Yury Bukayev informed me that IM Eric Rosen's new YouTube video, titled "Winning as Quickly as Possible with TRICKY Gambits" contains a new Jerome Gambit miniature.
IM Rosen tries the Jerome "just for the LOLs" and wins before he even realizes it.
Just like the Jerome.
I recently learned (thank you, Dan) of a 3-minute Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game played at lichess.org between wgraif (2525) and EricRosen (2591).
Although the game was ultimately won by Black on move 84, the play was complicated and very interesting; and White certainly had his chances.
By the way, International Master Eric Rosen is known for his interest in unusual chess openings, especially the Stafford Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6). His videos can be found on YouTube, and he streams on Twitch.
National Master William Graif also streams on Twitch, where you can find a few videos highlighting his "Gambit Duel" with IM Rosen. The two players are clearly having fun - starting with the use of a "gambit wheel" which spins to choose the opening to be played.
Their Jerome Gambit game can be seen at about 26:22, where NM Graif opines accurately "A fan favorite. It has to be the most dubious line here."
wgraif (2525) - EricRosen (2591)
3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
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...[I]n this video I would like to analyze the Jerome Gambit for you guys. You might have heard about the Jerome Gambit and I would like to make sure that everybody understands the ideas behind this gambit and how you should actually proceed. The Jerome Gambit is becoming very popular lately, but you have to kind of understand that this is obviously not the right way to play the game of chess. If you're looking for something which is entertaining, if you're looking for interesting sacrifice right off the bat in the opening this is a gambit for you but it's only for educational and fun purposes. It is really not good for a regular classical game or and over-the-board practice...
The grandmaster's comment on 7...d5 is also educational. After pointing out that "The king is very safe on f8", when he gets to Black's 7th move
...[T]he best move is 7...d5. The reason is when you're up in development advantage, in this case Black is up in development advantage and he's also a piece up, the idea is to open up as many files as many diagonals as possible toward the enemy King. So White can't really go for the Queen trade. What he can go for is he can take the pawn 8.exd5 but this has its own disadvantage as well because you can realize that White has only played with his Queen and his pawn so far, because he just lost two of his pieces, which he developed earlier, so now Black has to somewhat try to start an attack on this weakened White King...
...and after a move like 7...d5 White obviously doesn't want to trade the Queens because in this position if you trade the Queens, well now Black is simply a piece up and he will be winning the game very easily. Therefore, trading queens when you are attacking, especially down a piece, is generally not a good thing...
8.Qg3 Nf6 9.Nc3 Be6 10.0–0 Qd7 11.d3 h5
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[to be continued]
wgraif (2525) - EricRosen (2591)
3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022
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12.Bg5
This is a standard idea in the Jerome: pressure on the Knight at f6. There will be risks in making the capture, however, as the game proceeds.
12...Kf7 13.Rad1
White wants to be able to play d2-d4 to block out the enemy Bishop, in order to be able to play f2-f4. This idea is complicated by the fact that once the d-pawn moves, the e-pawn will be unprotected, so that pawn, in turn, will need protection.
In retrospect, White might have looked at Ka1, at some point, unpinning his f-pawn, instead.
13...Bd4 14.Ne2 Bb6
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14...Bxb2 was probably playable, but it would have been a distraction from the plan Black was putting together, and the time spent on working through the complications - 15.Rb1 h4!? (15...Ba3 16.Nf4!?) 16.Bxh4 Nh5 17.Qe3 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Rxb7 Rxh2!? 20.Rfb1 was not necessary at this point.
15.Qh4
Protecting the e-pawn (with additional pressure on f6), according to plan.
15...Rag8 16.d4 d5 17.f3 c6
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18.Kh1 Ke8
Nothing sharp, for the moment.
The computer suggests 18...Nh7, with the idea 19.Nf4 Nxg5 20.Qxg5 g6 21.Nd3 when White intends to plant his Knight on e5. Still, Black would be better.
19.Nf4 Bf7
NM Rosen would like to keep White's Knight off of g6.
It is interesting that Stockfish 15 is not concerned about the possible loss of the exchange: it sees 19...Bc7 20.Ng6 Nh7 21.Nxh8 Rxh8 22.Qxh5+ Qf7 as equal.
"Equal" would not be bad for White at this point, although after the text move the computer evaluates White as being more than a Rook better.
Can you see what White has after the text move?
20.e5 Bd8 21.e6
NM Graif was happy to play this move. I think I would have gone for the more pedestriant 21.exf6 - although, of course, I would never have reached this position against an International Master.
