Jerome Gambit: Quite A Battle

The following game is quite a battle, with players averaging about a second's worth of thinking time for each move. It is exciting to play over, as the fight rages all over the board.

Anonymous - Anonymous

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 

The Two Knights Defense.

4.Bxf7+ 

I like to refer to this kind of opening as an "impatient Jerome Gambit", as White sacrifices the Bishop before Black plays ...Bc5.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+ 

I'm not sure what's going on, I guess it's best to develop a piece.

7.c3 Bd6 8.O-O 

This will be a theme for White's play throughout the game: You expect me to capture with a pawn? Nah. There's a certain kind of freedom that comes from being 2 pieces down. Also, every time an opponent has to use valuable time answering the question What is he doing?? that is helpbul in bullet play.

8...Re8 

See the note to Black's 6th move.

9.f4 

See the note to White's 8th move.

9...Neg4 10.e5 Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand and is still two pieces up.

White has his "Jerome pawns" and has to be encouraged that Black's Bishop blocks his pawn that blocks his other Bishop that hems in his Rook - a typical defender's problem in the Jerome.

11.h3 Nh6 12.g4 Ne4 13.Qd3 Nc5 14.Qc2 Qh4 

Black wants this game.

15.dxc5 Qg3+ 16.Qg2 Bxc5+ 17.Kh1 Qxg2+ 18.Kxg2 d6 

19.b4 Bb6 20.a4 a5 21.exd6 cxd6 22.Nd2 Be6 23.Nf3 Bd5

 

The Bishop pair looks deadly.

24.Kg3 Be3 25.Bb2 Bb6 26.b5 Re3 

27.Rad1 Bb3 28.Rxd6 Bxa4 

A slip. Things quickly get out of hand.

29.Rxb6 Rae8 30.Rxb7 Bc2 31.c4 

White has two pawns for the piece and attacking chances on the King.

31...Bd3 32.Rxg7+ Kf8 33.Rxh7 

An oversight. I sense the impact of the 33rd piece.

33...Be4 34.Rxh6 Bxf3 35.Rxf3 Kf7 36.Rh7+ Kg8 37.Rg7+ Kf8 38.Rxe3 Rxe3+ 39.Kh4 Rb3 40.Be5 a4 

Everything has changed; White has the better position and greater material. Still, Black's passed pawn promises to make things interesting.

41.b6 a3 42.b7 a2 43.b8=Q+ Rxb8 44.Bxb8 a1=Q

 

45.Be5 Qe1+ 46.Kg5 Qg3 47.Kf5 Qd3+ 48.Kf6 Qxc4 49.Re7 Qc6+ 

50.Re6 Qe8 

A final slip, clearly time-triggered.

51.Rxe8+ Kxe8 52.Kg7 Kd8 53.f5 White won on time

Whew!

Jerome Gambit: Both Entertaining and Educational

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4  4.Bxf7+ ) game is both entertaining and educational. That is a lot to get out of a game that did not last 2 minutes. As usual, I am quite impressed with the level of play.

Anonymous - Anonymous

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4  4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ Qe7 9.Qe3 d5 

This move is the choice of Stockfish 11 and Komodo 11.

Interestingly enough, the only other game in The Database with this move is another 1 0 bullet game, shugart - javierrivas, FICS, 2017 (0-1, 27).

That is good enough to add 9...d5 as "Jerome Gambit Secrets #15".

10.exd5 

White is not afraid (intuition?) to exchange Queens, the exact idea that would come - quickly - to Black's mind; after all, he is ahead in material and would like to blunt his opponent's attack.

10...Qxe3+ 

With more time, Black might have stumbled upon 10...Nf4 or 10...Bf5, either of which would have maintained his advantage. The text move leads to an even game.

11.fxe3 Nf6 12.O-O Ke7 

Black steps out of the pin on his Knight at f6, so it can attack the pawn at d5. In doing so, he blocks the e-file, where his Rook might otherwise have gone to pressure the advancing e-pawn. All in all, a bit odd.

13.Nc3 Rf8 14.b3 

14...e4 was playable, instead, but White spies the enemy King and Rook on the same dark squared diagonal.

14...Bd7

A slip.

15.Ba3+ Kf7 16.Bxf8 Rxf8 17.e4 Kg8 

White has a Rook and 3 pawns for a Bishop and Knight. He has the advantage.

18.e5 

With a focus on activity and development. He might have considered reversing this move and the next one, however.

