Jerome Gambit: e-file, Friend and Foe

The e-file often opens in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), becoming an avenue of attack for White - or counter-attack for Black.

The following game is a short win for White. Had his opponent been more aware of the dangers of the e-file, however, things might have turned out differently.

Since White is probably going to play the Jerome again, he will most certainly figure things out. However, his next opponent is likely to be unfamiliar with the Jerome - and there the lesson of the dangers of the e-file may appear.

Toby - Mouad

45 20, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

Black's last move could be the start of a couple of dangerous defenses - Blackburne's and Whistler's - or it could be a knee jerk reaction to White's Queen's check.

7.Qxe5 Nf6 

Protecting his Rook from attack, but both of the previously mentioned defenses are based on offering the Rook.

8.Qxc5 

Simply recovering the second sacrificed piece.

In a recent game, White tried, instead, 8.d4 and was rewarded by 8...Re8 and a return to main lines, 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qg5 Qe7 11.O-O Qxe4 12.c3 Qe1 13.Na3 Re2 14.Bf4 Qxf2+ 15. Rxf2 Ne4 16.Qd5+ Be6 17.Rxe2 Bxd5 18.Rae1 Be6 19.Rxe4 d5 20.Rxe6 Re8 21.R6e5 Rd8 22.Re7+ Kf8 23.Bxc7 Rc8 24.Nb5 a6 25.Na7 Ra8 26.Bb6 Black resigned, ABabyWipe - mvermeersch, 3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2020.

8...d6

Kicking the Queen is a natural response, but Black could have, instead, played 8...Nxe4 because 9.Qd5+ Kg7 10.Qxe4 would fail to 10...Re8, winning the Queen. Remember "Jerome Gambit: Beware the e-file".

9.Qc4+ 

A Queen retreat was seen recently 9.Qe3 Re8 10.d3 d5 11.f3 dxe4 12.fxe4 Bg4 13.O-O Kg7 14.b3 Qd7 15.Bb2 Re6 16.Nc3 Kg8 17.Rxf6 Rxf6 18.Nd5 Rd6 19.Qd4 Kf7 20.Rf1+ Ke6 21.Qf6 checkmate, angelcamina - miz82, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020.

9...Be6

A King side-step was seen recently 9...Ke7 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.d3 Bxe2 12.Kxe2 Ke8 13.Bg5 Qe7 14.f3 Qf7 15.Rf1 Rb8 16.Be3 b6 17.a4 c6 18.Nc3 b5 19.axb5 cxb5 20.Rxa7 Qe6 21.b4 Rc8 22.Nxb5 Rb8 23.Nc7+ Ke7 24.Nxe6+ Kxe6 25.c3 Rhg8 26.d4 g5 27.d5+ Ke5 28.Bd4+ Kf4 29.g3 checkmate, greek_Magnus - Taxiarchis, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020. 

10.Qc3 Qd7 

11.e5 

Fearless. Risky. The e-file. Castling is the remedy.

11...dxe5 12.Qxe5 Qd5 

Black offers to exchange Queens, but the way to safety was via aggression: 12...Bc4, opening the e-file while preventing castling.

13.Qxc7+ Qd7 

14.Qxd7+ Bxd7 15.O-O Ne4 

White is 3 pawns up. Black's better development is not sufficient compensation.

16.d3 Nc5 17.Be3 Bf5 

A slip, allowing Black to lose quickly, instead of simply being ground down. 

18.Bxc5 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Opening and Closing

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game again shows the necessity for middlegame and endgame skills, once the opening stage has passed. Sometimes the Jerome Gambit delivers the full point (either way) right out of the opening, but we can't always expect such generosity (or difficulty).

 

cmickle -Toshic21

lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qe3 Nf6 9.d4 Re8 10.f3 Kg8 

White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece, and they form a solid center - which is most dangerous when it is moving forward.

For his part, Black has castled-by-hand and has avoided weaknesses.

11.b3 c5 12.Bb2 b6 13.d5 Bf5 14.Nd2 

White has delayed castling to focus on piece development. He should feel a bit uncomfortable with his King and Queen on the same file as Black's Rook - his Knight probably should have gone to c3, even at the cost of blocking his fianchettoed Bishop, because 14...Nxd5 was a threat.

Black is aware of the e-file, but appears to mis-calculate.

14...Nxe4 15.fxe4 Bxe4 16.Nxe4 Qh4+ 17.g3 Qxe4 

The Rook should capture.

18.Qxe4 Rxe4+ 

Things look pretty even. White's Bishop might give him a slight edge, although Black's development probably compensates.

