Jerome Gambit: Humor and Psychological Interplay

The humor and the psychological interplay is what makes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) a special chess opening for me.

When Black declines the first piece sacrifice, by not playing 4...Kxf7, it is as if he is saying "If you want me to take the piece, then I won't!" As we have seen  many times - most recently in "Jerome Gambit: Attack? Counter-Attack?" - this is not a strong defensive strategy.

Likewise, should Black decline the second piece sacrifice - after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ not playing 5...Nxe5 - he can hold onto his advantage with 5...Kf8, but, otherwise, his "No, thank you" will again  lead to trouble.  

But, what if Black decides to mimic his opponent, and sacrifice a piece himself? Then things become interesting, as Bill Wall shows in the following game.

Wall, Bill - Kumar

internet, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

This is the "Counter-Jerome Defense" or the "Counter-Jerome Gambit". See "Jerome Gambit: Tactical Awareness" and "Jerome Gambit: Be Careful, Look Both Ways".

For recent examples, see "Nobody Expects the Jerome Gambit (Part 3)" and "Jerome Gambit: Psychology"

8.Kxf2 Qf6+

8...Qh4+ was seen in Wall,B - Guest1443273, PlayChess.com, 2012 (1-0, 36), Wall,B - Guest2115687, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 21); and  Wall,B - Guest592370, PlayChess.com, 2017: 9.g3 Qf6+ 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 11.Nc3 Qh4+ 9.Kf1 9.g3 Qf6+ 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 11.Nc3 d6 12.d3 Bg4 13.h3 Be6 14.Bh6 Ke8 15.Ke3 Kd7 16.Bg7 Rhf8 17.Bxf8 Rxf8 18.g4 a6 19.g5 Nh5 20.Rhf1 Re8 21.h4 c6 22.b4 d5 23.exd5 Bh3+ 24.Kd4 Bxf1 25.Rxf1 cxd5 26.Nxd5 Kd6 27.c4 Ng3 28.c5+ Kc6 29.Rf6+ Kb5 30.Nc7+ Black resigned.

9.Qxf6+ Kxf6 

With the Queens off of the board, Black's King feels safe advancing. He has paid a pawn for this privilege.

Also seen is 9...Nxf6 as in Wall, S - Guest658246, PlayChess.com 2013 (1-0, 34),  Wall,B - Guest4380606, PlayChess.com 2015 (1-0, 15) and Wall,B-SCMJ/FICS 2020 (1-0, 24).

10.Nc3 c6 11.Rf1 Kg7 12.Kg3 Ne7 13.b3 d5

Often ...d5 is helpful in defending against the Jerome Gambit, but not here, right now, because of possible problems along the a1-h8 diagonal. Better was 13... Re8. 

14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Bb2+ Kg8 16.Bxh8 Kxh8 

White has a Rook and a couple of pawns for the Bishop and Knight, but, more importantly, he has better development and the initiative.

The game will be over soon.

17.Rf7 Nc6 18.exd5 Ne5 19.Rc7 b6 20.Re1 Nd7 21.Re8+ Kg7 22.Rxd7+ Black resigned

After 22...Bxd7 23.Rxa8, the exchange-up endgame with extra pawns (two passed) is a straight-forward win.

Jerome Gambit: Open, Occupy and Control the f-File

In the following game, Bill Wall shows that he can take the essential parts of the Jerome Gambit and, patiently, put them together for the win.

Wall, Bill - Irene

internet, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qc3 Qf6 9.O-O Ne7 

Black declines to exchange Queens, as happened in Wall,B - Guest10254637, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 38).

10.Qd3 Bd7 11.Nc3 Rd8 12.Qe2 a6 13.d3 

The game has reached an educational position.

Black has an extra piece for two pawns. He has better development. 

On the other hand, White knows the Jerome Gambit. He knows that the f-file is important, starting with the fact that his Rook is on the same file as Black's Queen and King. This is where the play will come.

13...h5 14.Kh1 g5 

Black hopes to hold back the advance of White's f-pawn, but only makes the move stronger. 

15.Be3 Ke8 16.f4 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 gxf4 18.Rxf4 

18...Qg7 

The time that Black has taken to readjust his pieces has been used by his opponent to open, occupy, and control the f-file.

19.Nd5 Rg8 

Black's threat reminds me of a conversation I had with a friendly opponent, many years ago. "I was winning..." he said. "Right up to the point where I checkmated you," I continued.

Necessary was 19...Rc8, When Stockfish 15.1 suggests a split point with 20.Raf1 Nxd5 21.exd5+ Kd8 22.Rf7 Qe5 23.Qf2 Qg5 24.h4 Qg6 25.Rf6 Qg7 26.Rf7 Qg6, etc.

20.Nxc7 checkmate.

Jerome Gambit: Online

On the internet I encountered the website Game iOS Life, subtitled All for iOS Game Development, presenting: Game development for iOS mobile devices is our area of expertise. 

On the site there is an extensive look at the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), drawing from content of this blog. The insights there are attractive, for example

Jerome Gambit: Tactical Ambush and Psychological Nuances

The world of chess is vast and enigmatic, with each game offering a fresh tableau of possibilities and strategies. One such intriguing opening is the Jerome Gambit. Traditionally considered dubious, the gambit has been both lauded and criticized for its bold sacrifice, leading to unpredictable game developments...Through pivotal game moments, tactical blunders, and brilliant plays, we embark on a journey that highlights the sheer unpredictability and dynamism of this remarkable opening...  

