Jerome Gambit: Lost Games (Part 2)

As I discovered recently, a few of my older games that have escaped scrutiny on this blog, so I am sharing them.

The following game is as quiet as expected after Black's 7th and 8th moves.

AlonzoJerome - adroit
5 5 blitz, ICC, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

The line we have been examining

Instead of offering a Rook with the Blackburne Defense, 7...d6!?, or preparing a wicked counterattack with Whistler's Defense, 7...Qe7!?, my opponent plays what I have elsewhere referred to as an "inoffensive defense" (see "An Inoffensive Defense") and a "calming defense" (see "Nothing Happened").

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.Nc3 d6 

11.d3 Bd7 12.Bg5 Ng4+ 13.Ke2 h6 14.Rhf1+ Kg7 15.Bf4 g5 16.Bg3 h5 17.h3 h4 18.Be1 Ne5 

19.d4 

Tempting. Perhaps 19.Nd5 c6 20.Ne3 Rhf8 21.Bc3 was better. 

19...Ng6 20.Bd2 g4 21.hxg4 Bxg4+ 22.Kd3 Rhf8

23.Nd5 

After the game Stockfish 8 recommended 23.Nb5, to be met by 23...Bd7 24.c4 (Not 24.Nxc7 Rxf1 25.Rxf1 Rc8 and the Knight can't withdraw because of  26...Bb5+) 24...Bxb5 25.cxb5 with an advantage to White. 

23...c6 24.Ne3 Bd7 25.Nf5+ Black resigned

The pawn at d6 will fall, and being down two is enough for my opponent.

Fight Back!

In the following game my opponent was not intimidated by the Jerome Gambit - in fact, he fought back ferociously. The game was a bit of a street brawl for a while, but, in the end, the "Jerome pawns" saved the day for me.

perrypawnpusher  - truxtrux
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Game.

6.Bxf7+ 

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Nf3+ 

9.gxf3

When I played my move, I kept thinking that I ought to be able to play 9.Qxf3, but I wasn't sure why. Later, I looked the move up, and, sure enough, it had done well for me (if 9...Bxd4 then 10.Nb5) in AlonzoJerome - HenryV, blitz, ICC, 2011 (1-0, 33) and perrypawnpusher - TijsH, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 37).

9...Bb6

A bit stronger is 9...Bb4, althought I did okay against it in perrypawnpusher - AirmanLeonidas, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 18).

10.f4

After the game Houdini preferred 10.e5 Nh7 11.d5 Re8 12.f4 Kg8, with Black a bit better (King has castled-by-hand, has a piece for two pawns).

10...d5 11.e5 Bh3 

There is no question what is on Black's mind.

12.Re1

After the game, Houdini showed a preference for 12.exf6 Bxf1 13.fxg7 Rg8 14.Qh5+ (I had not thought of this in my calculations; it prevents ...Qh4) Kxg7 15.Kxf1 Bxd4, still with an edge for Black. 

12...Ng4 13.Qf3 Qh4 14.Be3

A bit better is 14.Qxd5+ first. For this reason, Black should play ...c6.

14...Nxe3 15.fxe3 g5 

Too brash, but very understandable: Black intends to wipe my King off of the board.

16.f5

Taking the pawn (with discovered check) was stronger, but I was shaking in my boots and wanted the position as closed as possible.

16...g4 17.Qf4 

Instead, 17.Qxd5+ Kf8 18.Qe4 likely would give White the slightly better game, due to the imposing "Jerome pawns". 

17...Rhg8 18.e6+ Kf6  

This gives White too much help. After 18...Kf8 19.Nxd5 I would have had only a small advantage.

19.Qe5+ Kg5 20.Qf4+ 

Nerves, and an eye on the clock. Instead, 20.Nxd5 Raf8 21.f6+ Kg6 22.e7 Rxf6 23.e8Q+ Rxe8 24.Qxe8+ and White benefits from the curious situation of Black's King and Queen, e.g. 25...Kg7 26.Qe7+ Kg6 27.Nf4+ as Houdini later pointed out.

20...Kh5 21.Ne2 g3 22.Nxg3+ Rxg3+ 23.hxg3 Qxf4 24.gxf4 Rg8+ 

Black has two Bishops (and the initiative) for for a Rook and 3 pawns, but probably 24...Bxf5 was the way to go.

