Jerome Gambit: "Interesting"...

 

Ah, yes, "Italian Game" tournament at Chess.com...

As I introduced it

The 50-player "Italian Game" tournament has started at Chess.com, and I am in Group One with 9 other players.

I am playing five Jerome Gambits and will share each of them as they are completed.

One interesting point is that my rating is in the bottom 10 of the tournament’s 50 players, 8th out of 10 in my group, to start. Not quite the same thing as "giving Jerome Gambit odds," but things should become interesting, quickly.

That word "interesting" is carrying a lot of weight in that last paragraph.

The 8th rated player in my group, I finished 8th. 

Five Jerome Gambits, five losses.

But - I'm working on it...

For example

I have joined the new BISHOP'S OPENING CUP 2025 at Chess.com - 250 players, time control 10 days per move (!).

My hope is to play a number of Abrahams Jerome Gambits, 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+, a line that I have not tried before, but is worth exploring.

So far, I have two wins, but no Abraham Jeromes. Still, it's only a matter of time... 

Here is the fifth training game from Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop mentioned in "Jerome Gambit: Sacrifice Theory".

Black adopts a dithering defense, and pays the price.

NN - NN

#5 Training Game

2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

This position should look familiar. It appears in The Database 660 times, with White scoring 61%.

10.O-O Qe8 

Instead, 10...Kf7 followed by 11...Re8 was seen in the early Vazquez,A - Carrington,W, Mexico, 2nd match 1876 (1-0, 34) 

11.Nc3 Kf7 12.f4 Bd7

This move is given a "?" but I think the position is more complicated than that.

It is true that a pawn storm by White is imminent, while Black's King is not safely tucked away - so spending an extra tempo here (with the intention of ...Bc6) could be a problem.

However, the bigger issue is the Knight(s) demonstration coming up, that accomplishes little beyond self-inflicted wounds.

13.d4 Ng4 14.Qd3 Nh4

It is so much fun to harass the enemy Queen, but an attack has to have more than that.  

15.f5 Qe7

Another lost tempo. Now the dominoes start to fall.

16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Qb3 Kf8 18.Qg3 h5 19.f6 

There is too much going on for the defender to counter it all.

19...Bb5 20.Bg5 gxf6 21.Nxf6 Bxf1 

Winning the exchange, but it doesn't matter.

22.Rxf1 Kg7 23.Bxh4 Qc8

White can now pick up another piece with 24.h3, but he goes for mate, instead.

 24.Qf4 Nxf6 

Capitulation.

25.Qxf6+ Kh7 26.Qf7+ Kh6 27.Rf6 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Training Game #4

Here is the fourth training game from Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop mentioned in "Jerome Gambit: Sacrifice Theory".

It is a sad tale of how an un-coordinated attack, led by a too-far-ahead-Knight, brings the aggressor only sorrow.

#4 Training Game

NN - NN

2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 Qe7 

9.Qxe7+ 

This exchange is not often White's idea, because the Queen can help attack the enemy King; but Stockfish 16.1 actually assesses the position after the exchange of Queens, here, as only 1/5th of a pawn better for Black than the Queen retreat to e3.

9...N8xe7 10.Nc3 Nf4 11.O-O d5

Black's pawn advance is thematic in the Jerome Gambit, but seems a bit loosening, here - yet, the second player maintains his advantage of piece-for-pawns.

12.d3 Rf8 13.Be3 Be6 14.g3 Nh3+

The Knight doesn't accomplish much except to get stuck here. That is no way to attack a King.

15.Kg2 c6 16.Ne2 Kd7 

Linking his Rooks - but stifling his Bishop, as White quickly notices. Better was 16...Rd8.

17.Nd4 

Threatenening the Bishop which supports the Knight - and the Bishop has nowhere safe to go.

17...Bg4 18.f3 c5 19.Nb3 d4 20.Bd2 Bxf3+ 

Oh, well.

21.Rxf3 Rxf3 22.Kxf3 

White has emerged from the excitement with an extra (passed, protected) pawn.

22...c4 

I am not sure what the idea is behind this move, but Stockfish likes it.

23.dxc4 Rf8+ 24.Kg2 Rc8 25.c5 b6 26.cxb6 axb6 27.Nxd4 Rc4 28.c3 Rc5 29.Kxh3 

Things are settled here. The game continued, perhaps, because of clock issues? I will give the moves for the sake of completeness, but the game is really over.

