Jerome Gambit: When is a Won Game Won? (Part 1)

In my latest Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, in the ongoing "Piano Piano" tournament at Chess.com, I managed to side-step some opening issues, arriving at a tricky middle game position that I was familiar with. In fact, it soon led to what Stockfish 14 later would indicate was a "won" game. Still, it seemed like one more challenge, reminding me of the lament, The hardest thing to win is a 'won' game.

I have included a number of links in my comments, to give Readers more information on the lines of play and their alternatives.

 

perrypawnpusher - Kugich

3d/move, "Piano Piano" tournament 

Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+  Ng6 

I commented upon this move in my recent post on my recent game, perrypawnpusher - jjdd57, 3 d/move, "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2021

Once again the Chess.com computer fusses that this is an "inaccuracy" (of about 1 1/4 pawns), preferring 6...Kf8. Fair enough. The Database shows 2,874 games with 6...Ng6, with Black scoring 45%, against 941 games with 6...Kf8, where Black scored 50%.

My own record in 137 previous games with White against 6...Ng6 is 79% (with virtually no difference in results between 6...Ng6 and 6...Kf8).

YMMV.

It is important to remember that a move that a computer labels an "inaccuracy" may be simply one choice amongst many for the average club player, approaching a distinction without a difference.

7.Qd5+ Kf8 

Again, here is another computer-generated non-issue. In annotating perrypawnpusher - jjdd57, 3 d/move, "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2021 I noted

Interestingly enough, the Chess.com computer considers this move only "good", assessing 7...Ke8 as "best". The difference would be moot if I had played the "best" move on move 9 [after 8.Qxc5 Qe7, then 9.Qxe7+], exchanging Queens - in which case it would not matter on which of the two squares the Black King was, as the computer considered capture by the King (instead of the Knight) as "best".

The Database nods ever so slightly: 7...Kf8 appears in 362 games, with Black scoring 32%; 7...Ke8 appears in 782, with Black scoring 34%.

I think this is another example of how a strong computer chess program can provide intellectually interesting insights of little practical value to club players. Of course, tactical insights are another thing, and I appreciate and prize those efforts.

 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

Is "gazillion" a real number? It feels like I have been in this position a gazillion times before.

Actually, the number is 14, the most recent example being perrypawnpusher - Bossferreira, "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020. (Of course, if you place the Black King on e8, you can add 60 more games to that list, the newest of which is perrypawnpusher - acasimon1987, 3 d/move, "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2021).

I have seen 9...Kf7 previously; it usually transposes.

Instead, 9...Ne5 was an unusual idea, but brought Black success in perrypawnpusher - mconst, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 25).

The provocative 9...Be6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - jamtaylo, blitz, Welcome Jerome Gambit tournament, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 27) and perrypawnpusher - jonathankochems, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 38)

10.O-O  Nf6 11.f4 Re8 

This direct pressure on the e-pawn has been a favorite of my opponents the last few years. It has its origin in Vazquez,A - Carrington,W, Mexico, 2nd match, 1876 (1-0, 34).

12.f5 

I had recently tried 12.Qb3+, in perrypawnpusher - acasimon1987, 3 d/move, "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2021. As I noted

This is a move that I mentioned in "Jerome Gambit: Enthusiast", and I shared my curiosity about it in "Jerome Gambit: Mixed Feelings (Part 1)". The goal is simply to disrupt the castling-by-hand.

Earlier in the tournament, I had tried 12.f5 in perrypawnpusher - sincondrosis, 3d/move "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020, (1-0, 31).

Also possible is 12.d3, although after White meets 12...d5 with 13.e5, if he eventually wants his pawn on d4 it will take a second move to get it there.

12...Ne5 

A mistake is 12...Rxe4, as White has 13.fxg6+ (perrypawnpusher - grosshim, blitz, FICS, 2016 [1-0, 13]) Kg8 (not 13...hxg6 14.Qxe4, perrypawnpusher - bnxr, blitz, FICS, 2011 [1-0, 29]; nor 13...Kxg6 14.Rxf6+ Qxf6 15.Qxe4, perrypawnpusher - mconst, blitz, FICS, 2011 [0-1, 18 ] ) 14.gxh7+ Kh8 15.Qf2 and White is better.

Instead 12...Nh4 puts the Knight offside, but Black eventually won in perrypawnpusher - ecotom, 10 2 blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 35).

The cautious 12...Nf8 is a good idea, as in perrypawnpusher - hamaru, 2 12 blitz, FICS 2011 (1-0, 36).

13.d4

Here we have a very Jerome-ish position: White has 2 extra pawns for his sacrificed piece, and he is putting them in motion to gain space in the center, as a prelude for an attack on the King.

[to be continued]