Jerome Gambit: Almost Home

In the following Jerome  Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game White enters a line that neither he nor his opponent is very familiar with. His courage nets him a winning advantage - but a moment's oversight costs him the game.

The moral is as always, for both sides: Do not let your attention flag until your opponent turns down his King.

BahatiTheGrandmaster - weedtea

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

The Blackburne defense, arguably the most notorious one at Black's disposal. It leads to a complicated game that favors White - if he knows how to find his way through.

8.Qxh8 Bxf2+ 

Possibly Black was unaware of the Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884 game; perhaps this was his improvment. In any event, this move has been successfully met by online by blackburne, UNPREDICTABLE, and MrJoker, among others. 

Henry Joseph Blackbure played 8...Qh4 instead, planning to both attack White's King and lock in White's Queen.

9.Kxf2 Qh4+ 

Black will have his attack.

White's resource is now 10.g3 when 10...Qxe4 (what else?) 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Rf1 will allow his King to move to safety at g1, wherupon his advantage in material and attack on the enemy King will prove decisive. 

10.Kg1 Qe1 checkmate

Surprise!

Jerome Gambit: Dancing on the Knife's Edge Again

When playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), I would rather not face Whistler's Defense (7...Qe7) and I particularly would stay away from taking the Rook at h8, as it is definitely poisoned.

However, just as the Jerome is playable under blitz time controls, so too are risky lines that enter complications that the defender is not ready to deal with - even those that involve poisoned Rooks.

Danijel265 - scoopadebop

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Whistler's Defense.

8.Qxh8 

This is usually considered dangerous.

8...Qxe4+ 

This is why.

9.Kf1 Qc4+ 

Black has the right idea, to focus on the enemy King, but there is one task he needed to deal with first - safeguard his own King. One line: 9...Qh4 (attacking f2, while defending h7) 10.g3 Qh3+ 11.Ke1 Qe6+ 12.Kf1 Nf6. Now White's Queen is trapped and vulnerable to ...b6 followed by ...Bb7.

White takes advantage of the moment's opportunity.

10.d3 Qxc2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Bh6+ 

A nice idea to keep in mind, developing a piece, exchanging off a defender, keeping control of the situation with checks.

12...Nxh6 13.Qxh6+ Ke8 

14.Qxg6+ Ke7 15.Qe4+ Kd6 16.Nc3 

Overlooking something, but, remember, this was a 3-minute game. One more check would have settled things: 16.Qg6 + Ke7 (all others allow mate) 17.Nd2 (the Knight is expendible because 17...Qxd2 18.Re1+ wins the Queen) and Black's King faces great danger.

16...Qxf2 checkmate

Ouch.

Jerome Gambit: What If?

Sometimes a pawn looks suspicious, and defenders decline it on principle. Sometimes they are curious and look into it - and then conclude they should stay away. However, sometimes defenders take the pawn - and that can be a problem.

Consider the following game.

 

simonsah2004 - Hurnking

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 

The game actually started from this set position.

6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qxe5+ Kxe5 

11.b4 Bxb4 

Safer is 11...Bd4, although it does not solve all of Black's problems, as he still has to be careful about his King (in a better position) e.g. 12.c3 Bb6 13.d4+ Ke6 14.Nd2 (14.O-O Nf6 15.Nd2 Re8 16.e5 Nd5 17.Ne4 h6 18.Bd2 d6 19.exd6 cxd6 20.Rae1 Kd7 21.Rf7+ Re7 22.Nf6+ gxf6 23.Rexe7+ Nxe7 24.Bxh6 Ke6 25.Rf8 Ng6 26.Rg8 Kf7 27.Rg7+ Ke8 28.Rxg6 Kf7 29.Rg7+ Ke6 30.Rg8 Kd5 31.h4 Kc4 32.Bd2 Kd3 33.Be1 Bc7 34.h5 b6 35.h6 Bb7 36.Rxa8 Bxa8 37.h7 Black resigned, simonsah2004 - 1c6O-1, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021) 14...d6 15.O-O Bd7 16.Nf3 h6 17.Bd2 Nf6 18.Rae1 Bb5 19.Rf2 Ng4 20.e5 Nxf2 21.exd6+ Kxd6 22.Bf4+ Kd5 23.Re5+ Kc4 24.Kxf2 Rae8 25.Nd2+ Kxc3 26.Rxb5 Rhf8 27.Kg3 Rxf4 28.Kxf4 Kxd2 29.Re5 Rf8+ 30.Ke4 Rf2 31.g3 Rxh2 32.Re6 Re2+ 33.Kd5 Rxe6 34. Kxe6 Bxd4 White resigned, simonsah2004 - GMHikaruOnTwitch, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021.