25.Kh2

Wrong way, this only draws. Instead, 25.Kf2 Bxf5 26.e7 Re8 27.Rg1 Be4 28.Rg7 looks like the way to advantage for White.

Both of us were looking at our clocks now, however.

25...Kh4

This gave me the time to infiltrate my Rook into Black's position, and the game shifted permanently. 

After 25...Bxf5 26.Rg1 Re8 27.Rg3 Rxe6 28.Rh1 Be4 29.Rhg1 Bf5 30.Kg2 Be4+ 31.Kf2 Kh4 32.Rg4+ Kh5 33.R4g3 Houdini could not find a way for White to make progress. 

26.Rg1 Rxg1 27.Rxg1 Bxf5 28.e7 Bd7 29.Rg8

29...c6 30.e8Q Bxe8 31.Rxe8 

White is up only the exchange and a pawn, but Black has too many weaknesses, and the rest of the game, albeit, played short of time, is not hard to understand.

31...c5 32.c3 cxd4 33.cxd4 Bc7 34.Re7 Bd6 35.Rxb7 h5 36.Rxa7 Kg4 37.Rd7 Bb8 38.Rxd5 h4 39.a4 h3 40.a5 Kf3 41.Kxh3 Kxe3 42.a6 Kxf4 43.Ra5 Ke4 44.a7 Bxa7 45.Rxa7 Kxd4

46.Rb7 Kc5 47.Kg3 Kc6 48.Rb3 Kc5 49.Rf3 Kc4 50.Kf2 Kd4 51.Ke2 Ke4 52.Rh3 Kd4 53.Kd2 Kc4 54.b3+ Kb4 55.Kc2 Ka5 56.Rh4 Kb5 57.Kc3 Kc5 58.b4+ Kb5 59.Rh5+ Ka4 60.Kc4 

Yes, 60.Ra5 would have been checkmate.

60...Ka3 61.b5 Ka4 62.b6 Ka3 63.b7 Kb2 64.b8Q+ Kc1 65.Rh2

At this point my opponent had more than 3 minutes on his clock, but he elected to forfeits on time.

Hats off to truxtrux for a fighting game!

Long Distance Traveller

Readers, it is time to get out your chessboards and play along, as Philidor1792 (who shows a lot of patience in an impulsive opening) explores Whistler's Defense, the improvement on Blackburne's Defense that was so devastating that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome seems to have "forgotten" to mention it in his writings.

Philidor1792 - NN
20 0, gamecolony.com, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Here we go. Philidor1792 likes to take on the tough defenses.

8.Qxe7+ Nxe7 9.c3 Re8 

Or 9...Nc6 10.d4 Bd6 11.Bg5 Re8 12.Nd2 Be7 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.f4 Rf8 15.Ke2 h6 16.Ke3 Rb8 17.Raf1 Re8 18.Kf3 b6 19.Re1 Bb7 20.g4 Rh8 21.Ke3 h5 22.h3 Rbe8 23.Kd3 Ba6+ 24.Ke3 Bc8 25.Kf3 Bb7 26.Kg3 Kf6 27.Rhf1 hxg4 28.hxg4 Rh7 29.Rh1 Rg7 30.Rh6 Ng8 31.Rh2 Kf7 32.Kf3 Nf6 33.Rh6 d6 34.Rh2 Bc6 35.Rh6 Bd7 36.Rg1 Bc6 37.Re1 Bb7 38.Rh2 Bc6 39.Rh6 Bd7 40.Rg1 Bc6 41.Re1 Bb7 42.Rh2 Bc6 43.Rh6 b5 44.Rh2 Rgg8 45.Rh6 Kg7 46.Rh2 Rgf8 47.Rhh1 Rf7 48.Rh2 Bd7 49.Rg1 Bc6 50.Re1 Bd7 51.Rg1 Bc6 52.Re1 Bd7 53.Rg1 Rfe7 54.Re2 Rh8 55.f5 Nh7 56.Kf4 Nf8 57.e5 gxf5 58.gxf5+ Kf7 59.e6+ Nxe6+ 60.fxe6+ Bxe6 61.a3 Rh4+ 62.Kg5 Rh8 63.Kf4 Rh4+ 64.Kg5 Rh8 draw, Philidor1792-Computer (Crafty).