19.Kd2 Rae8 20.Rae1 Rd4+ 

A slip. Exchanging Rooks was probably enough to split the point.

21.Bxd4 Rxe1 22.Rxe1 cxd4 23.Kd3 Ne5+ 24.Ke4 Kf7 25.Rf1+ Kg6 26.Kxd4 Kg5 

What follows is a decent lesson on the endgame advantage of the exchange.

27.Rf4 h5 28.h4+ Kg6 29.c4 Kh6 30.b4 a6 31.c5 Ng6 32.cxd6 Nxf4 33.gxf4 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: It Is Always Time To Fight

The following game is a good example of White's relentless fight against his opponent, even as things become difficult. Those who play the Jerome Gambit know that "difficult" is not the same as "hopeless". We see, once more, that victory can come even in the most challenging situations. 

DusanAtanackovic - Bashifisti

5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 

The Ponziani Opening.

3...Bc5 4.Bc4 h6 5.Bxf7+ 

The game has transposed into a Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.c3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ng6 

8.Qd5+

According to The Database, this move is new, but the idea behind it - a "nudge" - is as old as Alonzo Jerome's analysis. 

8...Ke8 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qh5 Qf6 

11.O-O N8e7 12.d4 Be6 

Probably not the best move, as it encourages both f2-f4, with the threat of f4-f5, forking a couple of pieces, and Qh5-b5+, with the threat to take the b-pawn. In response, however, White calmly adds to his development.

13.Na3 Bf7 

Black starts to harass his opponent's Queen.

14.Qg4 h5 15.Qg3 h4 16.Qg4 Be6 17.Qg5 Qf7 

The Queen is safe, but she has only the Rook to help defend against five enemy pieces on the Kingside. White's next move does nothing to address this imbalance.

18.Nb5 h3 19.Nxc7+ Kd7 20.Nxa8 

This is a risky capture.

20...hxg2 21.Re1 Nh4 

22.Qb5+ 

Hoping to move the action to the Queenside and capture the enemy King. A little bit of distraction would help, too, as Black is threatening the ...Nf3+ fork.

22...Kd8 23.Qa5+ b6 24.Qxa7 

What a mess! Black now has a checkmate in 7, starting with 24...Nf3+. However, he is distracted by White's actions, and decides to harass the enemy Queen one more time...

24...Nc8 

Amazingly enough, this hands the win over to White.

25.Bg5+ Ke8 26.Qxf7+ Kxf7 27.Bxh4 Rxh4 

White is up the exchange and three pawns.

Black is either short of time or short of inspiration, and drops a piece, ending the game.

28.Nc7 Bh3 29.Re3 Ne7 30.Rf3+ Kg6 31.Nd5 Ng8 32.Nf4+ Kg5 33.Nxh3+ Black resigned

Never give up.

Jerome Gambit: The Problem is the Solution

One of the criticisms of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is that the White Queen becomes active too early, and moves too often. That concern could apply to the following game - if it were not for the fact that the Queen holds her own, and eventually leads her side to victory.

omgmg - anonymous

3 0 blitz, Chess.com

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Qf6 

Often this move is a major part of Black's defense.

10.d4 N8e7 11.O-O Bd7 12.f4 Re8 

The "Jerome pawns" support the White Queen in her face-off with five enemy pieces.

13.e5 

Stockfish 10 suggests the interesting alternative 13.f5 Nh4 14.Nc3 Kg8 15.Qf2 h6 16.Be3 Kh7 17.Rae1 Rhf8 when the game seems in balance.

13...dxe5 

Hint for the defender: although the move seems natural, it isn't always the best move to make the pawn exchange. Here 13...Qf7 was more prudent. 

14.fxe5 Qxf1+ 

A bit of a panic move. He could have tried 14...Nf5, although 15.Qa3+ Qe7 16.g4 would still be a bit better for White, i.e. 16...Qxa3 17.Nxa3 Ngh4 18.gxf5 Nxf5.

15.Kxf1 Bb5+ 16.Kg1 Nd5

A quick glance shows that Black has four pieces developed, while White has only one. However, there are tactical reasons to clearly prefer the first player.

17.Qf3+ Ndf4 18.g3 Rd8 19.gxf4 Rxd4 

20.Nc3 Rxf4 

A slip, possibly time related.

