Jerome Gambit: More Complicated Than It Appears

It is a good idea to play over the various YouTube videos covering the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), especially those that feature a strong player handling the White pieces - even at blitz time control. See "Jerome Gambit: Recent Videos" and "Jerome Gambit: More Recent Videos", as well as "Jerome Gambit: Coach" and "Jerome Gambit: The Jerome Gambit is Over Powered Actually" for examples.

It is not only helpful to see the Jerome Gambit played well - it is also helpful to hear some of the thinking that goes into making the moves that the players produce in their games. A plain game score may look masterful, while a video of the game in progress may show the thoughts, evaluations, worries and self-criticisms that underlie it all. 

A successful game is often more complicated than it appears. The following game by two club level players is a good example. Do not get so caught up in the notes that you miss appreciating the play.

surasmen - kumroha87

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6  

I am a bit surprised that the computer analysis at lichess.org - Stockfish 11, although I do not know the depth of its search (18 ply?) - gives this move a "??". It prefers 6...Ke6, which is fine; but the text is a reliable defense, as well.

7.Qxc5  d6  8.Qc4+ 

8...Kf8

The stronger 8...Be6 was recently seen: 9.Qc3 (9.Qb4 b6 10.d4 Nf6 11.d5 Bd7 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Nc3 Ne5 14.O-O-O Qc8 15.Rde1 a5 16.Qd4 h6 17.Bh4 g5 18.Bg3 Nh5 19.Rhf1 Kg8 20.f4 Nxg3 21.hxg3 Ng6 22.fxg5 hxg5 23.Qf6 Ne5 24.Qxg5+ Kh7 25.Rh1+ Black resigned, zzbaobao - givemeabreak, blitz, FICS, 2020) 9...Qg510.h4 Qxg2 11.Rf1 Nf4 12.d3 Nh3 13.Nd2 Nf6 14.f4 Nxf4 15.Rxf4 Qg3+ 16.Rf2 Qxh4 17.Nf3 Qh1+ 18.Rf1 Qxf3 19.Rxf3 Bg4 20.Qc4+ Kg6 21.Rg3 Rhe8 22.Be3 d5 23.Qxc7 dxe4 24.Qd6 exd3 25.Rxg4+ Kh5 26.Rg3 Rad8 27.Qc5+ Kh4 28.Qg5 checkmate, Skye816 - SextThang101, 10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020) 

9.O-O Nf6 10.Nc3 d5 11.exd5 c6 

An interesting idea, and Black has extra material he can return.

12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Qxc6 

Although White has 4 pawns for his sacrificed piece, Stockfish 11 (30 ply) sees the position as even. Perhaps Black can make use of the open lines. I would prefer to play White. 

13...Bd7 14.Qc5+ Kg8 

15.Re1 Rc8 16.Qd4 Ne8 

Black's last move is difficult to figure out. Perhaps a mouse slip? The computer recommends the subtle 16...h6 17.Qxa7 Kh7, with a slight edge to the second player.

17.d3 

With the plan of developing his Bishop. A little deeper was 17.Qd5+ Kf8 18.b3, which also allows his Bishop to get into the game - from a3. For example, 18...Ne7 19.Ba3 and the pin on the Knight will lead to a gain of material.

Black misses the threat, as does his opponent (again) 

17...Rc6 18.Ne4 Nd6 

I think the clock was becoming a factor.

19.Bg5 Qc7 20.Nxd6 Rxd6 21.Qc4+ Kf8

Ooops.

22.Qxc7 Black resigned

JG: The New (Part 2)

 JG: The New in Its Opening Theory, in Its Psychology (Part 2)

(by Yury V. Bukayev)

Of course, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qh3+ Kf7 8.Qh5+! Black can play not only 8…Ke6, but also 8…Kf8 as the main alternative, but a player’s psychology can prevent to do it here. Why? Firstly, your too cautious opponent sees that you are an inventive player, so your other possible theoretical novelties can wait him in all variations: the drawn game is a good alternative to it. Secondly, the defence 8…Ke6 9.Qf5+ or 9.f4 (= 6…Ke6 7.Qf5+ or 7.f4) permits him to get the material advantage “one Black’s extra minor piece vs. one White’s extra pawn” and to keep Black’s valuable dark-squared Bishop alive. And the defence 8…Kf8 (= 6…Kf8) permits him to get the material advantage “one Black’s extra minor piece vs. two White’s extra pawns” only.

