How to Get an Advantage or to Win with JG (4.Bxf7+) against Maestri: the Collection of Practice (Part 4)

 

                             How to Get an Advantage or to Win with 

                                    JG (4.Bxf7+) against Maestri: 

                                 the Collection of Practice (Part 4)

                                       by Yury V. Bukayev

Dear readers, let me remind you that these my new posts about White's advantage and wins in such chess games are dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's publications with 4.Bxf7+ in Giuoco Piano. Now the world chess history knows a lot of cases, where White got an advantage or won here against grandmasters and other extremely strong defenders!

We should start this new part from the game

NN - Top GM Hikaru Nakamura (Kgn1111 - GMHikaruONTwitch, 3 min blitz, Chess.com, 2021)

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Qf6 8.Rf1 Nh6 9.Nc3 c6 10.d3 d6 11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.Qh4 Bb4 13.Bd2 Kd7 14.O-O-O Kc7 15.Bf4 Qe6 16.d4 Bd7 17.d5 Qg6 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Qe7 Rae8 20.Qh4 Ng4 21.Qg3 Ne5 22.Bxe5 Rxe5 23.Qd3 Ra5 24.a3 Qg5+ 25.Kb1 Bxa3 26.bxa3 Rb8+ 27.Ka2 Rxa3+ 28.Kxa3 Qc5+ (White resigned), 

where White had several chances to get an even game or an advantage before his 18th move. And White's best chance was after 18.dxc6!, when he got a won position, but blundered immediately instead of 19.a3! Bxc3 20.Rxd6!! with a win. This game shows that Mr. Nakamura wasn't ready to play the Schiller defence 7...Qf6, because the first of his large mistakes was his 11th move already.

Further, let's mention the game 

Alexey Pugach - GM Petar Arnaudov (ChessCoachUA - PArnaudov, 3 min blitz, lichess.org, 2017),

where after 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 9.d3 Qd7 10.Nc3 Qg4 11.Qxg4 Bxg4 12.h3 Be6 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Ke7 15.O-O Rhf8 16.Nb5 c6 17.Nd4 Nd7 18.a4 Rxf1+ 19.Rxf1 Rf8 20.Rxf8 Nxf8 21.Kf2 g6 22.Nf3 Nd7 23.b3 a5 24.Ke2 Nc5 25.e5 dxe5 26.Nxe5 Kd6 27.d4 Nd7 28.Nd3 Bf5 29.g4 Bxd3+ 30.Kxd3 b5 31.axb5 cxb5 32.e4 a4 33.bxa4 bxa4 34.h4 a3 35.Kc3 Nb6 36.Kb3 Nc4 37.c3 Nd2+ 38.Kxa3 Nxe4 39.c4 Black lost on time. The final position is enough respectable for White for his very long play with a sacrificed material down and without Queens. I think, Black wasn't ready to meet Jerome gambit and spent too much time for his moves. White (like Black) could play much stronger in several cases - in opening and in endgame, so Black's task could become much heavier there and could take more his time. One of methods of how to win a blitz game with Jerome gambit is to play faster than your opponent without your punished blunders. 

                                          (to be continued)

The Jerome Gambit Rides Again?!

I recently returned to playing chess over-the-board, after a layoff of several decades.

Sure, I have played online at Chess.com and FICS, and I have occasionally played my young grandchildren ("I beat Grandpa! I beat Grandpa!") but even the new, weekly, weekend, casual play at the local library, feels more "serious" than that.

I have tried to play a Jerome Gambit, without luck, so far.

I did play a Sicilian Wing Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.b4) successfully, but as we were not recording the moves, I cannot share the game. 

More adventures ahead!

Jerome Gambit: As Alonzo Wheeler Jerome Would Have Intended

The Jerome Gambit often leads to a sharp attack that gives Black plenty of ways to go wrong - disastrously.

The following game goes just as Alonzo Wheeler Jerome would have intended.

thunder_84 - nityahajong

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 

Black's King travels onto the battlefield, at great risk.

6.Qg4+ 

White fairly insists that Black capture another piece.

According to The Database, the Queen move has scored 70% in 27 games. 

Black would have been happier if White had tried 6.Nxc6, as he could have responded 6...Qh4. 

6...Kxe5 7.d4+

The only move.

7...Kxd4 

In turn, Black had to try 7...Bxd4 and hope to hang on after 8.Bf4+ Kf6 (if 8...Kxe4 White has a long checkmate: 9.c4 Bxf2+ 10.Kf1 d5 11.Nc3+ Kd4 12.Qd1+ Kc5 13.Na4+ Kxc4 14.Qe2+ Kb4 15.Bd2+ Kxa4 16.b3+ Ka3 17.Bc3 d4 18.Qb2#) 9.Bg5+ Kf7 10.Bxd8 Nxd8 and - because of his unstable King - his 3 pieces will not match up with White's Queen and pawn.

Likewise, 7...Nxd4 would fall to 8.Bg5+, as would 7...Kf6.

