1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ...and related lines
(risky/nonrisky lines, tactics & psychology for fast, exciting play)
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Jerome Gambit: Numbers, We Got Numbers (Part 2)
Monday, December 16, 2024
Jerome Gambit: Numbers, We Got Numbers (Part 1)
I regularly refer in my blog posts to "The Database", which is my collection of Jerome Gambit and related games. It has grown over the years, due to my searching out the games, and also due to receiving many games from Readers.
A peek at The Database today shows:
The regular line of Jerome Gambit play, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 38,295 games White scores 52%
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ 7,763 games White scores 57%
The Abrahams Jerome Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 18,980 games White scores 51%
A quick breakdown of the four main lines of play is interesting
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 3,453 games White scores 47%
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+Ke6 4,814 games White scores 55%
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 3,053 games White scores 70%
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 4,249 games White scores 55%
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Jerome Gambit: Explosive
Combining the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) with the Evans Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4) can produce an explosive attack, as the following game (which was MateSharkVlad's challenge after his miniature lost game on Chess.com - as White- against Yury V. Bukayev: 1.e4 c5 2.Ne2 Nc6 3.f4 d5 4.exd5 Nb4 5.c4 Nd3 checkmate) shows.
Yury_V_Bukayev - MateSharkVlad
30 rapid, Chess.com, 2024
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.O-O Nf6 6.b4
Reminiscent of the Evans Jerome Gambit.
6...Bxb4 7.c3 Bc5
Somewhat cooperative. Instead, 7...Be7 comes to mind.
8.d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6
Yury now demonstrates the power of the pawn center.
10.e5 Ng8
Black figures that retreat is enough. Instead, he should have returned his extra piece with 10...d5 11.exf6 Qxf6, still with an edge.
11.d5 Nb8
Probbly 11...Ne7 was better, but Black was committed to a plan.
12.Ng5+
12...Ke8 13.Re1 Ne7
Again, the Knight tries to safeguard the King.
14.d6 Ng6 15.Qh5
15...Bd4
Hoping to snare a free Rook, but the action is all on the other side of the board.
16.Nxh7 Kf7
Instead, 16...Bxf2+ would slow - but not stop - the attack. Black is angling for 17.Kxf2 Qh4+ 18.Qxh4 Nxh4, but he would still be worse. Of course, White could reply to 16...Bxf2+ with 17.Kh1, ending that adventure.
17.Qf5+
17...Kg8 18.Nf6+ gxf6
There also was little future in 18...Kf8 19.Ng4+Kg8 20.Qxg6.
19.Qxg6+ Black resigned
Black sees that checkmate is coming, and turns over his King.
For those who enjoy unfortunate endings, Stockfish 16.1 gives the longest that Black can hold out, while giving up most of his pieces and still being mated: 19...Kf8 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.dxc7 Qe7 22.Ba3 d6 23.Bxd6 Nd7 24.Nc3 Rh7 25.Rxe7 Bxe7 26.Re1 Rg7 27.Bxe7+ Kg8 28.Qe6+ Kh8 29.Re4 Nf8 30.Qh6+ Kg8 31.Bf6 Rxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Bh3+ 33.Kxh3 Ne6 34.Rxe6 Kf7 35.Re7+ Kg8 36.Qh8#
Quite a nice game by Yury!
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Jerome Gambit: The Challenge of Blitz
Blitz games can be entertaining for those watching, as things happen quickly - sometimes very bad or very good things.
That's the challenge of blitz, as well: playing fast enough not to lose on time, but slow enough to make sure all of your moves are good.
Kingtora - Caballo-Astuto
10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
7.f4 Nf6
Three pieces vs the Queen looks like a good idea, but Black misses the point (it's a blitz game) that one of his will fall quickly.
8.Qf5+
White has a plan, but, instead, he should have aimlessly played 8.Qxe5+ followed by 9.Qxc5.
8...Kf7 9.fxe5
This is White's idea: Black's Knight is pinned.
9...Qe8
Almost, but not quite enough. He had, instead, 9...d6 10.Qf1 and then 10...Qe8, because 11.exf6 can be met with 11...Qxe4+.
Blitz. It happens.
10.exf6 gxf6 11.Qh5+ Ke7
12.Qxe8+
White chooses to play with Queens off of the board. I am sure he had his reasons, but I would prefer 12.Qxc5.
12...Rxe8 13.d3 d6 14.Nc3 Bg4
Not sure what this move is about. Could be time related.
15.Nd5+ Kd7 16.Nxf6+ Black resigned
Material will be lost.
[Readers, this post is number 4,600. Many thanks to those who have contributed games, analysis and history about the Jerome Gambit, over the 16 years of this blog's existence. - Rick]
Friday, December 13, 2024
Jerome Gambit: Remember?
Kingtora - andrikrist
10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021
1 e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6
7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qxh8
If he remembers the variations, White can take this Rook and live.
8...Qh4
Everyone remembers Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884, (0-1, 14) right?
