The Pseudo-Traxler Bukayev Romantic Attack Which Is Stronger Than the Traxler Attack

 

                                                       

                           The Pseudo-Traxler Bukayev Romantic Attack

                         Which Is Stronger Than the Traxler Attack                                     

                                                              by Yury V. Bukayev

 

Since this famous blog isn't only about JG, today let me introduce my new analytical invention which was born after my looking at the Traxler attack (C57) in the Italian opening and looking at the Rossolimo variation (B30) in the Sicilian opening. We remember, Mr. Traxler has discovered his attack with 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+! 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+! after his looking at the Jerome gambit, so the Jerome gambit is a "grandfather" of this my invention.

Thus, here is my new attack:

 

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5!? (this is a popular modern defence in the Rossolimo variation) 4.b4?! AN (this new sort of the Wing gambit can be enjoyed by a lot of Sicilian Wing gambit lovers in the Internet) 4...cxb4 5.a3 a6 6.Bc4!? Nf6 7.Ng5 Bc5?! (let me name it as 'Pseudo-Traxler Bukayev Romantic Attack'). 

Why is the probability of Black's choice of 7...Bc5 higher than one of 7...d5! (which is stronger, in fact)? After 7...d5 8.exd5! Black sees that the main Two Knights defence plan ...Nc6-a5 can't "save" the diagonal a2-g8 because the square a2 is free here, so White retreats Bc4-a2! The position is very sharp, and Black's knowledge and understanding of "side" Two Knights defence variations against 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 are not enough usually. Black sees a more risk for himself here (7...d5 8.exd5!) than in the case of 7...Bc5, because this new Traxler-ish attack is clearly stronger than the Traxler attack and because its all ideas seem to be clear for an attacker.

The strongest way for White is analogous to the Traxler attack - 

 

8.Bxf7+!  ,

 

and after the analogous response

 

8...Ke7!

 

Black has enough good counter-play, the position is very sharp, is near to even game.

 Contact the author:  istinayubukayev@yandex.ru

© 2025 Yury V. Bukayev (Copyright © Bukayev Yury Vyacheslavovich 2025). All rights reserved.

[A legal using of this investigation with a reference to it is permitted and doesn't require author's consent.]

_____________________________________

A Short Abrahams Jerome Gambit

Players familiar with the Jerome Gambit should also become familiar with the Abrahams Jerome Gambit, as there are many chances to strike and win quickly.

rajasthan - adriancapetown

10 0 blitz, FICS, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 

The Abrahams Jerome Gambit

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ 

One of the benefits of playing the Abrahams, as opposed to the regular Jerome (with Nf6 and ...Nc6), is that Black really has only one response to this check that keeps his advantage.

Fast time controls, or the element of surprse, can magnify this situation.

See "The Abrahams Jerome Gambit (Part I)" and "The Abrahams Jerome Gambit (Part II)"

4...Ke6 

Objectively - say, evauation by Stockfish 17.1 (30 ply) - this move gives Black an edge of about 1/3 pawn. 

5.Nf3 

Giving the possibility of transposing to the Jerome Gambit, proper.

More in tune with the Abrahams Jerome Gambit is 5.Qf5+ Kd6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.b4, with that edge mentioned above. 

5...Qf6 

In defending against any Jerome Gambit, ...Qf6 often comes into the discussion - sometimes it is helpful, sometimes it is not.

In this case, it is not. Black should support the e-pawn with 5...d6.

6.Qe8+ 

rajasthan knows his Jerome Gambits - there are lines in the regular Jerome (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Qf6 8.Qe8+) where this move does not work. 

However, in this case, The Database has 53 games with this position. White scores 72%.

6...Be7 

Decisions, decisions, decisions. 

If 6...Ne7 then 7.Qxh8 

If 6...Qe7 7.Qxc8 

As I quoted in "Jerome Gambit: Success Is Just Around the Corner... (Part 1)"

 As Oliver Hardy used to say to Stan Laurel, "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."

7.Qxc8 Bd8 8.Qxb7 Qf4 

Here, Black forfeited by disconnection

Jerome Gambit: The Primacy of Check

When the King is in check, the player must put every thing else aside and block the check, move out of the check, or capture the attacking piece. Double check reduces the King's options to just moving away.

Checks must be attended to first, as the following game shows.

vagel - ssshhhilov

5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.O-O Nf6 

So far, as in Jerome - Shinkman, Iowa, 1876 (1/2-1/2, 42).