The retreat 7...Kd6 is interesting, but 8.dxc5+ Kxc5 9.Be3+ Kd6 10.Bf4+ Ne5 11.Qg3 Qf6 12.Nc3 c6 13.O-O-O+ woud be clearly in White's favor.

Now White wraps thing up.

8.Be3+ Kc4 9.Qe2+ Kb4 10.Bd2+ Ka4 11.b3 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: We Have Been Here Before

In the following game, Black resists the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) with interesting play, but he ultimately turns down his King - perhaps a bit prematurely. 

joker0909 - Papi_Chulo111

3 2 blitz, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 

From "A Second Chance to Decline" 

While declining the second piece is as old as Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875 (1/2-1/2, 29), the safest place for Black's King to retreat to is f8, not e8.

6.Qh5+ 

Here is a whole lot from "A Second Chance to Decline" 

It's possible that 6.Nxc6 is stronger, but who can resist checking the King?
On the other hand, White's Knight capture is tricky, as 6...bxc6? is not the correct response - see perrypawnpusher - rodrigojalpa, blitz, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 25); perrypawnpusher - zsilber, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2-1/2, 42); Wall,B - Qwerty, Chess.com 2010 (1-0, 9); and Wall,B - LFTN, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 20).
Neither is 6...dxc6? the right move - see Wall,B - Gebba, Chess.com 2010 (1-0, 11).
Although I have suggested the untried 6...Bf2+ in "Don't Drive Like My Brother", the best response for Black, still untried as far as The Database is concerned is 6...Qh4!?, as after 7.d4 Qxe4+ 8.Qe2 Qxe2+ 9.Kxe2 Bb6 10.Nb4 Bxd4 11.Nd5 Kd8 Black has an equal game. (Of course, he turned down a second piece to get there.)
6...g6
Silly alternatives: 6...Kf8 7.Qf7 checkmate,  perrypawnpusher - platel, blitz, FICS, 2011  and 6...Ke7 7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Qd5+ Ke7 9.Nxc6+ Kf6 10.Qf5 checkmate, Kennedy - WeakDelphi, 2 12 blitz, 2008.
7.Nxg6 Bxf2+
Instead, 7...Qf6 was no solution in perrypawnpusher - schachix, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 10).
8.Kxf2 Qf6+

Black goes astray: 8...Nf6  was the way to keep an edge.

9.Nf4+ Kd8 10.d3 Nge7
Or 10...d6 11.Rf1 Qd4+ 12.Be3 Qf6 13.c3 Black resigned, Hultgren,R - Harrow, Campbell, CA 1960. 

Whew.

6...g6 7.Nxg6 Bxf2+ 

Black figures that he should get something for his at-risk Bishop.

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 

Only one game in The Database has the correct follow-up, 8...Nf6, with advantage to Black.

9.Nf4+

Pretty. 

9...Kd8 10.d3 Qd4+ 

Reversing roles: It is White's turn to decide if he should offer the b-pawn, with Be3.

11.Be3 Qxb2 12.Nd5 Nge7 

Black decides not to take two Rooks, with 12...Qxa1 13.Nbc3 Qxh1, since with 14.Qf7, White would have a mate-in-six.

13.Bg5 Qxa1 14.Bf6 

This Bishop fork was enough to cause Black to resign.

Possibly the clock was at play here, as Black now has the pin 14...Rf8, after which White's best followup might well be 15.Qh6 (or 15.Qg5), when 15...Rxf6 16.Nxf6 Ng6 17.Nxh7 Qd4+ 18.Ke1 would lead to a dynamically equal position.

Jerome Gambit: Zoinks!

Facing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be an upsetting experience. 

For every defender who assesses Great! I have a win in 4 moves! there is one who responds Zoinks! What now?

In the following game, Black defends, until something, suddenly, goes wrong. 

joker0909 - peglaczavjese

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Bb6 

The Database has this retreat in 19 games, with White scoring 74%.

More reliable were 7...d6, Blackburne's move, and 7...Qe7, Whistler's move. 

8.Qxh8 Qf6 

Black does not appear familiar with the Jerome, and he tries to shore up the defense of his King. More consistent would have been 8...Qh4. 

9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.d4 Qxf2+ 

Zoinks! The specter of blitz chess - or is it the Jerome Gambit? - strikes. Black's best chance was 10...Bxd4 11.O-O Bxb2 12.Bxb2 Qxb2 13.Nd2, although he would be down the exchange and a pawn. 

11.Kxf2 Bxd4+ 12.Ke2 c6 13.Qxg6 

Threatening mate; although, at this point, there was already 13.Rf1+ Nf6 14.Rxf6+ Bxf6 15.Bh6+ Ke8 16.Qg8+ Ke7 17.Bf8+ Kd8 18.Bd6#.

13...d5 14.exd5 

Foreshadowing: 14.Rf1+ Nf6 15.Rxf6+ Bxf6 16.Qxf6+ Ke8 17.Bg5 Bg4+ 18.Kd2 Kd7 19.Qe7+ Kc8 20.Qd8#. 

14...cxd5 15.Rf1+ 

Here it comes.