Moreover, after 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ the way 7…Ke7 (it is much more simple for calculating than 7…Kd6) creates some White’s possibilities including the following one:

8.Qc3!?

A) 8…d6 9.d4 Bxd4 [9…Bb6?! 10.dxe5] 10.Qxd4,

B) 8…Bd6 9.f4! Ng6 [9…c6?! 10.fxe5] 10.e5,

C) 8…Bxf2! 9.Kxf2, and Black can’t increase the material advantage by attacking: 9…Qf8+ 10.Ke2!? Qf4 11.d3 Qg4+ 12.Kf2 Qh4+ [12…Nc6 13.Rf1!?] 13.Ke2 Qh5+ [13…d6?! 14.Qxc7+ Ke8 (14…Bd7 15.Nc3) 15.Be3] 14.Ke1 [14.Kf2!?].

Everywhere Black can’t keep the valuable dark-squared Bishop alive, or/and Black’s material advantage is “one Black’s extra minor piece vs. two White’s extra pawns”. That is why this possible mental calculation of 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ Ke7 8.Qc3 creates such player’s psychology as in the above case of 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ Kf7 8.Qh5+ Kf8: both cases seem to be less attractive for Black than 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ Kf7 8.Qh5+! Ke6 9.Qf5+ (9.f4). So the way 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ Kf7 8.Qh5+! Ke6 is your opponent’s hope on your more risky (and known to him) way (9.Qf5+ or 9.f4) too. But you’ll play 9.Qh3+ Kf7 10.Qh5+! ½ - ½ , as the part 1 of this my research on Jerome Gambit (JG) theory and psychology fixed.

JG: The New (Part 1)

 JG: The New in Its Opening Theory, in Its Psychology (Part 1)

(by Yury V. Bukayev)

           Dear lover of the Jerome Gambit (JG)! If you are playing JG as White against a too cautious opponent who knows the modern opening theory of JG well, then is it possible to get a drawn game by a simple way? I suggest you my following invented way to try to get it in a practical game after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6, if you want it: it is to play 7.Qh3+. Thus, your opponent will understand here that it’s probably a theoretical novelty, which can lead to different (and unknown for him) possibilities for White after both 7…Ke7 and 7…Kd6. Being a too cautious player, he probably will prefer a drawn game (instead of his possible mistake): 7…Kf7 8.Qh5+! Ke6 9.Qh3+! Kf7 10.Qh5+! ½ - ½. Both you and he will have a satisfaction in this situation.

Jerome Gambit: Too Many Worries

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can bring too many worries for the defender who has never seen it before, or who has not prepared a strategy against it. 

The following game is a good example. White does not have to be overly creative, he just has to develop in Jerome manner and accept the concessions that Black makes.

Until the end. White's snap finish is very nice.

Wall, Bill - NN

lichess.org, 2020

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

 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Qf6 

10.d4 N8e7 11.O-O Kf7 

Black has the right idea, to castle-by-hand and protect his King.

12.f4 Kg8

Suddenly, the defender fears the enemy Rook on the same file with his his King and Queen. In general, this is of concern, but not in this particular case. The threat of e4-e5 and an exchange of pawns makes the defending King jump. But - there was time to play 12...Rf8 or 12...Re8.

13.Nc3 Qf7 

More nerves. Black's timid responses allow White to continue to make progress.

14.Bd2 Nc6 15.Nd5 Be6

Whenever the Bishop is on e6 and a Knight is on g6, the risk of f4-f5 has to be addressed.

16.f5 Bxd5 17.fxg6 

The better capture.

17...Qxg6

Costing more material. Better was 17...Qe6, since 18.exd5 Qxe3+ 19.Bxe3 Nb4 20.Bd2 Nxd5 21.Rae1 hxg6 leaves him down only a pawn, although with an uncomfortable position.

18.exd5 Nd8 19.Rae1 Nf7 

Allowing a pleasant finish.

20.Qe8+ Rxe8 21.Rxe8 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: The Enemy King is Unsafe

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ) game highlights the main danger for Black - when his King is unsafe, bad things happen.

