by the electric 12.Bg5!? Qxf2+ - what else? - 13.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 14.Kf1 Rxh8 15.hxg4 Bd4 16.c3 Bxe4 17.dxe4 Bf6) 12...Bxf2+ 13.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 14.Kh1 Qf1 checkmate, Kriton - Schoenwettermatt, FICS, 2013.

11...Nxf2

Black could have gone for the cheapo, 11...Bxf2+, since 12.Rxf2? (12.Kh1 is sufficient - if White can find, after 12...Bf5 13.Qxa8 Nxh2 the return 14.Qd8!? when he gets sufficient material for his Queen: 14...Qxd8 15.Bxh2 Bd4 16.c3 Be5 17.Nd2 Bxh2 18.Kxh2 Qg5 19.Rad1 Ke7 20.exf5 gxf5) Qxf2+ 13.Kh1 Qf1 is checkmate.

12.Bg3 Black resigned

The play was not over, however, for the earlier game, stampyshortlegs - blackburne, JG Tourney5, ChessWorld, 2010, continued further 12...Qh6 13.Bxf2 Bf5 14.Bxc5 Rxh8 15.Bd4 Re8 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Rxf5+ Ke6 18.Rf6+ Qxf6 19.Bxf6 Kxf6 20.Nc3 c6 21.Ne4+ Ke5 22.Re1 Kd4 23.Kf2 d5 24.Nd6 Rb8 25.Re7 Kc5 26.Nxb7+ Kb6 27.Rxh7 Rxb7 28.Rxb7+ Kxb7 29.h4 when Black resigned.

Theory From the Thematic Tourney (5)

The Blackburne Defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 B5 4.Bxf7+) is probably the best known way for the second player to respond to the opening sacrifices – by offering a sacrifice himself, Black hopes to bring the game to a quick tactical end in his favor.

The current ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament features three Blackburne Defenses, and, fittingly, the player "blackburne" is involved in all of them.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6

This is Black's offer of a Rook. Although in theory White can take the Rook and live – there is a complicated draw that Black can put together, found by Chandler and Dimitrov – over-the-board the capture can be filled with dangers for the unwary.

We've already seen the game Luke Warm - blackburne, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2010, where one mis-step by White was all it took to give Black the win (0-1, 10).

On the other hand, stampyshortlegs - blackburne, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2010 (1-0, 29), showed that Black needs to be precise in bringing home his win after the Rook sacrifice: about his 10th move I commented

The problem with this move is that White has 32 possible responses: 31 lead to an advantage (most of them mate) for Black. However, 1 leads to a win for White.

The third Blackburne Defense game features blackburne with the White pieces: blackburne - CheckmateKingTwo, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2010. It is not yet completed, but it can be noted that in the opening blackburne refused the Rook, playing 8.Qf4+ instead. After 8...Qf6 9.Qg3 Nh6 (an oversight) 10.d3 Bxd4 11.c3 Bb6 12.Bxh6 Re8

White was better, but the game continued (and continues) in a very complicated fashion.

Thus, while the theoretical chances favor White in the Blackburne Defense, the practical chances favor Black.

  

Theory From the Thematic Tourney (1)

The Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament at ChessWorld is only about 80% complete, but it is already possible to start drawing some conclusions about what it has to say about the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) play and theory.

For starters, as is usually the case, the Bishop sacrifice was accepted (4...Kxf7) in 155 of the 156 games being played. 

The "modern" variations of the Jerome (those not including 5.Nxe5+) remain far more popular than "classical" variations, making up 78% of the games. In fact, the "classical" lines were tried by only four of the thirteen players: blackburne (12 games),  stampyshortlegs (12 games), Luke Warm (9 games) and anbeks (2 games).

The likely tournament winner, Daves111, showed that success depended upon beating the Jerome Gambit (he won 11 games out of 12 with the Black pieces) as well as being successful with it (he won 10 games out of 12 with the White pieces). Daves111 played 5.d3 (seven times), 5.0-0 (twice), 5.Nc3 (twice) and 5.Qe2 (once).