15...Nf6 16.Rxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qxf6+ Ke8 18.Bg5 Bd7 19.Qe7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Faster Than A Speeding Neuron

 

Chess played at bullet speed can yield a very quick win - or a very quick loss, with the pieces moving faster (or so it would appear) than a speeding neuron...

The following game illustrates.

angelcamina - Amirali_Shafinia

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qf4+ Qf6 9.Qxc7 

This is a risky pawn-grab. Was it played because angelcamina had gotten away with it before, or was he just feeling lucky?

The Database shows a score for this position of 3 1/2 - 6 1/2,  35%.

Stockfish 16.1 (28 ply) suggeststs, instead, 9.d3, with Black up the equivalent of 2 1/2 pawns. According to The Database, that move has scored 54 % for White in 14 games.

9...Qxf2+ 10.Kd1 d6 

Previously: 10...Qxg2 11.Qxc5+ Ne7 (11...d6 was the way to go, as after 12.Qxd6+ Black defends with 12...Kf7) 12.Re1 (inaccurate, the best chance of holding on was 12.Rg1) 12...Qf3+ (going for the draw, most likely because of the clock, because 12...d6 would cause unanswerable problems for White) 13.Re2 Qf1+ 14.Re1 Qf3+ 15.Re2 Qf1+ 16.Re1 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2 angelcamina - nillyx, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2018.

Black's two threats of ...Qxg2 and ...Bg4+ signal White's end.

11.Qd8+ Kf7 12.Nc3 Bg4+ 13. Ne2 Qxe2 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: The End Comes Quickly

There are problems for the second player if the defender makes less-than-best responses to the Jerome Gambit.

The following game - quick, already, as it is a 1-minute game - gives another speedy example.

angelcamina - V1rtuoso

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4 

Black pins White's Knight, to neutralize the protection of the e-pawn.

Simpler and stronger is 7...Bxd4, returning one of two "extra" pieces.

The Database has 124 with this position. White scores 70%.

8.dxe5 Nxe4 

As planned, but missing something.

9.Qd5+ Ke7

angelcamina also faced 9...Kf8, e.g. 10.Qxe4 Qe7 (10...Qe8 11.Qxb4+ 1-0 angelcamina - ngx11, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020) 11.O-O Bxc3 12.bxc3 d6 13.Ba3 (13.f4 Bd7 14.Ba3 Bc6 15.Qe3 Re8 16.Rad1 g6 17.Qg3 Kg7 18.c4 Rhf8 19.Bb2 Kg8 20.f5 Black resigned, angelcamina - CATCHESS11, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024) 13...Kg8 14.Qf3 Qxe5 15.Rae1 Qf5 16.Qxf5 Bxf5 17.Re7 h6 18.Rxc7 Bxc2 19.Rxb7 Kh7 20.Re1 Rhf8 21.Ree7 Rf6 22.Rxg7+ Kh8 23.f3 Bd3 24.c4 Bxc4 25.Bb2 Rff8 26.Rh7+ Kg8 27.Rbg7 checkmate, angelcamina - likinfride, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019) 

Also 9...Kg6 10.Qxe4+ Kf7 11.Qxb4 Qe7 12.O-O Qxb4 White resigned, angelcamina - abhinavatul, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020.

And 9... Ke8 10.Qxe4 Bxc3+ (10...a5 11.O-O g5 12.Nd5 Bc5 13.Nf6+ Ke7 14.Bxg5 h6 15.Nd5+ Black resigned, angelcamina - The_KGD, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019) 11. bxc3 Kf8 12.Ba3+ d6 13. Qf3+ Ke8 14. O-O-O Qg5+ 15. Kb1 Rf8 16. Qe2 Bg4 17. f3 Be6 18. exd6 Kf7 19. dxc7 Rac8 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Rhe1 Rc8 22. Qxe6+ 1-0 angelcamina - Parsel_1, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020.

10.Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 d6 

Another slip.

Previously:

11...Rf8 12.Bg5+ Rf6 13.exf6+ Kf7 14.Qd5+ Kf8 15.fxg7+ Kxg7 16.Bxd8 Black resigned. angelcamina - Davide313, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2023; and

11...Qf8 12.Bg5+ Ke8 13.O-O Qf7 14.f4 c6 15.f5 Qd5 16.Qe2 b6 17.Rad1 Qc5+ 18.Be3 Qxc3 19.f6 Rf8 20.fxg7 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Black resigned, angelcamina - LoFi_Lxgend, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024.

12.Bg5+ Kd7 13.Bxd8 Rxd8 

Or 13...Kxd8 as in angelcamina - adriannez, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org. 2019 (1-0, 44). 

14.exd6

1-minute chess games can go back and forth. Here, White swaps pawns - and gets away with it. Better was 14.O-O-O Re8 15.Rhe1 h6 16.e6+ Ke7 17.Qh4+ g5 18.Qxh6 Bxe6 19.Qxe6+ Kf8.

14...cxd6

Missing a chance to win the enemy Queen with 14...Re8.

It is time for White to wrap thing up.

15.O-O-O Kc7 16.Qc4+ Kb8 17.Rhe1 b6 18. Re7 a5 19.Qc7 checkmate