10.d4 Bb6 11.Bg5 d6 12.Nd2 Be6 13.Ke2 Kg7 

Or 13...Ng8 14.Kd3 Nf6 15.Bxf6 Kxf6 16.f4 Kf7 17.h3 Rac8 18.g4 d5 19.e5 Rf8 20.Raf1 Bd7 21.Rf2 Ke6 22.Nf1 Bb5+ 23.Ke3 Rce8 24.Ng3 Kd7 25.Kf3 c5 26.Rd1 Ba4 27.b3 Bc6 28.f5 Rf7 29.Re2 gxf5 30.gxf5 Re6 31.Kg4 Rg7+ 32.Kf4 Rf7 33.Nh5 cxd4 34.cxd4 Bc7 35.Rg2 Bb5 36.Rdg1 Bd3 37.Rg7 Ree7 38.Rxf7 Rxf7 39.Rg7 Rxg7 40.Nxg7 Bf1 41.Kg5 Bxh3 42.Kf6 Bd8+ 43.Kf7 Be7 44.f6 Bb4 45.e6+ Bxe6+ 46.Nxe6 h5 47.Nf4 Bc3 48.Nxd5 Bxd4 49.Kg6 Kc6 50.f7 Bc5 51.Nf4 h4 52.Ne6 Bd6 53.Ng5 Bf8 54.Kh7 Kd5 55.Kg8 Bd6 56.f8Q Bxf8 57.Kxf8 a5 58.Ke7 b5 59.Kd7 a4 60.Kc7 axb3 61.axb3 Kd4 62.Kb6 Kc3 63.Kxb5 Kxb3 draw Philidor1792 -NN.

14.Kd3 c6 15.f4 h6 16.Bxe7 Rxe7 17.h3 Rf8 18.Raf1 Bc7 19.g4 d5 20.e5 Ref7 

21.Ke3 Bd8 22.Rf3 Be7 23.Rhf1 b6 24.R1f2 Bh4 25.Rg2 Kh7 26.Nf1 h5 27.Nh2 Kh6 28.Nf1 Be7 29.Nh2 h4 30.Rgf2 Bc8 31.Nf1 Kg7 32.Kd2 Bg5 33.Ke3 Ba6 34.Nh2 Bd8 35.Kd2 Bc8 

36.Nf1 Kg8 37.Ne3 Bg5 38.Ng2 Kg7 39.Ke3 Be7 40.Ke2 Bd8 41.Ne3 Ba6+ 42.Kd2 Kh7 43.f5 Bg5 44.f6 Re8 

45.Kc2 Kh6 46.Ng2 Kh7 47.Nf4 Bh6 48.Rg2 g5 49.Nd3 Kg6 50.Ne1 Rc7 51.Kd2 Kf7 52.Rgf2 Rf8 53.Ng2 Ke6 54.Ne3 Rff7 55.Nf5 Bf8 

56.Nxh4 gxh4 57.g5 b5 58.g6 Bh6+ 59.Kc2 Rfd7 60.f7 Bf8 61.Rf6+ Ke7 62.R6f4 c5 63.Rxh4 Rc6 64.Rg4 Bg7 65.dxc5 Kf8 66.Re2 Re7 67.h4 b4 68.Re3 bxc3 69.bxc3 Ree6 70.h5

70...Bxe5 71.Rxe5 Bd3+ 72.Kxd3 Rxe5 73.g7+ Kxf7 74.g8Q+ Kf6 75.Qg6+ Ke7 76.Qxc6 Rxh5 77.Rg7+ Kf8 78.Qf6+ Ke8 79.Qe7 checkmate

Be Careful What You Read

It was pleasant to have my opponent choose the defense that he did, as it leaves White with a pawn plus advantage, even if attacking prospects have diminished. (Alas, because I believed that previous statement, I eventually got careless in my "zombie walk" and drew the game, as you will see.)




perrypawnpusher - HelloGoodby
blitz, FICS, 2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

This defense does not have a name, but it might as well be called "the thinking player's defense," as it usually is composed by Black on the fly, to force the exchange of Queens and stifle White's attack. It is all very logical, although Black does exchange a won position for one that has him a pawn down...


8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.Nc3 

Or 10.d3 as in perrypawnpusher - ScudRocket, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 24) 


10...d6 


I have also played 10...Re8 as in perrypawnpusher - BEEB, blitz, FICS, 2011 (½-½, 63) and perrypawnpusher - Conspicuous, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 22); and 10...Rf8 as in perrypawnpusher - Edvardinho, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 42). 


