[continued from the previous post]
[We continue the analysis by Brian Wall and Tyrin Price of the capture of the Rook in Whistler's defense. My comments in blue - Rick]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+
Tyrin Price -.... White has recklessly thrown away his only developed minor pieces in an unjustifiable attack against the Black King. [There will always be skeptics.☺] Black can afford to burn some wood himself to take the initiative with 6...g6!
Brian Wall - Old friend IM John Watson and Eric "Mr. Prolific" Schiller mention this as also refuting the Jerome but more complicated. Tyrin Price makes it look easy. Typically, Fritz doesn't like 6...g6 right away because it loses material.
7.Qxe5 Qe7!
Black is already winning, here. If White exchanges Queens then he has given up a minor piece for two pawns as his remaining army languishes at home. If White takes the h8 Rook then the tables are turned and *he* falls to a justified attack.
8.Qxh8
Brian Wall - turns out horribly as Tyrin shows but everything else loses the initiative a piece down, e .g. 8.Qxe7+ Nxe7 9.c3 d5 a no fun way to lose for White - Brian Wall; 8.Qf4+ Kg7 (or 8...Qf6); 8.d4 Qxe5 9.dxe5; 8.f4 d6 9.Qxe7+ Nxe7; 8.Qd5+ Kg7 9.d4 Bb6 Brian Wall I find none of White's 8th move alternatives to 8.Qxh8 remotely appealing. So we march forward... (after so much analysis) ...It is obvious now that taking the rook is suicide and that White must choose a different line on move 8 that gives him 2 pawns plus zero initiative for a piece.
[This article shows the danger of 8.Qxh8. Yes, I am willing to present good ideas on behalf of the defense. See "Jerome Gambit: Escape" for my latest suggestion that White now avoid capturing the Rook. By the way, I am not so glum about 8.Qf4+, but it does not lead immediatly to wild play for White.]
8...Qxe4+ 9.Kd1
9.Kf1 Qh4
Instead of Tyrin's 9...Qh4 which is also good 9...Nf6 leads to a cool position - I like positions where one side has a negative evaluation equal to his material advantage! In other words White is up the exchange and a pawn and should be +3 rather than -3. Black has so many threats like ..b6, ...Ba6+, ...Rxh8, like ...Qd4-f4, ...Qf2 mate, like ...Qxc2, ...b6, ...Ba6+. The huge Black advantage here is mainly due to the Queen positions.
One of my Chess theories is that taking material is much less appetizing than the Chess public thinks - the time involved, usually by putting pieces on squares we don't want to go to and then trying to bring them back, translates into material down the road. I discovered on my own, which was later conformed by the writing of Nunn and Watson, that if you send your queen fishing it is sometimes better to stay where you are and try to cause trouble there rather than spend 2 or 3 tempi to fight your way back to the center.
In this position, White can follow neither plan effectively. As you study Chess you will know you are getting better when you sense how good your position is even though you are down material. Anyone can win a pawn and avoid danger - there is not much glory in that.
So now let's try a few moves after 9.Kf1 Nf6
10.d3 (10.Qd8 Qf5 [10...Qf4 11.f3 b6 12.Nc3 Qd4 {12...Ba6+} {12...Bb7} {12...Qh4 all easy wins; 10...Qd4 11.Ke2 {11.Ke1 Qe4+ (11...Ng4)} {11...Qxf2+}) 11...b6 (11...Qe5+) (11...Qg4+) (11...Ng4) (11...Qxf2+ all easy wins] [10...b6 11.d3 Qg4 {11...Qd4} {11...Qc6} {11...Ba6 all win comfortably. It's hard to go wrong in these lines. - Wall] [10...Qc4+ 11.Ke1 {11.d3 Qxc2 12.Bd2 Qxd3+ (12...Be7) (12...Qd1+) (12...Qxb2) (12...b6) (12...Bd4) (12...Ne4) (12...Ng4) (12...c6 all win - Wall) 11...b6 (11...b5) (11...Be7) (11...Qe6+) (11...Ng4) (11...Qxc2 all win) 10...Qd4 11.Be3 Qxb2 12.Bxc5 (12.Bh6 Qxa1 13.Qg7+ Ke6 14.Ke2 Brian Wall - is an amusing position with both Kings on the e-file, unable to castle and under attack. The initiative is everything here! Black's extra piece helps too. Black has multiple wins like 14...Qd4, 14...Qxa2 or 14...Qe5+ among many others.) (12.Bg5 Qxa1) 12...d6 Brian Wall - White is a rook up but Black threatens 13...Bg4 14.Qxa8 Qc1 mate plus 13...Qxa1 and 14...Qxb1+ - Black is having so much fun I don't know if he even has time to pick up the c5-bishop. 13.f3 with multiple wins like dxc5 (or 13...Qxa1 14.Ke2 dxc5) (or 13...b6 14.Qd8 Qxa1) (or 13...b5 14.Qd8 Qxa1) (or 13...Qc1+ 14.Ke2 Qxh1) 14.Qd8 Qc1+ All moves win comfortably and are given in descending order of strength.
10.Nc3 Qd4 (10...Qf5 wins too - Wall) 11.Ne4 Qxe4 12.d3 Qd4 13.Be3 Qxb2 14.Re1 (14.Bxc5 Qxa1+ 15. Ke2 and now d6 or 15...Qxh1 win easily but 15...Qe5+ is in a class by itself - Wall) 14...Bxe3 15.Rxe3 Qxc2; 15...Qb1+ 16.Re1 Qxc2; 15...Qc1+ 16.Re1 Qxc2 should all win comfortably
10.b4 and now 10...b6! or 10...Qxc2! are devastating but there are multiple other wins like 10...Bd4, 10...Qd4, 10...Qc4+, 10...Bxf2, 10...Qxb4, 10..Qe5, 10...Qg4
10.g3 Qh3+ 11.Ke1 Qe6+ 12.Kf1 Nf6 with White's Queen in exile, Black's overwhelming development and material advantage is decisive. Here is a possible continuation: 13.d3 Qf5 14.Bf4 b5 Black's QB on the long, light-square diagonal spells doom for White's royalty.
What do you think? It looks like a solid refutation of this unsound gambit to me. -Tyrin Price- Brian Wall - Anyone would have to agree. There are many beautiful ideas when Black errs but if you are just looking for a quick refutation, I will add some lines to Tyrin's to make them clearer.
[Wow. Brian takes over the analysis and the whole thing leaves me breathless. It all reminds me of Tyrin's thought
The Jerome Gambit ... now *that* is coffee house ... fully caffeinated - extra strength (use only as directed for prompt temporary relief of quiet games [if conditions persist seek professional guidance])
Indeed.]
[to be continued]
