Jerome Gambit: Panikin_Skywalker (Part 2)

                                    

[continued from the previous post]

Panikin_Skywalker - qaflan71

3 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

It looks like the gambit player will have to grind out a win.

14.Ke1 Nh5 15.g3 Bh3 16.Rxf8+ Rxf8 17.Nd2 Nf6

18.Ke2

This move allows the annoying enemy Knight to become more annoying. Simply 18.Bxf6 Rxf6 first would prevent some of the following headaches.

But, remember: in a 3-minute game, you have to portion out your time carefully.

18...Ng4 19.Bd4 Nxh2 20.Rh1

Attacking the doubled pieces, but Black can untangle himself.

20...Bg4+ 21.Ke1 Nf3+ 22.Nxf3 Rxf3 23.Bf2 a6 24.Rh4 h5

Despite the presence of Rooks, the Bishops-of-opposite-colors give the position a drawish hue.

What to do, what to do, what to do?

White advances his pawn majority on the Queenside.

25.Kf1 Kf7 26.Kg2 Ke6 27.Rh1 Rf7 28.Re1 b5 29.d4 d5

30.e5

Creating a protected, passed pawn, which looks more attractive than 30.exd5+ Kxd5, which allows the enemy King to advance, but both are still drawish.

What to do, what to do, what to do?

30...b4 31.Re3 Bf5 32.Be1 Be4+

33.Kh2

From g1, the King would still keep the enemy Rook off of f1.

33...a5 34.c4 Rf1

Oops.

35.g4

Trying to mess up the Kingside pawns.

35...h4

The clock continues to tick.

With enough time, Black would find 35...Rh1+ 36.Kg3 Rg1+ 37.Kf2 Rxg4 38.Rg3 Rxg3 39.Kxg3 Bb1 and would be winning.

36.Bxh4 Rh1+ 37.Kg3 Rg1+ 38.Kh3 c5 39.dxc5 Kxe5 40.c6

White's passer looks scary. Should Black chase it, or create a passer of his own?

40...d4

There is an even position after 40...Kd6 41.Bd8 Kxc6 42.Bxa5 g5 43.Bxb4 Rh1+ 44.Kg3 Rg1+ 45.Kf2 Rg2+ 46.Kf1

41.Rxe4+ Kxe4 42.c7

The passed pawn is suddenly a real threat.

42...d3 43.c8=Qd2

Will Black now promote his pawn?

Will White find his checkmate in 17 moves?

This game must have provided a lot of excitement for those who watched it.

44.Qe6+ Kd3 45.Qd5+ Kc2 46.Qe4+ Kc1 47.Qe3 Rh1+ 48.Kg3

Black resigned

The excitment ends with a whisper: 48...Re1 49.Bg5!? Rxe3+ 50.Bxe3 Kc2 51.Bxd2!? Kxd2 52.c5 and White's passed pawn will advance, promote, and win the game.

Whew!

Jerome Gambit: Panikin_Skywalker (Part 1)

 

Regarding the Jerome Gambit player (elsewhere known as chessriddler, for example, in "Jerome Gambit: Just in Time") in the following game, he self-describes...

Experience as a gas engineer, chess innovator, fire fighter, lifeguard, Royal Marines Overall Best Recruit in training, passionate motorcycle instructor and full of general handy tips and tricks. Sometimes even cooking, should make a varied channel... Eventually!! Mainly chess psychology theory and play.

(Compare that with my own career as a therapist, encapsulated by one of my children, "You talk to kids all day, how hard could that be?" - Rick)

One more note: Depending on how Black defends, the Jerome Gambit can present as a Bashi-Bazouk attack, sweeping all before it; or it can become a slow-and-steady game, with White advancing toward the full point with all deliberate speed - as in the following game.

Panikin_Skywalker - qaflan71

3 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2025 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

Analysis from lichess.org - Stockfish 18? - indicates that this last move ("??") is a "Blunder. d3 was best", moving the evaluation of the position from 0.20 [a slight edge for White] to -2.71 [a won game for Black].

