The Jerome - Norton Games (Part 4)

Thanks to Senior International Master of Correspondence Chess Tim Harding (see "Tim Harding, PhD") and his correspondence chess resources, we know that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome and D.P. Norton played at least four correspondence chess games to test the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

The following game was apparently published in a late October or early November 1877 issue of News of the Week. Notes are by Harding; some quote from the NotW column.

Norton (Kansas) sent letter dated 29 Oct 1877 to News of the Week columnist noting the interest in Europe in Jerome's gambit. 'Having contested several games myself by corr. with Mr Jerome, I presume a specimen of our play might perhaps interest your readers...'

Jerome, A. - Norton, D.P.

correspondence 1877

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+?! Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Na3

It is understood that Mr Jerome admits the unsoundness of the variation 9 Na3... Nevertheless great care is necessary for the defence, especially in play across the board.

9...Qf6!?

9...c6 preferred by Sorensen in Danish magazine (Nordisk Skaktidende?); Norton disagrees and thinks the text at least as good, but both allow White to win back the piece. He hints a third move is better than either and invites readers to find it. 9...Kc6! is perhaps what he meant.

10.Nb5+ Kc5 11.Nxd4 d6!-+

This move decides the game. White reels from the shock, is henceforth pressed to the wall, and Black has an easy victory.

11...Qxf5? 12.Nxf5 g6 13.Be3+ Kc6 14.Nd4+ Kd6 15.0-0-0 Ke7 16.Nb5 was given in the Danish magazine.

12.Nb3+ Kb6 13.Qg5 Qxg5 14.Bxg5 Nf6 15.f3 Be6

16.Nd4 Rhe8 17.0-0 c5 18.Nb3 Bxb3 19.cxb3 a5 20.Rfd1 Kc6 21.a4 b6 22.Rd2 Rad8 23.h3 Nf7 24.Bh4 g5 25.Bf2

25...d5 26.Rad1 dxe4 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Re1 Re8 29.fxe4 Rxe4 30.Rf1 Re6 31.Be3 h6 32.g4 Ne5 33.Bd2 Ne4

34.Bc3 Nxc3 35.bxc3 c4 36.bxc4 Kc5 37.Rb1 Kxc4 38.Rb5 Kxc3 39.Kg2 Nd3 40.h4 gxh4 41.Kh3 Nc5 White resigned

The Jerome - Norton Games (Part 3)

The third Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) correspondence game between Alonzo Wheeler Jerome and D. P. Norton was published in the November 1876 issue of the American Chess Journal. Comments are by the ACJ editor, William Hallock.

Jerome,A - Norton,D.P.
1876

Unfinished game by correspondence between A.W. Jerome and D. P. Norton

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6

8.Qd1 Ne7 9.0-0 Rf8 10.f4 N5c6 11.c3 Kg8 12.Be3 d6

13.Nd2 b6 14.f5 d5 15.Qc2 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Qf7 17.f6

and here the author of the Double Opening asks "Now what is Black's best move?" From a cursory glance at the situation it seems to us that Ba6 would be a satisfactory reply for Black.

We are not at all disposed to turn up the nose at Mr. Jerome's pet, as he seems to infer; on the contrary we regard it with favor, and therefore have frequently given games at this opening an airing in the Journal, thus introducing it to the chess public, and subjecting it to that criticism and analysis which will speedily determine its claim to a place in chess literature. We consider it stronger than the Harvey-Evans and not much inferior to the Cochrane attack, but like most openings where a piece is sacrificed to obtain a violent attack, the first player will generally find himself the loser when met by a careful and steady defence. For this reason it will never find favor among match players or the professional representatives of the game. But among the lighter lances - those who cultivate chess an an amusement and not as a means of obtaining bread and butter - it will, no doubt, become quite popular, as it affords a sparkling variation to the tiresome Piano game.

It seems unfair to let William Hallock have the "last word", as his suggestion 17...Ba6 loses a piece and the exchange to 18.Ng5, for example: 18...Qg7 19.Qb3+ Kf8 20.fxe7 Nxe7 21.Nf7+ Rxf7 22.Rxf7.

On the other hand, Alonzo Jerome should not get off easily, either, as 17...Nf5 18.fxg7 Qxg7 would maintain Black's advantage after, say, 19.Bf4 Ba6.

The Jerome - Norton Games (Part 2)

A second Alonzo Wheeler Jerome - D.P. Norton correspondence game was published in the September 1876 issue of the American Chess Journal.

