Jerome Pawns in Action

Petasluk is an early adopter of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). The Database has 535 of his games, going back to 2004.

In the following 5-minutegame he shows a grasp of the power of the "Jerome pawns" as well as deadly pressure along the f-file.

He makes it look easy.

Petasluk - laspac

5 0 blitz, FICS, 2021.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian opening.

4.O-O

A useful waiting move. 

4...Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Kf8 

This move is a bit stronger than other moves that Petasluk has faced,

7...Ng6 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.d3 Re8 11.f4 Kg8 (11...Ng4 12.Qe2 Qh4 13.h3 Nf6 14.Nc3 Nxf4 15.Bxf4 Bxh3 16.gxh3 Qxh3 17.Bh2 Ke7 18.Rf3 Qh5 19.Raf1 Kd7 20.Qg2 Rg8 21.Nd5 Rae8 22.Nf4 Qc5+ 23.Qf2 Qb5 24.c3 b6 25.Qg2 g5 26.Nh3 g4 27.Rxf6 gxh3 28.Rf7+ Kc8 29.Qg3 Rxg3+ 30.Bxg3 Qxd3 31.e5 Qxg3+ White resigned, Petasluk - Blixxx, blitz, FICS, 2011) 12.Nc3 d5 13.e5 d4 14.Qg3 dxc3 15.Qxg6 Nd5 16.b3 c6 17.Ba3 Qb6+ 18.Kh1 Ne3 19.Rf3 Nxc2 20.Raf1 Nxa3 21.Rg3 Re7 22.f5 c5 23.f6 Rf7 24.Qxh6 Kf8 25.Qh8 checkmate Petasluk - Jonfern, blitz, FICS, 2016; and 

7...Ke6 8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.c3 g6 10.Qh3 Nf7 11.d4 Bb6 12.Bf4+ Ke7 13.Nd2 g5 14.Be3 Nf6 15.Qf3 d6 16.h3 Rg8 17.Rad1 Qf8 18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Qe2 Nfd7 21.Bxb6 axb6 22.Nc4 Qf6 23.Rfe1 Kf7 24.Nxe5+ Nxe5 25.Qxe5 Qxe5 26.Rxe5 Black resigned, Petasluk - unana, blitz, FICS, 2014.

8.Qxe5 Be7 

Very interesting, in light of the crucial role that the f6 square (and the piece upon it) will play in the game. There is only one other game with this move in The Database. Komodo 10 sees the position as about equal.

9.c3 d6 10.Qg3 Nf6 11.d3 Be6 12.f4 

Often in the Jerome Gambit, Black's ...Be6 provokes White's f2-f4 with the idea of f4-f5.

12...Bf7 

Black's Bishop anticipates the pawn advance and steps aside, but it is now on the file with White's Rook and Black's King, and that gives White another idea.

13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 

Defenders often exchange off White's advancing e-pawn in the Jerome, almost as a reflex. In this case, a Knight retreat - as uncomfortable as it may be - was probably better.

14...Nd7 15.e6 

15...Nf6 16.exf7 Kxf7 

White is comfortably a pawn ahead. He now completes his development and makes use of the f-file.

17.Bf4 Bd6 18.Nd2 Bxf4 19.Rxf4 Qd6 

Allowing a further tempo for White's attack.

20.Ne4 Qe5 

Black's Queen wants to continue to provide support for the Knight.

Komodo 10 prefers 20...Qb3+, when 21.Kh1 Rhe8 22.Raf1 Re6 shows continued support for the pinned piece, but then 23.Rg4 g5 24.Rxg5! hxg5 25.Nxg5+ Kf8 26.Nxe6+ Qxe6 27.Qg6 Ke7 28.Qg7+ Kd8 29.Qxg6+ shows the ultimate success of the pressure on the f-file.

21.Raf1 Kg8 

Stepping out of the pin, but it is too late.

22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Rxf6 Black resigned

Play Over and Examine

In the following blitz game White wins a miniature in a straightforward manner.