Sic transit gloria mundi.

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

Again, giving Black's last move a "?", the lichess.org engine opines "Mistake. Ke6 was best" as it moves the evaluation of the position from -3.56 to -1.70 - although that is still better for the second player.

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+

As far as I know, this move does not have a name. The earliest example that I have of this return sacrifice, in The Database, is from erik - TheLatvian, blitz, FICS, 2000 (1/2-1/2, 52).

Not surprisingly, the computer gives the move a "??", evaluating it as a "Blunder. Qe7 was best" moving its assessment from -2.02 [better for Black] to 1.25 [better for White].

It is important to note that humans choose their moves for a lot of different reasons, including psychological impact. Being transformed from the attacker to the attacked can have an unsettling effect.

But, is qaflan71 attacking, or simply letting the air out of Panikin_Skywalker's game?

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6

At the cost of a pawn, Black has exchanged Queens and slowed the game down. This might be frustrating to his opponent.

10.d3 d6 11.Rf1 Kg7

Black's King steps out of the line of fire along the f-file, so White decides to open the a1-h8 diagonal.

12.b3 Rf8 13.Bb2 Kg8

White has an extra pawn, and is developing pressure on the Knight at f6.

Black's King is safe, and, by exchanging Queens, Black has slowed the game down.

There is much more game to go, but the "refuted" opening has done well, so far.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Dangerous Places

Jerome Gambit games often feature action on the e- and f-files. As a result, they can be dangerous places for enemy Kings and Queens.

Danger can arrive quickly, or by slow step-after-step.

angelcamina - duppi1

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 

9.Qc4+ Ke8 

Black's move is okay, although 9...d5 10.exd5 Re8+ is stronger.

10.O-O d6 11.Bg5 Qe7 

There is a risk in placing the Queen and the King in the same central file.

Previously seen -

11...Ne5 angelcamina - DorianW, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 26); and

11...Rf8 12.Nd5 (12.f4!?) 12...Be6 13.Nxf6+ (13.Nxc7+!?) 13...gxf6 (13...Qxf6) 14.Qxe6+ Qe7 15.Qxe7+ Nxe7 16.Be3 Kd7 17.f3 Rg8 18.Rad1 f5 19.exf5 Nxf5 20.Bf2 Raf8 21.Rfe1 h5 22.h3 h4 23.Rd2 Ng3 24.Bxg3 Rxg3 25.Re3 c5 26.Rde2 b5 27.b3 a5 28.Re7+ Kc6 29.Rh7 Rfxf3 30.Kh2 Rc3 31.Rxh4 Rg6 32.Rf4 a4 33.bxa4 b4 34.a5 Ra3 35.c4 bxc3 36.Rf3 Rxa5 37.Rc2 d5 38.Rfxc3 d4 39.Rd3 Kd5 40.Rg3 Rxg3 41.Kxg3 Ra3+ 42.Kf2 d3 43.Rd2 Kd4 44.Ke1 c4 45.Rf2 c3 46.Rf4+ Ke3 47.Rf8 c2 Black won on time, angelcamina - Jsolee, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025.

12.Rae1 

Lining up the Rook. 

Two more themes - attack the Queen, pressure on f6 - were seen in angelcamina - Mangoland, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024 12.Nd5 Qf7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qd3 Be6 15.Nf4 Rg8 16.c3 Ne5 17.Qb5+ c6 18.Qb4 Nf3+ 19.Kh1 Ng5 20.Qxd6 Rd8 21.Qa3 Nxe4 22.Rae1 Ng5 23.h4 Nf3 24.Rxe6+ Kd7 25.Qd6+ Kc8 Black won on time ; 

12.f4 was seen in angelcamina - e4bout, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 19) 

12...Be6 13.Qb5 Rb8 14.f4 Qf7 

Black's Queen gets out of the pin on the d8-h4 diagonal, although 14...Qd7 might have been a safer move. 

15.e5 dxe5 

This is one example of why I admire successful bullet players like angelcamina, who create problems on the chessboard that can be very difficult to solve, in the time alotted.

