A Whole Lot In There

Chessfriend Philidor 1792 has delivered another large collection of exciting games: some Jerome Gambits and some Jerome Gambit-related openings.

For a three-minute blitz game, the following match has a whole lot in it. White improves on earlier efforts (a dozen or so moves into the game) and carries the fight from the opening through the middle game to the endgame. When his opponent slips, Philidor 1792 executes a piquant checkmate.


Philidor 1792 - guest1200

3 0 blitz, www.bereg.ru, 2014

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qxe7+ Nxe7

Philidor 1792 previously played three games against the computer Crafty, which chose 8...Kxe7, winning one game, losing one, and drawing one. See "Long Distance Traveller" and "Which One Wins?"

9.c3 d5

Or 9...Bb6 10.d4 d6 11.Nd2 Kf7 12.Nc4 Re8 13.Nxb6 axb6 14.0-0 Bd7 15.f4 Bb5 16.Rf2 Ng8 17.e5 Ne7 18.b3 dxe5 19.fxe5+ Kg8 20.Bg5 Ng6 21.h4 h6 22.Bd2 Rf8 23.c4 Bd7 24.Bc3 Nxh4 25.d5 Bg4 26.Bb4 Rxf2 27.Kxf2 Re8 28.Kg3 Nxg2 29.Kxg4 Ne3+ 30.Kf4 Nc2 31.Bc3 Nxa1 32.Bxa1 Kf7 33.e6+ Kg6 34.Be5 Re7 35.Bd4 h5 36.Ke5 h4 37.b4 h3 38.Bg1 Kg5 39.c5 bxc5 40.bxc5 Re8 41.d6 cxd6+ 42.cxd6 Rf8 43.d7 Kg4 44.e7 Black resigned,  Philidor 1792- BigM, Internet online game, blitz, 2012.

10.d4 Bb6 11.e5 c5 12.Be3 Nf5

Improving over 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Nc3 Nxd4 15.O-O-O Nc6 16.Nxd5 Bxe3+ 17.Nxe3 Ke7 18.Nd5+ Kf7 19.Nc7 Rb8 20.f4

Bg4 21.Rd6 Rhd8 22.Nb5 a6 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Nd6+ Ke6 25.Nxb7 Rd4 26.g3 Bf3 27.Rf1 Nb4 28.Nc5+ Kd5 29.Rxf3 Kxc5 30.a3 Nd3+ 31.Kb1 Ne1 32.Re3 Rd1+ 33.Ka2 Nd3 34.e6 Re1 35.Rxd3 Rxe6 36.Rd7 Re2 37.Rxg7 Rxh2 38.Kb3 Rh3 39.Ka4 h5 40.b4+ Kb6 41.Rg6+ Kb7 42.Ka5 h4 43.gxh4 Rxh4 44.Rb6+ Kc7 45.f5 Rh5 46.Kxa6 Rxf5, Black resigned, Philidor1792 - NN, 2012

13.O-O

An improvement over the earlier 13.Na3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bxd4 16.O-O-O Bxe5 17.Rxd5 Bf4+ 18.Kb1 Be6 19.Rd4 Be5 20.Rd2 Bf5+ 21.Ka1 Kf7 22.f4 Bf6 23.Nc4 Rhd8 24.Nd6+ Kg8 25.h3 Be7 26.Nxf5 Rxd2 27.Nxe7+ Kf7 28.Nf5 g6 29.Nh4 Re8 30.g4 Ree2 31.Rb1 Rf2 32.f5 g5 White resigned, Philidor1792 - Kharitonoff, Casual Game, Chess-Samara.ru, 2014.

13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Nxd4 15.Nc3 Be6 16.Rfd1 Nc6 17.Bxb6 axb6 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 Ke7

20.Rb5 Ra6 21.Rd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8 Nxd8 23.f4 Rxa2 24.Rxb6 Ra6 25.Rb4 Ke6 26.Kf2 h5 27.Kf3 Kf5 28.g3 g5 29.Rd4 Nf7 30.Rd7 g4+ 31.Ke3 Ke6 32.Rxb7 Nh6 33.Ke4 

33...Ra4+

The "Jerome pawns" are looking frisky, but 33...Nf5 would have kept the game even. 