18...Nxe5 19.Rae1 Nf7 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Rxe4 Nd6 

22.Re7 Rxf1+ 

Somewhat surprisingly, Black's game begins to fall apart after this move. White's remaining Rook, unopposed, is too strong.

23.Kxf1 Bb5+ 24.c4 Ba6 25.Rxc7 h6 

26.d3 Kh7 27.Kf2 Kg6 28.c5 Nf5 29.d6 Kf6 30.g4 Nd4 31.h4 Nc6 

The Knight has been trying so hard to restrain the pawns.

32.g5+ Ke6 

The King has to help stop the passer: 32...hxg5 33.hxg5+ Kxg5 would be a mistake because of 34.Rxc6 bxc6 35.d7, etc.

33.Rxg7 Bxd3 34.gxh6 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: What About the Rook?

Even for the off-beat and unusual Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) there is a certain amount of "theory" that is good to know, to guide your way through the complications. Especially Black would benefit from an understanding about what he is getting himself into when he plays 6...g6 in response to White's Queen sally 5.Qh5+; like it or not, it is a tacit offer of a Rook, and he has to be aware of that and deal with it. Otherwise, problems like in the following game will crop up.

Anonymous - Anonymous

10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 

7...Bd6 

I was surprised to find 50 games with this move in The Database, but I was not surprised to find that White scores 89% against it.

It is true that 7...Bd6 saves Black's Bishop, but it does nothing about the threat to the Rook at h8. That is the challenge when Black plays 6...g6: it is fun to kick the enemy Queen with a pawn, but what about the Rook?

Blackburne's Defense, 7...d6, says Go ahead and take the Rook, I will trap your Queen and checkmate your King. It doesn't always work out that way - in fact, The Database has 911 games with the move, and White scores 70% - because players can get lost in the complications, but Black needs to know, beforehand, what he is getting into.

Whistler's Defense, 7...Qe7, says Go ahead and take the Rook, I am aiming at your King. Again, probably because White is more experienced with the Jerome Gambit - and that helps in a complicated positions - The Database gives 576 games with 7...Qe7, with White scoring 64%. Black's best chances come after he sacrifices the Rook.

So, the warning is - be aware, defenders, that 6...g6 means you want to sacrifice your Rook. Play becomes awkward without this awareness.

8.Qxh8 b6 

Also seen recently:

8...Qe7 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 Qg7 11.Qf5+ Nf6 12.0–0 Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 d6 14.Qf4 Qh7+ 15.Kg1 Ke7 16.Re1 Nh5 17.Qg5+ Ke8 18.Nc3 Black resigned,  Unjana - indBasher, 5 8 blitz, lichess.org, 2020; and 

8...Qh4 9.Qd4 Nf6 10.g3 Qg5 11.d3 b6 12.Bxg5 Black resigned, soraneptune - akainth07, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020.

9.b3 

Simplest is 9.Qxh7+, making sure that the Queen will not be trapped, but White is confident that she will be safe.

9...Bb7 10.Bb2 Bxe4 

White is up the exchange and a pawn, but he is most happy about his control (and threats) along the a1-h8 diagonal.

11.Qg7+ Ke8 12.Qxg8+ Bf8 13.O-O Bxc2 

Grabbing a pawn, as there is not much else to do. He could have tried 13...Qg5, threatening mate, but after 14.g3 Qf5 (hoping to come to f3) White had 15.Nc3, threatening to snap off the Bishop, and, after 15...Bb7, he could turn from defense to attack with 16.Rae1+. (He can keep Black's Queen out of f3 with f2-f4.)

14.Re1+ 

Crushing.

14...Qe7 15.Rxe7+ Kxe7 16.Bg7 

You knew that move was coming, right?

16...Bxg7 17.Qxg7+ Kd6 18.Qd4+ Kc6 19.Qc3+ Kb7 20.Qxc2 Re8 21.Nc3 Black resigned

The material loss is too much to continue with.

Jerome Gambit: They Also Contain Lessons

Players from around the world send me Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games, along with their hopes to add to the knowledge and understanding of the fun opening. Mostly those are players with the white pieces, but occasionally I hear from someone who defeated the Jerome. I like to see those games, too, as they also contain lessons.

Giorgio98 - pimbax

3 2 blitz, 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.Qc3 

The Queen eyes pawns at c7 and g7. 

8...Nf6 9.O-O

Focusing on King safety and development.

9...Re8  

10.f4  Kg8 11.d3 c5 12.Nd2 b5 13.b4 c4 14.dxc4 bxc4 15.Qxc4+ Kh8 

Black has given back a pawn, but he has safe-guarded his King. He now has a tactical idea that White overlooks.

