Jerome's Gambit Snacks!?

Wandering the internet I found... Jerome's Gambit snacks?

Wow!

This deserves further investigation.

jeromesgambitsnacks

Jerome’s Gambit™

Luxury chess snacks for thinkers, winners & players.

Checkmate-worthy chocolate creations.

Coming soon.

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What Am I Doing Here? (Part 3)

[continued from the previous post]

Continuing my latest adventure with the Noa Gambit, or the Monck Gambit.

perrypawnpusher - Zingowahnsinn

"Italian Game" tournament, Chess.com, 2026

 29.Ke3 Ke6 30.c4 Re5+ 31.Kd2 Nd6 32.Kc3 g6 33.b4 

The King probably should have gone to b4, and, maybe, the Rook to d2, before that.

33...Ne4+ 

Simplifying further, but sending the Rook behind enemy lines with 33...Re1 was to be considered.

34.Nxe4 Rxe4 35.Rd4 Re2

See the previous note.

36.Rd2 Re3+ 37.Kd4 Ra3 38.Kc5 Re3 39.Kxc6 Black resigned

White's King will help his Queenside pawns advance, while Black's King is cut off from the action.

I am going to have to take chessfriend Yury V. Bukayev's advice, and stop playing this sketchy opening.

What Am I Doing Here (Part 2)

 

[continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - Zingowahnsinn

"Italian Game" tournament, Chess.com, 2026

The most significant item in the game at this point is Black's advanced, isolated pawn, which becomes the focus of play.

14...Nf7 14.Nc3 e3 

Liquidating the pawn.

15.Bxe3 Bxe3 16.fxe3 Rxe3 17.Nd5 

This tempo grab (by attacking the Rook) assists in the pawn (at c7) grab, but, in itself only promises me an edge, given the position.

17...Re5 18.Nxc7 Rb8 19.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Bd7 

If you play the Jerome Gambit, you still have to know how to play the endgame. I plan on out-playing my opponent in this pawn-up position; this is where our 200 rating points difference might show up.

By the way, looking back at "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (5)" there is this relevant insight

Charting each win and loss against a range of strength differences between the players – White is 0-100 points higher (or lower) than Black, White is 101-200 points higher (or lower) than Black, White is 201-300 points higher (or lower) than Black, etc. shows that in this Jerome Gambit Tournament, White needed to be rated only 200 points higher than his opponent to overcome the handicap of “giving Jerome Gambit odds” and have strong winning chances.

21.Nd5 Bc6 22.Ne7+ Kf8 23.Nxc6 bxc6 

Accumulating small advantages, one by one.

24.b3 Nd6 25.Re6 Rd8 26.Kf2 

His Majesty must help on the Queenside.

26...Kf7 27.Re3 Nb5 28.Rd3 Rd5 

Black passes up the chance to create an isolated pawn for White at d3 (by exchanging Rooks) and, so, gives White a chance to give Black an isolated pawn at d5.

Ah, but I have better things to do.

[to be continued]

What Am I Doing Here (Part 1)

The world of gambits - especially the Jerome - can be fun, with smashing and crashing attacks on the enemy; but it also can lead to odd positions where it has to be asked What Am I Doing Here?

The following game is yet another example.

perrypawnpusher - Zingowahnsinn

"Italian Game" tournament, Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights Defense.

Maybe we can visit a relative of the Jerome Gambit?

4.Nc3

Now, 4...Bc5 5.Bxf7+ would be the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. 

4...Nxe4 

Oh, well...

5.Bxf7+ 

The Noa Gambit, otherwise known as the Monck Gambit.

As I wrote in "Jerome Gambit: Powerful Chess"

[M] y choice here is to sacrifice the Bishop, as in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) - both lines are objectively bad for White, although the computer sees the Noa as a pawn less worse than the Jerome.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5 

For creativity sake I can mention 6...b5, played in perrypawnpusher - Chidobe Awuzie bot, Chess.com, 2023 that ended quickly 7.Nfg5+ Kg8 8.Qf3 h5 9.Qf7 checkmate

7.Ng3 e4 

Or the more restrained 7...Bc5, as in, perrypawnpusher - Anthony bot, Chess.com 2024 (1-0, 43).