34. b4 Ng8 35. f5 checkmate

The Wisdom of The Database (Part 2)

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.Qh5+

Alternative: 6...Ke6

RevvedUp (2038) - Shredder 8 (3374)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Kf7 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qxe5 Bd4 12.Qf4+ Nf6 13.c3 Re8 14.cxd4 Rxe4+ 0-1


RevvedUp (2039) - Yace Paderborn (3124)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qe2 Nf6 10.Qc4+ Kd6 11.Qd3+ Kc6 12.Qf3 Bg4 13.Qb3 Qd4 14.Rf1 Qxe4+ 0-1


RevvedUp (2037) - Hiarcs 8 (3074)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Rf1 Nf6 10.Qe2 Ke7 11.d3 Bg4 12.Qd2 Qd4 13.c3 Qd6 14.b4 Bb6 15.a4 Rhf8 16.Qc2 Nxe4 17.dxe4 Rxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Rf8+ 19.Ke1 Bf2+ 20.Kf1 Bh4+ 21.Kg1 Qb6+ 22.Kh1 Rf1# 0-1

RevvedUp (2037) - Fritz 8 (3074)
blitz 2 12 2, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qh4+ Nf6 11.d3 Kf7 12.Nc3 Ng4 13.Rf1+ Kg6 14.Qg3 Be7 15.Ke2 Bh4 16.Qf3 Be6 17.h3 Nh2 18.Qe3 Nxf1 19.Kxf1 Rf8+ 20.Ke2 Qf6 21.Nd5 Qf1+ 22.Kd2 Bxd5 23.exd5 Bg5 0-1

RevvedUp (2036) - Crafty 19.19 (3024)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf8+ Kc6 11.Qf3 Nf6 12.d3 d5 13.Nc3 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Re8 15.Bf4 Qxb2 16.Kd2 Nxe4+ 17.dxe4 Qd4+ 18.Qd3 Bb4+ 19.Ke2 Rxe4+ 20.Kf3 Rxf4+ 0-1


Shredder 8 (3374) - RevvedUp (2038)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qe2 Nf6 10.Qc4+ Kd6 11.b4 Bb6 12.Nc3 Be6 13.Qe2 c6 14.Na4 Qe7 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.0-0 Rhf8 17.a3 Kc7 18.Bb2 Bg4 19.Qe3 h6 20.d4 exd4 21.Qg3+ Kd7 22.e5 Be2 23.exf6 Rxf6 24.Rfe1 Raf8 25.Bxd4 1-0

The Wisdom of The Database (Part 1)

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

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. (That would require a process called backsolving, which is not available in my ChessBase8.)


The Opening Report again also highlights a number of games from an interesting 2008 30-game human vs computers match (starting with "Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (1)"

This post starts an extended series (which may be interrupted from time-to-time for news, games or analysis) wherein the intrepid "RevvedUp" (a good chess player) and his trusted companions Hiarcs 8, Shredder 8, Yace Paderborn, Crafty 19.19 and Fritz 8 explore the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) by taking turns playing the White and Black pieces. 

The human moves first, and takes notice of the defense the computer plays. In the next game, where he moves second, the human plays that defense against a new computer – and sees how it attacks. In the third game, the human plays the recent attack against his new computer foe. Collectively, the players drill deeper and deeper into the Jerome Gambit.