29...Re5 30.Re1 Nc6 31.b4 Rh5+ 32.Kg2 Ne5 33.h3 g6 34.g4 Rh4 35.Kg3 g5 36.Bxg5 Nd3 37.Rf1 Rxh3+ 38.Kxh3 Ne5 39.Rf5 Ng6 40.Rf7+ Kd6 41.Bf4+ Nxf4+ 42.Rxf4 h6 43.Rf6+ Ke5 44.Rxb6 Kxe4 45.Rxh6 Kd3 46.Rc6 Ke3 47.a4 Kd3 48.a5 Ke3 49.a6 Kd2 50.a7 Kd3 51.a8=Q Ke3 52.Qe8+ Kf4 53.Rf6+ Kg5 54.Qe5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Training Game #3

 

Here is the third training game from Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop mentioned in "Jerome Gambit: Sacrifice Theory".

The "Steinitz King" ("The King is a strong piece") wanders onto the battlefield, and becomes a target.

 

Training Game #3

2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Qf6 

Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop  gives this move a "?"

I think that might be a bit harsh. The Database has over 500 games with the move, with White scoring 53%.

It is clear, though, that Stockfish prefers 7...d6 - but also the interesting 7...Nd3+.

8.Nc3 g6 

This move encourages White to make an exchange that he was already likely to make. Instead, he might have cosidered 8...Qxf4 9. d4 Nf6. 

9.Qxe5+ Qxe5 10.fxe5 Kxe5

Black has his typical Jerome Gambit piece-for-a-pawn material advantage, but the precarious position of his King tilts the game toward even.

11.Rf1 

White also had the interesting 11.Nd5. 

11...d6

Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop  gives this move and his next move each "?" I suspect 11...Nf6 and 12...Bd7 would be better.

12.Nd5 c6 13.Nc7 Rb8 14.d3 

White's position would be suspect, because of his piece development (or lack of), if it were not for the unfortunate position of Black's King.

14...Nf6

This move is also given a "?", but even with alternatives, the defender is running out of time.

15.Bf4+ Kd4 16.Rf3 Nxe4

Desperation. Returning a piece - for some breathing room?

17.O-O-O

"with the threat of Be3#" 

17...Bg4

Given a "?", but after Black's 16th move he was facing a forced checkmate, anyhow.

18.Be3+ Ke5 19.d4+ Bxd4 20.Bxd4 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Chessgames.com Opening of the Day

 

Readers might note that the chessgames.com Opening of the Day is the Kentucky Opening, otherwise known as the Jerome Gambit.

Jerome Gambit: Training Game #2

 

Here we have the second training game from Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop mentioned in "Jerome Gambit: Sacrifice Theory".

Black is holding his own until he gets side-tracked on the Queenside, as a result of a pawn grab. White counters with play against the King.

Training Game #2

2024

1 e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

Seen as early as in Jerome's analysis in the Dubuque Chess Journal, July, 1874 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 

At 33 ply, Stockfish 16.1 finds little difference in retreats: 8.Qf4+ is evaluated at -2.52; 8.Qg3 is evaluated at -2.54; 8.Qc3 is evaluated at -2.55.

The Database shows 1,050 games with 8.Qg3. White scores 47%.

White scores 46%  in 436 games with 8.Qf4+.

White scores 41% in 369 games with 8.Qc3. 

8...Qf6 

This is one of the times where this Queen placement is helpful 

9.d3 Be6 10.O-O h5 11.h4 

11...Ne7 

Also possible was 11...Qe5 12.Bf4 Qxb2 13.Nd2 when White has given up a pawn to distract the enemy Queen. It is likely that the text is better. Later on, Black does become distracted.

12.c3 Kg8 

It is interesting to note that Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop gives this move a "?". Contrary to that, Stockfish 16.1, at the depth of 31, has the move as its top choice. 

13.Bg5 Qf7 14.d4 Bb6 15.f4 

15...Bc4 16.Re1 Kh7 17.Nd2 Rhe8 18.f5 Bxa2

The "training" part of this game might start here. This pawn grab - perhaps to avoid losing the "minor exchange" to the threatened Nxc4 - is the start of Black's woes.

I agree with Stockfish 16.1 that 18...a5, even allowing, 19.Nxc4 Qxc4 would give the second player an edge.

