Jerome Gambit Declined: Still Grumpy

I'm still feeling grumpy about the Jerome Gambit Declined (see my previous post, "Jerome Gambit Declined: Table Turned"), but it's an even-handed grumpiness. Let me show you what I mean.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Ke7

This is how my most recent opponent played. Declining the offer of the Bishop is rare, and doing so by moving the King to e7, instead of f8, is even more rare.

5.Bxg8

This was a suggestion from my last post, and it should be considered, if only because it "solves" the issue of where, otherwise, to retreat the Bishop.

5...Qxg8

The correct recapture, but only seen in 1 of 8 games in The Database. The problem with 5...Rxg8, seen as early as Drewbear - AAlekhine, Jerome Gambit thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2007 (1-0, 33) is that White replies 6.d4, threatening to skewer Black's King and Queen with 7.Bg5+, thus winning a piece.

Alas, only two players responded correctly to 5...Rxg8 - Drewbear, in 2007, and Bill Wall, in 2015 - the latter, the game ended after 10 moves.

As for the text, I have only one game to guide me, a lightning game from 2008. We can follow that for a bit.

6.d4

This is kind of funny. Stockfish 10 prefers 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nd5+ Kd8 8.d4 exd4 9.Bg5+ Kd7 10.0-0, giving up a pawn to do - what? He develops his Bishop, forcing Black's King to block Black's light-squared Bishop, which, in turn, blocks Black's Rook... Certainly a Jerome Gambit strategy if ever there was one.

6...exd4 

7.Bg5+

Striking at the King, although, with the Black Queen at g8, the move is not as strong. Probably 7.c3 was better, when Black could try 7...dxc3 or 7...d5. White would have the safer King, but he would be playing quite a different game than the usual Jerome Gambit.

7...Kd8 8.0-0

Reasonable, although the computer recommends 8.c3. 

8...Be7

Simply allows White to recover his pawn.

9.Bf4

Fine, but 9.Bxe7 Kxe7 10.Nxd4 was hard to argue with. 

9...Qf7

Now a tactical skirmish advanced White's game.

10.Bxc7 d6 11.Nxd4 Kd7 12.Nxc6 Kxc7 13.Nxe7 Qxe7 14.Re1 Rf8

Here, the clock seemed to step in.

15.e5 Qh4 16.Qe2

Instead, 16.Qxd6 was checkmate, but, remember, this was a bullet game. White won at move 32.

[This is blog post #2,750. Thanks for reading!]

Jerome Gambit: Short Game, Longer Notes

If you are aware of your opponent's plan, it is always a temptation to refuse to go along with it. The following game is an example, however, where this ploy fails - fairly quickly.

Wall, Bill - Guest2877685
PlayChess.com, 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Ke7 

The Jerome Gambit Declined.

The Database has 42 games with this position, with White scoring 72%.

The more popular way of declining the piece is 4...Kf8. The Database has 271 games with this line, with White scoring a more modest 55%.

Still, it is important to point out that The Database has 12,603 games with the capture 4...Kxf7 with White scoring 44%.

Black, take the Bishop.

We are looking at a Bill Wall game, however, so it is relevant to note that he has scored 91% with White in the Jerome Gambit accepted lines, as opposed to 100% with White against the Jerome Gambit declined 4...Ke7 and 4...Kf8.

5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.d4 Black resigned

White threatens Black's Bishop on c5, as well as the skewer 7.Bg5+ threatening to win the enemy Queen.

Instead of ending at this point, drewbear - AAlekhine,  Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament  ChessWorld.net, 2007 continued: 6...h6 7.dxc5 d6 8.cxd6+ cxd6 9.h3 Kd7 10.a3 Kc7 11.b4 Rf8 12.b5 Na5 13.Qd2 Kb8 14.Bb2 Nc4 15.Qc3 Nxb2 16.Qxb2 Qa5+ 17.Nc3 Bd7 18.O-O a6 19.bxa6 Rxa6 20.Rab1 b6 21.Nd5 Bb5 22. Rfc1 Ka7 23. Nc7 g5 24.Nxb5+ Kb8 25.Nxd6 Qc5 26.Qxe5 Qxe5 27.Nxe5 Rh8 28.Ndc4 b5 29.Rxb5+ Kc7 30.Rd1 h5 31.Rd7+ Kc8 32.Nb6+ Kb8 33.Nc6 checkmate

That game was from an interesting Jerome Gambit thematic tournament. See "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (5)" for a study that I made of the effect of playing the Jerome Gambit.

After that, you might want to read the earlier "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (4)"! That post refers to a study of the effect of one player's knowledge of a particular line of play - suggesting that a study of the Jerome Gambit (or any particular opening) could give additional benefits to the attacking player.

Hey! Wait! Oh, Never Mind...

I've probably spent way too much time fussing about a comment by Fat Lady at redhotpawn.com, referring to a chess game where Alexander Alekhine reportedly defended against a Jerome Gambit - see "Much Ado About... Nothing" - no doubt it is as much an "urban legend" as the CIA killing Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley being in a witness protection program.

The other day I ran into a simultaneous exhibition game by Alekhine, however, and I wondered: could Fat Lady have been thinking about a "reversed" Jerome?? Here we go again...

Alexander Alekhine - Alfred Berman
New York 1 of 26, 1924

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Nxe5 Bxf2+ 

This is reminiscent of an offshoot of the "Blanel Gambit" in the Vienna or Bishop Opening, only reversed. For reference:

Max Kuerschner - Siegbert Tarrasch

Nuremberg, 1889 

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nxe4 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Qf3+ (6.Qh5+ Kg8 7.Qe2 h6 8.Ng3 Nc6 9.d3 Nd4 10.Qd1 Bc5 11.Be3 Kh7 12.c3 Re8 13.h3 Qh4 14.N1e2 Nxe2 15.Qxe2 d4 16.Bd2 Bd7 17.Ne4 Bf8 18.0-0-0 Re6 19.Kb1 Ra6 20.Bc1 Be6 21.a3 b5 22.f3 Rb8 23.g4 Qd8 24.g5 Qd5 25.Kc2 dxc3 26.Nxc3 Qb3+ 27.Kd2 b4 28.axb4 Bxb4 29.Qxe5 Ra2 30.gxh6 Rxb2+ 31.Bxb2 Qxb2+ 32.Ke3 Bxc3 33.Qe4+ g6 34.Qxe6 Bd4+ 35.Kf4 Rf8+ 36.Kg5 Qg2+ 37.Qg4 Rf5+ White resigned, Max Kuerschner - Siegbert Tarrasch, Nurnberg, 1889) 6...Kg8 7.Ne2 (7.Ng5 Qd7 8.Ne2 h6 9.Nh3 Bc5 10.Nc3 c6 11.Qe2 Qe7 12.d3 Kh7 13.Na4 Bd6 14.Bd2 Qh4 15.Nc3 Rf8 16.Ng1 Bg4 17.Qe3 Nd7 18.Qg3 Qxg3 19.hxg3 Rae8 20.f3 e4 21.dxe4 Bxg3+ 22.Kd1 dxe4 23.Nxe4 Rxe4 24.Nh3 Bxf3+ 25.gxf3 Rh4 26.Ke2 Be5 27.f4 Bc7 28.Rag1 Nf6 29.Be1 Rh5 30.Bc3 Re8+ 31.Kf1 Rf5 32.Rg2 Bxf4 33.Rf2 Nd5 34.Bd4 Ref8 35.c4 Be3 36.Bxe3 Nxe3+ 37.Ke2 Rxf2+ 38.Nxf2 Nxc4 39.Rc1 Ne5 40.Rc3 g5 41.Re3 Rxf2+ White resigned, Jacques Mieses - Richard Teichmann, match, London, 1895) 7...Be6 8.N4g3 (8.Qb3 Nc6 9.N4g3 Rb8 10.c3 Qf6 11.0-0 h5 12.Re1 h4 13.Nf1 h3 14.Neg3 hxg2 15.Kxg2 Bc5 16.d4 Rf8 17.Qc2 Qf3+ 18.Kg1 Bh3 19.Ne3 exd4 20.cxd4 Nxd4 21.Qd2 Qxg3+ 22.fxg3 Nf3+ 23.Kh1 Nxd2 24.Bxd2 Rf2 25.Rad1 Rh5 26.Bc1 c6 27.Kg1 Rg2+ 28.Kh1 Rf2 29.Kg1 Rg2+ 30.Kh1 Rf2 31.Kg1 Rf3 32.Kh1 Rf2 33.Kg1 Rf4 34.Kh1 Rf2 35.Kg1 Rg2+ 36.Kh1 Rf2 37.Kg1 Rg2+ 38.Kh1 Rf2 39.Kg1 Rf3 40.Kh1 Rf2 41.Kg1 Rhf5 42.a3 Rg2+ 43.Kh1 Rff2 44.Nf1 Rg1+ 45.Kxg1 Rxf1 checkmate, James Mason - Georg Marco, Leipzig GER, 1894) 8...Nc6 9.a3 Qd7 10.h3 Bc5 11.0-0 h5 12.Nh1 Rf8 13.Qg3 h4 14.Qh2 e4 15.d3 Bd6 16.Bf4 Rxf4 17.Nxf4 g5 White resigned.