Opening Report

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

3618 games in 'TheDatabase'

1. History

Earliest game:

Jerome,A - Shinkman,W, Iowa, 1874
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 Nf6 11.d3 Ke7 12.Nc3 g5 13.Rf1 c6 14.g3 d5 15.Bd2 Bg4 16.Qg2 Rhf8 17.h3 Nxe4 18.Bf4 gxf4 19.gxf4 Rxf4 20.Nxe4 Rxf1+ 21.Kxf1 and Mr. Shinkman announced loss of the Queen or mate in six moves. 0-1

Latest grandmaster game:

Hiarcs 8 (3074) - RevvedUp (2037)
blitz 2 12 2, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Kd6 11.Qd3+ Ke7 12.Qg3 Ke6 13.Qh3+ Kf7 14.Qh5+ Ke6 15.Qh3+ 1/2-1/2

Latest game:

Wall,B - Filipmihov
FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 9.d3 Ng4 10.0-0 Qf6 11.c3 Bxf2+ 12.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 13.Qxf2+ Nxf2 14.Kxf2 Be6 15.Nd2 Ke7 16.Nf3 Rhf8 17.h3 Rf7 18.Bg5+ Kd7 19.Kg3 h6 20.Bd2 g5 21.Rf1 Raf8 22.c4 c6 23.b4 b6 24.c5 g4?! 25.hxg4 Rg8 26.g5 hxg5 27.Rh1 g4 28.Ng5 Re7 29.cxd6 Kxd6 30.Rh6 Kd7 31.a4 Bf7 32.a5 b5?! 33.Bf4 Rg6?? 34.Nxf7 Rxh6 35.Nxh6 c5 36.bxc5 Kc6 37.Nf5 Re8 38.Bd6 Rd8 39.Nd4+ 1-0

2. Players

a) Strong grandmasters who used this line as Black:
Fritz 8     Result=6/9 2003-2006 
Hiarcs 8     Result=5/6 2002-2006 
Shredder 8     Result=3/3 2006 
Crafty 19.19     Result=3/3 2006 
Yace Paderborn     Result=2.5/3 2006  
YOUCANWIN     Result=2/2 2009 
birdcostello     Result=1/1 2009 

b) Other notable players:
thhZ     Result=10/11 2005-2010 
Knight Stalker     Result=8/11 1993 
pavlo     Result=7.5/11 2007-2011
polite     Result=7/11 2003-2010


3. Statistics

Black scores above average (47%).
Black performs Elo 1364 against an opposition of Elo 1385 (-21).
White performs Elo 1403 against an opposition of Elo 1382 (+21).
White wins: 1845 (=51%), Draws: 150 (=4%), Black wins: 1611 (=45%)
The drawing quote is very low. 

White wins are shorter than average (33).
Black wins are shorter than average (33).
Draws are long (51).


4. Moves and Plans

a) 6.Qh5+

2660 games, 1874-2012, 
White scores averagely (55%).
Elo-Ø: 1404, 2203 games. Performance = Elo 1416
played by: Shredder 8, 3376, 3/3; Yace Paderborn, 3126, 2.5/3; Hiarcs 8, 3076, 2.5/6; Fritz 8, 3076, 6/10; Crafty 19.19, 3025, 2.5/3

You should play: 6...Ng6

RevvedUp (2034) - Shredder 8 (3377)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Qh4 10.0-0 Nf6 11.d3 Kf7 12.Qg5 Qxg5 13.Bxg5 Bd7 14.Nc3 Rhf8 15.h3 Nh5 16.Rae1 Nhf4 17.Kh2 h6 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.Ne2 Ke7 20.Nxf4 Rxf4 21.f3 Raf8 22.Rf2 Ke6 23.Ree2 h5 24.Kg1 h4 25.Kf1 Ke5 26.Kg1 Ke6 27.Kf1 Ke5 28.Kg1 Be6 29.a3 Re8 30.Kf1 Ref8 31.Ke1 Bd7 32.Kd2 c5 33.c3 Ke6 34.Ke3 Bb5 35.Kd2 a5 36.Kc2 b6 37.Kd2 Ba4 38.Kc1 b5 39.Kd2 Bb3 40.Ke3 R8f6 41.Rd2 Rf8 42.Ke2 R8f7 43.Ke3 a4 44.Rfe2 R4f6 45.Rf2 Rf4 46.Rfe2 Rf8 47.Rf2 d5 48.Rfe2 dxe4 49.dxe4 Ke7 50.Re1 Ke6 51.Rf1 Ke7 52.Re1 Ke6 53.Rf1 Ke5 54.Re1 R4f7 55.Ree2 Be6 56.Rf2 Rf4 57.Rde2 Bd7 58.Rd2 Bc6 59.Rde2 R4f7 60.Rd2 Bb7 61.Rde2 Rd7 62.Rd2 Rfd8 63.Rxd7 Rxd7 64.Rd2 Rxd2 65.Kxd2 Kf4 66.Ke2 Bc8 67.Kf2 Be6 68.Kf1 Kg3 69.Kg1 Bc4 70.Kh1 Bf1 71.Kg1 Bxg2 0-1