9.Bg5 Re8 

vagel has also seen 9...c5 10.Qc3 Qc7 11.f4 Nxe4 12.fxe5+ Ke6 13.Qb3+ d5 14.Nc3 Nd2 15.Qxd5 checkmate, vagel - Jairoton, lichess.org, 2023; and 

9... Rf8 10. f4 Nc6 11.Qe3 (11.Qd3 h6 12.Bh4 Kg8 13.Nc3 Be6 14.Rae1 d5 15.e5 d4 16.exf6 dxc3 17.f7+ Rxf7 18.Bxd8 Black resigned, vagel - annbrykova, lichess.org, 2024) 11...h6 12.Bh4 Qe7 13.Nc3 b6 14.Nd5 Qd7 15.Nxf6 gxf6 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Qxe5 Kg8 19.Bxf6 Bb7 20.Qg3+ Kh7 21.Rad1 Qc6 22.Qg7#, vagel - glcnckss, lichess.org, 2024. 

Stockfish 17.1 suggests 9...h6. 

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qc4+ 

White plans mischief - the kind you can see in 5-minute games - if Black blocks this check with his Bishop.

11...Be6 12.Qd3 h6 13.Bh4 

Black has defended well, and need only castle-by-hand with 13...Kg8 to cement his advantage.

13...Qd7 

Casually developing another piece, missing the fact that he is now blocking his Bishop. In a 5-minute game, players can move quickly and miss something. 

14.e5 

The same can be said for White. Perhaps he figured that he would have time for 14.f5 on his next move, but 14...Ne5 15.fxe6+ (the check is important and must be attended to) Qxe6 16.Qb5 is only even. 

He needed to play f4-f5. Lucky for him, he has another chance.

14...Nd5  15.f5

Things are beginning to look a little worrisome for Black, but he needs to take a deep breath, find 15...Kg8, and accept the fact that after the further 16.fxe6 Qxe6 16.exd6 Qxd6 the game will be level.

15...Nxe5 

One bit of practical chess advice is If your opponent attacks your piece, attack one of his that is of greater value.

Here, White attacks the Black Bishop, so Black, in turn, attacks the White Queen - overlooking the primacy of check.

16.fxe6+ 

This capture comes with double check, and the King has only two choices as to where to go

16...Kxe6 

He could have forfeited his Queen with 16... Kg8, instead. 

The text foreits his King.

17.Qf5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Can you see the problem with this move?

The following game shows the right way to play the Jerome Gambit.

The Queen sacrifice and resulting checkmate add to the enjoyment.

Wall, Bill - Atlaga

SparkChess, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4

Bill has reached this position in 606 of his games, scoring 95%. This compares quite favorably with all the games in The Database  - White scoring 55%. 

He has also played 6.Qh5+ in 397 games, scoring "only" 91%. Again, this is well above that of the games in The Database, with White scoring 57%. 

6...Bxd4 

When White sacrifices two pieces in the Jerome Gambit, he is "objectively" worse, as measured by Stockfish 17.1.

However, the attack that the sacrifices initiate, and the accompaning chaos on the board, give White chances to reverse that assessment. This often comes when the defender, unfamiliar with the Jerome, makes the 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th) best moves, stepping toward danger.

The text move is a good example. It is not a "bad" move, it simply is not the best, which would be 6...Qh4.

7.Qxd4 Nc6 

This move is similar. Compare it with a more standard line of play, e.g. 7...d6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 Ng6 11.Bg3. 

8.Qc4+ Kf8 

And, again. Black is still better, per the computer, but not by as much as a move or two ago. He had, instead, the standard 8...d5. 

9.O-O Ne5 10.Qc3 d6 11.f4 Nc6 

12.Nd2 Nge7 

Can you see the problem with this move? I do not think that Black did. (Me, neither) In developing his Knight where it would not be kicked by a possible White pawn advance to e5, he subtly undermines the defense of his King.

It is interesting to note that Stockfish 17.1 seems a bit stymied, as well. Its recommened line, 12...a5 13.b3 h5 is a bit of a head-scratcher.  

Bill can find a way through

13.b4 a6 14.Bb2 Rg8 15.Nf3 h6 

16.a4 Be6 

White gets to kick this Bishop, but the piece happily aids in the defense of its King.

17.f5 Bf7 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 Rxa1 20.Rxa1 

Black has exchanged his one active Rook. White's remaining Rook, in contrast, threatens to advance to the 8th rank.

20...d5 

I do not know what to make of this move.

Is the defender giving back the sacrificed piece? Is he simply playing the often-critical pawn advance? 