The ACJ editor, William Hallock, was at times skeptical of the value of the Jerome Gambit, and this led to exchanges with Jerome (see "A sparkling variation to the tiresome Piano game"), and to a game between Hallock and Norton.

The notes to the game below are from the American Chess Journal.

Jerome,A - Norton,D.P.
1876

One of a series of games now being contested by corresondence between A.W. Jerome of Paxton, Ill. and D. P. Norton of DesMoines, Iowa, for the purpose of testing the merits of the Double Opening invented by Mr. Jerome.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Nf3+

A new departure. 8...Qf6 is the usual play. The text move prevents White from castling.

9.Kf1

9.Kd1 seems better.; If 9.gxf3 Qh4+ 10.Kd1 Qf2 and Black has the better position.

9...c6

If 9...Ne7 10.e5+ Kc6 11.Qe4+ d5 etc

10.gxf3 Qe7

10...Bd4 is good; 11.c3 Nh6 12.e5+ Kc7 13.Qe4 Bc5

11.b4

A beautiful attacking move.

11...Bb6

Weak and inconsiderate, losing a Pawn and the exchange. If Black captures the pawn then 11...Bxb4 12.c3 Bc5 13.d4 Bxd4! 14.Ba3+ c5 15.cxd4 Kc7 16.dxc5 Qf6! and White has the better game. 11...Bd4 was better, followed by 12.c3 Nh6 etc.

12.Bb2 Kc7 13.Qe5+ Qxe5 14.Bxe5+ d6 15.Bxg7 Bh3+

16.Ke2 Bg2 17.Rd1 Ne7 18.Bxh8 Ng6

If 18...Rxh8 19.f5 and Black's game is seriously cramped while White's Pawns would be very strong and difficult to stop.

19.d4

Preferring to save his centre Pawns and [to play]

19...Rxh8 20.Kf2 Nxf4 21.c3 Rg8 22.Nd2 Kd7 23.Ke3 Rf8 24.Rg1 Bd8 25.Kf2 Rg8 26.Ke3 Nh3 27.f4 Nxg1

28.Rxg1 Rg4 29.Nf1 Bh3 30.Ng3 Rh4 31.Nf5 Bxf5 32.exf5 Bf6 33.Rg3 Rxh2 34.a4 Rh1 35.a5 Re1+ 36.Kf3 Re7 37.Rh3 c5! 38.bxc5 dxc5 39.Rh6 cxd4! 40.cxd4 Bxd4 41.f6 Rf7 42.Ke4 Bxf6 and wins

The Jerome - Norton Games (Part 1)

Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's analysis of his gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) was first published in the April 1874 Dubuque Chess Journal.

Jerome tested lines of play in both over-the-board and correspondence games. He played at least four games with D. P. Norton of DesMoines, Iowa.

The first published Jerome - Norton game appeared in the June 15, 1876 issue of the American Chess Journal (notes from the ACJ):

Jerome,A - Norton,D.P.
1876

Played recently by correspondence.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qxh8

Played experimentally; and analysis will probably show the capture to be unsound.

8...Qxe4+ 9.Kf1

Best. If 9.Kd1 Qxg2 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.c3 d5 12.Re1 Qf3+ 13.Kc2 and Black can force mate shortly.

9...Nf6 10.d3 Qf5

The defence was playing for the capture of White's Queen.

Black has a won game as follows: 10...Qd4 11.Be3 Qxb2 12.Bxc5 d6 13.Bxd6 Best 13...cxd6 14.Qd8 Best 14...Qxa1 15.Qc7+ Best and Black wins.

11.f3 Bf8

Necessary in order to hold the Queen in limbo and prevent Bh6

12.Nc3! d5

Forced in order to prevent Ne4

13.h4

The best move. If 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qd8 Qxf3+ 15.gxf3 Bh3+ &; and Black has a slight advantage.

13...Qd7 14.h5 Bg7 15.hxg6+ Kxg6

Overlooking one of Black's resources on his 18th move, viz 15...Ke6 Best 16.Rxh7 Bxh8 17.Rxd7 Bxd7 and Black has a piece, will capture the doubled pawn and Knight to win.

16.Rh6+ Bxh6 17.Bxh6 b6 18.Ne2!

Sound and beautiful. Anticipating 18.Qf8 Bb7. Q goes, Kxh6 with a winning position.