RevvedUp (2034) - Yace Paderborn (3127)
blitz 2 12 2 12 (2.9), 28.06.2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Qh4 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Nc3 Ng4 12.Qg3 Qxg3 13.hxg3 Be6 14.f4 Bf7 15.d3 Kd7 16.Bd2 Ne7 17.Rae1 Rhf8 18.a3 Rae8 19.Nd1 Bh5 20.Ne3 Kc8 21.Nxg4 Bxg4 22.Kf2 Nc6 23.Bc3 Rf7 24.Rh1 h6 25.Rh4 h5 26.Rhh1 Ne7 27.Rc1 Kb8 28.b3 Nc6 29.Bb2 g5 30.Ke3 d5 31.Rhf1 dxe4 32.dxe4 Rfe7 33.e5 Rf7 34.c4 Rd8 35.Rc2 Rfd7 36.Rff2 gxf4+ 37.gxf4 Ne7 38.Bc3 Rd3+ 39.Ke4 Bf5# 0-1


RevvedUp (2033) - Fritz 8 (3077)
blitz 2 12 2, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qxc5 Nf4 8.0-0 d6 9.Qe3 Qg5 10.g3 Nh3+ 11.Kg2 Qxe3 12.dxe3 Ng5 13.f3 Bh3+ 0-1


RevvedUp (2033) - Hiarcs 8 (3077)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Be6 10.f4 N6e7 11.0-0 d5 12.d3 dxe4 13.dxe4 Nf6 14.Nc3 Ng4 15.Qd3 Qxd3 16.cxd3 Rd8 17.Rd1 c5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Be3 b6 20.g4 Nc6 21.Rac1 Ke7 22.a3 Bb3 23.Rd2 Rhf8 24.Kf2 Rd7 25.e5 Nxe5 26.fxe5 Ne4+ 27.Ke2 Ng3+ 28.Ke1 Rf1# 0-1


RevvedUp (2032) - Crafty 19.19 (3027)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qxc5 Nf6 8.Nc3 d6 9.Qe3 d5 10.Qf3 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Re8 12.d3 Bg4 13.Qe3 Rxe4 14.dxe4 Qd1# 0-1

Shredder 8 (3377) - RevvedUp (2034)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Qh4 10.Nc3 c6 11.d3 Nf6 12.Qd4 Ke7 13.h3 Qh5 14.0-0 Qc5 15.Qa4 Re8 16.Be3 Qe5 17.f4 Qe6 18.f5 Qf7 19.fxg6 Qxg6 20.Rf3 h6 21.Raf1 Be6 22.Qb4 b6 23.e5 Nd5 24.Qxd6# 1-0


Main line:


7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qe3 Nf6  46%, 1337 285 games
7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3  71%, 1501 170 games

Critical line:
7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qc3 Nf6 43 % Black. 