16.Bb2 a5 17.bxa5 

A slip. 17.b5 would have led to a small edge for Black. 

17...Ba6 18.Qa4 Bxf1 19.Rxf1 Rxa5 20.Bxf6 Rxa4 21.Bxd8 Rxd8 

White has only 3 pawns for his Rook, but in a blitz game, anything can happen.

22.f5 Ne5 23.f6 gxf6 24.Rxf6 Kg7 25.Rf1 Rxa2 26.Nf3 Rxc2 

27.Nxe5

Missing the cute 27.Nd4, which threatens to win the exchange whether or not Black moves his Rook. He would still be struggling, but he would have increased his chances.

27...dxe5 28.Rf5 Re8 29.h3 Rc4 30.Kf2 Rxe4 31.Kf3 Ra4 32.Rg5+ Kf6 33.Rh5 Re7 

White resigned

JG: The New (Part 4)

 JG: The New in Its Opening Theory, in Its Psychology (Part 4) 

(by Yury V. Bukayev) 

        In all previous parts of this research the system of the Jerome Gambit (JG) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qh3+ was considered as a new and a very good alternative to all known 7th White’s moves (including 7.Qf5+), this system was evaluated particularly in comparison with the modern theory of alternative systems. Now I start to develop the modern theory of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6. 

        Its modern theory fixes right that after 8.Nc3 Qf6! Black wins and that 8…Qf6 isn’t the only move here. Thus, the move 8…c6!? is very interesting for us too, because it was analyzed in publications of 2016 by the following two authors: at first it was analyzed by my friend Rick Kennedy (as the analysis of his own game) and then his analysis was checked up by the famous English GM Jonathan Simon Speelman in his article (‘Jon Speelman’s Agony Column’, #24) on chessbase.com. Mr. Speelman is an outstanding maestro of the chess world, I thank him a lot for his noble chess activities, but it should be noticed that this his article (it should be considered as a part of the modern theory of JG) has several not polite places in its text, the incorrect description of Rick’s blog jeromegambit.blogspot.com . It maybe, Mr. Speelman has had a not good mood during his analyzing of Rick’s game too. And after 8…c6 9.d4 Bxd4 10.Bf4 Qf6 11.0-0-0 Qxf5 12.Rxd4+ he considers 12…Kc5 and writes: 

“12…Ke6! 13.exf5+ Kxf5 JS leaves White clutching at straws” 

(‘JS’ = ‘Jonathan Speelman’s addition to Rick’s analysis’). In other words, he writes in fact that the way 12…Ke6 13.exf5+ Kxf5 leads to Black’s easy win, where Black has an extra minor piece and White has no ways to fight effectively. I disagree with Mr. Speelman (and with Rick), because, as I invented, 12…Ke6?! 13.exf5+ Kxf5 leads to the complicated unclear endgame after 14.Bxe5! N Kxe5 15.Re4+ with 16.Re8! (or 16.Rf4+! with the idea Rf4-f8!) that leads to a paralysis of Black’s King’s side. A not good mood could cause this GM’s analytical mistake, but more probably (both for him and for Rick) there was a rare psychological situation after 11...Qxf5: Black has a very large material advantage, and White doesn’t have a Queen. So the emotional conclusion “all ways probably lead to an easy win for Black here” is a mistake. The best and the simplest Black’s defence after both 12.Rxd4+ and 12.exf5, as I invented, is 12…Ke7! N 13.exf5 Nf7!, where Black has a large advantage. It should be added that I invented also the following trap as a possible variation of this game: 10.Ne2 N Bc5?? 11.Bf4! Qf6?? 12.Bxe5+ +-; 11…Bd4 12.Nxd4; 11…Ke7 12.Qxe5+ or 12.Bg5 Nf6 13.Qxe5+ etc.

        Moreover, as I invented, Black has the similar best defence in the similar theoretical position 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Na3 c6 10.Bf4 [The theoretical article ‘Giuoco Piano, Jerome Gambit’ on en.wikipedia.org recommends here Mr. Freeborough’s and Mr. Ranken’s analysis with 10.c3 Qf6, but, as I invented, after 10.c3? both 10…Nd3! N and 10…Ne7! N lead to Black’s easy win.] 10…Qf6 11.0-0-0 Qxf5 12.exf5 (or 12.Rxd4+) 12…Ke7! N [12…Kd5 13.c3! N; 12…c5 13.c3! N Kc6 7.cxd4; 12…Kc5 N 13.b4! Kb6 (13…Kxb4? 14.Rxd4+ Ka3 15.Bxe5 with a win) 14.Rxd4; 12…Kc7 N 13.Rxd4. Everywhere White has an enough strong attack.] 13.Rxd4 Nf7!, where Black has a large advantage.