As is consistent with "modern" play of the Jerome Gambit, with the White pieces Daves111 did not force play along thematic lines as much as he developed consistently, played carefully, and waited to take advantage of his opponents' errors – a good strategy in any game situation, especially when you are the top-rated player.

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, the Wizard of Draws

Tournament Numbers

In the current Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament at ChessWorld, Daves111 continues to lead the pack with 17 wins out of 18 games, with 6 more games to finish.

In second place is DREWBEAR 63 with 14 wins in 16 games, followed by blackburne with 12 wins in 19 games.

Off the pace, but only because they have completed fewer games, are stampyshortlegs at 7 wins in 10 games and Crusader Rabbit with 6 wins in 10 games.

TWODOGS, at 4 wins in 4 games, and CheckmateKingTwo, with 2 wins in 2 games, continue as dark horses.

So far in this tournament the Jerome Gambit has scored 40% in 89 completed games.

This can be compared with data drawn from the updated New Year's Database, where 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ has scored 44% in 5,628 games. For the record, in the same database the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+, has scored 56% in 2,472 games; and the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 and 5.Bxf7+ has scored 57% in 3,106 games. 

Against Blackburne with the Blackburne

The best-known (or half-known) defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is the Blackburne Defense, named after J.H. Blackburne in honor of his 1885 devastating counter-attack, sacrifices and checkmate.

Time has moved on, the Blackburne Defense is known to lead to a draw – but few players are aware of that. And "drawn" or not, the defense is still very dangerous for White to play against. 

So it is fun to see long-time Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member blackburne (Pete Banks) twice utilize the Blackburne Defense in the current ChessWorld tournament. As he shows, danger is just a step away for White – be forewarned! 

Luke Warm - blackburne
Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

7.Qxe5 d6

The Blackburne Defense. 7...Qe7 is the Whistler Defense. Both involve sacrifice and sharp play.

8.Qxh8 Qh4

The key to the Blackburne Defense: attack White's King while trapping White's Queen.

9.g3

Inviting disaster.

The proper response is 9.0-0, as seen in another blackburne game in the tournament, stampyshortlegs - blackburne, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2010: 9...Nf6 10.d3. A mistake.

analysis diagram








10...Ng4. The problem with this move is that White has 32 possible responses: 31 lead to an advantage (most of them mate) for Black. However, 1 leads to a win for White. Instead, Black had the Blackburne style 10...Bh3

analysis diagram






11.Qxf6+ best (Of course not 11.Qxa8 Qg4 12.g3 Qf3 and mate is unavoidable) 11...Kxf6 12.gxh3 Qxh3 13.Nc3 Kg7

analysis diagram






And White has a Rook, Bishop and pawn for his Queen – not enough, given the placement of Black's pieces. Without the 10...Bh3 shot, Black faced collapse: 11.Bf4 Nxf2 12.Bg3 Qh6 13.Bxf2 Bf5 14.Bxc5 Rxh8 15.Bd4 Re8 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Rxf5+ Ke6 18.Rf6+ Qxf6 19.Bxf6 Kxf6 20.Nc3 c6 21.Ne4+ Ke5 22.Re1 Kd4 23.Kf2 d5 24.Nd6 Rb8 25.Re7 Kc5 26.Nxb7+ Kb6 27.Rxh7 Rxb7 28.Rxb7+ Kxb7 29.h4 Black resigned

9...Qxe4+

10.Kf1 Bh3+ White resigned

He doesn't have to worry about losing the Rook, as it will be checkmate.

A Blistering Pace

As the current Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament at ChessWorld nears the half-way point (in terms of games completed) the race for first place continues to be red hot.

Top-rated player Daves111 has scored 17 wins in 18 games, with only 6 more for him to complete. 

