Jerome Gambit: Valuable Time (Part 4)

                                       

[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - JAMARTINO

Not only the Italians play the Italian, Chess.com, 2025

12...Nb4 

Harassing the Queen is often too tempting.

Tucking away the King with 12...Kg8 is more frequent in my games

perrypawnpusher - anomis, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 59);

perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 32);

perrypawnpusher - Angstrem, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 35); 

perrypawnpusher - Padalino, blitz, FICS 2010 (1-0, 20);

perrypawnpusher - amirelattar, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 50);

perrypawnpusher - yuriko, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 31);

perrypawnpusher - kholthaus, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 45); 

perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 24); 

perrypawnpusher - JohnBr, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 31);

perrypawnpusher - tharadili, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 30); 

perrypawnpusher - kholthaus, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 17); 

perrypawnpusher - yuriko, blitz. FICS, 2011 (1/2 - 1/2, 37)

Also 12...Qe7 as in perrypawnpusher - alsuarezdi, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 88) 

13.Qc4+ d5 

With more time to think, my opponent finds the right response to the check: not 13...Kf8 as in perrypawnpusher - yuriko, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 34) or 13...Be6 as in  perrypawnpusher - grunf, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 69). 

14.Qxb4 dxe4 

Material is now even. It is not yet clear if the passed pawn on e4 is a strength or a weakness. White's King is safer.

15.Be3 

Blockade.

15...Nd5 

After the game, Stockfish 17.1 recommended this line of play: 15...a5 16.Qb5 Qe7 17.h3 c6 18.Qb6 Ra6 19.Qd4 b5 20.Rfe1 Ra8 21.a3 Kg8 22.Qb6 Ra6 23.Qc5 Qxc5 24.Bxc5 e3 25.Rxe3 Rxe3 26.Bxe3 Bf5 27.Rc1 h5 28.Bd4 Ra8 29.Nd1 Rd8 30.Bb6 Rd2 31.Bxa5 with an edge to White.

Wow. All those Queen moves for White, all those pawn moves for Black... It is clear that I am not a computer

16.Nxd5 Qxd5 17.Rfd1 Qf5 

Compared to the previous diagram, the Knights are gone.

Might as well continue to pressure the advanced e-pawn.

18.Rd4 Kg8 19.Rad1 c5 20.Qb5 

Both Kings are safe. White has the better development. Black has the passed pawn. 

Exchanging Rooks looks like a short-term plan.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Valuable Time (Part 3)

                                              

[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - JAMARTINO

Not only the Italians play the Italian, Chess.com, 2025

9...d6 

I have also faced

9...Nc6 

perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 26);

perrypawnpusher - DeDaapse, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 19);

perrypawnpusher - kinghh, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 31);

perrypawnpusher - transilvania, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 12);

perrypawnpusher - LeChinois, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15);

perrypawnpusher - javipangea, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 19); 

perrypawnpusher - MrMef, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 27) 

9...Re8 

perrypawnpusher - Odeon, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 15) 

9...Qe7 

perrypawnpusher - philippemuurmans, blitz, FICS 2010 (1-0, 28);

perrypawnpusher - jaymen, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 40); 

perrypawnpusher - louarn, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 21);

perrypawnpusher - cinamon, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 25) 

10.f4 Nc6 

Although Stockfish 16.1 assesses (34 ply) this position as being 2 1/2 pawns better for Black, I have scored 12 - 4 - 3 (71%) in games with White in this position. 

There are 62 games in The Database with this position, and White has scored 73%.

Blame it on the Jerome Gambit.

Also seen is 10...c5 in perrypawnpusher - Leoleon, blitz, FICS, 2017 (1-0, 17)

11.Qd3 Re8 

Also 

11...Nb4 as in perrypawnpusher - havasiviktor, blitz, FICS, 2019 (1-0, 19); 

11...g6 as in perrypawnpusher - gmann, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36); 

11...Rf8 as in perrypawnpusher - pwr, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 38) and perrypawnpusher - HRoark, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 21); 

11...Be6 as in perrypawnpusher - HRoark, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 40) 

12.Bd2 

White is getting to swing his Queenside Rook to e1 and put more pressure on the enemy King. Sounds simple.