Plans White:

..(Ne5-g6)/Qh5xc5/Qc5-e3/0-0/Nb1-c3/d2-d4/f2-f4 (17) 
d2-d3/0-0 (433) 
..(Ne5-g6)/Qh5xc5/Qc5-d5/ ..(Bc8-e6)/Qd5xb7/0-0 (29) 
..(Ne5-g6)/Qh5-d5/Qd5xc5/Qc5-e3/0-0 (224) 
0-0/f2-f4/h2-h3 (77) 

Plans Black:

d7-d6/Ng8-f6/Rh8-e8/Kf7-g8/d6-d5 (49)
d7-d6/Ng8-f6/Nf6-g4/Qd8-h4 (18) 
d7-d6/d6-d5/d5xe4 (113) 
d7-d6/Bc8-e6 (259) 
Ng8-f6/Rh8-f8 (179) 
d7-d6/Ng8-e7/Rh8-f8 (69) 

Opening Report: Take a breath...

So far, the recent Opening Report on the Jerome Gambit (see 1, 2 and 3), based on the 27,000+ games contained in TheDatabase, has had few surprises. I'd like to point out a couple of interesting findings, however, before pursuing a deeper look.

The Opening Report highlights a number of games from an interesting 2008 30-game human vs computers match (starting with "Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (1)"

This post starts an extended series (which may be interrupted from time-to-time for news, games or analysis) wherein the intrepid "RevvedUp" (a good chess player) and his trusted companions Hiarcs 8, Shredder 8, Yace Paderborn, Crafty 19.19 and Fritz 8 explore the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) by taking turns playing the White and Black pieces. 

The human moves first, and takes notice of the defense the computer plays. In the next game, where he moves second, the human plays that defense against a new computer – and sees how it attacks. In the third game, the human plays the recent attack against his new computer foe. Collectively, the players drill deeper and deeper into the Jerome Gambit.

It also shows that Jerome Gambit players sometimes prefer chaos to clarity, as recommended responses to the Jerome Gambit Declined (again, based on the examples in TheDatabase) - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 or 4...Ke7 - are given as 5.Nc3 and 5.Nxe5, respectively.

The straight-forward Bishop retreat 5.Bb3 (as well as its cousin, 5.Bd5) is stronger.

We will use the ChessBase Opening Report to dig deeper into the Jerome Gambit (through the eyes of TheDatabase), but first there are a few new interesting games from Philidor1792 to look at.

Poor, Poor Computer

If I told you that an online player recently challenged a computer (rated about 350 points higher than himself) to a game of chess, choosing to play an often-refuted opening and facing its best-known defense (highlighted in a brutal miniature by a master known as "the Black Death") – well, you might be inclined to say "Poor, poor human."

Oh, but you noticed: this post is titled "Poor, Poor Computer" (my emphasis).

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of the Jerome Gambit! 

radicalmove - LuigiBot
rated standard game, FICS, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's Defense, made famous by the game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885. See "Flaws (Part I) and Flaws (Part II)".

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Qd8 

White's 10th move was suggested shortly after the Blackburne game was played, but it did not become widely known. Most players understand the end of Black's counter-attack to be a combination of "Nobody Expects the Jerome Gambit!" and "Mars Attacks!"

10...Qxe4

This is a move that computers are fond of. See "Ionman vs the Bots" for some examples. 

11.Qxc7+ 

Instead, 11.Nc3 was seen in the game RevvedUp - Shredder 8, blitz 2 12, 2006 (0-1, 25) from the incredible match, RevvedUp vs Hiarcs 8, Shredder 8, Yace Paderborn, Crafty 19.19 and Fritz 8. See "Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (1)" for starters.

11...Bd7 12.d3 Qd5 13.Nc3 Qc6 14.Qxc6 Bxc6 

LuigiBot has traded off its harassed Queen, but the situation looks kind of grim in any event. White is ahead the exchange and a couple of pawns; about a piece worth of material. Quite a change from less than a dozen moves ago!

15.Be3 Re8 16.Rae1 Re6 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Rxe6 Kxe6 

Radicalmove is content to continue to reduce the play to a basic endgame. 