He is followed by long-time Jerome Gambit tournament player DREWBEAR 63 who has 11 wins in 12 games.

Not surprisingly, Daves111's only loss is to DREWBEAR 63, and DREWBEAR 63's only loss is to DAVES111.

In third place is blackburne with 10 wins in 16 games.

It is interesting to note that not all of the players have been completing their games so quickly (in fact, the thoughtful CheckmateKingTwo has completed none yet). TWODOGS has 2 wins in 2 games, with 22 left to complete.

Certainly Crusader Rabbit, with 5 wins in 7 games, and stampyshortlegs, with 4 wins in 7 games, can keep in contention by winning and winning some more.

Of the 71 finished games, White has won 28, and Black 43 (with 0 draws), giving the Jerome Gambit a 39% score, somewhat lower than usual for a thematic tournament. But – there is plenty of play left!

Making it look easy...

Playing over Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Bill Wall's games, it is hard to remember that he is playing an opening that is considered many times refuted!


billwall - buhov
Chess.com, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qd5+ Ke7

Playable, but not nearly as popular as 7...Ke8 or 7...Kf8. The King placement gives Bill an idea about placing his Queen differently, too.

8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qg5+ Nf6 10.Nc3

Alternately, 10.d3 Qf8 11.Nc3 Be6 12.Be3 Ne5 13.h3 Kd7 14.f4 h6 15.Qg3 Nc6 16.0-0-0 Rd8 17.f5 Bf7 18.Qf3 Ne5 19.Qf2 a6 20.b3 b5 21.d4 Nc6 22.g4 Kc8 23.Qf3 b4 24.Na4 a5 25.d5 Ne5 26.Qe2 Nfd7 27.Qa6+ Kb8 28.Ba7+ Ka8 29.Bb6+ Kb8 30.Qa7+ Kc8 31.Qxc7 checkmate, stampyshortlegs - calchess10, JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009.

10...c6 11.f4 Rf8

An instructive error. Black plans to castle-by-hand, moving his King to f7 and g8 – a laudable defensive strategy in the Jerome Gambit. This move leaves the soon-to-be-attacked pawn at g7 unprotected, however – an indication that Black should have started his "castling" with 11...Kf7.

This game is a good example of how a stronger player, having given "Jerome Gambit odds," can take advantage of each of the defender's slips until he captures the full point.

12.f5 Ne5 13.Qxg7+ Rf7 14.Qg3 Qg8

Stopping the attack before it builds by offering the exchange of Queens. This is fine with White, who has three "Jerome pawns" (and an even game) for his sacrificed piece.

15.Qxg8 Nxg8 16.d4 Ng4 17.h3 N4f6 18.g4 h6

19.Bd2 b5 20.e5 dxe5 21.dxe5 Nd5 22.Nxd5+ cxd5 23.e6 Rf8

A tactical slip, as the pressure builds.

24.Bb4+ Ke8 25.Bxf8 Kxf8 26.h4 Nf6 27.g5 hxg5 28.hxg5 Ne4

The pawns! The pawns!