11.Rf1 


Alternatives include 11.d4 from perrypawnpusher - Mences, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 48) and 11.d3 from AlonzoJerome - adroit, ICC, 2011 (1-0, 25). 


11...Kg7 12.Kg1 Re8 


With aggressive intentions, but I have to think that the more modest 12...Rf8 would have been better. 


13.d3 a6 14.Bg5 Rf8 15.Bxf6+ Rxf6 16.Rxf6 Kxf6 17.Nd5+ 

Leading to the gain of a secone pawn. Black's better King position and Bishop do not compensate.


17...Ke5 18.Nxc7 Rb8 19.Rf1 Bg4 20.Nd5 

After the game Rybka preferred more aggressive play: 20.Rf7 d5 (20...Bd1 21.Kf2 Bxc2 22.Ke3) 21.Nxd5 Be6 22.Rxh7 Bxd5 23.exd5 Kxd5. 


20...Rc8 21.Rc1 


Making routine, not-thought-out moves, instead of 21.c3 Be2 (21...Bd7 22.d4+ Kxe4 23.Nf6+; or 21...Be6 22.d4+ Kxe4 23.Ne7 Re8 24.Re1+) 22.Rf7 Bxd3 23.Re7# 


To checkmate a King, you first have to realize that it might be possible, and then look for the right lines.


21...Be6 22.Ne3 


Thoughtless. Why not 22.Nc3 ? 


22...Bxa2 

Losing this pawn is not the end of the world for White, but it almost looks like the beginning of the end, and White's thinking has collapsed.


23.b3 Bxb3 24.Rb1 Bxc2 


Too greedy. Rybka suggested: 24...Kd4 25.Rxb3 Kxe3 26.Rxb7 Rxc2 27.h4 Kxd3 28.Rxh7 Kxe4.


25.Nxc2 


Overlooking the opportunity of 25.Rc1.


25...Rxc2 26.Rxb7 h6 

I have managed to squander my two pawn advantage, and Black might well be better here. Time to use the active Rook to get the draw.


27.Ra7 Ra2 28.Rh7 h5 29.Rg7 Kf6 30.Rd7 Ke6 31.Rg7 Kf6 32.Rd7 Ke6 33.Rg7 Kf6 34.Rd7 Ke6 Game drawn by repetition 

I suppose that both of us felt lucky with the outcome.

Trick or Treat / Sing Along

From Jerome Gambit Gemeinde Member Bill Wall:

Rick,


After reading your doom and gloom article, I wanted to play the same variation, but got a different one with 6...Bxd4 instead of 6...Bb4. But instead of doom and gloom, it was Trick or Treat as I tricked my opponent with some exchanges, including the Queens, and was treated with a win in 21 moves.

Wall,B - Bersekergang
blitz 10 0, FICS, 2011


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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4

7.Qxd4 Qf6

As old as the unfinished correspondence game, Alonzo Jerome - D.P. Norton, 1876.

8.Qc5 Qd6

For some very odd reason, this game reminds me of the Blue Man Group music video, featuring Dave Matthews; I imagine the song referred to was titled "d6".

9.Qxd6 cxd6

10.0-0 Nf6 11.Nc3 a6 12.Rd1 Ke7 13.b3 b5 14.Ba3 Nf7 15.e5 Ne8

16.exd6+ Nexd6 17.Ne4 Bb7 18.Nxd6 Nxd6 19.Rxd6 Kd8 20.Rad1

20...Bc6

A slip, no doubt leaving Bersekergang feeling, well, blue.

21.Rxc6 Black resigned

Compensation

My relationship with my chess partner, Rybka 3, is a mixed one: it helps me understand my games after they are over; in turn, I have to put up with its "insults" (negative evaluations) about my play.

I trust Rybka's evaluations, but sometimes they are based upon the dynamic play that is possible in a position – often including moves played at the master level – as compensation for sacrificed material.

In games like the following, my opponent could be content with his extra material throughout the game. I struggled, successfully, as it turned out, to find all of the compensation that Rybka, afterward, assured me was there.

perrypawnpusher - irak
blitz 6 10, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Kf8

Stronger, but more complicated with more risk, is 7...Ke6. The text move keeps Black's advantage.