8.Ng1 Bc5  

It is interesting to find in The Database that the two earliest examples of this position come from two games played by Emanuel Lasker (as Black, with opponents in consulation) in 1891 and 1900 - both wins for the World Champion.

By the way, 8...h5 is also challenging, as in perrypawnpusher - BoysRule6969, "Not Only The Italians Play the Italian" tournament, Chess.com, 2025 (0-1, 20).

And there is the Jerome-nemesis move, 8...Qf6, showing up in perrypawnpusher - vityas81, "Play The Italian Game III" tournament, Chess.com, 2023 (0-1, 22).

I am reminded of the song by the Moody Blues, "What Am I Doing Here?"

In all fairness, I did okay against 8...g6 - with some effort - in perrypawnpusher - RemoveKubab1, Italian Game Battlegrounds tournament, Chess.com, 2019 (1-0, 30). 

 9.d3 Re8 

Black also had 9...exd3 and 9...Qf6 to consider 

10.dxe4 Kg8 

Black safeguards his King.

I was amazed to see, after the game, that - despite Black's lead in development and greater King safety - Stockfish 17.1 evaluates the position (32 ply) as even.

11.N1e2 dxe4 12.Qxd8 Nxd8 13.0–0 

Things are looking not quite as dreadful for me, as they were a few moves ago, in this Queenless middlegame. I have castled and my piece development is on par with my opponent's. 

What next?

[to be continued]

 

Collecting Small Advantages

Yury V. Bukayev shared this recent game, played on lichess.org against Women's International Master Ruchess27, with a time control of 10 10. 

The game is a good example of collecting small advantages, until they turn into a large advantage.

Ruchess27 - Yury_V_Bukayev

WIM Ruchess27 10-board simul, 10 10, lichess.org, 2026, April 18

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 

The Slav Defense, exchange variation. Perhaps it is Ruchess27's favorite? Or, maybe it is to achieve a calm, steady position where the opponent can simply be out-played.

4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4 e6 6.e3 Bd6 

I am reminded of an interview of a grandmaster, many years ago, where the question was posed 

How do you prepare for unorthodox or unusual openings and play by your opponent? 

The response was 

I don't bother to prepare, I just make strong moves, and, eventually, that will be enough.

Yury does not play irrationally, or throw caution to the wind, but his opponent follows that strategy: Make strong moves, and, eventually that will be enough.

This time, though, that will not be enough.

7.Bg5 Qb6 8.Bd3 Qxb2 

What conclusion about Yury does Ruchess27 make from this pawn capture? That he is a club level pawn grabber?

Probably not, as the move is still theory. Play on, but perhaps, be cautious.

9.Nge2 Nbd7 10.O-O a6 11.Qa4

Certainly, she was not just pinning one Knight, threatening to capture the other and break up Black's Kingside?

Maybe, an IM can afford such "nothing" moves in a simul, but, in this case, 11.a4 was best.

11...Qa3 12.Qc2 

Exchanging Queens was not a good idea, so the Queen retreats.

12...h6 13.Bh4 O-O 

Comparing Bishops, White seems to be better, here, but Stockfish 17.1 already gives Black an edge.

14.f4

With thoughts of attack. Maybe that would be successful against a lesser opponent, but not Yury.

14...b5 15.f5

Consistent, but the action should be taking place on the Queenside.

15...e5

Yes.

16.dxe5 Bxe5 

Capturing with the correct piece.

17.Nd4 Bb7 

18.Rfb1 Rfc8 19.Rb3 Qd6 20.Rab1 

Given enough time, White will increase the Queenside pressure with a2-14.

There is not enough time.