21.Bxf4 Nxf4 22.Qxf4+ Ke7 

23.Nd5+ Ke6 24.Nxc7+ Kd7 25.Nxb5 Ke6 26.Rd1 Re8 27.Rd6+ Ke7 28.e6 Rf8 29.Rd7+ Ke8 30.Nc7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and What Went Unplayed

Bullet chess rewards quick tactical insight, built upon knowledge of familiar positions. Sometimes the clock warps things, so the games can be quite entertaining - but, as the double-edged game below shows, looking into the play afterwards can be rewarding when it comes to understanding what went right, what went wrong, and what went unplayed. There is a whole lot of chess packed in the 21 moves.

ianfencer - akhrail1996

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qd5+ 

This move poses a quick question to Black - and in 1-minute games, all questions are quick - that might take precious seconds to consider and answer.

8...Be6 9.Qxb7 

Yes, Black can afford to give up the b-pawn.

Recently, White declined the gift in another 1-minute bullet game, eventually grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat, 9.Qd3 N8e7 10.O-O Rf8 11.Qf3+ Kg8 12.Qh5 Ne5 13.f4 Nc4 14.f5 Bf7 15.Qh3 Ne5 16.d4 N5c6 17.Bf4 Nxd4 18.c3 Nc2 19.Nd2 Nxa1 20.Qg3 Nc2 21.Bh6 Kh8 22.Qxg7 checkmate, Anyway1 - GioDeLeom, lichess.org, 2020.

9...Rb8 

The natural response. Development and active piece play is going to outweigh pawns in a bullet game.

Also seen recently was 9...Nf6 10.d3 Qe7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nc3 Ne5 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5+ Kg7 16.O-O-O Rhf8 17.d4 Nf7 18.f4 Rae8 19.Rhe1 Qd7 20.Qa5 Ra8 21.h4 Qc6 22.e5 fxe5 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.dxe5 Rfe8 25.Re2 Re6 26.Rde1 Rae8 27.Qc3 Qxc3 28.bxc3 Rxe5 29.Rxe5 Rxe5 30.Rxe5 Nxe5 31.Kd2 Ng4 32.g3 Kf6 33.Ke2 Ke5 34.Kf3 Nf6 35.g4 Nd5 36.g5 hxg5 37.hxg5 Kf5 38.c4 Ne7 39.Ke3 Kxg5 40.Kd4 Nc6+ 41.Kc5 Ne5 42.Kb5 Kf6 43.c5 Ke6 44.Ka6 Kd5 45.Kxa7 Kxc5 46.a4 Kb4 47.Ka6 Kxa4 48.Kb7 c6 49.Kb6 Kb4 Black won on time, ianfencer - Sevix1, lichess.org, 2020.

Black could throw the game into further chaos with 9...Qg5!? since White cannot afford 10.Qxa8 Qxg2 and White's King is in danger.

10.Qxa7 Qh4

The Queen goes one step too far.

11.O-O 

There was no need for 11.Qxc7+, but, perhaps 11.d3 followed by 12.Qe3 would help White consolidate a bit better.

The balance between attack and defense is difficult.

11...Nf6 

Developing a piece and protecting his Rook on b8. He might have tried to further build his attack with 11...Rb5, planning to swing it over to the Kingside.

12.d3 Nf4 13.Qxc7+ Nd7 14.Bxf4 Qxf4 

White has 5 pawns for his sacrificed piece. Still, the game is about even, and he has to be careful for his Queen because of Black's better development.

15.Nc3 Rhc8 16.Qa5 

Best was 16.Qa7, but, after 16...Rxb2 17.Nd5 White would still be uncomfortable.

16...Rc5 17.Qa7 h5 

18.Nd5 Qg5 

The Queen would be safer at h6 - or d2.

19.f4 Qg6 

Most likely due to the clock.

20.f5 Qg5 21.fxe6+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: The Jerome Gambit is Over Powered Actually

For those who missed the two posts on top-rated-in-blitz-chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura playing and winning a couple of 3-minute Jerome Gambit games against another grandmaster - "Jerome Gambit: GM vs GM!?" and "Jerome Gambit: Oops, He Did It Again?!" - let me direct you to a recent YouTube video where both games are shown: "The Jerome Is Over Powered Actually | Garbage Openings 14".

It is great fun to watch the American Champion start off with a sense that the Jerome will certainly bring him grief, only to see his fortunes improve, and his attitude right along with it!

Amazing.

What Does the Jerome Gambit Sound Like?

Many people have seen the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), but how many have heard it?

Well, you can discover the musical collection Gambits online, described as

A series of freely improvised excursions between guitarist Tristan Norton and woodwind/multi-instrumentalist Jaroba recorded February 13th, 2015 at Jaroba's home in San Francisco, CA.

credits

released September 5, 2020

Tristan Norton - electric bass, effects
Jaroba - bass clarinet

It is there that you will find the musical piece "The Jerome Gambit".

Enjoy.