5.Kxf2 Nxe5 6.d4 Ng6 

Or 6...Qf6+ 7.Kg1 Ng4 (7...Ng6 8.Bc4 c6 9.h3 d6 10.Kh2 Be6 11.Rf1 Qd8 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Qg4 Qe7 14.Bg5 Nf6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.d5 Kd7 17.Rad1 Rhg8 18.dxe6+ Qxe6 19.Rxf6 Qxg4 20.Rfxd6+ Kc7 21.hxg4 Ne5 22.Kh3 Rg7 23.Rf6 Nxg4 24.Rf4 Rag8 25.Rd2 Ne3 26.g4 Nxg4 27.Rg2 Ne3 28.Rxg7+ Rxg7 29.Rf2 Kd6 30.Re2 Nc4 31.b3 Ne5 32.Nd1 Kc5 33.Ne3 Nf3 34.Rg2 Rxg2 35.Kxg2 Ng5 36.e5 Kd4 37.Ng4 h5 38.Nf6 Kxe5 39.Nxh5 Kd4 40.c4 Kc3 41.Kg3 Kb2 42.Kf4 Ne6+ 43.Ke5 Nc5 44.Kd6 Na6 45.b4 Nxb4 46.Kc7 b6 47.Kb7 Nxa2 48.Kxa7 b5 49.cxb5 cxb5 50.Kb6 b4 51.Nf4 draw, Jose Raul Capablanca - S Rakowitz, Manhattan CC, New York, 1922) 8.Qd2 Ne7 9.h3 Nh6 10.Qf2 Qg6 11.Nb5 0-0 12.Nxc7 Rb8 13.Nb5 f5 14.e5 d5 15.exd6 Nd5 16.Bc4 Be6 17.Nc7 Nxc7 18.dxc7 Rbc8 19.Bxe6+ Qxe6 20.Bf4 Nf7 21.Kh2 Qb6 22.Rhe1 g5 23.Be5 Nxe5 24.Rxe5 Qxc7 25.c3 g4 26.hxg4 fxg4 27.Qh4 Kh8 28.Kg1 Qb6 29.Rae1 Qxb2 30.Re7 Qc2 31.R1e4 Qc1+ 32.Kh2 h6 33.Re3 Rc6 34.Qxg4 Rg8 35.Re8 Black resigned, Louis Paulsen - Adolf Anderssen, Baden-Baden 1870; or 

6...Qh4+ 7.g3 Qf6+ 8.Kg2 Ng6 9.Bc4 Qd8 10.Rf1 f6 11.e5 b5 12.Nxb5 Bb7+ 13.Kg1 d6 14.exd6 cxd6 15.Qh5 Qe7 16.Bf4 0-0-0 17.Rae1 Qf8 18.Be6+ Kb8 And White announced mate in three moves, Samuel Rosenthal - Robert, Paris, 1874; or

6...Nc6 7.Be3 d6 8.Be2 Nf6 9.Rf1 0-0 10.Kg1 h6 11.Qe1 Re8 12.Qg3 Kh8 13.Rf2 Qe7 14.Bd3 Ng4 15.Nd5 Qd7 16.Rf4 Nd8 17.Rxg4 Qxg4 18.Nxc7 Qd7 19.Nxa8 b6 20.d5 Bb7 21.Bd4 f6 22.Qg6 Bxa8 23.e5 Kg8 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.exf6 Ne6 26.dxe6 1-0 Black resigned, Jose Raul Capablanca - Hermann Liebenstein, New York, 1913. 

7.Bc4

Or 7.Kg1 N8e7 8.h4 h6 9.h5 Nf8 10.Bc4 d6 11.Qf3 Be6 12.d5 Bd7 13.Be3 Nh7 14.Qg3 Rg8 15.Rf1 Nf6 16.Qf4 Rf8 17.Bd4 Neg8 18.e5 dxe5 19.Bxe5 Qe7 20.d6, Black resigned, Arthur Skipworth - Charles Edward Ranken, Malvern, ENG, 1871. 

7...d6 8.Rf1 Be6

Or 8...N8e7 9.Kg1 0-0 10.Qh5 c6 11.Bg5 b5 12.Bb3 a5 13.a3 Ra7 14.d5 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 c5 16.a4 c4 17.Ba2 f6 18.Bd2 bxa4 19.Bxc4 Ne5 20.Be2 Bd7 21.Nxa4 Qd4 22.Bc3 Qxe4 23.Bf3 Nxf3 24.Qxf3 Qxc2 25.Nb6 Bb5 26.Rf2 Qg6 27.Re1 Nc8 28.Nxc8 Rxc8 29.Qe3 Qf7 30.Qb6 Ba6 31.Qxd6 a4 32.Rf3 Bb5 33.Re6 Bd7 34.Rexf6 gxf6 35.Rg3+ Kh8 36.Qxf6+ Black resigned, Samuel Rosenthal - Dermenon, Paris, 1874; or

8...Qh4+ 9.Kg1 Nf6 10.g3 Qh3 11.Bg5 Bg4 12.Qd2 0-0-0 13.Rxf6 gxf6 14.Bxf6 Rdg8 15.Bf1 Qh5 16.Bg2 Re8 17.Bxh8 Rxh8 18.Rf1 Ne7 19.Qf4 f5 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.Qxf5+ Qxf5 23.Rxf5 Nb4 24.c3 Nc6 25.Bxc6 bxc6 26.Rf7 a5 27.Kf2 Kb7 28.g4 a4 29.Kg3 a3 30.bxa3 Ra8 31.Rxh7 Rxa3 32.g5 Rxc3+ 33.Kf4 Rc4 34.g6 Rxd4+ 35.Kf5 Rd1 36.h4 Re1 37.g7 Black resigned, George Henry Mackenzie - James Glover Grundy, New York, 1880. 