Since it is always useful to play over and examine every game - wins as well as losses - it is worth checking out the notes, as there are further checkmate ideas that might be valuable to Danny80 when he encounters this opening again. 

Danny80 - Antonlutum

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian opening.

4.d3

White is willing to be patient and see if Black plays 4...Bc5, when the game can transform into a Jerome Gambit with 5.Bxf7+ 

4...Nd4 

But this is too much. Black transposes into a Blackburne Shilling Gambit with the not-so-helpful ...h6.

Even Stockfish 13 knows what to do.

5.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

The computer assesses White as being more than a Rook better.

4...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke8 

This apparently "safer" choice leads to checkmate.

Black would last a bit longer after 6...Ke6, but there is nothing pleasant about the straight-forward reply 7.Ng6 which will cost material, even if he fights back, e.g. 7...Rh7 8.c3 Nc6 9.Qb3+ Kf6 10.Qxg8 Kxg6 11.h4 (to chase the King away from its protection of the Rook) h5 (logical, but it does not fix things) 12.f4 and Black is already in a mating net.

7.Qh5+ Ke7 

8.Na3 

Bringing another piece into play.

A quicker resolution that relies on a pattern we have seen before is 8.Qf7+ Kd6 9.Nc4+ Kc5 10.Qd5+ Kb4 11.Qa5# 

Another sign that Black is in dire straits is 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.Bxf6+ when White wins the Queen and then checkmates, i.e. 9...Kd6 10.Bxd8 g5 11.Qf7 Ne6 12.b4 a6 13.Nd2 b5 14.O-O-O Rh7 15.Ndc4+ bxc4 16.dxc4+ Kxe5 17.Qf5# 

8...Nf6 9.Qf7+ Kd6 

10.Nec4+ 

Winning, but so does involving the extra Knight White just developed: 10.Nac4+ Kc5 11.b4+ Kxb4 12.Rb1+ Ka4 13.Nb6+ Ka5 14.Qc4 Nxc2+ 15.Qxc2 Bb4+ 16.Rxb4 Kxb4 17.Qa4+ Kc5 18.Ba3+ Kxb6 19.Nc4#. 

10...Kc6 11.Ne5+ Kd6 12.Ng6 

Or as in the note above.

12...Nxc2+ 13.Nxc2 Qe8 

Hoping to swap Queens and slow the attack.

14.Bf4+ Kc6 15.Qc4+ Bc5 16.Nxh8 

This looks like a bit of psychology - "I can win any way that I want to" - although maybe White missed 16.Nd4+ Kb6 17.Qb5#. 

16...d5 

There really isn't anything for Black except to hope that his opponent's flag falls.

17.Nb4+ Kd7 18.Qxc5 c6 19.Qd6 checkmate

Crunch.

Jerome and Stafford Gambits: Spiritual Cousins

I have been exchanging emails with Dan Middlemiss, who is kind of partial to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) as White, but who is deeply committed to the Stafford Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6) as Black.

Although I am mostly familiar with the "reversed Stafford Gambit" - the Boden-Kiesertizky Gambit - (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3) - I think he has a very strong case to make.

What strikes me as a candidate for a possible future blog by you, is the striking similarity between the Jerome and the Stafford gambits. Both feature an early sortie by King‘s Bishop and both target the vulnerable King Bishop’s pawn, often coupled with the early developing move by KB Knight. One key difference, however, is that in the Stafford only a pawn is being sacrificed, at least initially. Another real departure is that an early copycat move by white with Bc4 brings disaster upon white...

 I am also struck by the extent to which the Jerome Gambit shares many of the same attacking features as the now popular Stafford Gambit played by black in the Petrov Defence. Some quite striking parallels in fact, with sacrifices all over the place! Like the Jerome, the Stafford has been "refuted" by careful analysis and high level play. But as some have noted, we don't play engines, we play people! The shock value of both gambits can be imposing for those not prepared...