19.Bxe7 Rxe7 

Of course, not with the Queen.

20.Nf3 

Threatening a royal fork.

20...Kh8 

Fascinating.

The other King retreat would lead to active play, the return of some material, and an even game: 20...Kg8 21.Ng5 Qc4 22.Rf1 Rf8 23.Qf3 Bxd4+ 24.cxd4 Qxd4+ 25.Qf2 Qxf2+ 26.Rxf2 Bf7 

21.Ng5 

Now, where should the Black Queen go? Some of the upcoming danger can be seen in the line 21...Qg8 22.Rxa2!? Qxa2 23.Qf3 and White's threat to check at h5 is worth the Rook.

21...Qb3 22.Qf3 Qxb2 

A slip. He needed to play 22...Bxd4+ 23.cxd4 Qxf3 24.gxf3 Bg8 and try to hang on. 

23.Qxh5+ Kg8 

24.Kh2 

Being careful.

It was also possible to play 24.Rxa2 Qxa2 when 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Ne6+ Ke8 27.Qg8+ Kd7 28.Nf8+ Rxf8 29.Qxa2 would win Black's Queen. 

24...Qxc3 

White was winning, but now he has a forced checkmate. Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop gives this move a "??"

25.Rxa2 Qb3 26.d5 g6 27.Qxg6+ Rg7 28.Qe6+ Kf8 29.f6 Qxa2 30.fxg7+ Kxg7 31.Qf7+ Kh6 32.Qh7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Training Game #1

What follows is the first training game from Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop mentioned in the previous post (see "Jerome Gambit: Sacrifice Theory").

The Jerome Gambiteer punishes his opponent's King when it recklessly advances into danger.

Training Game #1

2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 

Instead, "Jerome Gambit: Analysis Leads the Way (Part 1)" looked at 7.Qh3+ directly

This is the strong move Yury analyzed in the posts given above ["JG: The New (Part 2)" and "JG: The New in Its Opening Theory, in Its Psychology (Part 8)"] and in the majority of other posts of this his series having Parts 1-9 now. [Currently Parts 1 - 17 - Rick]

I do not know if he realized that he was improving on play by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, himself, from an earlier correspondence game. The "Games" column of the October 1881 issue of Brentano's Chess Monthly had a submission by S.A. Charles,

..Some time since, I published in the Pittsburg Telegraph a compilation of such analyses of the Jerome Gambit as I could find, with some additions from published games. Mr. Jerome justly criticized some of the moves as not being the best for either party, and we commenced as series of correspondence games more as a test of the opening than of individual skill. Unfortunately Mr. Jerome's business engagements have prevented him from playing out the full number of games originally started; yet the situation even in the unfinished games seems to me at least to prove the gambit unsound, and that while White may win against weak, he cannot do against strong play. 

Jerome, Alonzo W - Charles, S.A., correspondence, 1881, was an early example of what was to be called the "annoying" defense: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6, which Jerome decided to meet with 8.Qh3+. After 8...Ke7 the game continued for only 5 more moves, but it is clear that White had less than nothing.

By playing his Queen check a move earlier, Yury gets to play, among other things, against the unprotected enemy Bishop at c5.

7...d6 8.fxe5 

White expects that he will be facing the Silicon or Annoying Defense.

8...g6 

First seen in two games between The Perfesser and Talking LCD Chess by Excaliber [(1-0, 20) & (1-0, 23)] in "Jerome Gambit and The Perfesser (Parts III & IV)".

Of course, 8...dxe5 was for choice.

9.Qh3+ 

9...Kxe5 

More prudent was attending to the King's safety with 9...Kf7. 

10.Qg3+ 

White would have to have nerves of steel to enter the sacrificial line 10.d4+ Bxd4 11.Bf4+!? Kxf4 12.Qg3+ Kxe4 when 13.c4 Kf5 14.Rf1+ Ke6 15.Qg4+ Ke7 16.Qxd4 Nf6 17.Rxf6 Rf8 18.Rxf8 Qxf8 would be about even. 

10...Kxe4 

Advancing too far, eating too much. His only chance was 10...Ke6.

11.Nc3+ Kf5 12.d4 Qe8+ 13.Be3 g5 

King safety makes the difference - White's is safer, and he can castle.