9.Bd3

Or 9.d5 Bd7 10.Kg1 Ne5 11.Bb3 Ne7 12.Bf4 N7g6 13.Bg3 Qg5 14.Qd4 0-0 15.Ne2 h5 16.Bf4 Nxf4 17.Nxf4 Qh6 18.Rae1 a6 19.h3 Rae8 20.c4 g5 21.Nd3 g4 22.Re3 Nxd3 23.Rxd3 f5 24.exf5 Bxf5 25.Rc3 Re2 26.Rf2 Rxf2 27.Qxf2 gxh3 28.Qh4 Bg4 29.gxh3 Qf4 30.Qe1 Bf3 31.Rc2 Rf7 32.Qe6 Kh7 33.Rg2 Bxg2 34.Bc2+ Kg7 35.Qg6+ Kf8 White resigned, Louis Paulsen - Simon Winawer, Leipzig GER, 1877; or

9.Be2 N8e7 10.Kg1 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Ne4 Nb6 13.Bg5 Qc8 14.Nc5 0-0 15.Bd3 f6 16.Bd2 c6 17.Qe1 Bf7 18.b3 Qg4 19.Qf2 Rab8 20.Rae1 Rfe8 21.Bf5 Qh4 22.g3 Qh5 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.g4 Qh3 25.Nxb7 Nh4 26.Qg3 Qxg3+ 27.hxg3 Nxf5 28.gxf5 Re4 29.c3 h5 30.Rf4 Re2 31.Rf2 Re4 32.Rh2 g5 33.Nd6 Rg4 34.Kf2 h4 35.gxh4 gxh4 36.Nxf7 Kxf7 37.Rg2 Re4 38.Kf3 Re8 39.Rh2 Rh8 40.c4 Nc8 41.Bb4 Rh5 42.Kg4 Rg5+ 43.Kxh4 Rxf5 44.Kg4 Rg5+ 45.Kf4 Rg7 46.Rh5 Nb6 47.Rc5 Rg2 48.Rxc6 Rf2+ 49.Ke3 Rxa2 50.d5 Nd7 51.Rc7 Ke8 52.Bd6 Rb2 53.b4 Nb6 54.Kd3 Rb3+ 55.Kd4 Rh3 56.Kc5 Rc3 57.Kb5 Kd8 58.Rc6 Kd7 59.Bb8 f5 60.Bxa7 Nc8 61.Bc5 Rh3 62.Rf6 Black resigned, Berthold Englisch - Simon Winawer, Paris, 1878; or 

9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Kg1 Nf6 11.Bg5 0-0 12.Qd3 Qd7 13.Bxf6 Rxf6 14.Rxf6 gxf6 15.Rf1 Rf8 16.Qb5 c6 17.Qb3 d5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.Ne2 Kg7 20.c3 e5 21.Ng3 Ne7 22.Nh5+ Kg6 23.Qc2+ e4 24.Qe2 f5 25.g4 h6 26.gxf5+ Rxf5 27.Qg4+ Rg5 28.Rf6+ Kh7 29.Rf7+ Kh8 30.Rf8+ Ng8 31.Qxg5 hxg5 32.Rxg8+ Black resigned, Jose Raul Capablanca - Randolph, New York, 1912. 

9...Qf6+ 10.Kg1 Qxd4+ 11.Kh1 c6 12.Qe2 Nf6 13.Be3 Qe5

14.h3 h5 15.Bg1 Ke7 16.Bh2 Qg5 17.Rad1 Ne5 18.Bf4 Qg6 19.Qe1 Ne8 20.Ne2

Surprisingly, White misses a chance to play 20.Bxe5 dxe5 21.Nd5!? with an attack.

20...f6 21.Nd4 Rd8 

22.Qb4 Rd7 23.Bxe5 fxe5 24.Nf5+ Bxf5 25.exf5 Qf6 26.Bc4 b5 27.Be6 Rb7 28.c4 c5 29.Qa5 Nc7 

30.Rxd6 

That's more like it. Taking the Rook with 30...Kxd6 allows White's Queen to penetrate the enemy position after 31.Qd2+.

30...Na8

Now Black's position collapses as White's pieces pour in.

31.Rfd1 Nb6 32.Qxb5 Rc7 33.Rd7+ Nxd7 34.Rxd7+ Rxd7 35.Qxd7+ Kf8 36.Qc8+ Ke7 37.Qxc5+ Ke8 38.Qc6+ Kf8 39.Qc8+ Ke7 40.Qxh8 

40...Qg5 41.f6+

Cute. (41.Qa8 was stronger.)

41...Qxf6 42.Qxh5 

Playing to the crowd? More solid was 42.Bd5.

42...Qf1+ 43.Kh2 Qf4+ 44.Kg1 Qc1+ 45.Kf2 Qxb2+ 46.Kg3 Qc3+ 47.Kh2 Kxe6 

48.Qe8+ Kf6 49.Qf8+ Kg6 50.c5 e4 51.Qe8+ Kf5 52.Qf7+ Kg5 53.h4+ Kg4 54.Qg6+ Kf4 55.Qg5 checkmate

Interesting game.

Then, I realized that Fat Lady said "Alekhine played Ke6 and then held onto both pieces", which doesn't sound like a reversed Jerome Gambit, at all. Bummer.

I don't know, maybe he was mis-remembering the internet contest blackburne - AAlekhine, Chessworld, 2007!

The Wisdom of The Database (Part 4)

We continue (see the earlier "Opening Report" parts 1, 2, and 3) to uses ChessBase's Opening Report function to take a look at the games in The Database. 

As a reminder, the Report gathers what lines are being played, and what lines are being used by the top players in the database. It gives a good "real life" view of the play of the Jerome Gambit, even if it does not always identify the objectively best move or line. 

Opening Report

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4


Alternative: 6...Bxd4

ubluk (1884) - billwall (2488)
Play The Jerome Gambit Quad, Chess.com, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Qd5+ Kf8 9.Qb3 Qh4 10.Nc3 Ng4 11.g3 Qh5 12.Nd5 N8f6 13.f3 Nxh2 14.Bf4 Nxf3+ 15.Kf2 Nxe4+ 16.Kg2 Qf5 17.Raf1 Be6 18.Bxd6+ Ke8 19.Nxc7+ Kd7 20.Nxe6 Ned2 21.Nxg7 Nh4+ 22.Kh2 Nxf1+ 23.Kg1 Nf3+ 24.Kf2 Nd4+ 25.Nxf5 Nxb3 26.axb3 Rac8 27.Rxf1 Rxc2+ 28.Ke3 Rxb2 29.b4 Rg8 30.Kf4 b6 31.Rd1 Ke6 32.Re1+ Kd5 33.g4 Rg6 34.Bf8 1/2-1/2


savage13 (1791) - AAlekhine (1783)
thematic, ChessWorld.net, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.0-0? Ne7 9.f4? N5c6 10.Qc4+ d5 11.exd5 Na5  12.Qxc7 Qd4+ 13.Kh1 Qxd5 14.Nc3 Qc4 15.Re1 Qxc7 0-1



jutabar (1653) - vladx (2192)
rated standard, FICS, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.0-0 Nf6 9.Nc3 c5 10.Qd1 Qb6 11.Na4 Qc6 12.f4 Bg4 13.Qd2 Nc4 14.Qc3 Qxa4 15.b3 Nxe4 16.Qd3 Qc6 17.bxc4 Rhf8 18.Bb2 Kg8 19.Rfe1 Rxf4 20.Rxe4 Qxe4 21.Qc3 Rf7 22.h3 Be2 23.Qg3 Qxc2 24.Ba3 Re8 25.Qxd6 Qc3 26.Qxc5 Qxa1+ 27.Kh2 Bf3 28.gxf3 Re2+ 29.Kg3 Qe1+ 30.Kg4 Rf4+ 31.Kxf4 Qh4+ 32.Kf5 g6# White checkmated 0-1