18...Qf7

Forced. 18...Bb7 now would lose the game

19.Qf8 Qxf8 20.Bxf8

and the result was a draw

It is possible that this game – showing the difficult result of capturing Black's Rook (8.Qxh8) in what would be called Whistler's Defense, based on the Jerome - Whistler correspondence match – is one reason that Jerome apparently preferred 6.d4 to 6.Qh5+ in his early play of the gambit.

Tim Harding, PhD

Readers are probably familiar with Senior International Master of Correspondence Chess Tim Harding, who in July, 2009, received his PhD in History. His doctoral thesis was on correspondence chess in Britain and Ireland during the period 1824-1914.

Harding has been a contributor to the ChessCafe for 15 years, writing his monthly column "The Kibitzer". He has written quite a number of good chess books, with a focus on chess openings (orthodox and unorthodox), chess improvement, and correspondence chess. Harding has also published academic articles on chess history.

Later this year McFarland & Company, Inc. will publish his Correspondence Chess in Britain and Ireland, 1824-1987.

The UltraCorr3 CD, compiled by Harding, is the resource for chessplayers who want the best (largest, cleanest) correspondence game database. The CD not only includes over one million games; it also includes PDF files of Chess Mail, an international correspondence chess magazine that Harding published for 10 years; of Winning at Correspondence Chess; and of  64 Great Chess Games.

What of Dr. Harding and the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+)? In a recent email to me he wrote "There are no games with this unsound gambit in my book," but he shocked me by including a file of Jerome Gambit correspondence chess games from his database, four of which I had never seen before, one by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome himself. (Looks like I need to upgrade from my MegaCorr CD – the precursor to UltraCorr!)

Over the next few weeks I'll share these "new" games, fitting them in with other historical information.

(This time I saw it)

Early last year I played a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) against Banassi (see "Platypus Perils and Follies"), and succeeded when my opponent lost his way in a complicated refutation line.

Although I won the game, I was so nervous at the time that I overlooked a checkmate-in-one along the way.

This time, I saw it.

perrypawnpusher - thinan

blitz FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

One of the many ways to defeat the Jerome Gambit, others being 6...g6, 6...Ng6 and 6...Kf8.

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+

Wow!

The simpler 8...Qf6 was an effective defense, as was 8...Qd8, or 8...Qd7 or even 8...Kc6. The text holds the promise of a Queen sac, however.

9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kd1

Now Black has 10...Ne7 11.e5+ Kc6 12.Qe4+ d5 13.exd6+ Nd5 14.gxh4 Bg4

analysis diagram







as in abhailey - peonconorejas, net-chess.com, 2008, which finished with 15.Qa4+ b5 16.Qa6+ Nb6 17.c4 Nd4+ 18.Ke1 Rhe8+ 19.Kf2 Nf5+ 20.Kf1 Bh3 checkmate.

analysis diagram







10...Qe7 

Taking the Queen out of danger, but allowing...

11.Qd5 checkmate

This was anticipated by CoachCrupp - jirikb, blitz FICS, 2008.

perrypawnpusher - Banassi, blitz FICS, 2009 continued: 11.e5+ Kc6 12.Qe4+ Kb6 13.Qxf3 d6 14.Nc3 Be6 15.Na4+ Kb5 16.Qxb7+ Bb6 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Qxa8 dxe5 19.a4+ Kc5 20.d3 exf4 21.b4+ Kd6 22.Bxf4+ Kd7 23.Qb7 Bg4+ 24.Kc1 Ke8 25.Qa8+ Kf7 26.Qd5+ Kf8 27.Qe4 Qxb4 28.Qxb4+ Black resigned.

...but who's counting?

Today's entry marks the 700th consecutive daily post to this blog. That's young compared to some other chess web sites, but in a month this one will be 2 years old – exceeding early expectations. 

Visitors to this site have come from 103 countries, from Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Burkina Faso to Nepal, Qatar and Saint Lucia.

The top ten visitor countries are: United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Denmark, Canada, France, Germany, Poland, Belgium and Italy.

All are welcome.

Feel free to browse and check back posts – the new "Search" feature works quite well.

Post a comment or email me, if you like (richardfkennedy@hotmail.com) with news, analysis, games or encouragement.

Also available is the free, updated New Year's Database (PGN) of 18,000 Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+), and Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0-0/4.Nc3/4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+) games.

Thanks for stopping by!