Here, I never would even have examined 15...h6 16.exf6 Kf8 17.Ne4 Bc4 18.fxg7+ Kxg7 19.Bf6+ Kg6 20.f5+ Kh7 21.Qa4 - Black's best chance to keep White's advantage to an edge.

16.fxe5 Bc4 

Black may have been relying on this riposte, but White's response forces checkmate.

17.exf6+ Kd8 

For the record, Stockfish 16.1 gives the path of greatest (but futile) resistance: 17...Kf8 18.fxg7+ Kxg7 19.Rxf7+ Bxf7 20.Qf5 h6 21.Rf1 Nd8 22.Bf6+ Kg8 23.Qg4+ Kf8 24.Qg7+ Ke8 25.Bxd8 Rh7 26.Qxh7 Kd7 27.Qxf7+ Kxd8 28.Rd1+ Kc8 29.Qe8#.

18.fxg7+ Kd7 19.Rxf7+ Bxf7 20.Qf5+ Be6 21.Qxe6 checkmate

Adding It All Up

 

Well, let's see...

With the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) in "Wal2010's Third Thematic Tournament" I won one game.

In the "Not only the Italians plays the Italian" tournament I won one game and lost one.

In the "6th Thematic Quick KOs: Italian Game" I tallied three wins, one loss, and one draw.

That's scoring 69% - okay, but not Bill Wall level play.

Jerome Gambit: Batman? (Part 2)

                                                

[continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - NormanBauschke

6th Thematic Quick KOs: Italian Game, 2026

24.h3 Kh8 25.Qe4 Rg8 26.Qd5 

26...Qc6 

A slip. I like to simplify games by exchanging Queens, so this move supposedly gives me what I want; but it is an error.

Protecting the d-pawn with 26...Rd7 was the right idea for my opponent. 

27.Qxc6 Nxc6 28.Rxd6 Nd4 

After the game, the computer evaluated this position as White having over a 4 pawn advantage.

I couldn't see it.

29.Rxa6 Nxc2 30.Rc6 c4 31.bxc4 bxc4 32.Rf4 Ne3 

Stockfish sees the a-pawn as a strong passer.

During the game, I saw it as a handy target for my opponent.

33.Rf2 Re8 34.Bxe3 

There was no need for me to give up "the minor exchange". 

I figured that I was reducing things to an already drawn endgame. 

The right way to go was 33.Re6, i.e. 34...Rfe7 35.Bxe3 Rxe3 36.fxe6 Rxe6 37.Bd4 and White is a piece up.

34...Rxe3 35.Rxc4 Ra7 36.Kh2 

There might still have been something in 36.a4, but, in my mind, the game was over and I had already split the point.

36...Rea3 37.Rcc2 Kg7 38.Rf4 Rxa2 39.Rxa2 Rxa2 40.Rg4+ Kf7 41.Rh4 Kg7 42.Rg4+ Kf7 43.Rh4 

Here, I offered a draw and it was accepted.

Somewhere in the game, Batman had turned into Bruce Wayne...

Jerome Gambit: Batman? (Part 1)

My most recent game from the thematic tournament proved interesting - another one filled, while preparing it for this blog, full of flashbacks.

perrypawnpusher - NormanBauschke

6th Thematic Quick KOs: Italian Game, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Re8 

I have also seen 8...Qe7 as in perrypawnpusher - HGBoone, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 27), perrypawnpusher - BigKalamar, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49), and perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16). 

9.0–0 d6 

Or 9...Kg8 as in perrypawnpusher - ManWithABigPlan, Chess.com 2021 (1-0, 36), perrypawnpusher - Abatwa, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17); and

9...Nc6 as in perrypawnpusher - DrHilarius, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 27. 

10.Bg5 c5 

Or 10...Nc6 as in perrypawnpusher - JoseSoza, Chess.com 2012 (0-1, 34) and perrypawnpusher - andrewLLL, lichess, 2020 (1-0, 39)

11.Qd2 a6 

To expand on the Queenside.