8.Qxe5 Bd6

I have faced this move, without ...h6 and 0-0, against LeiCar and dogofthesouth.

9.Qc3

Possibly a bit stronger than 9.Qd4 in perrypawnpusher - LethHansen, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 26).

9...Qf6

Black would not mind exchanging some pieces, to remove any danger to his King. White should be able to take advantage of this mind set and get an equal game.

10.d4 Bf4 11.Nd2

After the game Rybka 3 preferred 11.e5.

11...c6

AlonzoJerome - MarleysGhost, blitz, ICC, 2011, also continued with an overt "exchange" theme: 11...Bxd2 12.Bxd2 Qc6 13.Qf3+ Qf6 14.Qe3 d6 (1-0, 17)

12.Nf3 Bxc1 13.Raxc1 Ne7

Black is rightly pleased with his solid game, although a skeptic would point out that he moved his dark-squared Bishop four times in exchanging it for White's un-moved counterpart. These missing tempi can be seen in comparing the two home ranks: White's Rooks are linked, while it will take Black three moves to do so.

The question, as always, is: can White make something of this, or will Black's extra piece prevail in the end?

14.e5 Qe6 15.Qd3 Qxa2

I knew that Black could not afford this further loss of time, even with his solid position. This is the kind of  pawn-grabbing that Chess Challenger 7 used to do against me all the time, many, many years ago.

How to punish it??

16.b3 Qa6 17.Qe4

Understandable, although more consistent (i.e. "Jerome pawns") was 17.c4. Nothing is going to happen quickly, but White's clamp-down on Black's position can grow tighter and tighter.

17...Ke8

Far-sighted: he plans to make f5 a strong point for defense. It will cost him more tempi to get his Queen back into play, but if he does not create further weaknesses in his position it will remain White's responsibility to show compensation for his sacrifices.

18.Nh4 Qb5 19.f4 Qd5 20.Qe3 Rf8

As planned, but Black gets his moves out of order.

After 20...g6 White can still go for the breakthrough with 21.f5 but after 21...Nxf5 22.Nxf5 gxf5 23.Rxf5 c5 Black is still holding his own, according to Rybka 3. White would still have to play accurately and actively to show his compensation.

21.f5 d6

Understandable: Black hits White's center, and prepares to finally develop his Queen Bishop and Queen Rook. Unfortunately, it opens things up for White, who can now better get at his King.

As painful as it might have felt, Black needed to continue to set development aside and play something like 21...c5.

After the game Rybka 3 suggested 22.Rcd1 cxd4 23.Rxd4 Qc5 24.f6 Nd5 25.Qf2 gxf6 26.Nf5 Kd8 27.Nd6 b6 28.Ne4 with an edge for White. Again, that is a rather sophisticated evaluation: White's compensation is largely in dynamic play, and if he lags, he loses.

22.f6

Good, and thematic, but second best: how could I have overlooked the "Jerome pawn"-themed 22.c4 (followed by 23.exd6)?

22...gxf6 23.exf6

23...Qf7

After some excellent cold-blooded defense, Black slips again, and his game rolls downhill...

Rybka 3 reduces the game to a Rook and pawn endgame that is better for White with 23...Rf7 24.Rce1 Qg5 25.Qxg5 hxg5 26.Ng6 Bg4 27.Rxe7+ Rxe7 28.fxe7 Kd7 29.Rf7 Rc8 30.c4 a5 31.Kf2 Bh5 32.Nf8+ Ke8 33.Rg7 Bf7 34.Nh7 Kxe7 35.Nxg5 Kf6 36.Rxf7+ Kxg5 37.Rxb7 Kf4 38.Re7 Rb8.

24.fxe7 Qxe7 25.Qxh6

Again, this is enough, but the puckish 25.Rxf8+ was better, as 25...Kxf8 would have been followed by the Knight fork 26.Ng6+, winning the Black Queen.

25...Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 Be6 27.Re1 Kd7 28.c4 Re8

Finally, the pieces are developed. If Black could move his Queen out of the pin along the e-file, he could envision further resistance, being only a pawn down, with a Bishop against a Knight.

29.d5 Qf8 30.dxe6+ Ke7 31.Ng6+ Kf6 32.Nxf8+ Ke7 33.Qg7+

Here Black's time ran out. His clock was still running over 2 1/2 minutes later, so I courtesy adjourned the game. He resigned the next day.