9.O-O
Fully playable, although 9.d4 was stronger.
9...Qxe4
A slip. Complicated play follows blocking the Queen in with, 9...Nf6, although 10.Qd8 Bb6 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qd3 would secure Her Majesty's release.
10.Nc3
Or 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.d3 Qe5 12.Be3!? Qxb2 13.Nd2 Qg7 14.Qxg7+ Kxg7 15.Bxc5 dxc5
10...Qxc2
In the Jerome Gambit, greed is not good.
Instead, 10...Qh4 would have been more useful.
11.d4 Bb6 12.Nd5 Bd7 13.Qxh7+ Ke6
White is a pawn and the exchange better, but the real issue is King safety.
14.Nxb6 cxb6
Black now faces a forced checkmate.
15.Re1+ Kd5 Black resigned
White will win the Bishop and then gather in more material as Black tries, unsuccessfully, to ward off mate.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Jerome Gambit: More Proof
White sets up another trap, and Black tumbles into it.
More proof of the successful combination of the Jerome Gambit and blitz time control.
Kingtora - Nomi7
5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
7.Qxc5 Qe7 8.Qc4+ Kf8
Already giving White thoughts of an attack along the a3-g8 diagonal. Consistent with the offering of an exchange of Queens would have been 8...Qe6.
9.b3
Preparing a threat, but in a moment the opponent's awareness is gone.
9...Ne5
Counter threat.
10.Qxc7
A diversion.
10...Ng4
A further threat.
11.Ba3 Black resigned
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Jerome Gambit: Careless?
The following game is a reminder to defenders to learn a bit about the Jerome Gambit - and a quick lesson (see "Jerome Gambit: Hot Mess" for an earlier example) for Jerome Gambiteers on how to punish a careless second player.
Kingtora - selimmessadia
5 0 blitz, lichess.org 2024
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6
Hoping to save the Knight, but this not the way to do it.
7.d4
Going for the quick win. Instead, White recovers his sacrificed material with 7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5+.
7...Bxd4
If you are not familiar with the Jerome Gambit, you probably would not find 7...Bb4+ 8.c3 Nd3+ 9.Kd2 d5, keeping the advantage.
8.Bg5+ Black resigned
His Queen is lost.Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Jerome Gambit: A Rarity
Bill Wall likes the Jerome Gambit. He has over 1,000 games in The Database, scoring 92%.
I present the following game, therefore, as a rarity - one of Bill's losses. Usually, no matter how much trouble he faces, Bill manages to produce a win, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
Just not this time. After all, when you play an opening that has several "refutations", it should not come as a surprise that you risk losing.
Wall, Bill - HighNoon
internet, 2023
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4
As I wrote in "Jerome Gambit: In and Out of Danger"
Although I have lightly labeled this as a "pie-in-the-face" variation, it is a strong counter, with a focus on piece development and attack on the King. It was first seen in Sorensen - Anonymous, Denmark, 1888 (1-0, 27).
7.O-O Qxe4
Also 7...Ng4 8.h3 Bb6 9.hxg4 d6 10.f3 Be6 11.Be3 Bc4 12.Re1 Ne7 13.f4 Rhe8 14.Nd2 Ba6 15.Nf3 Qg3 16.a4 Ba5 17.c3 Kf8 18.b4 Ng6 19.f5 Nf4 20.Bxf4 Qxf4 21.Qc2 c5 22.bxa5 Qxg4 23.Rad1 cxd4 24.Rxd4 Qg3 25.Qb3 Qf4 26.Qb1 Qg3 27.e5 g6 28.Rxd6 Re7 29.f6 Ree8 30.Qb4 Bb5 31.Rd8+ Kf7 32.e6+ Kxf6 33.Qd4+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Rajiv, Chess.com 2010.
8.dxc5 Nf6 9.Nc3
Or 9.Bg5 Qc6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qh5+ Kg7 12.Nc3 Qxc5 13.Rae1 d6 14.Ne4 Qb6 15.Re3 Qxb2 16.Rc3 Qb6 17.Re1 Be6 18.h3 Rhf8 19.Kh2 Ng6 20.Ng3 Bxa2 21.Nf5+ Kh8 22.Ne7 Bf7 23.Qf5 Kg7 24.Rg3 Qc5 25.Qf4 Rae8 26.h4 a5 27.Ree3 Qh5 28.Qd4 c5 29.Qxd6 Rd8 30.Qf4 Rd4 31.Re4 Rxe4 32.Qxe4 Kh8 33.Nxg6+ Bxg6 34.Qf4 Qe5 35.Qa4 b6 36.Qb3 Rb8 37.c3 b5 38.Qd1 b4 39.cxb4 axb4 White resigned, Fritz 12 - Wall/Houdini, Palm Bay, FL 2018.
9...Qc6
9...Qb4 was tried in Wall,B - Guest7715764, PlayChess.com 2017 (1-0, 21); and
9...Qc4 was seen in Wall,B - Guest6296711, PlayChess.com 2014 (0-1, 22) and Wall,B - IraHaru, lichess.org 2016 (1-0, 19).
