I just found an interesting over-the-board Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game - in a U10 event, of all things!
It is not unusual to find a young player using the trappy Blackburne Shilling Gambit, but - was he surprised by 4.Bxf7+ ?
Black countered well and won; he finished 4.5/5 for second place in the tournament. White pushed on valiantly in a not-so-concrete position, but lost; he finished 3/5, for 9th place (tiebreak).
My notes will be light, in case either player (or a Reader!) would like to venture into this opening again.
Yuen, Lok - Zheng, Richard
Youth Championship semi-quick, Quebec, 2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Ke6
Both players follow the "best" line. Black maintains a slight edge if he brings his King back to safety. White has a strong pawn center and much latitude as to how to play.
8.d3
A couple of alternatives to consider: 8.Nc3 Kf7 9.Qb3+ (9.O-O) 9...Ke8 10.d3 c6 11.O-O d6 12.Bf4 Qf6 13.Ne2 Qe6 14.d5 cxd5 15.Nd4 Qf6 16.Qb5+ Kf7 17.Qxd5+ Kg6 18.e5 Qxf4 19.Ne6 Bxe6 20.Qxe6+ Kh5 21.Rae1 Black forfeited on time, papernoose - nuum, FICS, 2004; and
8.O-O d6 9.f4 Kf7 10.Qb3+ Ke8 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Qxd4+ 13.Kh1 Qxe5 14.Qf7+ Kd8 15.Qxf8+ Qe8 16.Qxg7 Ne7 17.d3 Bf5 18.Bg5 Kd7 19.Rxf5 Qh5 20.Qxe7+ Kc6 Black resigned, topsoul - moisesserraramos, lichess.org, 2016.
8...Kf7 9.Qf3+
Perhaps stronger was 9.O-O. However, we have also seen that strong players like Wall and Philidor1792 are quite willing to exchange Queens and play with the pawns against the extra piece, in quick time controls.
9...Qf6 10.Qxf6+
Again, it was possible to look at 10.Bf4 and 10.Qe3.
10...Nxf6
White has to find a way to use his "Jerome pawns".
11.Bf4 Bb4+ 12.Nc3 c6 13.Bc7 d5 14.e5
Perhaps 14.f3. Now the Bishop's life becomes complicated.
14...Ne8
15.Bd8 Bf5 16.Bh4 Bxd3 17.Kd2 Bf5 18.Rhe1 Nc7 19.Bg3 Ne6 20.f3 Nxd4
It looks like time is short. Black is clearly better.
21.Rac1 Nb5 22.a3 Bxc3+ 23.bxc3 Nxa3 24.Re3 Nc4+ 25.Ke2 Nxe3 26.Kxe3 a5 27.Kf4 Ke6 28.Rd1 a4 29.c4 a3 30.cxd5+ cxd5 31.Rb1 Bxb1 White resigned
The first round of the Jerome Gambit thematic tournament at RedHotPawn.com is almost complete. One game remains in motion, an endgame where Black has B+N+5p and White has 5p. Assuming that Black is able to convert his advantage to a win, the following players will advance to the second round;
SeinfeldFan91 won all 6 of his games, and will advance from Group 1.
procyk and rigidwith fear each won 5 of their games, and both will advance from Group 2.
kristjan, with 5 wins, will advance from Group 3.
junnujannu, with 5 wins, will advance from Group 4.
It is pleasant to note that all players (except one who forfeited all games) in the first round were able to score at least 1 point.
Expect more fighting chess in Round Two!
If you are aware of your opponent's plan, it is always a temptation to refuse to go along with it. The following game is an example, however, where this ploy fails - fairly quickly.
Wall, Bill - Guest2877685
PlayChess.com, 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Ke7
The Jerome Gambit Declined.
The Database has 42 games with this position, with White scoring 72%.
The more popular way of declining the piece is 4...Kf8. The Database has 271 games with this line, with White scoring a more modest 55%.