ChessIcon (1761) - adrotrico (1924)
rated standard, FICS, 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Bf4 Nc6 9.Qd5+ Be6 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qf3 Qf6 12.h4 Ne5 13.Qg3 h6 14.Nc3 Ne7 15.0-0-0 Raf8 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Ke8 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Qb3 Rxf2 20.Qa4+ Kd8 21.Qxa7 Qe2 22.Qa4 b5 23.Qb3 Qc4 24.Qxc4 bxc4 25.Rhg1 Rhf8 26.Rde1 R8f5 27.g4 Rxd5 28.Rg3 Rdd2 29.Rc3 Rde2 30.Rg1 d5 31.a4 Nc6 32.g5 h5 33.b4 Nxb4 34.a5 Na2+ 35.Kb2 Nxc3 36.Kxc3 Rxc2+ 37.Kb4 Kd7 38.Kc5 c6 39.Kb6 Rb2+ 40.Ka7 Rf7 41.a6 Kd6+ 42.Ka8 Re2 43.Rb1 Re8+ 44.Rb8 Rxb8+ 45.Kxb8 c3 46.a7 Rxa7 White resigns 0-1

Sullyman (1758) - Hisaw (1911)
rated standard, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.f4 Nc6 9.Qd3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Re8 11.0-0 Kg8 12.Be3 Qe7 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5+ Be6 15.Qb5 Bc8 16.Qd5+ Qe6 17.Qxe6+ Rxe6 18.f5 Rxe4 19.Bg5 Bd7 20.f6 Rf8 21.fxg7 Rxf1+ 22.Rxf1 Kxg7 23.Bf6+ Kg6 24.h4 h5 25.Bg5 Bf5 26.c3 Ne5 27.Bd8 c6 28.Bc7 d5 29.Bd8 Ng4 30.g3 Re2 0-1

vokrri (1612) - blackknight21 (1982)
GameKnot.com, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.0-0 Nf6 9.f4 c5 10.Qe3 Nc6 11.e5 Ng4 12.Qe2 Nd4 13.Qd3 Bf5 14.Qc4+ d5 15.Qxc5 Qh4 16.h3 Ne2+ 17.Kh1 Qxh3+ 18.gxh3 Be4+ 0-1


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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.f4

2 games, 2011-2012, Ø=2012
White scores excellently (100%).
Elo-Ø: 1261, 2 games. Performance = Elo 2109
played by: Petasluk, 1421, 1/1; Darthnik, 1101, 1/1

You should play: 6...Nc6

Petasluk (1421) - Jirayu (1412)
blitz, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.f4 Nc6 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qe3 Nf6 11.0-0 Qe7 12.d3 Bd7 13.Bd2 Rf8 14.Nc3 Kf7 15.Rae1 Kg8 16.e5 Nh5 17.e6 Be8 18.d4 Ng7 19.d5 Nd8 20.g4 c6 21.Qg3 b5 22.a3 a5 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 Qa7+ 25.Be3 Qe7 26.Bd4 Ra3 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.f5 gxf5 29.gxf5+ Kh8 30.Kh1 Rg8 31.Qe3 Qf6 32.Ne4 Rxe3 33.Nxf6 Rxe1 34.Rxe1 Rf8 35.e7 1-0

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d) 6.0-0

5 games, 2004-2011, 
White scores miserably (20%).
Elo-Ø: 1307, 4 games. Performance = Elo 1475
played by: Odizzel, 1508, 1/1; Chid, 1462, 0/1; Helal, 1166, 0/1; sTpny, 1094, 0/1

You should play: 6...Nf6

Odizzel (1508) - samshaunak (1740)
rated lightning, FICS, 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d4 d6 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.f4 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Neg4 11.h3 Nh6 12.g4 Nxe4 13.g5 Nf5 14.Re1 Re8 15.Nd2 Nxd2 16.Bxd2 Bd7 17.Rxe8 Rxe8 18.Bc3 Nd4 19.Bxd4 cxd4 20.Rd1 c5 21.c3 dxc3 22.Rxd7+ Re7 23.Rxe7+ Kxe7 24.bxc3 Kd6 25.Kf2 Kd5 26.Ke3 Kc4 27.Ke4 Kxc3 28.Kf5 c4 29.g6 Kb2 30.gxh7 c3 31.Kg6 c2 32.h8Q c1Q 33.Qxg7+ Qc3 34.Qxc3+ Kxc3 35.f5 b5 36.f6 a5 37.f7 b4 38.f8Q a4 39.Qc8+ Kb2 40.h4 b3 41.axb3 a3 42.Qh8+ Kxb3 43.Qe5 a2 44.Qe1 Kb2 45.h5 a1Q 46.Qxa1+ Kxa1 47.h6 1-0


AsceticKingK9 - Haroldlee123
ChessWorld JG6, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Nc3 c5 10.Qd1 Qd7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.f4 Nc4 14.Qe2 Nxb2 15.Rab1 Na4 16.Qc4+ d5 17.Qxa4 Qxa4 18.Nxa4 dxe4 19.Nxc5 e3 20.Nxb7 Ke7 21.Na5 Kf7 22.Rfe1 Re8 23.Nc4 Kg6 24.Rxe3 Rd8 25.Rg3+ Kf7 26.Ne3 Ba6 27.Nf5 h5 28.Re1 Kf8 29.Rg6 Rd2 30.Rxf6+ Kg8 31.Re7 Rd1+ 32.Kf2 Bc4 Black won on time 0-1

Opening Report (Part 3)

I decided to have ChessBase8 give me an Opening Report on the Jerome Gambit, based on The Database. I got a whole lot of information, and I was only dealing with the first few moves...

Opening report

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

9062 games in 'TheDatabase'


b) 4...Kf8

207 games, 2000-2012, 
Black scores averagely (44%).
Elo-Ø: 1353, 193 games. Performance = Elo 1304
played by: blackburne, 1778, 2/2; Talwhu, 1722, 1/1; PatOrMat, 1685, 1/1; Rolmx, 1683, 0/1; vilinar, 1666, 1/1

You should play: 5.Nc3

AAlekhine (1586) - blackburne (1795)
thematic ChessWorld.net, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Nc3 d6 6.d3 Kxf7 7.Ng5+ Kf8 8.Qf3+ Qf6 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.0-0 Nd4 11.Be3 Nxc2 12.Rad1 Bxe3 13.Nf3 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Bf4 16.a3 Nd4 17.Kg2 Ke7 18.Rg1 g5 19.Kf1 Nxf3 20.Rg2 Rhg8 21.Nd5+ Nxd5 22.exd5 h5 23.h4 Nxh4 24.Rg1 g4 25.d4 Nf3 26.Rg2 h4 27.Ke2 Nxd4+ 28.Kd3 h3 29.Rgg1 h2 30.Rh1 g3 31.fxg3 Rxg3+ 32.Kc4 Rb3 33.Rxd4 exd4 34.Kxb3 d3 35.Kc3 d2 36.Kc2 Kf6 37.Kd1 Re8 38.b4 Re1+ 39.Rxe1 dxe1Q+ 40.Kxe1 h1Q+ 41.Kf2 Qe4 42.a4 Qe3+ 43.Kg2 Ke5 44.b5 Ke4 45.a5 Qf3+ 46.Kg1 Qe2 47.b6 Kxd5 48.bxa7 Be3+ 49.Kh1 Bxa7 50.a6 b6 51.Kg1 Ke4 52.Kh1 Kf3 53.Kg1 Qg2# 0-1


Plejade - erch
ChessWorld.net, 2003
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Nc3 Kxf7 6.Nd5 Nge7 7.Nxe7 Qxe7 8.d3 Rf8 9.Be3 Kg8 10.Bxc5 Qxc5 11.Qd2 Nb4 12.c3 Nc6 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.0-0 Nc6 16.Rfd1 Ne5 17.Qd5+ Qxd5 18.exd5 Nc4 19.g3 Nxb2 20.Rd4 b5 21.d6 cxd6 22.Rxd6 Rf6 23.Rxf6 Nd3 24.Rd1 gxf6 25.Rxd3 Kf8 26.Rd6 Kf7 27.f4 a5 28.Rb6 Ba6 29.h4 d5 30.g4 b4 31.cxb4 d4 32.b5 d3 33.bxa6 Rd8 34.Rb1 Ke6 35.f5+ Ke5 36.Kf1 Kd4 37.Ke1 Ke3 38.Kd1 Kd4 39.Kd2 Rc8 40.Rb5 Rc2+ 41.Kd1 Rxa2 42.a7 Ra1+ 43.Kd2 Ra2+ 44.Kd1 Kc3 45.Rc5+ Kd4 46.Rc6 Ke3 47.a8Q Rd2+ 48.Ke1 Rg2 49.Rc3 Rg1# 0-1