19.a3 Kf5 20.h3 h6 21.b4 cxb4 22.axb4 Kf4 23.b5 

As if the current game were not bad enough, the two combatants played another game the same day (I do not know which was played first, but it might be the longer one) with the same result: 23.Re1 Bd7 24.h4 Bc6 25.g3+ Kf5 26.d4 Ne4 27.Nxe4 Bxe4 28.c4 b6 29.c5 h5 30.cxb6 axb6 31.Ra1 Bd5 32.Ra6 b5 33.Ra5 Ke4 34.Rxb5 Kxd4 35.Rb8 Kd3 36.b5 Kd4 37.b6 Kc5 38.b7 Kd4 39.Rd8 Ke4 40.b8Q Kd4 41.Qb7 Ke5 42.Qxd5+ Kf6 43.Rd7 Black resigned, radicalmove - LuigiBot, rated standard game, FICS, 2012.

23...Bd7 24.Re1 Bf5 25.h4 Bg4 26.g3+ Kf5 27.d4 Nd7 28.Na4 Bf3 29.Nc5 Nxc5 30.dxc5 Be4 

31.c4 Ke5 32.c6 a5 33.cxb7 Kd4 34.b8Q Bf5 35.Qb6+ Kxc4 36.Qxa5 Bd3 37.Qa4+ Black resigned

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

Sailing Off Again

Bouyed by his recent draw against the computer in the difficult "Nibs" variation of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) (see "Sailing Off of the Edge of the World") Philidor1792 played three more exploratory games with Crafty, two with the White pieces and one with the Black.


This time the results were not as encouraging.


Philidor1792 - Computer (Crafty)
2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ 9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kd1 Ne7 

Despite Philidor1792's previous escape, White (not Black) is in big trouble here.


11.e5+ Kc6 12.Qe4+ d5 13.exd6+ Nd5 14.gxh4 Bg4 15.Qa4+ 

One of the new games continued, instead, in a novel direction with 15.d4 Rae8 16.Qxe8+ Rxe8 17.h3 Bh5 18.dxc5 Ne1+ 19.Kd2 Re2+ 20.Kd1 Re3+ 21.Kd2 Nf3+ 22.Kd1 Ne5+ 23.Kd2 Nc4 checkmate, Philidor1792 - Computer (Crafty); 


Another, with the computer taking the White pieces, introduced another new line 15.f5 Nxh2+ 16.Ke1 Rae8 17.d3 Bxf5 18.Rxh2 Bxe4 19.dxe4 Rxe4+ 20.Kd1 Bxd6 21.Rh1 Rd4+ 22.Bd2 Rf8 23.c3 Rg4 24.Kc2 Rf2 25.Kb3 Rgg2 26.Rd1 Rh2 27.a4 Bf4 28.c4 Nf6 29.Bc3 Rxh4 30.Na3 Rhh2 31.Nb5 Be3 32.Rd3 Bc5 33.Nd4+ Kb6 (33...Bxd4 would have preserved Black's advantage) 34.a5+ Ka6 35.Ne6 b6 36.axb6+ Kxb6 37.Nxc5 Kxc5 38.Ra6 Rf4 39.Bb4 checkmate, Computer (Crafty) - Philidor1792. 


15...b5 16.Qa6+ Bb6 


Crafty significantly improves over its previous 16...Nb6, Philidor1792 - Computer (Crafty) (½-½, 89).


17.h3 Bh5 18.c3 Rhe8 19.Kc2 Nd4+ 20.cxd4 Nb4+ 21.Kb3 Nxa6

Black's extra piece will outplay White's extra pawns.


22.dxc7 Bf7+ 23.Kc3 Ba5+ 24.b4 Nxb4 25.Ba3 Nd3+ 26.Kc2 Nxf4 27.Nc3 b4 28.d5+ Kxc7 29.Rhf1 Bg6+ 30.Kb3 bxc3 31.Rxf4 cxd2 

32.d6+ Kd7 33.Bb4 Bxb4 34.Kxb4 Bh5 35.Rff1 Kxd6 36.Kc3 d1Q 37.Raxd1+ Bxd1 38.Rxd1+ Kc6 

A Rook is a Rook is a Rook...