20...Bxh2+ 21.Kh1 Bg3 22.Bxg3 Qxg3 23.a4 

Too late.

23...Ng4 24.Nf3 Nde5 White resigned

Seeing that 25.Qd2 Nxf3 26.gxf3 Nf2 will cost White her Queen.

Jerome Gambit: Fast

Bullet chess is fast. Players think and move fast. They make strong moves and weak moves, fast.

A blog post can slow it all down - but it is still fast.

In the following game, angelcamina leads the way.

angelcamina - RABCHES

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2026

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

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

angelcamina has 328 such games in The Database, scoring 60% .

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

9.Qc4+ Kf8 10.O-O d6 11.f4 Bg4 

An interesting idea. 

Also

11...Qe7 12.e5 (12.b3 Be6 13.Qd3 (13.Qe2 g6 14.Ba3 Kg7 15.e5 Ne8 16.exd6 Nxd6 17.Rae1 Rae8 18.Qd2 Rhf8 19.g3 Kg8 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe7 Nxd2 22.Bxf8 Nxf1 23.Ba3 Nd2 24.Re2 Nf3+ 25.Kg2 Nfd4 26.Rd2 Bf5 27.c4 Re2+ 28.Rxe2 Nxe2 29.Kf3 Ned4+ 30.Ke3 Kf7 31.b4 Nc2+ 0-1 angelcamina - easy_chessmaster78, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2021) 13...Bf7 (13...Kf7 14.Ba3 Rhf8 15.e5 Nd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Qxd5+ Qe6 18.Qf3 Kg8 19.Rae1 Nd4 20.Qd3 Qd5 21.c4 Qa5 22.exd6 Qxa3 23.Qxd4 cxd6 24.Qd5+ Kh8 25.Re2 Rad8 26.Rfe1 Qc5+ 27.Qxc5 dxc5 28.Kf2 Kg8 29.g3 White won on time, angelcamina - Ecuakandy, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024; 13...Nb4 14.Qb5 Nc6 15.Qxb7 Kf7 16.Qxc6 Bd7 17.Qc4+ Be6 18.Qd3 Ng4 19.h3 Nh6 20.Ba3 Bd7 21.e5 dxe5 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.fxe5 Rad8 24.Nd5+ Ke6 25.c4 c6 26.Nc7+ Kxe5 27.Rae1 checkmate, angelcamina - bergkas, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024) 14.Ba3 g6 15.Rae1 Kg7 16.e5 Nd7 17.exd6 Qd8 18.f5 gxf5 19.Qxf5 Nf6 20.dxc7 Qd4+ 21.Kh1 Bg6 22.Qf3 Qxc3 23.Qxc3 Black resigned, angelcamina - Thealbatros, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2021) 12...d5 (12...dxe5 13.fxe5 Nxe5 (13...Qxe5 14.Bf4 Qh5 15.Rae1 Bf5 16.Nd5 Ng4 17.h3 g5 18.Bg3 Na5 19.Rxf5+ Kg7 20.Qxc7+ Kh6 21.hxg4 Qxg4 22.Re6+ Kh5 23.Qf7, checkmate, angelcamina - Aleyev-Iliya5953, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2026) 14.Qb3 Nc6 15.Bg5 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 Qxg5 17.Ne4 Qe5 18.Nxf6 gxf6 19.Rae1 Qd6 20.Rd1 Qe6 21.Qa3+ Qe7 22.Qc3 Be6 23.Rxf6+ Ke8 24.Re1 Nd8 25.h4 c6 26.h5 Kd7 27.Qe5 Qd6 28.Qg5 Kc7 29.Qg7+ Qd7 30.Qxh8 b6 31.Rf8 Kb7 32.Re8 Qxe8 33.Qxe8 Bd7 0-1 angelcamina - MucTepXyeBlbU, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org,  2025) 13.exf6 gxf6 14.Nxd5 Be6 15.Re1 Qd6 16.Rd1 Rd8 0-1 angelcamina - ajithm, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019; and

11...Be6? 12.Qxe6 Qe7 13.Qxe7+ Kxe7 14.b3 Nd7 15.Ba3 Nb6 16.Rae1 Kd7 17.Rd1 Kc8 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Rxd5 Nc6 22.Rf7 Rg8 23.Rdd7 Ne5 24.Rxc7+ Kd8 25.Rxg7 Rxg7 26.Rxg7 1-0 angelcamina - Krle002, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025. 