Alternative: 5.Bxg8

drewbear (1718) - BrainFreeze (1685)
thematic ChessWorld.net, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.d3 d5 7.Ng5 dxe4 8.Nxh7+ Ke8 9.Qh5+ Ke710.Bg5+ Kd6 11.Bxd8 Nxd8 12.Qg6+ Kd5 13.Nf6+ 1-0


SIRMO (1798) - AAlekhine (1625)
thematic ChessWorld.net, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.c3 Qf6 7.d3 d6 8.a4 Ke8 9.Bg5 Qg6 10.h4 h6 11.h5 Qe6 12.Bd2 Bd7 13.b4 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Rf8 15.Rh3 Ke7 16.Be3 Rae8 17.b5 Na5 18.Nbd2 Kd8 19.Ke2 Kc8 20.c4 g5 21.Nh2 Qf6 22.Rf3 Qe6 23.Qf1 g4 24.Rxf8 g3 25.Rxe8+ Bxe8 26.Nhf3 Bxh5 27.Qh1 Qf7 28.Qh3+ Kb8 29.Qxg3 b6 30.Bxh6 Nb7 31.Qg7 Qxg7 32.Bxg7 Nc5 33.a5 Ne6 34.Bf6 Nf4+ 35.Kf1 Nxd3 36.axb6 cxb6 37.Be7 Kc8 38.Bxd6 Kd7 39.Nxe5+ Nxe5 40.Bxe5 Ke6 41.Bc7 Kd7 42.Rxa7 Kc8 43.Bxb6 Kb8 44.c5 Bd1 45.Nc4 Bb3 46.Nd6 Bc2 47.Rd7 1-0


Superpippo (1597) - TajniDobrovoljci (1607)
FICS rated blitz game, 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Bxg8 Kxg8 6.0-0 d6 7.c3 Bg4 8.d4 exd4 9.Qb3+ Kf8 10.Nxd4 Bxd4 11.cxd4 b6 12.Be3 Qf6 13.Nd2 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Qxd4 15.Nf3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3+ Ke7 17.Rad1 Qf6 18.e5 Qxf3 19.exd6+ cxd6 20.Rfe1+ Kf7 21.gxf3 Rhd8 22.Re4 d5 23.Rh4 h6 24.Kg2 Rd7 25.f4 Rad8 26.Kf3 Re7 27.Rh5 d4 28.Re5 d3 29.Ke3 d2 30.Rxd2 Rxd2 31.Kxd2 Rxe5 32.fxe5 g5 33.Ke3 Ke6 34.Ke4 h5 35.f4 gxf4 36.Kxf4 a5 37.a4 Kd5 38.Kf5 Kc4 39.e6 Kb3 40.e7 Kxa4 41.e8Q+ Kb3 42.Qe2 Kb4 43.Qc2 b5 44.Qc3+ Ka4 45.Qa3# 1-0

drewbear (1718) - karmmark (1387)
thematic ChessWorld.net, 11.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Bxg8 1-0


LSS (1875) - KaptKoca (1614)
FICS server game, rated blitz match, 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 h6 8.Nc3 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.Kh1 Ke8 11.g4 Bf7 12.Nh2 Rf8 13.f4 exf4 14.Rxf4 Ne5 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Rxf8+ Kxf8 17.exd5 Qh4 18.Qf1+ Kg8 19.Qg2 Rf8 20.b4 Bb6 21.Bb2 Rf2 22.d4 Rxg2 23.Kxg2 Nc4 24.Bc3 Ne3+ 25.Kh1 Qxh3 26.Rg1 Nxc2 27.Bb2 Nxd4 28.Bxd4 Bxd4 29.Rg2 Be5 30.a4 Bxh2 31.Rxh2 Qxg4 32.b5 Qxa4 0-1

Superpippo (1678) - raffa (1406)
FICS rated blitz game, 2002
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.d4 exd4 7.c3 Qf6 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.0-0 d6 11.Nc3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qxc3 13.Bg5 g6 14.Rc1 Qe5 15.f4 Qxe4 16.Re1 Qf5 17.Rxc7 Rg7 18.Qxd6+ 1-0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

c) 4...Ke7

33 games, 1999-2011,
Black scores badly (29%).
Elo-Ø: 1287, 31 games. Performance = Elo 1125
played by: agno, 1607, 0/1; MRKumar, 1602, 0/1; AAlekhine, 1601, 1/2; Brown, 1552, 1/1; Bucephale, 1528, 0/1

You should play: 5.Nxe5

Nesseerd (1111) - nontheist (1291)
FICS server game, rated blitz match, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Ke7 5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.Bd5 c6 7.Qh5 Ng6 8.Qe5+ Nxe5 0-1

Nudge 2.0

The other day Bill Wall told me that there were 5 Jerome Gambit games (out of over 4.8 million) in the new Big Database 2011 from ChessBase. It turns out that 2 of them were unknown to me. Here's one.

Kitzler,G - Schloeffel,C
Karl Mala Memorial FICS, 2009

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qxc5

Instead of this direct capture, I prefer the "nudge" 7.Qd5+ which usually pushes Black's King to the back rank, where it can interfere with the development of his King Rook. It costs me an extra tempo, but Black returns it with a later ...Kf7 or ...Ke7.

7...d6 8.Qd5+

I suppose that this move could be a "nudge 2.0" as it either moves Black's King, or the Queen's check is blocked by Black's light-squared Bishop, which in turn makes the b7 pawn available for capture.

How good is the move? Well, there are 127 games with it in The Database, and White scores only 37%. On the other hand, the move has been played by Jerome Gambit stalwarts blackburne, AAlekhine and Bill Wall, and was chosen by computers Crafty 19.19 and Yace Paderborn in their games against RevvedUp.

8...Be6 9.Qxb7

Black willingly gives up the pawn and White happily takes it. At least one of them apparently remembers what happens to one who takes the Queen's Knight pawn...

As in many Jerome Gambit positions, Black is "objectively" better, but if White can consolidate his position (he is behind in development and his King is not safe) then in casual or club games White's extra 3 pawns may be able to balance out Black's extra piece.

9...Nf4

Two other possibilities:

9...Nf6 10.d4 Re8 11.Nc3 Qc8 12.Qb5 Bd7 13.Qd3 Nxe4 14.0-0 Kg8 15.Bg5 Nxg5 16.Rae1 c6 17.Qc4+ d5 18.Qd3 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Bf5 20.Qd2 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.f3 Bf5 23.g4 Bxg4 24.fxg4 Qxg4+ 25.Kh1 Nh4 26.Qe2 Qxe2 27.Rxe2 Rf8 28.h3 Kf7 29.Re3 Re8 30.Rxe8 Kxe8 31.c3 Ke7 32.Kg1 Ke6 33.Kf2 Kf5 34.Kg3 g5 35.a4 h5 36.b3 Ke4 37.Kf2 Kd3 White resigned, blackburne - meliam, ChessWorld, 2004; and


9...Nh4 10.0-0 Qg5 11.Qxc7+ Ne7 12.g3 Nf3+ 13.Kh1 Qh6 14.h4 Bh3 15.Rd1 Qe6 16.Qa5 Bf1 17.Qh5+ Ng6 18.Qxf3+ Kg8 19.Rxf1 Qh3+ 20.Kg1 Ne5 21.Qb3+ d5 22.Qxd5+ Nf7 23.Qxa8+ Black resigned, Wall - CheckMe, Chess.com, 2010.