39.Rc1 Rac8 40.Kd3+ Kd5 41.Rg1 g6 42.h5 gxh5 43.Rg7 a5 44.Rxh7 Rh8 45.Ra7 Ra8 46.Rb7 Ke5 47.Ke3 Kd5 48.Kd3 a4 49.Rb5+ Kc6 50.Kc4 a3 51.Rg5 Rab8 52.Rg6+ Kd7 53.Rg3 Ra8 54.Rf3 Rhb8 55.Rd3+ Ke6 56.Re3+ Kf5 57.Rf3+ Kg5 58.Rf1 Rb2 59.Ra1 Kh4 60.Rh1 Rxa2 White resigned

Moral: Be careful to which computer (and when) you give Jerome Gambit odds.

Sailing Off the Edge of the World

I would guess that everyone who plays the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) has a particular defense that they would rather not face. That is funny, in a way, because the Jerome is a "refuted" opening, and therefore every defense should be uncomfortable...


Still, it was fun to see Philidor1792 in the following game take on the one defense that I worry about the most, played by a computer this time, at that, and wrestle it to the ground for a split point.


A computer can not make sense of the Jerome Gambit? Now, that's a surprise!


Philidor1792 - Computer (Crafty)
2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ 


The storm clouds gather.


9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kd1 Ne7 

11.e5+ 


A couple of alternatives from The Database:


11.Qxc5+ Kxc5 12.gxh4 d5 13.e5 Bg4 14.d4+ Nxd4+ 15.Kd2 Nf3+ 16.Ke3 d4+ 17.Kf2 Nxh4 18.Nd2 Raf8 19.Kg3 h5 20.Kxh4 Nf5+ 21.Kg5 Rh6 22.h3 Be2 23.Ne4+ Kd5 24.Nf2 Re8 25.Re1 Ree6 26.c4+ Bxc4 White forfeited on time, fehim - vshamis, FICS, 2008;

11.Qe5+ Nxe5 12.fxe5+ Kxe5 13.gxh4 Kxe4 14.d4 Kxd4 15.Nd2 Rf8 16.Nb3+ Kd5 17.c4+ Kxc4 18.Bg5 Bd6 19.Rc1+ Kd5 20.Re1 Nf5 21.Rc3 Bb4 22.Rd3+ Kc4 23.Re4+ Kxd3 24.Rxb4 Ne3+ 25.Bxe3 Rf1 checkmate, ionman - mscp, FICS, 2005. 


11...Kc6 


Instead, 11...Kd5 12.Qd3+ 1-0  was the imaginary "R.F."-"Nibs" telephone chess game of 1899. 


12.Qe4+ d5 13.exd6+ 


Or 13.Qxf3 Bg4 14.gxh4 Bxf3+ 15.Ke1 Bxh1 16.c3 Bg1 17.d4 Bxh2 18.Kf2 Rhf8 19.Na3 Be4 20.b4 Ng6 21.c4 Nxf4 22.cxd5+ Nxd5+ 23.Ke2 Nxb4 24.Ke3 Bd5 25.Bd2 Nxa2 26.Nc2 Rf4 27.Kd3 Rxh4 28.Rxa2 Rh3+ 29.Ke2 Bxa2 30.Nb4+ Kb6 31.Nxa2 Bg1 32.Nc3 Bxd4 33.Nd5+ Kc6 34.Ne7+ Kd7 35.Nf5 Bxe5 White resigned, Siggus - mscp, FICS, 2007.


