Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Jerome Gambit: For A Moment Not So Annoying


In the following game, White faces a Jerome Gambit defense that can cause its share of headaches. However,  a couple of minor slips by Black suddenly change the game into a miniature. 


Fegatello25 - Thedarkripper

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 

As I mentioned in "Jerome Gambit Secrets #6"

I have called this the "annoying defense" (because it is) or the "silicon defense" (because of the affinity computer chess programs have for it). It was first seen in D'Aumiller - A.P., 1878 and figured in six of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's games against S.A. Charles in their unfinished 1881 correspondence match.

Years ago, in "An International Master Refutes the Jerome Gambit".International Master Gary Lane, in his The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps (Everyman Chess, 2008) says

I think this is the best way to defend: allowing one of the extra pieces to be taken, and in return obtaining a solid position with extra material.

The fact that Black's King can hang around in the center in apparent safety - is annoying.

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Kd6 10.Qd3+ Ke7 11.Qg3 

White's Queen and Black's King engage in a seemingly meaningless dance that reinforces the notion that the defender's monarch is completely safe.

With only one pawn in exchange for his sacrificed piece, White arrives at the above position with the opportunity to grab either the e-pawn or the g-pawn.

According to The Database, there are 60 previous games that reached this point, with 26 wins, 23 loses, and 11 draws for White - a decent 53%. Stockfish 14.1 (31 ply), however, sees Black as more than a Rook better. 

I would love to add encouragement from my personal experience, but the one time I arrived at this position was a prelude to disaster - see "Jerome Gambit: Back to the Drawing Board".

11...Bd6  

Black protects his e-pawn. Remarkably, the computer suggests that instead of this novelty he should ignore both en prise pawns and play 11...Ke8 with advantage.

12.Qxg7+ Ke6 

Well-played for a blitz game. True, Black's King might be safer after 12...Ke8, but his Rook at h8 would not be.

13.O-O 


Taking advantage of the fact that Black's repositioned Bishop allows castling, White adds his Rook to the attack on the King.

13...Ne7 

The proper place for the Knight is on f6, and although the game remains complex, White is probably a bit better. An odd line explored by Stockfish 14.1 and Komodo 12.1.1 is 13...Nf6 14.d4 exd4 15.Bg5 Be5 16.Rf5 Rg8 17.Rxe5+ Kxe5 18.Bxf6+ Ke6 19.Qxh7 Kxf6 and both computers say the game will be drawn by repetition of position




analysis diagram




Instead, White now has a forced checkmate.

14.Qg4+ Nf5 15.Qxf5+ Ke7 16.Qf7 checkmate




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