Players who return to this line also need be aware of the unplayed 9...Qg5!? Trust me, the Black Rook on a8 is poisoned. White has to try 10.g3. 

10.0-0

This move seems prudent, but it actually opens up Pandora's box. White had to find 10.Rg1 and hold on, as Black has both quiet and wacky responses (try 10...Bd5!?) to try to increase his advantage.

10...Bh3

Okay, take a deep breath.

Black, as is the case in many Jerome Gambit games, has missed the killing stroke 10...Qg5, as 11.g3 causes horrible weaknesses on the white squares around White's King, i.e. 11...Ne2+ and 12...Qh5.

Instead, Black has gone in for flash (taking the Bishop now leads to a quick mate), and that means White has an extra chance. He should try 11.Qb3+, hoping for something like 11...d5 12.d4 Qg5 13.Qg3 Ne2+ 14.Kh1 Nxg3+ 15.fxg3+ Qf6 16.Rxf6+ Nxf6 17.gxh3 Nxe4 when White has two pawns for the exchange and Black will have to work for a win.

After 11.Qb3+ Ke8 12.Qb5+ White should probably exchange Queens if he has the opportunity and otherwise work on his development, again hoping that his 3 extra pawns will come to his rescue.

11.e5

Opening the route to g2 for his Queen, but now his game completely collapses. It is probably time to draw the curtain on this tragedy.

11...Bxg2 12.Qb3+ Bd5 13.e6+ Kf8 14.Re1 Bxb3 15.e7+ Nxe7 16.axb3 Nf5 17.Kh1 Nh3 18.d3 Qh4 19.Rf1 Nxf2+ 20.Kg2 Re8 21.Rxf2 Qg4+ 22.Kf1 Qh3+ 23.Rg2 Qf3+ White resigned

White's undeveloped Queenside tells the tale.


graphic by Jeff Bucchino, the WizardofDraws

Beware: The Sneak!

Black's biggest dangers in playing against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) are overconfidence, a dismissive attitude and inattention. If any of these plague the second player in the early moves of the game, an otherwise blatant maneuver called The Sneak might arise.

In its starkest form, The Sneak looks like this:

I know what you're thinking: nobody would fall for that, letting the Bishop get trapped.

It is true, not everybody does fall for it. Here are some warnings, though:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3

2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.d3 Nc6 5.c3 Bc5 6.a4 d6 7.Nf3 Ng4 8.0-0 Rf8 9.b4 Bxf2+ 10.Rxf2 Nxf2 11.Kxf2, Viejoasquerosos - BigJase, redhotpawn, 2006 (1-0, 40)

2...Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7

4...Kf8 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.c3 Qf6 7.d3 d6 8.a4 Ke8 9.Bg5 Qg6 10.h4 h6 11.h5 Qe6 12.Bd2 Bd7 13.b4 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2, SIRMO - AAlekhine, chessworld, 2007 (1-0, 47)

5.d3

5.c3 d6 ( 5...Nf6 6.d3 h6 7.0-0 g5 8.Qb3+ Ke8 9.Kh1 g4 10.Ng1 h5 11.Bg5 Rh7 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qg8+ Qf8 14.Qxh7 g3 15.Qg6+ Qf7 16.Qxg3 d6 17.a4 Be6 18.b4 Nxb4 19.cxb4 Bxb4 Piratepaul - DREWBEAR 63, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 26)) 6.d3 Nf6 ( 6...Bg4 7.Ng5+ Kf8 8.Qxg4 Qe7 9.Ne6+ Ke8 10.Nxg7+ Kf7 11.Nf5 Qf6 12.Bg5 Qe6 13.a4 Nf6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.b4 Bb6 16.a5 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2, Piratepaul - metalwarrior1969, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 36)) 7.Bg5 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.g4 Bg6 10.Nbd2 h6 11.Bh4 Qd7 12.a4 h5 13.b4 Bxf2+ 14.Bxf2, Piratepaul - blackburne, chessworld, 2008 (0-1, 22);

5.0-0 Nf6 6.d3 Rf8 7.Nc3 Kg8 8.Ne2 d6 9.a4 Be6 10.c3 h6 11.b4 Bxf2+ 12.Rxf2 Ng4 13.Rf1 Black Puma - Sir Osis of the Liver, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0,35)

5...Nf6

[ 5...h6 6.c3 ( 6.0-0 g5 7.h3 Nf6 8.a4 d6 9.c3 g4 10.hxg4 Bxg4 11.b4 Bxf2+ 12.Rxf2 Black Puma - DREWBEAR 63, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 21)) 6...d6 7.0-0 ( 7.a4 Bg4 ( 7...Qf6 8.b4 Bxf2+ 9.Kxf2, SIRMO - Ratscales, chessworld, 2008 (1-0, 36)) 8.b4 Bxf3 9.Qxf3+ Qf6 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 11.bxc5 dxc5, braken - willitfw, chessworld, 2008 (1-0, 51)) 7...Nf6 8.a4 Na5 ( 8...Bg4 9.b4 Nxb4 ( 9...Bxb4 10.cxb4, Piratepaul - calchess10, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 44)) 10.cxb4 Bd4 11.Ra2 a6 ( 11...Nh5 Piratepaul - TWODOGS, JGTourney4, ChessWorld 2009 (1-0, 32)) 12.Nbd2 Nh5, Piratepaul - eddie43, chessworld, 2008 (0-1, 56)) 9.b4 Bb6 10.bxa5 Bxa5, braken - eddie43, chessworld, 2008 (1-0, 23)

6.Bg5

6.a4 Rf8 7.c3 d6 8.0-0 Kg8 9.Ng5 ( 9.b4 Nxb4 10.cxb4 Bxb4 11.Qb3+ Kh8 12.Qxb4 0-1 Black Puma - stampyshortlegs, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (0-1, 24)) 9...Bg4 10.Qe1 Nh5 11.h3 Bxh3 12.Nxh3 Ng3 13.b4 Nxb4 14.cxb4 Bd4 15.Ra2 Nxf1 16.Kxf1, SIRMO - manago, chessworld, 2008 (1-0, 18)

6...Rf8 7.0-0 Kg8 8.c3 Qe8 9.Kh1 d6 10.a4 Bg4 11.b4 Qh5 12.Bd2 d5 13.bxc5 dxe4 14.dxe4 Nxe4 Piratepaul - delboy138, chessworld, 2008 (1-0,17)

Travelling a Dangerous Path

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be a dangerous route for the enterprising and plucky gambiteer to follow. Theoretically, each of its paths leads to a dead end.

As a practical matter, however, some travel it regularly. The games of modern Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Pete Banks ("blackburne") will be used to explore further a byway in the line given in "An International Master Refutes the Jerome Gambit".

White doesn't win every time, but play over the games, and enjoy his unflagging, fighting spirit!

blackburne - macsek
ChessWorld, 2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.f4 Qf6

This is an interesting alternative to 7...d6 – the move recommended by many, including IM Gary Lane in his The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps, to put the kabosh on the Jerome Gambit, by returning a piece directly.

The text move was seen as early as in a note in G.H.D. Gossip's 1891 The Chess Player's Vade Mecum and Pocket Guide to the Openings with all the latest theoretical discoveries and traps in the openings revealed. Lee and Gossip's The Complete Chess Guide (1903, 1905, 1907, 1910) carried the same analysis.

It has been more recently revived by FM Eric Schiller, who recommended it in his Unorthodox Chess Openings (1998, 2002), Gambit Chess Openings (2002) and (with John Watson) Survive and Beat Annoying Chess Openings (2003).