Didn't happen.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Valuable Time (Part 2)

 

[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - JAMARTINO

Not only the Italians play the Italian, Chess.com, 2025

8...Bxd4

This move is logical, although I have faced a number of other responses to the "Jerome pawn" center.

Hang on:

8... Nf3+ 

perrypawnpusher - TijsH, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 37);

perrypawnpusher - AirmanLeonidas, blitz, FICS, 2010  (1-0, 18);

AlonzoJerome - HenryV, blitz, ICC, 2011 (1-0, 33);

perrypawnpusher - truxtrux, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 65)

8...Be7 

perrypawnpusher - tcs, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 22)

8...Nc6 

perrypawnpusher - RonMeister, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20);

perrypawnpusher - Alquinte, blitz FICS, 2010 (1-0, 22);

perrypawnpusher - Yonki, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 24)*;

perrypawnpusher - Kdrb, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 27)

8...Qe7 

perrypawnpusher - cinamon, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 21) 

8...Neg4 

perrypawnpusher - GiantReign, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20);

perrypawnpusher - NewValues, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36);

8...Re8 

perrypawnpusher - louarn, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 49);

perrypawnpusher - catri, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 42); 

perrypawnpusher - Fendertele, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36);

perrypawnpusher - Frele, blitz, FICS, 2011  (1-0, 26) 

8...Ng6 

perrypawnpusher - gmann, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 21) 

perrypawnpusher - richardachatz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20) 

8...Bd6 

perrypawnpusher - KnightRoyal, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 21) 

perrypawnpusher - drandika, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 31)

perrypawnpusher - grunf, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 15) 

8...Bb4 

perrypawnpusher - Angstrem, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 16) 

9.Qxd4 

(*- Hmmm... Looks like I have not posted this game. I will do so, soon.)

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Valuable Time (Part 1)

Playing a lot of Jerome Gambit games (770, counting all varieties) should be helpful to my play - and it often is.

The notes to the following game hint at how much I was assisted by my experience.

I hope they boost the play of Readers as well.

perrypawnpusher - JAMARTINO

Not only the Italians play the Italian, Chess.com, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

From "A Jerome Look At The Semi-Italian Opening (Part 1)"

On this blog I refer to 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 as the Semi-Italian Opening, a name given to it in Chess Master Vs Chess Amateur (1963), by Max 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...

When an ex-world champion player points out that 3...h6 "consumes valuable time," it is worth remembering.

A gambit player benefits from "valuable time".

4.O-O 

It is true that d2-d4, either now or on the next move, transposing into a Scotch Game or Gambit, is a bit better than the text; but I wanted to transpose into the Jerome Gambit.

4.O-O has been my overwhelming choice here.

I tried 4.Bxf7+ a couple of times but do not recommend it: perrypawnpusher - marapr, blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 27) and perrypawnpusher - anonymous, casual over-the-board game, 2014 (1-0, 14).

Also, I tried 4.Nc3, once, although it transposed after 5.O-O: perrypawnpusher - gmann, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36).

4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+ 

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. 

The Database shows I have played it in 60 games, scoring 79%. 

6...Kxf7 

Accepting the Bishop is natural and good, although, some time back, I had an opponent decline with 6...Kf8, and then do it again a year and a half later. See perrypawnpusher - Duquesne, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 21) and perrypawnpusher - Duquesne, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 21). 

7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 

There is no solid reason to avoid capturing on e5, except, perhaps, psychological, but I have to admit that I once stumbled against 7...Kg8 in perrypawnpusher - roccovargas, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 22) and once against 7...Kf8 in perrypawnpusher - ojot, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 15).

(Yes, sometimes I do regret committing to sharing all of my games - good, bad, and ugly.)

8.d4 

The "Jerome pawns" begin to strike back.

[to be continued]