As for the Stafford Gambit, I find it absolutely fascinating because there are so many really deep and tricky traps in for white. I was actually attracted to the Stafford because of my interest in the Jerome - they both appeal to my sense of danger and adventure, and both pack the same psychological punch against an opponent who is prepared for other lines. In the case of the Stafford, you will discover that natural looking moves for white are the most fraught with danger, and white’s move order is critical to his success or failure. I would also say that, from my considerable research, the Stafford seems to be far more playable, and I was not exaggerating when I said that GMs, IMs, and club players alike have been employing it since about August 2020, even though its pedigree goes back much further in time...

The reason for its wild popularity of late can be found in a bombshell YouTube video by IM Eric Rosen in August 2020. IM Jonathan Schrantz has also helped to popularize some very crucial theoretical lines – he posted a YouTube video in which he demonstrates how he defeated Stockfish 12 with his ‘Magic Line’. Both Eric and Jonathan (who goes by the handle zolpi on Lichess) are members of the same St Louis Chess Club and both are knowledgeable and articulate streamers. Eric has almost a dozen excellent videos online about the Stafford, and his initial one has been demonstrated to have quadrupled the amount of interest in Stafford chess. Several GMs, including Daniel Naroditsky, have videos claiming to have ‘refuted’ the Stafford, but it lives on and the refutations have themselves been refuted!

Certainly those who play the Jerome can find room in their opening repertoire for the Stafford. In fact, many have already have.

Why not give it a try? Be careful, though, as it's highly addictive.

 

Jerome Gambit: Tactical Magic

The following game features a creative Queen sacrifice - not to break down the walls of the enemy's fortress, but to gain a tempo. It is quite a thing to watch, and finish of the game is equally entertaining.

Tactical magic.

Wall, Bill - Anonymous

internet, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.Nd2 Ne7 9.O-O Re8 10.Qc3 N7c6 

11.f4 Ng6 12.e5 Qf5 13.Qb3+ 

White wishes to interrupt Black's plan to castle-by-hand.

13...Kf8 14.Nf3 d6 15.Ng5 Nh8 16.h3 h6 

Skirmishes on the Kingside do not change the balance. Black is still better, with a piece for a pawn.

17.Bd2 Nd4 18.Qd5 Ne6 19.Ne4 Nf7 

Black's pieces shuffle themselves, the better to protect their King.

Once again, as White, Bill has slowly managed to bring about an exchange of roles. Black should be attacking.

20.g4 Qh7 21.f5 c6

It is interesting that Stockfish 13 suggests the return of the sacrificed material, with 21...Neg5 22.e6 Nxe6 23.fxe6 Bxe6. Things can then get tactically messy if White goes for one more pawn, i.e. 24.Qxb7 Rab8 25.Qc6 Bxg4 26.Qxc7 Bf5 27.Ng3 Qg6 28.Kh2 Be6 29.Ne2 Rbc8 30.Nf4 Rxc7 31.Nxg6+ Kg8 32.c3 Kh7 33.Nf4 Bc4 34.Rf2 Ng5 and Black would still have an edge.

22.Qc4 

Stockfish 13, which frequently sees White as worse in any Jerome Gambit - and, therefore, often suggests long lines ending in a draw by repetition - of course preferred 22.Qa5 Neg5 23.Nxd6 Nxd6 24.exd6 b6 25.Qc3 Bd7 26.Rae1 Ne4 27.Qd3 Nf6 28.Re7 Rxe7 29.dxe7+ Kxe7 30.Bc3 Kf8 31.Qd6+ Kg8 32.Re1 Re8 33.Rxe8+ Bxe8 34.Qd8 Kf7 35.Qc7+ Kg8 36.Qb8 etc. Cute.

When you get to the end of this game, I hope you appreciate the fact that White was played by a human. Especially since Black now believes he has caught White in a blunder.

22...d5 

Forking Queen and Knight.

23.fxe6 

Wonderful! White has a draw in hand, and more if Black becomes too excited.

23...dxc4 24.Bb4+ Re7 

If the King moves instead, White has a checkmate in 10 moves.

25.Rxf7+ Kg8 

Because 25...Ke8 will result in checkmate.

