Jerome Gambit Ending: It's Drawn, Unless It Isn't (Part 1)

                                                                     

I won my last Jerome Gambit in the current Chess.com Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament, so it is time, again, for me to sit and wait and see who catches or bypasses me.

In the meantime, it is fun to share the game, as it required some strategic re-thinking on my part, as well as a pleasant return to some endgame understanding that I acquired about 35 years ago, from a match game I played against my boss.

perrypawnpusher - keshavdmutkule

Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament,  Chess.com, 2016

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

The Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament is a 10-player, double round robin, which means that I had 9 chances to play the Jerome Gambit - and, as it turned out, I played 8 at the same time to start the tournament! (I had Black against keshavdmutkule first.) I finished with 4 wins, 3 wins on time, and 2 losses.

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

Ah, yes, the Jerome Defense to the Jerome Gambit - both care of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome. The defense was played successfully in two correspondence games against Daniel Jaeger in 1880.

To date my record against it is 23-6-3, which is a score of 81%, which is pretty decent.

7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Solid. Black's Queen sometimes goes to f6 in different variations, but here it finds itself a different home. I have scored 6-2-2  (70%) against this.

7...d6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - ulisimbolon, Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament, Chess.com, 2016, (0-1, 22). (keshavdmutkule would have had to look up that game on the Chess.com website, as it wasn't posted on this blog until recently.) 

8.Qf4+ Ke8

I faced 8...Nf6 in the earlier perrypawnpusher - ERICOLSON, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 33); perrypawnpusher - frencheng, 10 5 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2-1/2, 31); and perrypawnpusher - jonathankochems, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39).

The text move strikes me as a bit unusual, and it highlights one of Black's challenges in the Jerome - even if he is still better - and that is: where does his King go?

Of equal interest to me was if my opponent had found this blog, and, more specifically, my notes to my game with auswebby.   

9.O-O

I am not sure if the text is an improvement over 9.Nc3, seen in perrypawnpusher - Chesssafety, Chess.com, 2012 (1-0, 25) and perrypawnpusher - auswebby, Giuoco Piano Thematic, Chess.com, 2015 (0-1, 37), but the games could have transposed, anyway.

9...d6

More sedate and more solid than 9...Bd6 as seen in perrypawnpusher - dzetto00, Giuoco Piano Thematic, Chess.com, 2016, (1/2-1/2, 25). (Too bad. I was willing to face that line again.)

10.c3 Nf6 11.d4 Bb6 12.Re1 Kf7

Black plans to castle-by-hand on the Kingside.

13.Nd2

I am used to attacking the Black King along the e-file or f-file, or advancing the "Jerome pawns" to cause chaos in the enemy's ranks.

In this game, however, I realized that there was not likely to be any kind of bashi-bazouk attack; instead, I was going to have to adopt the patient style that I have seen in some of Bill Wall's games, where he establishes a solid pawn center and waits for his opponent to bash himself against it. After all, Black has the advantage, so, by rights, he should be the one attacking, right?

13...Re8 14.Nc4 Kg8 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.f3

[to be continued]

Riddle Me This, Fat Man

The following game can be looked at as a series of riddles posed to the "hero" (that would be me, I guess) on his way to an unexpected victory - isn't that the only kind of win for White that comes in the Jerome Gambit?

Sadly (for him), my opponent could not solve his own final riddle...

I have given game references for early in the play, to see how to deal with riddle #1 (7...Qe7, the Jerome Defense to the Jerome Gambit, by the way) and riddle #2 (9...Nh6), but after that you are largely on your own - as I was.

perrypawnpusher - Kleini
blitz, FICS, 2013

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qf4+

I would rather not exchange Queens at this point.

8...Qf6 

The alternative 8...Nf6 is as old as two Jaeger,D - Jerome,A correspondence games from 1880, wins for Black in 14 and 40 moves.

At a faster time control, I have been more successful: perrypawnpusher - ERICOLSON, blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 33);  
perrypawnpusher - frencheng, 10 5 blitz, FICS, 2010 (½-½ , 31); perrypawnpusher - jonathankochems, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39); and perrypawnpusher - Chesssafety, Chess.com, 2012 (1-0, 25). 

9.Qg3 

Not 9.Qxc7? Qxf2+ 10.Kd1 d6. 

9...Nh6 

An interesting novelty of questionable value. 

Previously seen have been 9...d6 in Wall,B - Guest340293, Playchess.com, 2012 (1-0, 41), perrypawnpusher - JoseSoza, Chess.com, 2012 (0-1, 37), and Wall,B - Josti, Playchess.com, 2013 (1-0, 26); and 9...Bd6 in perrypawnpusher - molerat, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 23). 