Part of his problem is reflected in the computer's tortuous recommended line of play: 20...Ne5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Qxe5 Bc4 23.Qc5 Be2 24.Qb4 Ke8 25.Qb3 Bh5 26.h3 Bf7 27.Qc3 Qd6 28.Kh1 Qd8 29.Ba3 Qd7 30.Bc5 Qd8 31.Qe5. My eyes glaze over.

The more positional computer line feels no better: 20...Nb8 21.Ra8 Ke8 22.Qd3 Bh5 23.Nd4 Bf7 24.c4 b6 25.h3 h5 

21.exd5 

I have to wonder if Bill intentionally side-stepped 21.bxc6 Nxc6 22.e5 for insidious reasons.

21...Nxd5 

You can argue that Black should have, instead, tried 21...Qxd5 22.bxc6 Nxf5 or 21...Bxd5 22.bxc6 Bxc6, but does it really matter?

It does, as Bill immediately shows.

22.bxc6 

Bill offers his Queen. The sacrifice must be accepted.

22...Nxc3 23.Ba3+ 

23...Ke8 

This allows checkmate, but the alternative is equally chilling: 23...Qd6 24.Bxd6+ cxd6 25.cxb7 Ke7 26.Ra8 Bd5 27.Rxg8 Bxb7 28.Rxg7+ Kf6 29.Rxb7 and in this endgame White has an extra Rook and a couple of pawns.

24.Re1+ Be6 

(24...Ne2+ 25.Rxe2+ Be6 26.Rxe6+ Qe7 27.Rxe7+ Kd8 28.cxb7 c5 29.Bxc5 h5 30.b8=Q#) 

25.Rxe6+ Kf7 26.Ne5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Destroyed (Part 2)

 

[continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - TwoCatsOnTheCouch

Chess.com, 2025

The pawn center is in place. Now, some more development?

21.Na3 Bd3 

Hurrying things along.

22.e5 dxe5 23.fxe5 Rhf8 

Not quite what I had in mind when I started out. 

True, White has a protected, passed pawn, but it's not going anywhere.

24.Re3 Bf5 25.Nc4 c6 26.Nxb6 axb6 

27.c4 Be6 28.b3 Rd8 29.Bc3 

Putting the Bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal is a bit optimistic. Probably better is 19.Bb4 Rf7 20.Rd1.

29...g5 30.h3 

Opening things up on the Kingside will lead to more problems.

30...Ng7 31.g4 h5 32.Rg3 Rf4 33.Rf3 Rxf3 34.Kxf3 hxg4+ 35.hxg4 Rf8+ 

Black's extra piece continues to be worth a lot more than White's two extra pawns. This is often true in master play, but among club players, the pawns often have their say.

Not today.

36.Kg3 Rf4 37.Rd1 

Hope against hope. 

37...Bxg4 38.Rd3 Nf5+ 39.Kg2 Nh4+ 

I would not be offended if Readers had a good laugh at the predicament of my King.

40.Kg3 Be2

The final insult: White's Rook is trapped, and moving it to e3 allows the Knight fork from f5.

White resigned

Masterful play by my opponent. I congratulate him!

Jerome Gambit: Destroyed (Part 1)

When I started the following game, I was rated 500 points higher than my opponent. Clearly, it was time to give him "Jerome Gambit odds", balancing our difference in playing strength by playing a "refuted" opening.

Against expectation, however, I was destroyed - outplayed by my opponent, from beginning to end. Doing a post mortem with Stockfish 17.1, I learned that there was never a time after the 4th move that White was even equal: all moves, thereafter, one-by-one, showed Black as better.

Hats off to TwoCatsOnTheCouch!

perrypawnpusher - TwoCatsOnTheCouch

Chess.com, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

The Database indicates that of the three main responses by Black - 6...g6, 6...Ke6 and 6...Kf8 - it is the last one that has given me the most trouble.

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 

Or 8...Be6, as in perrypawnpusher - GuestGCSC, 5 5 blitz, FICS, 2023 (0-1, 49) 

9.d3 Be6 

Alternatives:

9...Nh5, as in perrypawnpusher - maxmi, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 42); 

9...h5, as in perrypawnpusher - ulisimbolon, Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament, Chess.com, 2016 (0-1, 22); 

9...h6,  as in perrypawnpusher - caterwaul, blitz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39) 

9...Qd7, as in perrypawnpusher - aansmar, Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2024 (1/2 - 1/2, 22); and

9...Ng4, as in perrypawnpusher - salla, blitz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 18) and perrypawnpusher - marianomocoroa, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 14). 