12.h3 

Or 12.b3 Bh5 13.Ba3 Bf7 14.Qe2 Qe7 15.Rae1 Ke8 16.e5 dxe5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Qxe5 Rd8 19.Qxe7 checkmate, angelcamina - azdnlh3, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025 

12...Bh5 13.b3 Bf7 14.Qd3 Qe7

Stronger was 14...h5, to dissuade g2-g4, (which, again, never comes). 

15.Ba3 a6

Better 15...Bg6 to prevent e4-e5 (a move, however, that never arrives). 

16.Rae1 b5 

See the above note.

17.Nd5 

It was time for 17.e5.

17...Nxd5 

Not seeing far enough. The move was 17...Qd7. 

18.exd5 

White's piece development offsets his piece minus.

18...b4 

This has to be the clock.

19.Rxe7 Nxe7 20.Bxb4 Nxd5 21.Bc3 Rd8 22.f5 h6 23.f6 

To open another file and end the game.

Black slips, and then resigns.

23...Bg6 24.Qxg6 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Complicated

The following game starts out in standard form, but ends with moves on both sides that makes it look like a blitz game.

I will plead "complications" for my mis-steps, as my opponsnt might, as well.

perrypawnpusher - WidowKoenig

Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2026

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

This move was listed as starting the "Third Variation" in the early Dubuque Chess Journal (July 1874) article and analysis, "Jerome's Double Opening", by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome.

It is Stockfish 17.1's first choice (32 ply), as I learned after the game. 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 

The text is, by far, the move most frequently played against me, although I have also faced 8...Qe7, 8...Qf6, and 8...Be6.

9.d3 Be6 

Black has a lot of move choices here. I have met 9...Be6 twice before, in perrypawnpusher - Sarantes, Let's Play the Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2018 (1-0, 37) and perrypawnpusher - TwoCatsOnTheCouch, Chess.com, 2025 (0-1, 40).

10.O-O Qd7 11.Be3 Ke7 

A slip. If Black is expecting White to exchange Bishops on c5, and then advance his f-pawn - then, placing Black's King on f7 (now that his Queen is on d7) looks risky; but once the dark square Bishops are off the board, Black would have the strong ...Qd4+, in any event, i.e. 11...Kf7 12.Bxc5 dxc5 13.f4 Qd4+

When you are playing many games at one time, this can happen.

12.Qxg7+ 

White is now better, but the position is still messy.

12...Bf7 13.Bg5 

Now, Black's best chance to jumble things up is 13...Bd4, when 14.Nc3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qe6 16.f4 Rag8 17.Qh6 Rxg5 18.Qxg5 Rg8 19.Qh4 Rg4 20.Qh3 Be8 21.Rae1 Qg8 22.Rf3 Bc6 23.Ree4 would look scary, but White could still hold, and eventually break in the center with e4-e5.

analysis diagram

13...Qe6 

If Black were to protect d5 with 13...c6, White would have the vacating sacrifice 14.e5 dxe5 15.Ne4, with advantage.

14.Nc3 Rag8 

Arriving late to the scene.

15.Bxf6+ 

Throwing the advantage away. Fortunately, both of us missed it.

The winning move was 15.Nd5+.

15...Qxf6 

Instead, 15...Kd7! would have given Black the chance to split the point, after 16.Qxh8 (awkward, but best) Rxg2+! 17.Kxg2 Qg4+ 18.Kh1 f3+ 19.Kg1 Qh4+, etc, drawing by repetion of position.

16.Nd5+ Black resigned