10.Nc3 d6 11.Nd5 Qf7 12.0-0 c6 

13.Nc3 

Houdini 3's solution to the riddle of this position is 13.d4!? The silicon superstar sees White drawing by repetition after 13...cxd5 14.dxc5 dxe4 (14...dxc5 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Qd6+ Kg7 17.Qg3+ etc.) 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Qxd6+ (16.f3!? is an interesting attempt for more, e.g. 16...e3 17.Rfe1 Bf5 18.Rxe3 Qf6 19.Qf4 Rg8 20.cxd6 ) Kg7 17.Qg3+ Qg6 18.Qc7+ Qf7 19.Qg3+, etc.

It's all  a bit over my head. Okay, more than "a bit". 

13...Be6 14.d3

Again, 14.d4!? seems to be the key to the position, 14...Bb4 15.a3 Bxc3 16.Qxd6+ Qe7 17.Qf4+ Kg8 18.bxc3 and Black's edge is minimal.

14...Qg6 

15.Qxg6

By now the alternative (according to Houdini 3) should be predictable: 15.d4!? Bb4 16.a3 Bxc3 17.Qxd6+ Kg8 18.bxc3 Nf7 with a small edge to Black.

15...hxg6 

White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece. 

The Knight escapade that I started with my next move was a bad idea, and led to a lost position. I should have moved the piece to the Kingside with 15...Ne2.

16.Na4 Bd4 17.c3 Bf6 18.b3 b5 19.Nb2 Bxc3

20.Rb1 Ke7 21.Nd1 Bd4 22.Ne3 Ng4 23.h3 Nxe3 24.fxe3 Be5 25.d4 Bg3 26.Rf3 Bh4 

Black's two Bishops are scary. He just has to be careful, and he can bring home the point.

Of course, that was true 20 moves ago, too.

27.Ba3 Rhf8 28.Rbf1 a5 

I don't blame you if you didn't shout "He should have exchanged Rooks before playing that move!" I didn't realize that it was that critical, either.

29.Bxd6+

Exchanging Rooks, too, here is supposed to be stronger, according to Houdini 3. I was just glad to have a shot at bringing the game closer to equal.

29...Ke8 

Wow. Surprised by my move, my opponent stumbles hard. That's blitz for you.

Instead, after 29...Kxd6 30.Rxf8 Ra7!? Houdini 3 believes Black's two Bishops balance out White's Rook and two extra pawns. Play would remain tricky, but if White can collect and/or exchange some pawns, he should be able to split the point.

30.Rxf8+ Black resigned

With the Pawns, Against the Bishop

Here we have another Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game (see "Ending in the Wilderness") that concludes with an unusual and instructive endgame.

Once again, the Jerome Gambit has lessons to teach.

perrypawnpusher - jonathankochems

2 12 blitz FICS, 2010

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

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

Certainly a good defense for Black, one of the many refutations of the Jerome Gambit. It was given by Jerome in his July 1874 article in the Dubuque Chess Journal. He also played the defense in two correspondence games against Daniel Jaeger in 1880, winning both.

7.Qxe5 Qe7

Putting immediate pressure on the e-file and on the pawn at e4 in particular, as well as offering to exchange Queens to extinguish White's attack.

8.Qf4+ Nf6 9.Nc3 d6

Jerome played 9...c6 in each of his games, winning both.

10.0-0 Kf7

The text is stronger than 10...Bd4, which appeared in perrypawnpusher - ERICOLSON, blitz FICS, 2007:  11.d3 a6 12.Ne2 c6 13.Nxd4 b5 14.Nxc6 Qe6 15.Nd4 Qe7 16.Bd2 Kg8 17.Nf5 Qc7 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Nxd6 Be6 20.f4 g6 21.Bc3 Nd7 22.Bxh8 Kxh8 23.f5 gxf5 24.exf5 Bd5 25.Rae1 Nf6 26.Ne4 Bxe4 27.dxe4 Rc8 28.e5 Nd5 29.e6 Rxc2 30.e7 Nxe7 31.Rxe7 Rxb2 32.f6 Rd2 33.Re8 checkmate

11.d3 Rf8 12.Nd5 Qe5

Black is happy with his game: he is about to complete castling-by-hand, and he hopes to trade off White's attacking Queen, the one dangerous piece that his opponent has deployed.

13.Nxc7 Qxf4 14.Bxf4 Rb8

I was happy with my position, too. With three pawns for the missing piece, I thought my chances were about equal. Later, Rybka agreed.

15.Nd5

After the game, Rybka recommended instead 15.d4 Bxd4 16.Bxd6 Nxe4 17.Bxf8 Kxf8 18.c3 Bb6 19.Nd5 Bd8 20.Rfe1 Nf6 21.Rad1 Kf7 22.Nxf6 Bxf6 which it judged as equal. White has a Rook and two pawns to Black's two Bishops.

analysis diagram





15...Nxd5 16.exd5 Bf5 17.Rae1

17...Bb4

Black's Bishop and White's Rook play hide-and-seek. The play for the next few moves is understandable, but could be improved upon.