10.Be3
Instead, 10.Qd4 was seen in Wall,B - felineMMXI, blitz, FICS 2011 (1-0, 18); Wall,B - Guest1986192, PlayChess.com 2019 (0-1, 19); Wall,B - Guest4725905, PlayChess.com 2019 (0-1, 21); and 1-0 Wall,B - Guest1845717, PlayChess.com 2019 (1-0, 29).
10.Re1 was seen in Wall,B - Gorodetsky,D, Chess.com 2010 (1-0, 18).
10...b6 11.Bd4 Bb7
Protecting the Knight on e5 by threatening checkmate.
12.f3 Rhe8 13.Re1 Ng6 14.cxb6 Rxe1 15.Qxe1 axb6
Black's presure is clear.
16.Qd2 Nd5 17.Ne4 Ndf4 18.Be3 Ne6
Black is making good use of his extra piece, while White's extra pawns have limited scope.
Monday, December 9, 2024
Jerome Gambit: "Nothing" Moves
It is a good idea not to ignore "nothing" moves by your opponent, as they may contain threats that need to be attended to.
chessriddler - CrazyHorses
5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2024
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
This appears to be a "nothing" move, allowing Black to win the e-pawn. It can be properly met by 11...Qe5, but this is a blitz game, and things can be overlooked.
The game follows the path of shugart - pitagorico, blitz, FICS, 2013, which had the additional moves 12...c5 13.Bxc5 before Black resigned.
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Jerome Gambit: See Saw Blitz
The following game shows the possible effect of blitz time controls on ches play.
drumme - laspac
The FICS player drumme has over 800 games in The Database.
5 0 blitz, FICS, 2024
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening (sometimes referred to as the Anti-Fried Liver Defense; see "Italian Game Anti-Fried Liver Defense [Parts 1 and 2]").
As I wrote in "A Jerome Look At The Semi-Italian Opening (Parts 1, 2, and 3)"
Chess Master Vs Chess Amateur (1963), byMax Euwe and Walter Meiden. Here is what the authors say about Black's third move (I have changed the notation from English descriptive to algebraic).
This is a favorite move of the weaker amateur. He fears some future attack by the White QB (Bg5, for instance) or by the White KN (Ng5), and, before the White QB is even able to move, he plays the precautionary 3...h6. In certain positions, such a precautionary move is occasionally necessary, but in this position, not only is it not necessary, but it consumes valuable time. This puts Black one move behind White in the type of opening where tempi are of greatest importance. Instead of meeting the enemy's rapidly mobilizing forces with armed soldiers (i.e., by bringing out his pieces), Black only loses time and force, and, without realizing it, even weakens his defensive wall...
4.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit (also called the Accelerated Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit - see "Accelerated Instant Victory")
The Database has 3,173 games with this line, with White scoring 42%. By comparison, drumme has 178 games with the line, scoring 51% - almost 10% better than the average Jerome Gambit club player.
He might consider varying with 4.O-O Bc5 and then 5.Bxf7+, taking a tip from The Database where there are 380 such games, with White scoring 62%. (To date, I don't think he has.)
By the way, in 265 games with the Jerome Gambit proper, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, drumme has scored 49%, a bit under the results of the average Jerome Gambit club player, 52%, according to The Database.
4...Kxf7 5.d4 d6 6.dxe5
6...dxe5
An automatic response which leads to consequences that Black probably had not anticipated.
7.Nxe5+ Ke6
Of course, not 7...Nxe5 because of 8.Qxd8.
However, as we shall see, 7...Kf6 was the right King move, when the game is even, e.g. 8.Qf3+!? Kxe5 9.Qf7 Nf6 10.f4+ Kd6 11.e5+ Nxe5 12.fxe5+ Kc6 13.Qc4+ Bc5 14.Be3 Qd5 15.Qxc5+ Qxc5 16.Bxc5 Kxc5.
8.Qg4+
White, too, steps off of the path. Instead, he had 8.Qxd8 Nxd8 9.Ng6, taking advantage of the unprotected g6 square
8...Kxe5
This piece lacks poison.
9.Bf4+
While scary looking, this move and 9.f4+ are not actually dangerous.
9...Kxe4
This capture should lead to indigestion. It was time for the King to retreat to f6.
10.Bxc7+
Again: scary. Attacking the enemy Queen with check.
Black resigned
But, wait a minute... Doesn't Black just have 10...Bg4 ? True, White then wins Black's Queen with 11.Bxd8, but then comes 11...Rxd8 and 12.f3+ Kf5 13.fxg4+ Kxg4 would leave Black clearly better.
And, yet... Had White found 10.Nc3+ Kd4 11.Qe2 a6 12.Qd3+ Kc5 13.Na4+ Kb4 14.Bd2+ Kxa4 15.Qb3 checkmate the game would have still been his.