29.Rh8+ Kg7 30.e7 Bb7 31.Rxa8 Bxa8 32.e8Q Black resigned

Final: JGTourney4 ChessWorld 2009

JGTourney4 ChessWorld 2009

----------------------1--2--3--4--5--6--7--8--9-10-11-12-13-14-15

1 Piratepaul --------** 01 10 11 11 10 11 01 11 11 01 11 11 10 11 -22.0/28
2 stampyshortlegs ---10 ** 11 01 01 11 01 10 10 1½ 11 11 11 10 11 -20.5/28
3 Sir Osis ----------01 00 ** 00 11 11 11 11 11 00 01 11 01 11 11 -19.0/28
4 DREWBEAR63---------00 10 11 ** 11 01 01 01 00 00 11 11 01 11 11 -17.0/28
5 GladtoMateYou------00 10 00 00 ** 01 01 01 11 01 11 11 11 11 11 -17.0/28
6 Luke Warm ---------01 00 00 10 10 ** 10 01 ½1 11 01 01 ½1 11 01 -15.0/28
7 Haroldlee123-------00 10 00 10 10 01 ** 11 11 00 0½ ½0 11 11 11 -15.0/28
8 eddie43------------10 01 00 10 10 10 00 ** 11 1½ 10 00 01 11 11 -14.5/28
9 TWODOGS------------00 01 00 11 00 ½0 00 00 ** ½1 11 11 01 11 11 -14.0/28
10 Black Puma--------00 0½ 11 11 10 00 11 0½ ½0 ** 01 00 01 01 11 -13.5/28
11 blackburne--------10 00 10 00 00 10 1½ 01 00 10 ** 11 11 01 11 -13.5/28
12 gwyn1-------------00 00 00 00 00 10 ½1 11 00 11 00 ** 01 00 11 -9.5/28
13 metalwarrior1969--00 00 10 10 00 ½0 00 10 10 10 00 10 ** 01 11 -9.5/28
14 Crusader Rabbit---01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 10 11 10 ** 00 -7.0/28
15 calchess10--------00 00 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 11 ** -3.0/28

Prized Players

Prizes have been mailed to the top three finishers of the Chessworld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament: Piratepaul, stampyshortlegs and Sir Osis of the Liver.

I would like to express my thanks to blackburne, who hosted the tournament, and to all of the other players who combined to produce 210 interesting Jerome Gambit games: DREWBEAR 63, GladtoMateYou, Luke Warm, Haroldlee123, eddie43, TWODOGS, Black Puma, gwyn1, metalwarrior1969, Crusader Rabbit and calchess10.

To the winners go the awards

As mentioned in yesterday's post it is possible to identify the three top finishers in the soon-to-be-completed (one game unfinished) ChessWorld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament:

1st Place: Piratepaul
2nd Place: stampyshortlegs
3rd Place: Sir Osis of the Liver

Congratulations, all!

The tournament, sponsored by blackburne, has light-hearted prizes (sponsored by jeromegambit.blogspot.com) for the first three finishers. For Piratepaul, in case he wants to expand his attacking openings, there is An Opening Repertoire for the Attacking Player by Raymond Keene and David Levy. For stampyshortlegs, who showed skill in playing the offbeat Jerome Gambit, there is Baroque Chess Openings by Richard Wincor – containing a whole new set off unorthodox openings. For Sir Osis of the Liver, there is The Basis of Combination in Chess by Julius Du Mont, so that he can continue his tactical ways.

All three are asked to contact me (richardfkennedy@hotmail.com) to provide mailing addresses.

And the winner is...

With two games left to be played in the ChessWorld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Chess Tournament, it appears that Piratepaul will take top honors, with 22 points out of 28 games (a winning percentage of 79%).

Second place stampyshortlegs has one game not yet completed, but with 20.5 points out of 27 games, even a win in that final encounter would give him only 21.5 points, .5 points behind Piratepaul.

Third place belongs to Sir Osis of the Liver, with 19 out of 28 points.

Stampyshortlegs leads the number of points from the Jerome Gambit with 9.5, followed by Piratepaul and Sir Osis of the Liver with 9.0

In the hands of a "spoiler"

With only four games left to complete in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament at Chessworld, Piratepaul holds a slim .5 point lead (21.0 out of 26 games) over stampyshortlegs (20.5 out of 27 games). All three of their games are against Crusader Rabbit (5.0 out of 25 games), who has secured 14th place, but who clearly can play the role of spoiler. If Crusader Rabbit wins all his games, or loses all his games, Piratepaul will hang onto first place; but the proper distribution of wins, losses and draws could put stampyshortlegs on top. This exciting tournament of 210 games could come down to the final move!

Strike when the time is right!