14.O-O+ Kg6 15.Qxg5 checkmate

For the record: 14...Ke6 15.Qg4+ Ke7 16.Bxg5+ Nf6 17.Bxf6+ Kf7 18.Qg7+ Ke6 19.Rae1# 

Jerome Gambit: Sacrifice Theory

 

Yury V. Bukayev has pointed out that, related to the Russian-language chess book, Gambit, by Natalia Ryabova (see the post "Jerome Gambit: Gambit"), there is also her brochure "Sacrifice Theory. The Bishop" with a section on the Jerome gambit.

Besides presenting the two games Keeble,J - Cubitt,J W, Norwich, 1886 (1-0, 17) and Charlick,H - Mann,J, correspondence Australia, 1881 (1-0, 74), there are 11 training games, players unnamed. 

The games are well worth examining, which I will do in future blog posts.

Jerome Gambit: Dangerous At Any Speed

In the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), Black must be aware of the dangers that may arive along the f-file. Truly, it is dangerous at any speed, perhaps most deadly in bullet games.

angelcamina - SteelMovingOptician

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qb5+ Qd7 10.Qe2 Nf6 

11.O-O 

angelcamina has also played 11.Nc3 Kf7 (11...Rf8 12.O-O Kf7 13.d4 Kg8 14.f4 c5 15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.Ne4 Ndxf4 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.Qf3 Qd4+ 20.Kh1 Ne6 21.Nf6+ gxf6 22.exf6 Rxf6 23.Qg3+ Rg6 24.Qb3 b6 25.Rae1 Qd6 26.Qf3 Bb7 27.Qxb7 Black resigned, angelcamina - knoekvent, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2023) 12.O-O Re8 13 .d3 Kg8 14.f4 d5 15.e5 Qe6 16.exf6 Qb6+ 17.Qf2 Black resigned, angelcamina - vladandk, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022. 

11...Ne5

There's something about this move... Black is returning his Knight to the Queenside.

Also 11...Kf7 12.d4 Re8 13.Nc3 Qg4 14.f3 Qh4 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Qc4 Be6 17.exd5 Bd7 18.Qxc7 Rad8 19.Qxd6 Qxd4+ 20.Kh1 Kg8 21.c3 Nh4 22.cxd4 Re2 23.Qg3 Nf5 24.Qg5 Nxd4 25.Qxd8+ Kf7 26.Qxd7+ Black resigned, angelcamina - Dundulic, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022. 

12.f4 Nc6 13.Nc3 Kf7 

14.e5 

Premature - but this is a bullet game, and deeper analysis has to wait until afterward.

14...dxe5 15.fxe5 Re8 

Pinning  the e-pawn to White's Queen, but 15...Qd4+, instead, would lead to its win.

16.Qc4+ Kf8 17.exf6 gxf6 

You can see what's coming.

18.d3 Re6 19.Bh6+ Kg8 20.Rxf6 Ne5 21.Qf4 

Or 21.Rf8+#

21...Ng6 22.Rf8+ Nxf8 23.Qxf8 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: The Risk of Dismissing

For every chess player intimidated by the Jerome Gambit, there has to be a half-dozen who dismiss it as foolish and unsound.

Unsound it may be, but, for defenders to thoughtlessly dismiss the Jerome - and its moves - as barely requiring their full attention, is, well, foolish.

The following is a painful lesson for Black.

Abshakespeare - lossmoose

Chess.com, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Ne5 

Provocative.

Looking at The Database, Black seems to do better with 9...Nf6, (9...Ne5 scores 23% vs 9...Nf6 scores 37%).

Stockfish 16.1 agrees, rating 9...Nf6 as about a pawn better than 9...Ne5.

But - why worry? It's only the Jerome Gambit.

10.f4 Ng4 

Apparently Black's idea.

11.Qf3 N8f6 

He might have explored 11...Qh4+ 12.g3 Qh3.

12.O-O Kf7 

Black prepares to castle-by-hand. He must be careful, as his King is now on the danger file. Still, the game is about even.

13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Nxe5 

Looking good. Black can handle this opening with his brain tied behind his back...

15.Qb3+ Kf8 16.c3 

Stopping the Queen check.

16...Qd5 

Yikes!

The is defense hadly worth the thought...

If only defeating the Jerome Gambit were actually that easy.

17.Qxd5 Black resigned

Another Jerome Gambit miniature for the record books.