13...Nd5 

The key. Otherwise: 13...Kxd6 14.gxh4 Bg4 15.Qa4 Ng1+ 16.Ke1 Bf3 17.d4 Bxh1 18.dxc5+ Ke6 19.Nc3 Rhd8 20.Be3 Nh3 21.Kf1 Nf5 22.Re1 Bc6 23.Qc4+ Kf6 24.Ne4+ Bxe4 25.Qxe4 Re8 26.Bd4+ Nxd4 27.Qxd4+ Kg6 28.Qd3+ Kf6 29.Qxh3 Rxe1+ 30.Kxe1 Re8+ 31.Kf2 Re4 32.Kf3 Rc4 33.c3 Rxc5 34.Qg4 Rb5 35.b4 Rf5 36.Qg1 c5 37.bxc5 a5 38.Qd4+ Kf7 39.Qd7+ Kf6 40.Qxb7 g6 41.c6 Rc5 42.c7 Rxc3+ 43.Ke2 Kf5 44.c8Q+ Rxc8 45.Qxc8+ Kxf4 46.Qe6 a4 47.a3 h5 48.h3 Kg3 49.Ke3 Kxh4 50.Qf6+ g5 51.Kf3 Kxh3 52.Qxg5 h4 53.Qg2 checkmate, ionman - mscp, FICS, 2005.


Hmmmm.... That's the second game where ionman faced this defense 7 years ago. I need to catch up with him... 


14.gxh4 Bg4 15.Qa4+ b5 16.Qa6+ Nb6 17.h3

Varying from 17.c4 Nd4+ 18.Ke1 Rhe8+ 19.Kf2 Nf5+ 20.Kf1 Bh3 checkmate,  abhailey - peonconorejas, net-chess.com, 2008, the first "real" game where I saw this particular defense. I was convinced four years ago that the Queen sacrifice was discovered with the help of a computer (The Database, with earlier games, was not available until January 1, 2010.) 


17...Bh5 18.c3 Nd4+ 19.Ke1 Nc2+ 20.Kf1 Rhe8 21.d4 Bxd6 22.d5+ Kd7 23.Qxb5+ Kd8 24.Rg1 g6 

In this chaotic position, Black is better.


25.Qc6 Nxa1 26.Na3 Re7 27.f5 Rd7 28.Nc4 Rb8 29.Bg5+ Kc8 30.Nxb6+ Rxb6 31.Qa8+ Rb8 32.Qxa7 Rf7 33.Qa6+ Rb7 34.Kg2 Rxf5 

35.Rxa1 Bf3+ 36.Kf1 Bxd5+ 37.Ke2 Be6 38.b3 Re5+ 39.Kd2 Bxh3 40.Re1 Rxe1 41.Kxe1 Kb8 

42.Qc6 Rb6 43.Qe8+ Kb7 44.Qf7 Bf5 45.Qxh7 Ra6 46.a4 Bg3+ 47.Kd2 Re6 48.Be3 Be1+ 49.Kxe1 Rxe3+ 50.Kf2 Rxc3 51.Qf7 Rc2+ 52.Kg3 Rc3+ 53.Kf4 Rh3 54.Kg5 Rg3+ 55.Kf6 Be4 56.Qc4 Rg4 

57.h5 gxh5 58.Qb5+ Ka7 59.Qxh5 Rg6+ 60.Ke5 Bc2 61.Kd4 Rd6+ 62.Kc3 Rc6+ 63.Kb2 Bd3 64.Qd5 Rd6 65.Qc5+ Kb8 66.b4 Kc8 

67.b5 Kd7 68.a5 Be4 69.a6 Rd1 70.a7 Rb1+ 71.Ka2 Rd1 72.Qf8 Bd5+ 73.Kb2 Rd2+ 74.Kc3 Ra2 75.Qc5 Bb7 76.b6 cxb6 77.Qxb6 Bd5 

78.Kd4 Bc6 79.Ke5 Re2+ 80.Kf6 Re6+ 81.Kg5 Re5+ 82.Kf4 Re4+ 83.Kf5 Re8 84.Qb8 Rc8 85.Ke5 Re8+ 86.Kd4 Ba8 87.Kc5 Rc8+ 88.Kb6 Rc6+ 89.Kb5 Rc8 Draw