In an unbalanced and tactical game – such as in a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) – opportunites for attack arrive and depart, often move-by-move. I want to share a snapshot of the following game from the almost-concluded Chessworld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, where stampyshortlegs, battling for top honors, made a sacrifice in an attack on the enemy King; but in not following it up, he saw the game swing back violently against him, whereupon Haroldlee123 presented stampyshortlegs with one of his few losses.

Haroldlee123 - stampyshortlegs
JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Nc3 Rf8 7.d3 Kg8 8.a3 d6 9.Bg5 Bg4 10.Nd5 Qd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6

Here we have a typical "modern" Jerome Gambit: White has a pawn for his sacrificed piece, but he has been careful to create no further weaknesses. Black has castled-by-hand, only to have the pawns in front of him be disrupted by White.

Fritz8 considers Black to be winning, of course – because of the material superiority – but suggests another "safe" move for White, here, 12.h3, kicking the enemy Bishop back to e6.

12.h3 Bxh3

Instead of retreating, however, stampyshorlegs has a different idea in mind: he will return his extra piece to bust open White's King's position. He expects that his investment of his extra piece will pay off nicely. (For a similar idea, see "Like a bull in a china shop...")

13.Nh4

An unusual defense, but White was not interested in opening things up: after 13.gxh3 Qxh3 14.Nh2 f5 Black has the initiative, the attack – and an extra pawn






analysis diagram






13...Bg4 14.Qd2 Qg7

Black plans to use the g-file for attack.

15.g3

Understandable, but this will cause more problems.

15...Bh3 16.Rfe1 Qxg3+

Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.

17.Kh1


17...Bxf2

The question here is: was it reasonable to expect Black to see that the alternative, 17...Qxh4, led to mate? Look at the variations open to White: they all lose material and then allow mate.

After the text move, White has a tricky counter to try to turn the game around.

18.Rg1 Qxg1+ 19.Rxg1+ Bxg1 20.Kxg1

With two Rooks and two pawns for his Queen, Black is still winning, but he has to be bothered by the disappearance of his attack on the King. After a few less-than-best moves, he has a lost game to contend with.

20...Kf7

Making way for the Rook, but it was better to have the piece cross in front of him with 20...Rf7.

21.Qf2

Instead, 21.Qh6 and Black's King is in more danger than White's.

21...Rg8+

According to plan. Fritz8 suggests, instead: 21...Rad8 22.Qxf6+ Kg8 23.Qh6 Rd7 24.Nf6+ Rxf6 25.Qxf6 Rf7 which looks terribly unclear, but probably White has a small advantage.

22.Kh2


And White went on to win.

22...Bg4 23.Qxf6++- Ke8 24.Nxc7+ Kd7 25.Nxa8 Rxa8 26.Qg7+ Ne7 27.Qxg4+ Kc6 28.Qg7 Re8 29.Qxh7 Nc8 30.Nf5 Nb6 31.Ne7+ Kb5 32.c4+ Kc5 33.Qh4 Kd4 34.Nf5+ Kxd3 35.Nxd6 Nxc4 36.Nxe8 Nxb2 37.Nd6 b6 38.Qg3+ Kd4 39.Qb3 Nd3 40.Nf5+ Kxe4 41.Nd6+ Kd4 42.Qc4+ Ke3 43.Qe4+ Kd2 44.Nc8 b5 45.Nxa7 b4 46.axb4 Kc3 47.b5 Nc5 48.Qxe5+ Kb4 49.b6 Nb7 50.Qb5+ Kc3 51.Qc6+ Kd2 52.Qxb7 Ke2 53.Qe7+ Kd2 54.b7 Kc2 55.b8Q Kc3 56.Qec7+ Kd3 57.Qbd8+ Ke4 58.Qce7+ Kf4 59.Qdf8+ Kg4 60.Qeg7+ Kh5 61.Qfh8 checkmate