Jerome Gambit: Dry, Not Wry

I have pointed out on more than one occasion that it is necessary to have a robust sense of humor in order to appreciate the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

This notion was reinforced for me when I encountered the study "Jerome Gambit: An Exceptional Sacrifice for Masters" at lichess.org.

There are six short chapters and then Credits.

Very dry humor.

Very nicely done.

Check it out.

Jerome Gambit: Hang On

I like to play the Jerome Gambit. In this tournament, I had to play against it as well.

I won all of my Jerome Gambit games with White, and I defeated all the Jerome Gambits when I had Black.

Apologies to the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde.

In the following game, with Black, I had one plan: Hang on.

Hvakkimaruru - perrypawnpusher

Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

One of the "modern" variations of the Jerome Gambit, that is, when White avoids the "classical" 5.Nxe5+ that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome played. At 30 ply, Stockfish 15.1 prefers the Knight capture by about 1/4 of a pawn.

5...Nf6 6.Re1 

I have played - and played against - this position previously:

6.d3 Rf8 7.Ng5+ Kg8 8.Nf3 d5 White resigned, Capt.Mandrake - perrypawnpusher, Jerome Gambit 3 thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net 2008;

6.Nc3 Rf8 7. Ng5+ as in leobrazer - perrypawnpusher, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 48); and 

6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 as in perrypawnpusher - Freddy1201, Play The Italian Game III, Chess.com 2023 (0-1, 23) and perrypawnpusher - vityas81, Chess.com 2023, (1-0, 16). 

6...Re8 

Black is better here. His job is to hang on.

White must stir things up and play for the advantage.

7.c3 Kg8 8.d4 exd4 

After the game, Stockfish expressed a preference for 8...Bf8 and 8...Bb6. I am not sure why. 

9.cxd4 

Likewise, the computer preferred 9.e5 and 9.b4.

My opponent's moves were troubling enough, thank you very much. 

9...Bb4 10.Bd2 Bxd2 11.Nbxd2 d6 

White has a pawn for his sacrificed piece. His pawn center is good, but it is not sufficient compensation.

12.h3 h6 13.e5 dxe5 14.dxe5 Nd7 15. Qb3+ Kh8 

White's "Jerome pawn" - passed and protected - looks like it could cause trouble, but nothing comes of it.

16.e6 Nc5 17.Qc4 Nxe6 18.Ne5 

A slip.

18...Nxe5 19.Rxe5 Qxd2 

White will now play to win two pieces for a Rook, but that does not completely address the material imbalance.

20.Rae1 Qd6 21.Rd5 Qf8 22.Rde5 Bd7 23.Rxe6 Rxe6 24.Rxe6 Bxe6 25.Qxe6 

A Rook is a Rook.

25...Re8 26.Qd7 

Now mate follows. 

26...Re1+ 

At this point I gave a series of if/then moves that wound up

27.Kh2 Qf4+ 28.g3 Qxf2 checkmate

That made me 22 - 0 - 0 for my group, Round 1 - a decent start.

Jerome Gambit: What Happens When...?

What happens when you give a much stronger player "Jerome Gambit odds"? 

I recently found out, and it wasn't pretty.

Still, it was educational, and I plan to pore over the game and learn from it.

In the meantime, I might save my special opening for  less powerful opponents.

perrypawnpusher - Seal Island Puffin

Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2024

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qf4+ 

Fifteen years ago, I tried 8.Qc3 in perrypawnpusher - Raankh, 2 12 blitz. blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 22). 

I have also played 8.Qg3, scoring 15 - 5 - 1 most recently in perrypawnpusher - aansmar, Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2024 (1/2 - 1/2, 22).

8...Nf6 9.0-0

Here Black lost on time in perrypawnpusher - Capt.Mandrake, Jerome Gambit 3 thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2008.

9...Qe7

Black has the standard piece-for-two-pawns advantage.

10.d3 Kf7 11.Nc3 Rf8 12.Be3 

Deviating from two earlier games where I played 12.Nd5 -  perrypawnpusher - frencheng, 10 5 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 31)  and perrypawnpusher - jonathankochems, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39).

12...Bb6 13.Nd5 

Preparing to win the "minor exchange", but that, alone, will not be enough.

13...Qd8 14.Nxb6 axb6 15.Qg3 

The Queen seems to get in the way of my pawns here. Probably 15.Qh4 would have been better.

15...Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand and presents no easy targets.

I was now able to get my "Jerome pawns" moving, but that was not enough, either.

16.f4 d5 17.e5 Ne8 18.d4 

Too slow. Better 18...Qf3 or 18...Qf2.

18...Bf5 19.c3 g6 20.h3 

Hoping to eventually get my Kingside pawns in motion with g2-g4, but that never happens. 

My opponent always seemed to be a step or two ahead of me - not surprising, as he was rated 450 points above me.

20...Ng7 21.Qf2 h5 22.Kh2 h4 23.g4 hxg3+ 24.Qxg3 Kf7 25.Rf2 Rh8 White resigned

My Kingside was a jumble.

Hmm... I don't know if I have ever played the Jerome Gambit against an opponent rated that much higher rated than me.

Oh, wait, back in 2007, I lost my first Jerome Gambit game to MsD, who was rated 461 points higher than me.

Jerome Gambit: Climbing

In a few, short moves, I should complete my games in Group 3 in the first round of the Jerome Gambit Classic #1 tournament at Chess.com.

Playing with and against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) I have had a good start and am likely to finish the round 22 - 0.

There are 19 groups, each with 12 players. The top 3 players in each group will advance to the next round.

I am most likely to be joined in the second round by eliadr and FurkanFexsv from my group.