Still, it is important to point out that The Database has 12,603 games with the capture 4...Kxf7 with White scoring 44%.
Black, take the Bishop.
We are looking at a Bill Wall game, however, so it is relevant to note that he has scored 91% with White in the Jerome Gambit accepted lines, as opposed to 100% with White against the Jerome Gambit declined 4...Ke7 and 4...Kf8.
5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.d4 Black resigned
White threatens Black's Bishop on c5, as well as the skewer 7.Bg5+ threatening to win the enemy Queen.
Instead of ending at this point, drewbear - AAlekhine, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament ChessWorld.net, 2007 continued: 6...h6 7.dxc5 d6 8.cxd6+ cxd6 9.h3 Kd7 10.a3 Kc7 11.b4 Rf8 12.b5 Na5 13.Qd2 Kb8 14.Bb2 Nc4 15.Qc3 Nxb2 16.Qxb2 Qa5+ 17.Nc3 Bd7 18.O-O a6 19.bxa6 Rxa6 20.Rab1 b6 21.Nd5 Bb5 22. Rfc1 Ka7 23. Nc7 g5 24.Nxb5+ Kb8 25.Nxd6 Qc5 26.Qxe5 Qxe5 27.Nxe5 Rh8 28.Ndc4 b5 29.Rxb5+ Kc7 30.Rd1 h5 31.Rd7+ Kc8 32.Nb6+ Kb8 33.Nc6 checkmate
That game was from an interesting Jerome Gambit thematic tournament. See "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (5)" for a study that I made of the effect of playing the Jerome Gambit.
After that, you might want to read the earlier "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (4)"! That post refers to a study of the effect of one player's knowledge of a particular line of play - suggesting that a study of the Jerome Gambit (or any particular opening) could give additional benefits to the attacking player.
In the following game, White sees further into the position than his opponent does, allowing him to take advantage of the tactical play that the Jerome Gambit affords.
Wall, Bill - Guest3992982
PlayChess.com, 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qe7
This is a very reasonable defense, and apparently a modern one, as the earliest example that I have in The Database comes from an internet game in 2002.
The move can be considered a "tool" from Black's toolbox: when two pieces are attacked, one will be lost, so do not waste time saving one, develop another piece instead.
7.dxc5 Qxc5
Black scores 50% in 25 games with this move in The Database.
8.O-O Nf6 9.Be3
Qb5
Black perceives a possible weakness in White's position - a notion that White encourages, because he sees it as time-wasting pawn-grabbing.
10.Nc3 Qxb2
White gets decent play for this pawn and he recovers material quickly.
11.Bd4 d6 12.Nd5 Qa3 13.Nxc7 Rb8 14.Nb5 Qa6 15.Bxa7
15...Bd7
Fascinating. Instead of giving up his Rook for the Knight with 15...Qxb5 (the
correct move, with perhaps still an edge), Black prefers to gain the Bishop for the exchange.
But there is more to the position than he realizes.
16.Nxd6+
White does not have to take the Rook right away.
16...Ke6
17.Bxb8 Rxb8
In this complicated position, Black has two pieces for a Rook and 3 pawns, but his insecure King is probably his main concern. White continues to add pressure.
18.Nf5 g6 19.Ne3 Bc6 20.Qd4
Another surprise: White
does not have to defend the doubly attacked e-pawn with f2-f3. Why not? Let's see.
20...Bxe4 21.f3 Bc6 22.Rae1
White's development continues to be aimed at the enemy King.
22...Qa3
Leaving His Majesty to take care of himself. Stockfish 7 can only suggest that the King flee, 22...Kf7 leaving to the surrender of another piece whith. 23.Qxe5.
23.Nc4 Black resigned
Black's position has become untenable. He will lose his Queen no matter how he defends.