12.f3 

A timid response.

After the game, Stockfish 17.1 recommended 12.f4 Nc6 13.Qf2 Kg8 14.Rad1 Nd4 15.h3 Qe7 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.c3 Nc6 19.e5 as more active.

12...Nc4 

When in doubt, attack the enemy Queen.

Sigh.

13.Qf4 

The idea is to add pressure on f6. 

That is interesting, but Her Majesty might also have found a home at e2.

13...Kg8 14.Nd5 Rf8 15.Qh4 Be6 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Bh6 Rf7 

The result of the action on f6 has slightly breached Black's King's castle, but the second player remains better.

18.b3 Ne5 19.Rad1 Ng6 

Begone, witch!

20.Qe1 

Sulking at home.

20.Qg3 had more action in it. 

20...b5 21.f4 

The pawns advance.

21...Qc7 

Apparently 21...f5 (blocking the threatened pawn fork) 22.h4 Qxh4 23.Qxh4 Nxh4 24.Rxd6 Re8 did not appear attractive. 

22.f5 Bxf5 23.exf5 Ne5 

Black's "dark knight" reminds me of Batman, in the movies, surveying Gotham City from the top of a tall building.

I suppose that would make me - playing the Jerome Gambit - the Joker. (Apologies to Pete Banks, otherwise known as MrJoker.)

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Deja Vu, Yet Again

Writing notes to the following Jerome Gambit game took me back in time to many of my earlier games.

I have added links, in case you, too, Readers, want to go back in time.

perrypawnpusher - galactic_soldier_123

6th Thematic Quick KOs: Italian Game, Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

According to The Database, in 79 games with this line, I have scored 75%.

This compares with 499 games with the move order 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, where I have scored 82%.

Practice makes... one play better.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 

Here we have a typical Jerome Gambit position, where White has a pawn for his sacrificed piece. He plans to make something of Black's slightly uneasy King.

Challenging, but I have been here before:

8...Qe7 as in  perrypawnpusher - HGBoone, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 27), perrypawnpusher - BigKalamar, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49), and perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16); 

8...Nc6 as in perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz FICS 2010 (0-1, 26), perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz FICS 1010 (0-1, 19), perrypawnpusher - Avious, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 40), perrypawnpusher - Duir, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 42), perrypawnpusher - anandh, blitz, FICS 2011 (0-1, 11) and perrypawnpusher - bartab, blitz, FICS, 2012 

9.O-O 

I have played, instead

9.f4 as in perrypawnpusher - hklett, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 18), perrypawnpusher - abczyx, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39), perrypawnpusher - HGBoone, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 46), perrypawnpusher - KaZC, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2-1/2, 61), perrypawnpusher - eduborio, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 19), perrypawnpusher - obmanovichhh, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 34), perrypawnpusher - Fazmeister, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36), perrypawnpusher - spince, blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41), and perrypawnpusher - guestM, FICS, 2023 (1/2-1/2, 38); and 

9.Bg5 as in perrypawnpusher - Philidork, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17), perrypawnpusher - wuolong, Chess.com, 2013 (1-0, 16), perrypawnpusher - BeeFiftyTwo, blitz, FICS, 2013 (0-1, 59), perrypawnpusher - andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 39), perrypawnpusher - JoseSoza, Chess.com, 2012 (0-1, 34), perrypawnpusher - ManWithABigPlan, Chess.com 2021 (1-0, 36). 

Whew!

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 

11...Nb4 

It is always tempting to threaten the Queen, but it does not always accomplish anything - anything positive.

12.Qc4+ Be6 

Black could accomplish two things - blocking the check and hitting the center - with 12...d5. Still, White would be better. 

13.Qxb4 b6

Not wanting to lose the b-pawn, but, as they say in those infomercials - But, wait, there's more!

14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Qe7 

Exchanging Queens might stop the attack, but it is the entrance to a piece-down endgame.

16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 17.exf6+ Rxf6 

Better was capturing with the pawn, but it doesn't matter.

18.Bg5 Black resigned