As Yury Bukayev notes, move 11...Bxb4 creates a position of the bona fide master attack, which later became known to everyone after several GM Nakamura's videos. 

12.Bb2+ Ke6 

Black can grab a pawn, but it doesn't make much a difference and it takes the King further from home: 12...Kxe4 13.Bxg7 Ne7 14.Bxh8 Nd5 (14...d6 15.O-O Kd5 16.a3 Bc5+ 17.d4 Kc6 18.dxc5 Kxc5 19.Nc3 Kc6 20.Rf7 Nd5 21.Nxd5 Kxd5 22.Rf8 b6 23.Re1 Bb7 24.Rxa8 Bxa8 25.Re7 Kc6 26.Rxh7 Bb7 27.Rh4 Kd7 28.Rh7+ Kc6 29.h4 d5 30.h5 Kd6 31.h6 c5 32.Rxb7 Black resigned, GMHikaruOnTwitch - Thechesskid2021, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021) 15.O-O Bc5+ 16.Kh1 d6 17.Rf3 Bg4 18.d3 checkmate, simonsah2004 - Filipistas, Chess.com, 2021) 

13.Bxg7 Kf7 14.Bxh8 Nf6 15.O-O Be7 16.e5 Black resigned

White will soon be a Rook up.

The Jerome's Gambit Trap and its refutation

I have been watching YouTube videos again...

Most commentators see the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) as a bit of fun that beginners, club players, and the occasional grandmaster trot out - usually at blitz time controls - for excitement, adventure, or at least a few grins.

Occasionally there are the more serious types who see playing the Jerome Gambit as a waste of time, an abberation, or a practice in self-delusion - one of those diagnoses found in DSM VI.

As if we didn't know the limitations of our opening.

That's why I am always looking for enjoyable Jerome Gambit videos, like the one featured at the top of this page. Here we have "The Jerome's Gambit Trap and its refutation!" 

In under 10 minutes you can see some entertaining lines of play, including an introduction to the silicon or annoying defense, which every Jerome Gambiteer needs to be aware of - forewarned is forearmed.

Beating max level Stockfish with the Jerome Gambit (Part 2)

 

[continued from previous post]

razornfs - lichess AI level 8

15 10 standard, lichess.org, 2021

31.Rag1 Kf7 32.Rg5 Rae8 33.Ke2 Nf6 

Stockfish 13 criticizes this move, and gives an alternative line of play where Black ultimately forces a draw by repetition.

34.Rc1 Rc8 35.Rc6 Rgd8 

Again, my computer - that did not suffer from the time contraints of the ones playing the game - preferred a line where White advances his e-pawn, and everything gets blown up, leading to equal play where Black will likely take advantage of the open position of the White King to check with his Rook, looking for a draw by repetition: 35...Ke8 36.e5 Nxd5 37.exd6 Nb4 38.Rxc7 Rxc7 39.dxc7 Kf7 40.f5 Rc8 41.Rxg6 Rxc7 42.Rxb6 Rc2+ 43.Kf3 Nxd3 44.Rd6 Nb2 45.Rd4 Rc3 46.Kf4 Ra3 47.b6 Rb3 48.Rd7+ Ke8 49.Ra7 Rxb6 50.Rxa5 Rb4+ 51.Kg5 

This is, of course, way over my head. 

36.Kf3 Ng4 37.e5 Rg8 38.e4 

Probably 39.d4 followed by 39.e4 was better. Those pawns!

38...dxe5 39. fxe5 Ke7 

An outline of the drama to come appears.