8.Qxe5+

This was blackburne's first response to the move, but there are other choices.
Somewhat surprisingly, Gossip gave 8.fxe5 as White's move in his analysis, followed by 8...Qxe5. In this manner, blackburne - Piratepaul, Chessworld, 2008 continued: 9.Qf5+ Qxf5 10.exf5+ Kxf5 11.Rf1+ Kg6 12.Rf8 Bxf8 13.d4 d5 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.Bd2 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Nf6 17.0-0-0 a5 18.Re1 Ne4 19.Rf1 h6 20.g4 Bxg4 21.Rg1 Kh5 22.Be1 g5 23.c3 Be2 24.Kc2 a4 25.Rg2 Bc4 White resigned – hardly a fair test of the line, as the first player was clearly having a bad game; but, still, ominous.

More to be expected after 8.fxe5 is 8...Qf2+ after which blackburne had a couple of Lord of the Rings-style adventures: 9.Kd1 Qxg2 10.Qf5+ Ke7 11.Rf1 Nh6 12.Qf3 (after 12.Qf4 b6 13.Nc3 d6 14.exd6+ Bxd6 15.Nd5+ Ke8 16.Nf6+ Kd8 17.e5 Bg4+ 18.Nxg4 Black lost on time, blackburne - manago, Chessworld, 2008) 12...Qxf3+ 13.Rxf3 d5 14.Rf4 Bg4+ 15.Ke1 Raf8 16.Rxf8 Rxf8 17.d3 Bf2+ 18.Kd2 d4 19.c3 Be3+ 20.Kc2 Rf2+ 21.Nd2 Bxd2 22.Bxd2 dxc3 23.bxc3 Nf7 24.Rg1 Nxe5 25.h3 Nf3 26.Rxg4 Rxd2+ 27.Kb3 Rxd3 28.Rxg7+ Kf6 29.Rxc7 Nd4+ 30.Kc4 Rd1 31.Rxb7 Ne2 32.Rxa7 Ra1 33.Kb3 Rc1 34.Rc7 h5 35.c4 Nd4+ 36.Ka4 Ke5 37.Rc5+ Kxe4 38.Rxh5 Rxc4+ 39.Ka5 Nc6+ 40.Kb5 Rc2 41.a4 Nd4+ 42.Kb4 Ra2 43.Rg5 Nc6+ 44.Kc5 Ne5 45.Kb5 Nf3 46.Rg4+ Kf5 47.a5 Ne5 48.Rg8 Rb2+ 49.Ka6 Nc4 50.Rg4 Ne3 51.Ra4 Nd1 52.Ka7 Nc3 53.Ra1 Rh2 54.a6 Rxh3 55.Kb7 Nb5 56.Ra5 Rb3 57.a7 Ke6 58.a8Q Nd6+ 59.Kc6 Rc3+ 60.Rc5 Rxc5+ 61.Kxc5 Ke5 62.Qd5+ Black resigned, blackburne - AAlekhine Chessworld, 2007.

Another adventure followed 8.Qh3+, as blackburne - Kemik, Chessworld, 2005 continued 8...Ke7 9.fxe5 Qxe5 10.d3 d5 11.Qh4+ Nf6 12.Nc3 c6 13.Bf4 Qh5 14.Bg5 Qxh4+ 15.Bxh4 Bb4 16.0-0-0 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Bg4 19.Rf4 Ba5 20.Rxg4 Rg8 21.Rf1 h6 22.Nxf6 gxf6 23.Bxf6+ Ke6 24.Re4+ Kd6 25.Be7+ Kc7 26.g3 Rae8 27.Rf7 Kb6 28.b4 Bxb4 29.Rxb4+ Ka6 30.Bd6 b6 31.Ra4+ Kb5 32.Rfxa7 c5 33.Bf4 h5 34.c4+ Kc6 35.Rc7 checkmate

Currently 8.Rf1 is seen as the strongest move for White; but it was not considered by Gossip, Lee or Schiller; nor played by Blackburne.

8...Qxe5 9.fxe5 Kxe5

According to Schiller, Black's King is "perfectly safe in the center" in this interesting endgame position, but most players will have a "better" game against the Jerome Gambit – right up to the point where they resign.

10.Nc3 Nf6 11.d3 d5
11...Bd4 is not a "bad" alternative, but iltimately failed against White's active play in blackburne - drewbear, chessworld, 2008: 12.Rf1 Ke6 13.Nb5 Bb6 14.Bf4 d6 15.0-0-0 a6 16.Nc3 Bd7 17.Rf3 Rhf8 18.Rdf1 Ng4 19.h3 g5 20.Bxg5 Rxf3 21.Rxf3 Ne5 22.Rf6+ Ke7 23.Nd5+ Ke8 24.Rh6 Kf7 25.Nf6 Be8 26.Nxh7 Kg7 27.Nf6 Bg6 28.Nd5 Rf8 29.Ne7 Nf7 30.Rxg6+ Kh7 31.Bf6 Ne5 32.Rg7+ Kh6 33.Nf5+ Kh5 34.g4+ Black resigned

12.Rf1 Ke6 13.Bg5 Bb4 14.exd5+ [14.Bxf6 first was stronger] Nxd5 15.0-0-0 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Bxc3 17.Bd2 Bf6 18.Rde1+ Kd7 19.Re4 b6 20.g3 Bb7 21.Re2 Rae8 22.Rfe1 Rxe2 23.Rxe2 Re8 24.Rxe8 Kxe8 25.Bf4 Kd7 26.Kd2 Bd5 27.c4 Be6 28.Kc2 g5 29.Be3 c5 30.Bd2 Bd4 31.Be1 Bh3 32.Bd2 h6 33.Be1 Bg1 34.a4 Bxh2 35.Bf2 Ke6 36.d4 cxd4 37.Kd3 h5 38.Kxd4 Bf5 39.c5 Bc2 40.cxb6 axb6 41.Kc4 Bxa4 42.Kb4 b5 43.Be1 Kf5 44.Kc3 Kg4 White resigned

SIRMO

While preparing "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (5)" I realized that I had published only two games of the Jerome Gambit thematic tournament winner, SIRMO: plummy - SIRMO, chessworld.net, 2007 (0-1, 49) and Bullit52 - SIRMO, chessworld.net, 2007 (0-1, 12).

I think I may have unfairly shied away from his games because SIRMO prefers the "modern" Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) variations – not playing 5.Nxe5+ after 4...Kxf7 – and because a number of his wins feature a certain amount of wizardry...

Here are SIRMO's Jerome Gambit wins with white.

SIRMO - AAlekhine

thematic www.chessworld.net, 12.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 [Hardly the way to refute the Jerome Gambit! - Rick] 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.c3 Qf6 7.d3 d6 8.a4 Ke8 9.Bg5 Qg6 10.h4 h6 11.h5 Qe6 12.Bd2 Bd7 13.b4 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Rf8 15.Rh3 Ke7 16.Be3 Rae8 17.b5 Na5 18.Nbd2 Kd8 19.Ke2 Kc8 20.c4 g5 21.Nh2 Qf6 22.Rf3 Qe6 23.Qf1 g4 24.Rxf8 g3 25.Rxe8+ Bxe8 26.Nhf3 Bxh5 27.Qh1 Qf7 28.Qh3+ Kb8 29.Qxg3 b6 30.Bxh6 Nb7 31.Qg7 Qxg7 32.Bxg7 Nc5 33.a5 Ne6 34.Bf6 Nf4+ 35.Kf1 Nxd3 36.axb6 cxb6 37.Be7 Kc8 38.Bxd6 Kd7 39.Nxe5+ Nxe5 40.Bxe5 Ke6 41.Bc7 Kd7 42.Rxa7 Kc8 43.Bxb6 Kb8 44.c5 Bd1 45.Nc4 Bb3 46.Nd6 Bc2 47.Rd7 1-0

SIRMO - Bullit52

thematic www.chessworld.net, 11.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.c3 Nf6 6.a4 [The use of c3 + a4 with the threat against the Bishop of a4-a5 in the Jerome Gambit could well be called the "SIRMO maneuver" - Rick] a5 7.Qb3+ Ke8 8.Ng5 Rf8 9.Qc4 Bd6 10.Qe2 Ne7 Here, Black lost on time. 1-0