Jerome Gambit: See All Choices

In a blitz game - especially a 2 minute one - it is expected that both players will not have the time to see all the choices as they develop. In the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, White doesn't see everything, but he sees enough to keep moving forward until he delivers checkmate.

Anonymous - Anonymous

2 1 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.d4 

Opening more lines for development and delivering the kind of surprise that is effective in 2-minute play.

8...Nh6 

When in doubt, attack the Queen. However, this advice often does not work.

9.dxc5+ 

This is good, but so is 9.Qxe5+ Kc6 10.Qxc5#.

9...Kc6 10.Qxe5 Re8 

Attacking the Queen, and behind it the e-pawn and the enemy King.

11.Qxg7 

Her Majesty excapes. She also had 11...Qd5+ Kb5 12.Nc3+ Ka6 13.Qc4+ b5 14.Qxb5#.

11...Rxe4+ 12.Be3 Nf5 13.Qxh7 

13...Rxe3+ 

Realizing that 13...Nxe3 would leave his Rook hanging, Black decides to sacrifice the exchange for a pawn. With a slower time control, he might have found 13...d5, which would have protected both pieces, although White would still be better. 

14.fxe3 Nxe3 15.Qe4+ Nd5 16.c4 Qe7 

Black is doomed for a familiar reason: his pawn blocks his Bishop which hems in his Rook.

White cleans up quickly.

17.cxd5+ Kxc5 18.Qxe7+ d6 19.Qxc7+ Kb5 20.Qxd6 Bg4 21.a4+ Ka5 22.Qc5+ Ka6 23.Qb5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Complex Back and Forth Between Attack and Defense

One reason the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is gaining in popularity in club games is that it is often easier to attack than to defend. Some of this is psychological - we have grown up playing over splashy tactical endings to famous games, learning at some level that "attack wins". Also, it can be stressful to have to find the correct move, time after time, to prevent defeat or checkmate.

The following game shows a nice balance betwen attack and defense, until the pressure is too much, and the attack breaks through.

Chirila, Sergiu - NN

casual game, 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+ Ke7 

Black prefers not to sacrifice the b-pawn with 8...Be6, but that move was also playable.

9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Qg5 Kf7 11.d3 Rf8 12.h4 Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand, right into White's attack. He should be able to weather the danger, but he has to defend well - something not all those who face the Jerome Gambit do so successfully.

13.h5 Ne5 14.Bf4 Nf7 15.Qg3 Be6 

16.O-O-O Bg4 

Time to push back a bit.

17.h6 

White is ready, however. Black's Bishop is pinned in place, due to the checkmate threat at g7, so the Rook at d1 is safe.

17...g6 18.f3 Be6 19.d4 Kh8 

Black's last move looks like he is making room for ...Ng8, with a double attack on the pawn at h6, which is currently twice protected, but will not be so if White plays f3-f4 (after he moves his Bishop). This takes up valuable time, however, that is needed to protect against an advance in the center, so 19...Re8 seems more helpful. Also, the weakened dark squares in Black's King's fortress could spell danger.

20.d5 Bd7 21.Be3 Ne5 

Black seems to still be preparing for 22.f4, planning to answer with 22...Neg4, when after 23.Bd4 Kg8 he can answer 24.e5 with 24...Nh5. Komodo 11 then suggests that White sacrifice the exchange with 25.Rxh5, and then work to get it back with 25...gxh5 26.e6 Be8 27.Bg7, although it still sees Black as better.

White chooses a different plan, based on Black's King being on h8.

 22.Bd4 Nc4 

23.f4 Kg8 

The two tempi spent going back and forth is part of the reason the defense fails. The computer looks deep, but doesn't quite solve Black's woes: 23...c5 24.dxc6 bxc6 25.e5 c5 (again) 26.Bxc5 dxc5 27.exf6 Nb6 28.Ne4 Qc7 29.Nd6 Rxf6 30.f5 Kg8 (sigh) 31.Rhf1 Bxf5 32.Rxf5 Rxf5 33.Nxf5 Qxg3 34.Nxg3 Re8 and White is only a pawn ahead.

24.e5 dxe5 

A little bit better might be 24...c5, but there would still be problems.

25.fxe5 Ne8 26.e6 Bc8 

Now White finishes off with some fireworks.

27.Qxg6+ hxg6 28.h7 checkmate

Very nice.