Wall, Bill - Guest310602

PlayChess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+ 

Black has a variety of ways to return a piece.

7.c3 

7...Bxc3+ 

Bill has also seen 7...Nd3+, e.g. 8.Qxd3 Be7 9.O-O (9.Qf3+ Ke8 10.O-O d6 11.Re1 Nf6 12.e5 dxe5 13.dxe5 Nd7 14.Rd1 Rf8 15.Qh5+ g6 16.Qxh7 Bg5 17.Qxg6+ Rf7 18.Bxg5 Black resigned, Wall,B - Ripao, lichess.org, 2017) 9...Nf6 10.e5 Ne8 11.Qf5+ Kg8 12.d5 d6 13.e6 Nf6 14.c4 c6 15.Nc3 cxd5 16.cxd5 Qa5 17.Bg5 b5 18.Ne4 Bb7 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Bh6 Qb4 21.Qh5 Rf8 22.Bxf8 Kxf8 23.Qf7 checkmate, Wall,B - Anonymous, lichess.org, 2020. 

8.bxc3 Nc4 

9.Qh5+ Ke7 

Better was 9...Kf8, although he would still have to give back a piece after 10.Qf5+ Nf6 11.e5 Qe8 12.0-0 d6 13.Qd3 

10.Qc5+ Nd6 11.e5 b6 12.exd6+ cxd6 13.Qg5+ Nf6 

The King will continue to be harassed.

14.Qxg7+ Ke6 15.O-O Rg8 16.Re1+ Kd5 17.Qf7+ Kc6 18.Qb3 Ba6

19.Bf4 Nd5 20.Bg3 Qg5 21.c4 Nc7 22.Qf3+ d5 

This allows White to open the c-file and have access to the Black King.

23.cxd5+ Qxd5 24.Rc1+ Bc4 25.Rxc4+ Black resigned

Checkmate is unavoidable.

Jerome Gambit: Coach

 

Chess coach Chris Torres has a great love for the Royal Game, and this enthusiasm extends to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

His thoughts and games can be seen in a number of posts on this site: "Always Be Ready to Deliver Checkmate", "The Most Violent Chess Game Ever Played!", "Another Lesson in the Jerome Gambit", "More Musings" and "More Useful Junk", "Good Old Uncle Jerome" and Jerome Gambit: Education in Defense.

Coach Chris has upgraded his chessmusings.wordpress blog to its own domain, where he is now now blogging:  https://dailychessmusings.com

He is also livestreaming at Chess.com.

If you check out the YouTube video "Saturday Night Blitz with Coach Chris (CoachTortoise)" at about the 34:45 mark, you will hear a familiar lament

Well, I've tried playing good chess and I've done that bad, so now I'm going to try playing bad chess good.

Of course, what follows is another delightful Jerome Gambit by Chris, one that shows a checkmate by White in 21 moves.

You should really check it out.

Jerome Gambit: It All Seems to Make So Much Sense, But...

Consider the following game. Black's unworried play in the opening is sensible, as he refuses to be panicked by the sacrifices of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). However, his unhurried middle game play allows White to comfortably build up an attack - and end the game with a bang.

Wall, Bill - Harnza, Shannon

FICS, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Nf6  

With this move, Black develops a third piece to counter White's Queen. It all seems to make so much sense, especially since the first player's sacrifices have suggested that the game is all in fun, anyhow.

Alas, this is not the solution to the Jerome Gambit, as a post mortem will point out. Meanwhile, White recovers his two sacrificed pieces.

8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 Re8 

Preparing to castle-by-hand, and putting pressure on the center. He has to be active, he is down a couple of pawns.

10.O-O 

Offering to return a pawn, to get his King to safety. Black declines.

10...Kg8 11.d3 d6 12.Qg5 h6 13.Qg3 b5 

To fianchetto the Bishop. 

14.f5 Bb7 

Missing the tactic.

15.Bxh6 Re7 16.Bg5 Rf7 17.Nc3 a6 

White will build his attack, and Black does not keep pace.

18.Ne2 c5 19.Nf4 Qe8 20.Ng6 Nh7 21.Qh4 Qd7 22.Rf3 c4 

Striking at White's center - but what has he missed?

23.Qxh7+ Kxh7 24.Rh3+ Kg8 25.Rh8 checkmate

Very nice!