26.Nf6+ gxf6 

Again, forced to avoid a short checkmate.

27.Bxe7 

White is down a Queen for a Rook. Can he keep things going?

27...Qxf7  

I think that this move was deeply thought out - just not deeply enough. Black imagines reducing the position to an ending of Bishops-of-opposite-colors (despite the Rooks being on the board) where he can take refuge in a draw.

He has the right idea, with best play the game is drawn, but he would have been closer to that goal with 27...Qe4, when his King would be trapped in a sort of "windmill" that would have produced a repetion of position: 28.Rf8+ Kh7 29.Rf7+ Kg6 30.Rxf6+ Kh7 (not 30...Kg5, as 31.Raf1 will produce situations where Black will lose his Queen to a discovered check) 31.Rf7+, etc.

28.exf7+ Kxf7 29.Bxf6 Be6 

30.Rf1 Kg6 31.Be7 Bd5 32.Rf6+ Kg7 33.Rd6 Re8 34.Bf6+ Kg8 

35.Rd7

This move should have given Black pause. The "correct" way to pursue a draw is 35.Rd8, exchanging Rooks.

 35...Rb8 36.Kf2 

The King will lend an extra hand.

36...Bf7 37.Ke3 c5 38.Ke4 Kf8 39.Kf5 a5 40.e6 Bg8 41.Rd8+ 

Instead of celebrating here, Black resigned.

The sad truth is that even after 41...Rxd8 42.Bxd8, White's King is well-placed to capture the pawn on h6, and that will leave him with too many pawns for the opposite color Bishop ending.

But White had no intention  of entering that line, planning 41...Rxd8 42.e7+! when checkmate arrives quickly after the promotion, 42...Kf7 43.exd8/Q. 

Very, very nice.

Jerome Gambit: Through A Mirror, Cracked

Every once in a while, while playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) White meets a defender who believes that copying a move or a strategem is the proper way to go. This usually involves a return sacrifice at f2, after White has sacrificed at f7.

The following game raises questions about the wisdom of such a strategy.

Wall, Bill - Guest1915145

Internet, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kf8 

Declining the gambit, a rare move.

5.Bc4 Bxf2+ 

Another example of If you can do it to me, I can do it to you.

White captured a pawn and bumped Black's King; Black now captures a pawn and bumps White's King.

Oh, wait - Black declined to capture the Bishop. That means...

6.Kxf2 

After six moves, White is up a piece, which is something rare in a Jerome Gambit.

6...d6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Rf1 Bg4 9.Kg1 

White castles-by-hand, usually a recommendation for Black in the Jerome Gambit accepted.

9...Na5 10.Be2 Bxf3 11.Rxf3 h6 

Feeling pressure on his Knight along the f-file, Black prevents additional pressure along the d8-h4 diagonal.

12.Nd5 c6 13.Nxf6 gxf6 14.d4 

Don't worry, Bill hasn't missed b2-b4.

14... Rh7 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Qxd8+ Rxd8 17.b4 Black resigned

Like I said...

Black will be down two pieces, and doubling Rooks on the d-file is not sufficient compensation.

Jerome Gambit: The Hurrieder I Go, The Behinder I Get

After the previous, complicated Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, I thought I would share a simple one from the "stranger than truth" file. It is another example of a defender way-too-quickly playing a move that he might have remembered from somewhere, but probably should have thought about a bit longer. 

LionelBlue - kottarakkara

5 0 blitz, FICS, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

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

Blackburne's defense. Taking the Rook now is complicated, as White risks having his Queen trapped, even as Black also attacks the White King.

8.Qxh8 Nf6

Trapping the Queen?

To be fair to Black, it must be mentioned that there are a dozen examples of this oversight in The Database. (See "Jerome Gambit: Ghosts in the Defense".)

The perils of blitz. 

9.Qxd8 Bg4 

Probably inertia.

10.Qxa8 Nxe4 11.O-O Black resigned

Black's pieces menace the Kingside, but once White's Queen returns to action and White's pieces develop, it is clear that they will not be successful.