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[to be continued]
What strikes me as a candidate for a possible future blog by you, is the striking similarity between the Jerome and the Stafford gambits. Both feature an early sortie by King‘s Bishop and both target the vulnerable King Bishop’s pawn, often coupled with the early developing move by KB Knight. One key difference, however, is that in the Stafford only a pawn is being sacrificed, at least initially. Another real departure is that an early copycat move by white with Bc4 brings disaster upon white...I am also struck by the extent to which the Jerome Gambit shares many of the same attacking features as the now popular Stafford Gambit played by black in the Petrov Defence. Some quite striking parallels in fact, with sacrifices all over the place! Like the Jerome, the Stafford has been "refuted" by careful analysis and high level play. But as some have noted, we don't play engines, we play people! The shock value of both gambits can be imposing for those not prepared...
As for the Stafford Gambit, I find it absolutely fascinating because there are so many really deep and tricky traps in for white. I was actually attracted to the Stafford because of my interest in the Jerome - they both appeal to my sense of danger and adventure, and both pack the same psychological punch against an opponent who is prepared for other lines. In the case of the Stafford, you will discover that natural looking moves for white are the most fraught with danger, and white’s move order is critical to his success or failure. I would also say that, from my considerable research, the Stafford seems to be far more playable, and I was not exaggerating when I said that GMs, IMs, and club players alike have been employing it since about August 2020, even though its pedigree goes back much further in time...The reason for its wild popularity of late can be found in a bombshell YouTube video by IM Eric Rosen in August 2020. IM Jonathan Schrantz has also helped to popularize some very crucial theoretical lines – he posted a YouTube video in which he demonstrates how he defeated Stockfish 12 with his ‘Magic Line’. Both Eric and Jonathan (who goes by the handle zolpi on Lichess) are members of the same St Louis Chess Club and both are knowledgeable and articulate streamers. Eric has almost a dozen excellent videos online about the Stafford, and his initial one has been demonstrated to have quadrupled the amount of interest in Stafford chess. Several GMs, including Daniel Naroditsky, have videos claiming to have ‘refuted’ the Stafford, but it lives on and the refutations have themselves been refuted!
Certainly those who play the Jerome can find room in their opening repertoire for the Stafford. In fact, many have already have.
Why not give it a try? Be careful, though, as it's highly addictive.
Many years ago, I helped start a few chess clubs in local elementary schools. I made it a practice when I played a student to do a quick assessment of his or her skill level, and then adjust my own play to slightly below theirs - so that paying attention and being careful would bring them a win against me, but sloppiness would not. I was pleased to lose quite a few games.
Recently I decided to introduce the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.BXf7+) to the Chess.com bot Coach Mae. I was surprised to find that the Coach used some of my own coaching strategies in our game.
Coach Mae's comments are in purple. I have added diagrams and a few comments of my own.
perrypawnpusher - Coach Mae bot
Chess.com, 2023
1.e4
1.e4 can lead to fun, tactical games.
1...e5
1.e4 e5, one of the most common ways to start a chess game.
2.Nf3
Hmm, how should I defend my pawn?
2...Nc6
Let's try the classic, solid Nc6.
3.Bc4
You've pointed your bishop at my weakest point, the f7 square.
3...Bc5
The Giuoco Piano. The center is getting quite tense.
4.Bxf7+
In the opening, once you move a piece, you should focus on your other pieces.
Somewhat more polite than International Master Eric Rosen's reaction to the Jerome: What is this garbage?
4...Kxf7
My king is safe...for now.
5.Nxe5+
Hmm... That's an interesting move!
That sounds like the chess equivalent of Well isn't that special?
5...Nxe5
And of course I take back!
6.Qh5+
You forked me! Nicely spotted.
6...Ke6
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Defending my knight.
7.Qf5+
What an active queen.
The Coach is trying hard to be supportive.
7...Kd6
What's the best way to kick one of my pieces away?
8.f4
Great! You're making me dance.
Or ROFL.
8...Qh4+
You have something here, I can feel it.
A lost game?
First appearance of this check was in the imaginary telephone chess game between R.F and Nibs, presented in the June 1889 American Chess Magazine.
9.g3
That's the way. Your pawn mightily defends your king - and attacks the attacker! That was the move you needed to play.
9...Qf6
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Shall we trade?
10.fxe5+
Stay away from my queen.
10...Qxe5
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How dare you threaten my king.
Here Black resigned in perrypawnpusher - Langan, 8 0 blitz, FICS, 2009
[to be continued]