18.Re2 Rbc8 19.a3 Bc5 20.b4 Bd4 21.Bxd6

This is probably one of those positions where it would be better to leave a weakness (the Black pawn at d6) in place than to actually capture it.

Black now has the simple (although neither jonathankochems nor I saw it at the time) 21...Rfd8 which allows for the capture of the White pawn on d5 – all White has accomplished is to open the position favorably for Black's pieces.

21...Rfe8 22.Rfe1 Bc3

This move is a double slip. First, Black should have punished his opponent's last move with 22...Rxe2 23.Rxe2 Bxd3 since the Bishop cannot be captured unless White wishes to allow a back rank mate. Second, White now has a nifty move that was hard to see – literally.

23.Rxe8

This move allows for the exchange of heavy pieces, and a generally even endgame. Instead, moving the Rook one step less – 23.Re7+ – was the right idea: 23...Rxe7 24.Rxe7+ Kf6 25.Rxb7 when White would have 5 pawns to balance Black's Bishop.

23...Rxe8 24.Rxe8 Kxe8

It is a bit unusual to have an endgame with 8 pawns on one side, except in problems or compositions. Rybka sees the game as even. White has what winning chances there are in the position; and of course if he can exchange Black's dark-squared Bishop for a few pawns, he has the sanctuary of a Bishops-of-opposite-colors ending to seek out.

25.Bc5 a6 26.Kf1 Bb2 27.a4 Bd7 28.a5 Ba4

The Bishops work together, herding the pawns.

29.c4 Bc2 30.Ke2 Bc3 31.Ke3 Kd7 32.Ke4

32...Be1 33.f4 Bc3 34.Bd4

An oversight. I had calculated only as far as 34...Bxb4 35.Bxg7. Perhaps White can hold the draw after 35...Bxa5 35.f5 followed by c4-c5 and a general pawn advance on the Kingside – but this was sloppy play, which I immediately corrected.

34...Bxb4 35.Bb6

Not too much damage done.

35...Kd6 36.f5 Bc3 37.g4

37...Bf6 38.Ke3

Unpinning the pawn at d3, but giving Black chances. Rybka suggested 38.Bd4 instead, keeping the game balanced. 

38...Ke5

There are a couple of things wrong with this move. First, 38...Bd1 39.h3 h5 40.Kf4 hxg4 41.hxg4 Bc3 42.g5 Bd2+ was the way to play for advantage.

39.Bc7 checkmate

That's the second thing wrong with the move.

White: Looking For Opportunites

Not every Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc3 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can be a swash-buckling win for White. Often the first player must keep the game (sometimes, even the draw) in hand while looking for an opportunity to present itself (see "It's not over until the Lady sings..."). At the right moment he can strike back, like in the following game, and win the day.

AlgozBR - WeiJ

blitz, FICS, 2009

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

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

Given by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in his analysis in the July 1874 Dubuque Chess Journal.

7.Qxe5 Qe7

As far as I can tell, this was first played by Jerome himself, in two 1880 corresponcence games with Daniel Jaeger.

8.Qf4+ Nf6 9.0-0 TN

Or 9.Nc3 d6 ( 9...c6 10.d3 d6 11.h3 h6 12.0-0 g5 13.Qg3 Qe5 14.Qxe5 White resigned, Jaeger - Jerome, correspondence, 1880) 10.0-0 Bd4 11.d3 a6 12.Ne2 c6 13.Nxd4 b5 14.Nxc6 Qe6 15.Nd4 Qe7 16.Bd2 Kg8 17.Nf5 Qc7 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Nxd6 Be6 20.f4 g6 21.Bc3 Nd7 22.Bxh8 Kxh8 23.f5 gxf5 24.exf5 Bd5 25.Rae1 Nf6 26.Ne4 Bxe4 27.dxe4 Rc8 28.e5 Nd5 29.e6 Rxc2 30.e7 Nxe7 31.Rxe7 Rxb2 32.f6 Rd2 33.Re8 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - ERICOLSON, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2007

9...d6 10.Re1 Be6 11.e5

Breaking in the center at the earliest moment, to facilitate an attack on the enemy King and Queen.

11...dxe5 12.Rxe5 Bd6

Black has to feel like he already has the game in the bag – always a dangerous mind-set.

13.d4 Kg8 14.Nc3 14...Bxe5 15.dxe5 Nd5 16.Qg3 h6

Okay, if you're going to look for a swindle, er, opportunity, where would you start?

17.Ne4 Kh7 18.c4 Nb6 19.Qd3

There are so many reasons why this shouldn't work, but it's a blitz game, and Black gets careless...

19...Rhf8 20.Nf6+ Kh8 21.Qh7 checkmate