Jerome Gambit: Upon Further Examination

We continue the examination of the Blackburne Defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) started in the previous post, as experienced through a blitz game. Once again, the excitement, as well as the danger, is enhanced.

This is hard work, and we get to enjoy the benefits of their labor.

szachy1000 - Trickeryplayer

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5

This is actually where the game started, from a set position.

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's defense, from the famous game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884. Black offers his Rook, with the plan of both attacking White's King and trapping White's Queen.

There is theory involved, the kind best known beforehand as it can be difficult to uncover in a 3-minute game.

8.Qxh8 

This capture is playable, although the resulting positions can be complicated - and Blackburne did destroy his opponent after this move.

8...Qh4 9.O-O 

This move, quite sensible, leads to an even game.

The road to advantage is a tricky one: 9.d4 Bb4+ (9...Qxe4+ 10.Be3 Qxg2 11.Rf1 is uncomfortable, but in many cases White's King will O-O-O to safety) 10.c3 Bh3 11.gxh3 Re8 12.O-O Nf6 13.Qxe8+ Kxe8 14.cxb4 Nxe4 15.Nc3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qxh3 and White's material advantage is decisive.

9...Bh3 

This is one of those must-have-seen-it-in-a-book type moves. In fact, The Database has only one other example of a game like this, Fritz - RevvedUp, 2 12 blitz, 2006 (1- 0, 18). It is out of place, however.

Black had Blackburne's 9...Nf6 (preparing to lock the Queen in) 10.Qd8 (looking to escape; Blackburne's opponent missed this) Bh3 (now, although 10...Bb6, instead, would have forced the Queen to find another escape route, 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qd3) 11.Qxc7+ Kf8 12.Qxb7 Bxg2 (trying to avoid the draw by repetition that White has set up) 13.Qxa8+ Ne8 14.d4 (or 14.Kxg2 Qg4+ 15.Kh1 Qf3+ 16.Kg1 Qg4+ and Black sues for peace) Qg4 15.Bh6+ (just in time) Ke7 16.Qb7+ Kd8 17.Qb8+ Ke7 and White will have his draw after all. 

10.gxh3 

The advice in the face of an ever-ticking clock is Take the material. In this case, however, White would do best to rescue his Queen with 10.Qc3, when Black would rescue his light-square Bishop. White would then be up the exchange and a couple of pawns. 

10...Re8 

Despite the suggestions in the notes to this game, neither player is interested in pursuing a draw. Otherwise Black would have channeled Blackburne and tried 10...Nf6 11.Qxa8 Qxh3 12.Qxb7 Qg4+ 13.Kh1 Qf3+ 14.Kg1 Qg4+ Two pieces down, a draw would be his best bet.

11.Qc3 Re5 

Having sacrificed a Rook, Black seeks checkmate. He is encouraged by White's slow development.

12.Qg3 

Super sensible. He is willing to return material to take the pressure off of his King - and he sees a tiny glitch in his opponent's plan (and misses one in his own).

12...Rg5 13.Kh1 

Unpinning his Queen, but missing the fact that he had to play 13.d4! first. Unbelieveable. Something had to be done about the pin on White's f-pawn, and this both block's the Bishop and attacks the enemy Rook. Now 13...Bxd4 14.Bxg5 and 13...Rxg3 14.fxg3+ work.

Still, before moving now Black should ask himself: What has changed?

13...Rxg3 

Of course, this was the idea behind his previous move. He will win the Queen - and lose the game.

With 13...Qxe4+ 14.Kg1 Rxg3+ 15.hxg3 Qxc2 Black would have a Queen for two Rooks, and the advantage.

14.fxg3+ 

Capturing with check. Black has to return his Queen.

14...Qf6 15.Rxf6+ Nxf6 

Things have calmed down, and White is ahead a Rook and a couple of pawns.

16.b3 Nxe4 17.Bb2 Nf2+ 18.Kg2 Ne4 19.d3 Nd2 

A slip, but the game was largely over. 

15.Nxd2 Black resigned

Whew!