Wall, Bill - Guest3603239
PlayChess.com, 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8
6.c3
The position calls out for 6.Qh5+ - which Bill has also played - but if you believe Stockfish 7, the text move is a little bit better.
6...Nc6
6...Ne6 was seen in Wall,B - Toyong, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 22) and Wall,B - Klevic, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 34).
7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.Qh5+ Ke7
A little bit better was 8...g6 in Wall,B - Apple, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 29)
9.Qg5+
Keeping the draw in hand for a moment. Previously Bill had played 9.d4 in Wall,B - Verrsili, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 19)
9...Kd7 10.Qg4+ Ke8 11.Qe2
Deciding to use the two extra pawns against Black's extra piece.
11...Be6 12.d4 Qe7 13.O-O Kd7 14.c4 Rd8 15.Nc3 Kc8
Black has castled-by-hand on the Queenside. Now he concentrates on developing his pieces.
16.Be3 Nf6
17.d5 cxd5 18.cxd5 Bg4 19.f3
The position looks about dynaically equal. Stockfish 7 suggests that the players should pursue that assessment: 19...Nxe4!? 20.fxg4 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Rxd5
22.Rae1 Qxe3+ 23.Qxe3 Bc5 24.Rf7 g6 25.h4 Re5 26.Qxc5 Rxc5 27.g5 Rxc3 28.Ree7 b6 29.Rxh7 Rd8 30.Re6 Rd2 31.Rxg6 Rg3 32.Rc6 Rgxg2+ 33.Kf1 Rgf2+ draw
19...Bh5 20.Bxa7
Playing with fire, and daring Black to trap the Bishop with ...b7-b6. Black opts to pursue an attack on the enemy King, but the computer suggests that he go for the trap after preparation: 20...Nxd5!? 21.exd5 Qxe2 22.Nxe2 b6, etc.
20...g5
After 20...b6 21.Qa6+
Kd7 22.Qa4+ Kc8 23.Bxb6 Black's King's defenses are crumbling.
21.Rac1
Qe5
Again, 21...b6 will fall to 22.Qa6+ Kd7 23.Qa4+ Kc8 23.Bxb6.
22.Nb5 Rxd5
This attacks a piece and takes advantage of the pinned White e-pawn, but it is all too late.
23.Rxc7+ Kd8 24.Rxb7 Nxe4 25.Qxe4 Black resigned
Along with White, who has his "toolbox" of moves in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), Black has his own set of "tools" - standard moves or ideas to make sense of the opening.
Wall, Bill - Guest6953174
PlayChess.com, 2016
1.e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+
The "tool" stays in the toolbox. The wildest move here is the "pie-in-the-face" 6...Qh4!?. True, Black's Queen loves to come to e7 or f6, but there are times when this move is critical.
The Database has 1,459 games with 6.d4, but only 223 times (15%) is it answered by 6...Qh4. Admittedly, the move makes the same "mistake" as White's early Queen development, so it is probably not on Black's mind.
It takes a search depth of 23 ply for Stockfish 7 to settle on 6...Qh4, so it is not the first thing to come to the computer's "mind" either.
7.c3 Bd6
Sometimes Black just leaves the Bishop on b4. See "Further Exploration of An Odd Line".