10.O-O Kg8

Or 10...Nh5, as in perrypawnpusher - Sarantes, Let's Play the Italian Game,  Chess.com 2018 (1-0, 37)

Or 10...Bg4, as in perrypawnpusher - GuestTYQD, 4 12 blitz, FICS, 2023 (1-0, 39). 

With the text move, Black gets his King off of the dangerous f-file. He hopes to castle-by-hand to h7, after a pawn move.

11.Bg5 h6 12.Bd2 Nh5 13.Qf3 Qh4 

Black's pieces are far more dangerous than White's.

14.g3 Qh3 15.c3 

Preparing d3-d4, but it was probably better to put either a Bishop or a Knight on this square.

15...Rf8 16.Qg2 Qxg2+ 17.Kxg2 Kh7 

Black has his usual piece for two pawns, and a lead in development. The exchange of Queens has helped him, defensively.

White will expand with his "Jerome pawns", but that, alone, will not be enough.

18.d4 Bb6 19.f4 

It was apparent to the computer, after the game, but not to me, during the game, that the pawn was better placed at f3.

19...Bc4 20.Re1 Re8 

Black's pieces (except for the Rook on h8) are working; half of White's pieces are still at home.

White needs to continue to build his position, and be open for tactical opportunities as they arise.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Crossroads (Part 2)

 

In the previous post, we looked at the Jerome Gambit game angelcamina - omer08can, 1 0 bullet, 2024, which ended like this 

In looking in The Database for games with this position, I discovered that it had not only been reached via the Jerome Gambit, but also via the Ruy Lopez, Nürnberg Variation!

(It should be noted that in the following games, the clock appears to have played a part.)

Examples: 

OuroPreto - Amifou

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f6 

First seen in Tarrasch,S - Steinitz,W, Nuremberg, 1896 (1-0, 52)

4.O-O 

Or 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.Nxe5 fxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5+ Qe7 8.Qxh8 Qxe4+ 9.Kd1 Ba6 10.Re1 Qe2+ 11.Rxe2+ Black resigned, fobbyfischer - NN, Chess.com, 2025. 

4...Bc5 5.Bxc6 bxc6 6.Nxe5 fxe5 7.Qh5+ Kf8 8.Qxe5 Qf6 9.Qxc5+ d6 10.Qe3

10...Ne7 11.d4 

Or 11.f4 Kf7 12.d4 Rf8 13.e5 dxe5 14.dxe5 Qg6 15.Nc3 Kg8 16.Ne4 Bf5 17.Nf2 Rad8 18.h3 Bxc2 19.b3 Nd5 20.Qf3 Bf5 21.g4 Bc8 22.Bb2 Nxf4 23.Qg3 Ne2+ 24.Kg2 Nxg3 25.Kxg3 Rd3+ 26.Nxd3 Qxd3+ 27.Rf3 Qxf3+ 28.Kh4 h6 29.Rg1 g5+ 30.Kh5 Qxh3+ 31.Kg6 Bxg4 32.e6 Bf5 checkmate, DaWhiteDeath - wrappedupinclouds, lichess.org, 2023;

Or 11.c3 a5 12.d4 Ba6 13.Re1 Qg6 14.Qf4+ Ke8 15.e5 Rf8 16.Qg5 dxe5 17.Rxe5 Kd7 18.Qxe7+ Kc8 19.Qe6+ Kb7 20.Qxg6 hxg6 21.Re6 Rae8 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Be3 Bd3 24.Nd2 g5 25.Nf3 g4 26.Ne5 g3 27.Nxd3 gxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Rf8+ 29.Nf4 Kb6 30.Kg3 g5 31.Ne6 Re8 32.Nxg5 Rxe3+ 33.Kf4 Re2 34.h4 Rxg2 35.Kf3 Rh2 36.Kg3 Rxb2 37.h5 Kb5 38.h6 Kc4 Black won on time nodari53 - Palindromuz, lichess.org, 2023. 

11...Kf7 12.e5 dxe5 13.dxe5 Qe6 14.Qf4+ Qf5 15.Qc4+ Be6 16.Qa6 Rhb8 17.Nc3 Rb6 18.Qe2 Rb4 19.Be3 Rg4 20.h3 Rxg2+ 21.Kxg2 Qxh3+ 22.Kg1 Bg4 23.Qd3 Bf3 24.Qe4 Qg2 checkmate