SIRMO - Ratscales

thematic www.chessworld.net, 01.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 h6 6.c3 d6 7.a4 Qf6 8.b4 Bxf2+ 9.Kxf2 g5 10.h3 Ke8 11.Be3 Be6 12.Ke2 d5 13.Rf1 Qe7 14.a5 Nf6 15.Nh2 Nh5 16.Rf3 Kd8 17.Na3 a6 18.Kd2 Qd7 19.Kc2 d4 20.Bd2 Nxa5 21.bxa5 Qa4+ 22.Kc1 Bb3 23.Qe1 Nf4 24.Bxf4 exf4 25.c4 Re8 26.Ng4 Re6 27.Kb2 b6 28.Nb5 Rxe4 29.dxe4 Qxc4 30.Na3 Qc5 31.Rxb3 b5 32.e5 h5 33.Nf6 Ra7 34.e6 c6 35.Ng8 Ke8 36.e7 Qd5 1-0

SIRMO - plummy

thematic www.chessworld.net, 12.2007 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6 6.c3 Nxe4 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bd6 9.dxe5 Bxe5 10.Qd5+ Kf8 11.Qxe4 d6 12.Na3 Qf6 13.f4 Bf5 14.Qf3 Ke8 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Qxf5 Qxf5 17.Rxf5 Kd7 18.Rxe5 c6 19.Bg5 Kc7 20.Re7+ Kb6 21.Rxg7 h5 22.Nc4+ Ka6 23.Nd6 b5 24.b4 h4 25.a4 c5 26.axb5+ Kb6 27.Ra6 checkmate 1-0

SIRMO - BrainFreeze

thematic www.chessworld.net, 02.2008 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.c3 Nf6 6.a4 Nxe4 7.d4 exd4 8.0-0 dxc3 9.Qd5+ Kf8 10.Qxe4 cxb2 11.Bxb2 d6 [A "Danish - Jerome Gambit"?? White can now draw with 12.Qf4+ - Rick] 12.Nbd2 Qe7 13.Qf4+ Qf7 14.Qg3 Rg8 15.Rfe1 Bf5 16.Ng5 Qg6 17.Re2 h6 18.Nge4 Qxg3 19.Nxg3 Bd3 20.Ree1 Bb4 21.Bc1 Nd4 22.a5 Nc2 23.Ra4 Nxe1 24.Rxb4 Rb8 25.Bb2 Nc2 26.Rb3 Bg6 27.Kf1 c5 28.Nde4 Bxe4 29.Nxe4 Re8 30.f3 Re6 31.Rxb7 a6 32.Bc1 g5 33.h3 Rg7 34.Rb8+ Ke7 35.Rb6 d5 36.Nxc5 Rxb6 37.axb6 Rg8 38.Nxa6 Nd4 39.b7 Nc6 40.f4 Rf8 41.Ba3+ Kf7 42.Bxf8 Kxf8 43.f5 Kf7 44.g4 d4 45.Ke2 Kf6 46.b8Q Nxb8 47.Nxb8 Ke5 48.Kd3 Kf4 49.f6 Kg3 50.f7 Kxh3 51.f8Q Kxg4 52.Nc6 Kh4 53.Nxd4 g4 54.Qxh6+ Kg3 55.Ke3 Kg2 56.Ne2 1-0

SIRMO - karmmark

thematic www.chessworld.net, 12.2007 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6 6.c3 d6 7.h3 Rf8 8.d4 Kg8 9.dxc5 dxc5 10.Qxd8 Rxd8 11.Bg5 Rd6 12.Nbd2 b5 13.Rad1 h6 14.Bh4 Be6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Rfe1 a5 17.Nh4 Rad8 18.Nhf3 Ne7 19.b3 Ng6 20.Re2 Nf4 21.Re3 Kh7 22.Kh2 Rg8 23.Nh4 Rd3 24.Rxd3 Nxd3 25.f3 Nf2 [The game is even here, but the endgame proves to be a nail-biter - Rick] 26.Rf1 Nd3 27.g4 Nf4 28.Nf5 h5 29.Ne7 Re8 30.Nc6 Ra8 31.Nb1 c4 32.Nd2 Ne2 33.bxc4 bxc4 34.Nb1 Ra6 35.Ne7 Nf4 36.Na3 Rd6 37.Nb5 Rd2+ 38.Kg3 Rg2+ 39.Kh4 Kg7 40.Nxc7 Bd7 41.Ncd5 Rxa2 42.Nxf4 exf4 43.Kxh5 Rh2 44.Kh4 Rc2 45.Nd5 a4 46.Ra1 Rf2 47.Rb1 Rxf3 48.Nb6 Be8 49.Nxc4 Rxc3 50.Nd2 Bg6 51.Rb7+ Kh6 52.e5 fxe5 53.g5 checkmate 1-0

SIRMO - manago

thematic www.chessworld.net, 01.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 Nf6 6.a4 Rf8 7.c3 d6 8.0-0 [ The thematic 8.b4!? led to about an even game: 8...Nxb4 9.Qb3+ Be6 10.Ng5+ Kg6 11.Nxe6 Nxd3+ 12.Kd2 Nxc1 13.Kxc1 Qe7 14.Nxf8+ Rxf8 - Rick] 8...Kg8 9.Ng5 [ I'm for 9.b4 again - Rick] 9...Bg4 10.Qe1 Nh5 11.h3 Bxh3 ["All according to plan", but the stronger plan was 11...Nf4!? 12.hxg4 Nxd3 - Rick] 12.Nxh3 Ng3 13.b4 Nxb4 14.cxb4 Bd4 15.Ra2 Nxf1 16.Kxf1 Qh4 17.Be3 Rf6 18.Bxd4, White has an advantage, but Black lost on time 1-0

SIRMO - NMTIGER

thematic www.chessworld.net, 12.2007 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.c3 Nf6 6.a4 Nxe4 7.d4 exd4 8.0-0 Qf6 9.Qd3 Qg6 10.cxd4 Nb4 11.Qc4+ Qe6 12.Qxe6+ dxe6 13.dxc5 Nc2 14.Ra2 Nb4 15.Ra1 Nxc5 16.Bf4 Nc2 17.Ra2 b5 18.axb5 Nb4 19.Ra5 Ncd3 20.Ne5+ Nxe5 21.Bxe5 Nc2 22.Bxc7 Nd4 23.h3 Ne2+ 24.Kh2 Rf8 25.b6 a6 26.Nc3 Nxc3 27.bxc3 Bb7 28.Re1 Ke7 29.Rae5 Rxf2 30.Rxe6+ Kf7 31.R1e2 Rf5 32.Re7+ Kg6 33.R2e6+ Rf6 34.Rxf6+ Kxf6 35.Bd6 Bc6 36.b7 Bxb7 37.Rxb7 a5 38.Rb3 Ke6 39.Bc5 Kd5 40.Bd4 g6 41.Rb5+ Kc4 42.Rc5+ Kb3 43.Rb5+ Kc4 44.Rc5+ Kd3 45.Rb5 a4 46.Rb2 a3 47.Ra2 Kc4 48.Bf6 Kb3 49.Ra1 a2 50.g4 Rc8 51.g5 Ka3 [Here or on the next move, ...Rc4 looks like a save for Black - Rick] 52.Kg3 Rb8 53.c4 Rb1 54.Kf2 Kb3 55.c5 Rxa1 56.Bxa1 Kc2 57.c6 Kb1 58.Bf6 h5 59.gxh6 g5 60.c7 a1Q 61.Bxa1 Kxa1 62.c8Q g4 63.Qb8 gxh3 64.h7 h2 65.h8Q+ Ka2 66.Qhb2 checkmate 1-0