Bill has seen several responses:
7...Nc4 8.cxb4 Qf6 9.Nc3 c6 10.b3 Qg6 11.Qf3+ Nf6 12.bxc4 Re8 13.O-O Kg8 14.e5 Ng4 15.h3 d6 16.hxg4 Bxg4 17.Qg3 Rf8 18.exd6 Black resigned, Wall,B - Anonymous, lichess.org, 2016;
7...Qe7 8.dxe5 Bc5 9.Qd5+ Ke8 10.O-O c6 11.Qd1 d6 12.b4 Bb6 13.exd6 Qe5 14.Bb2 Nf6 15.Nd2 Be6 16.Nf3 Qf4 17.Bc1 Qg4 18.Re1 Nxe4 19.Be3 Rf8 20.Bxb6 axb6 21.Qd4 Rf4 22.h3 Qg6 23.Ne5 Qf5 24.Nd3 Rh4 25.Qxg7 Qf7 26.Qd4 Rd8 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.Qxe4 Rxd6 29.Re1 Kf8 30.Ne5 Qf5 31.Qe3 Bxa2 32.Qxb6 Rd2 33.Qe3 Rd6 34.Qc5 Qe6 35.Re3 Qh6 36.Nd7+ Kg8 37.Qe5 Rd1+ 38.Kh2 Rxd7 39.Qe8+ Qf8 40.Qxd7 Bf7 41.Qxb7 Qd6+ 42.g3 Kf8 43.Rf3 Qe6 44.Qxf7+ Qxf7 45.Rxf7+ Kxf7 46.c4 Ke6 47.b5 Kd7 48.f4 Kd6 49.b6 c5 50.f5 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest3742987, PlayChess.com, 2015;
7...Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 Ng6 (8...Nc6 9.d5 [9.O-O Qf6 10.e5 Qg6 11.Qf3+ Ke8 12.Nb5 Kd8 13.Qf8+ Qe8 14.Qxe8+ Kxe8 15.Nxc7+ Ke7 16.Nxa8 Nxd4 17.Bg5+ Ke6 18.Nc7+ Kxe5 19.Rae1+ Kd6 20.Bf4+ Kc6 21.Rc1+ Kb6 22.Nd5+ Kb5 23.Rxc8 Ne6 24.a4+ Kxa4 25.Ra1+ Kb3 26.Be5 Black resigned, Wall,B - Caynaboos, FICS, 2011] 9...Ne5 10.f4 Ng6 11.h4 Nxh4 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qxh4 Qxh4+ 14.Rxh4 Nf6 15.e5 Ne8 16.Be3 c6 17.O-O-O d6 18.e6+ Ke7 19.g4 Nf6 20.f5 gxf5 21.gxf5 cxd5 22.Bg5 a6 23.Nxd5+ Kf8 24.Bxf6 Rg8 25.Rxh7 b5 26.Be7+ Ke8 27.Nf6 checkmate, Wall,B - ChessFlower, PlayChess.com, 2012) 9.O-O Nf6 10.e5 Ne8 11.f4 (11.Qf3+ Kg8 12.Qd5+ Kf8 13.Be3 a6 14.Rae1 c6 15.Qb3 d5 16.f4 Kg8 17.f5 Nh4 18.Qc2 g6 19.f6 Be6 20.Bg5 Qb6 21.Bxh4 Qxd4+ 22.Bf2 Qf4 23.Ne2 Qc4 24.Qd2 Qxa2 25.Nd4 Bf5 26.Nxf5 gxf5 27.Qg5+ Kf7 28.e6+ Kf8 29.Bc5+ Nd6 30.Bxd6+ Ke8 31.f7 checkmate, Wall,B - Boris, Sparkchess.com, 2012) 11...Rf8 12.f5 Ne7 13.Qb3+ d5 14.exd6+ Black resigned, Wall,B - FJBS, FICS, 2015; and
7...Be7 8. dxe5 Nh6 9. Qf3+ Ke6 10. Bxh6 gxh6 11. Qf5 checkmate, Wall,B - ChrSav, FICS, 2010.
Once again, the "tool" stayed in the toolbox. As an alternative, Black had 7...Qh4!?, which was seen 10 times in The Database, with 10 wins for Black. It is slightly less mysterious: Stockfish 7 takes only 15 ply to find the move.
8.dxe5 Bxe5
There was reason to admit that move 7 was a mistake, and to try 8...Be7.
9.Qd5+ Kf6 10.f4 Kg6 11.O-O Bf6
This allows mate.
12.f5+ Kh5 13.Qd1+ Kh4 14.Rf4+ Kg5 15.Rf3+ Black resigned
