Saturday, March 21, 2015

Every Once In A While...

Image result for free clipart puzzled



Every once in a while it is nice to see a game like the following. Black is unwilling to face the Jerome Gambit, but unwilling to face the consequences either.

troubadour  - sccdgwd
blitz, FICS, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Bd5 



Black resigned

Thursday, March 19, 2015

It's Not Over Until It's Over


I suppose that at least a few of the players defending against the Jerome Gambit figure that the game is over after the sacrificed Bishop is captured. Certainly, many believe that the game is over after the second piece is sacrificed and captured.


As more than a few discover, "it's not over until it's over."

soulman  - Pamswam
standard, FICS, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 



By transposition, via the Two Knights Defense, the game has reached a "modern" variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Not-Nxe5+) of the Jerome Gambit. White decides to "modernize" it after all.

6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Re8 8.dxe5 Rxe5 



Black has the better development and a piece for a pawn.

White has the pluck and the luck of the Jerome Gambiteer.

9.Kh1 d6 10.Nc3 Ng4 11.f4 Qh4 



Black's Queen swoops in to finish off the White King with checkmate. Things do not turn out as planned.

12.fxe5+ Kg8 13.Qd5+ Kh8 14.Rf8 checkmate



Now, it definitely is over.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Who Plays The Jerome Gambit?




Who plays the Jerome Gambit?


About four years ago, in "King of the Hill", I searched through The Database to find the names of those who appeared the most.

I figured that it was time for an update.

While I have picked up the pace a bit, the 535 games by perrypawnpusher still do not put me at the top.

It will still take more work to catch yorgos, with 601 games. Some time this year he is likely to overtake kingmaple, with 619 games - but all of those, save one, were played before 2010.

None of us are likely to catch DragonTail, however, who, with 1,445 games, remains King of the Hill.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Repetition Helps Those Who Pay Attention


Sometimes I find myself repeating myself here.

If I go back to last year's post "Cure Worse Than The Disease", for example, I can find a relevant comment on the opening in the following 2014 game

Discussed in this blog as early as 2008 in "Offside!" and "The Other Side" and as recently as this year in "Always Good to Remember".
If defenders don't pay attention, they always run the risk of meeting an attacker who does. softiger, meet vandi.


vandi - softiger

standard, FICS,2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Na5 




Deviating from the Giuoco Piano, 3...Bc5, which would allow the Jerome Gambit. White's response is the same, however, and everyone in the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde should play it just as quickly.


4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 




6.Qh5+ Ke7 7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Qd5+ Ke7 9.d4 Nc6 10.Qf7+ Kd6 11.Nc4 checkmate