40.Ke2 Kd7 41.e6+ Kd8 42.d4 Ke7 43.e5 Rg7 44.d6+Kxe6 45.Kd3 Nf2+ 

The lichess computer labels this a mistake; 45...Kd7 was best. 

White wants to advance and promote one of his pawns, and an active King will help. Exchanging a pair of Rooks will cut down on Black's defense / counterattack options. Black will look to check towards a draw, if need be.

46.Kc4 Kd7 47.dxc7 Rxc7 48.d5 Ne4 49.Rg2 Rg8 50.Kd4 Nc5 51.Rf2 Kd8 52.d6 Rb7 53.Kd5 g5

Seeking counterplay, but White's center pawns are too powerful. They will force concessions.

54.hxg5 Nd3 55.Rf6 Nxe5 

Desperation - if computers could feel desperation.

56.Kxe5 Rxg5+ 57.Ke6 Rg8 58.Rh6 Rbg7 59.Rxb6 Kc8 60.Rxh5 Rg6+ 

When the checks stop, the game will be over.

61.Kd5 Rg2 62.Ra6 Kb7 63.Rh7+ R8g7 64.Rxg7+ Rxg7 65.Rxa5 Rg5+ 66.Ke6 Rg6+ 67.Ke7 Rg7+ 68.Kf6 Rg2 69.Ra6 Kc8 70.Ra7 Kd8 71.a5 Rf2+ 72.Ke5 Re2+ 73.Kd4 Rd2+ 74. Kc5 Rc2+ 75.Kb6

75...Rd2 76.a6 Kc8 77.Rc7+ Kd8 78.a7 Rxd6+ 79.Kb7 Rd7 80.a8=Q+ Ke7 81.Qf8+ Ke6 82.Qe8+ Kd5 83.Rxd7+ Kc4 84.Qe3 Kb4 85.Kb6 Kc4 86.Rd4 checkmate

Never underestimate the power of the "Jerome pawns".

Beating max level Stockfish with the Jerome Gambit (Part 1)

 

I was immediately interested in a title on Reddit: 

Beating max level Stockfish with the Bongcloud and the Jerome gambit

Seriously?

Game Analysis/Study

I was curious how strong lvl 8 Stockfish is on Lichess compared to a real engine running on a decent computer so i played some games where i essentially copied moves from Stockfish13. Here's the games:

...Win with the Jerome gambit: https://lichess.org/wqUokQSZ/white (the game had to be set up from position since stockfish prefers 3.Ng5 [3...Nf6] over 3.Bc5 [3...Bc5]) 

Since lichess.org was using Stockfish 13+ NNUE (Efficiently Updatable Neural Network) for its analysis, it looked like the game was a Stockfish vs Stockfish affair, but it turned out to be quite interesting, if a bit long... 

I have adjusted the move numbers to reflect a game that started with 1.e4.

This game should be titled "Beware the Jerome Pawns!"

razornfs - lichess AI level 8

15 10 standard, lichess.org, 2021

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8

It is interesting that, in annotating the game, the lichess engine marked its own move here as an "Inaccuracy", preferring 6...Ke6. Probably 6...Kf8, a completely sound and reliable move, was in the engine's "book".

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 9.Nc3 Nh5 

Yeow. I checked in The Database and found three previous Jerome Gambit games with this move, two by Bill Wall and one by 2200 rated Chess-for-All, all losses for White.

10.Qf3+ Qf6 11.d3 

White agrees to the exchange of Queens and the breakup of his Kingside pawns. Previously

11.Qxf6+ Nxf6 12.d3 Be6 13.f3 a6 14. Ke2 d5 15.a4 Kf7 16.a5 Rac8 17.e5 Nd7 18.f4 g6 19.Kf3 h6 20.Ne2 Be7 21.Be3 c5 22.Rhe1 Nb8 23.c3 Nc6 24.h3 25.cxd4 cxd4 26.Nxd4 Nxd4+ 27.Bxd4 Rhd8 28.Ke3 Rc2 29.Bb6 Rdc8 30.g4 Bd5 31.Rf1 Rxb2 32.Kd4 Bg2 33.Rab1 Rxb1 34.Rxb1 Rc2 35.f5 Bh4 36.e6+ Ke7 37.fxg6 Kxe6 38.Ke3 Ke5 39.Bd4+ Kd5 White resiged,  Wall,B - Guest1780185, PlayChess.com, 2019; and

11.Qxh5 Qxf2+ 12.Kd1 Qxg2 White resigned, Chess-For-All-Makabe, GameKnot.com, 2017

11...Qxf3 12.gxf3 Be6 

Also 12...Bd7 13.Ke2 Bd4 14.Be3 Bf6 15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Rhg1 Kf7 17.f4 c6 18.Nc3 g6 19.f3 Be6 20.Rad1 Rf8 21.d4 d5 22.Kd3 Bc7 23.Ne2 Ke7 24.e5 Ba5 25.c3 Bb6 26.a4 Rae8 27.Ra1 Ba5 28.b3 Kd7 29.Rg2 Kc8 30.Kc2 Ng7 31.Kb2 Kb8 32.b4 Bd8 33.a5 Bh3 34.Rg3 Bf5 35.Nc1 Ne6 36.Kb3 Be7 37.Rg1 Bh3 38.Nd3 g5 39.fxg5 Rxf3 40.Rg3 Rxg3 41.hxg3 Rg8 42.a6 Bxg5 43.Rh1 Bf5 44.Bxg5 Bxd3 45.Bh4 Bxa6 46.Kc2 Kc8 47.Rh2 Kd7 48.Rf2 Ke8 49.Rf6 Rg6 50.Rf5 b6 51.Rh5 h6 52.Bf6 Kd7 53.Rh3 Bc4 54.g4 a5 55.bxa5 bxa5 56.Rh2 a4 57.Kb2 Nf4 58.Ka3 Bb3 59.Rh4 Nd3 White resigned, Wall,B - Ahmadi,S, Chess.com, 2010. 

Black has the two Bishops, and a Knight for two pawns. However, those are "Jerome pawns", and their future is brighter than it appears.

13.Rg1 Ke7 14.Ne2 Raf8 15.a4 a5 16.f4 g6 17.Be3 Rhg8 18.h4

On behalf of razornfs the computer adopts an anti-computer strategy: keeping the position closed.

18...Bb4+ 

The lichess computer's post-game analysis suggests 18...Bb6 instead. My own Stockfish 13 suggests that White castle Queenside, and Black do the same, by hand.

19.c3 Bc5 20.Kd2 Kf6 21.Rgb1 Bxe3+ 22.fxe3 Ra8 23.b4 b6 24.b5 Ke7 

25.c4 Nf6 26.Rg1 Nd7 27.Rg3 h5 28.Nc3 Nf6 29.Nd5+ Bxd5 30.cxd5 Nd7 

My Stockfish 13 assesses the position as equal. The position is still locked up. Black has possible Knight outposts at g4 and c5. White has that impressive pawn mass in the center. My guess is that most club players would prefer to play White here. 

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: GM Hikaru Nakamura Again

Chess friend Dan Middlemiss recently informed me of a significant Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) video

I noticed that you had several blogs on Hikaru playing the Jerome. However, I came across a very recent YouTube video ("How to win with the Jerome gambit") of Hikaru taking on all comers in a ‘Play the Jerome with Hikaru Arena’ played on 27 March 2021. I think about 115 players signed up, but the video only covers a few of the actual games, all starting from after the preset first 5 moves. Searching a bit more, I found 36 of the actual live games on Chess.com.

Imagine a Grandmaster stopped by your house, and decided to give you a couple of hours of instruction on the Jerome Gambit. Highly unlikely, you say?

Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura's recent video is a robust collection of his 3 0 blitz games where he plays and defends against the Jerome Gambit. It is not boring analysis, it is real live chess. Some of it is downright hilarious. (Even if it strays from actual Jerome theory.)

For example, watching him encounter Whistler's Defense - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7!? - for the first time, and listening to him ponder, Is taking the Rook a good idea, or is it falling into analysis?, is great.

Nakamura explains so much of each game as it progresses, a nice insight into the thinking of a GM. 

I challenge you to watch these games and not improve your understanding of the Jerome Gambit.

Oh, and thanks again, Dan, for the games.