Jerome Gambit: House of Cards

After the previous hectic game shared here, perhaps it is time to post a simple encounter where a lot goes right for White, too much goes wrong for Black, and a good laugh was probably had by all - after all, the time control was again, 1 minute, no increment. 

angelcamina - buhua
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Re8 

One way to return a piece. There are 30 examples in The Database.
White scores 68%, although Stockfish 10 gives Black the clear advantage. (Welcome to the Jerome Gambit.)

8.dxe5 Rxe5 9.O-O Kg8 10.Bf4 d6 

An automatic response that wasn't thought through enough. Black's game collapses like a house of cards.

11.Bxe5 dxe5 12.Qxd8+ Ne8 13.Qxe8+ Bf8 14.Nd5 Kh8 15.Qxf8 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Three Way Tactical Battle

The following game, a 1-minute, no increment example of the Noa Gambit, otherwise known as the Monck Gambit, otherwise known as the Open Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit, quickly becomes what appears to be a tactical battle among White, Black, and the clock. The game is entertaining, but, please, don't ask me to explain it all; I have shared some of Stockfish 10's ideas, but I think they mostly make things more complicated. 

The end of the game reminds me of the story of two guys who are walking in the forest, when they are suddenly discovered by a large animal. One of the guys opens his backpack, takes out his running shoes, and begins to put them on. "What do you think you are doing?" his companion asks. "You will never outrun that animal." "I don't have to outrun the animal," said the first guy, "I only have to outrun you."

In the following game, the time clock is the animal.  

angelcamina - florianschreib
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5 7.Nc3 e4 8.Ng1 Bc5 

It is hard to believe that White volunteered for this position. The best that can be said is that he did not sacrifice 2 pieces to get there, which often happens in a Jerome Gambit.

9.d4 Bxd4 10.Nge2 Bb6 11.O-O Rf8 12.Nxd5 Kg8 

White has castled. Black has castled-by-hand. The game is just about balanced, and whoever comes up with some good ideas - quickly - will gain the advantage.

13.Nxb6 axb6 14.Qe1 Ne5 15.Qc3 Qf6 16.Bf4 Ng4 17.Qxf6 Nxf6 18.Bxc7 Bg4 19.Ng3 Rac8 

20.Bxb6 Rxc2 21.Bd4 Rd8 22.Bc3 b5 23.a3 Rd3 24.h3 Be6 25.Rad1 

Okay, Readers. The players have 1 or 2 seconds to find each move. What would you play here?

25...Bb3

It is not immediately clear, but 25...Bc4, protecting the Rook at d3 against the threat Nxe4, would be better.

The complications begin to pile up.

26.Rxd3

Now, 26.Nxe4 would work, but you would have to see - in a second or two - that 26...Rcxc3 27.Nxc3 Bxd1 28.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29.Nxd1 would be the outcome, leaving White up a couple of pawns in a technical endgame. (I think White had 15 seconds left on his clock!)

26...exd3

27.Rd1 

Immediately targeting the passed d-pawn.

Strongest, though, if still losing, for White, was 27.Nf5 Nd5 28.Ba5 Rxb2 29.Nd4 Ba4 30.Nf3 b4!? which is a nifty line that you could work out if you were playing correspondence - not bullet - chess.

27...Bc4

Black, in turn, misses the killer 27...Rxc3. (It looks like he had 7 seconds left on his clock.)

28.Ne4 

Stockfish 10 suggests 28.Bd4!?, with the idea that 28...Nd5 29.Kh2  Nf4 30.Ne4 Bb3 31.Nd2 Rxb2 32.Bxb2 Bxd1 33.f3 Kf7 gives White a defense against the passer, with an even game. But even Stockfish took longer than a second to find that line.

28...Nd5

Black did not trust - or did not find - 28...Nxe4.

29.Nd2 Nxc3 30.Nxc4 

Bypassing the ordinary recapture, 30.bxc3, although the game would be equal if he could find 30...Rxc3 31.a4!?. (10 seconds left on the clock.)

30...Rxb2 

This has to be the clock (5 seconds left), as Black bypasses the win of a Rook (31...Nxd1) in order to lose one. But the game is not over yet!

31.Rxd3 

Oh, no, same problem.

31...Nd1 

Instead, 31...Ne2+, safeguarding the Knight - with check - would allow him to then grab the Rook.

32.Kh2

White sees the Knight threat. But not the Rook.

32...Rc2

33.Rd8+ Kf7 34.Ne3 Nxe3 35.fxe3 Rf2 36.Rd7+ Kg6 37.Ra7 Black lost on time (in a roughly equal position)

Amazing game. I had to relax after simply playing it over...

Jerome Gambit: Challenge After Challenge

The following game is another example of how the Jerome Gambit piles up challenge after challenge for the defender, until he finally slips and loses the game.

angelcamina - jeancharleslenoir
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. It can be reached via the Jerome Gambit proper: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nc3 Nf6.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.f4 Nc6 

So far, Black is defending well. In fact, The Database shows that from this position White scores only 38%. But - remember, this is a 1-minute game, and, while Black had to figure out what he is going to do, White has the standard Jerome Gambit ideas, like castling and advancing his "Jerome pawns". Will Black be able to keep up?

10.Qc4+ Be6 11.Qe2 Re8 12.O-O Nd4 13.Qf2 c5

So far, so good. Black has developed his minor pieces, including cementing a Knight at d4.

However, the second player now seems to fall victim to the kind of thinking that produces the "halo effect" - Surely, he reasons, White has not thrown away a piece for nothing. His attack must be really real.

14.e5 dxe5

This capture was made automatically, but was neither necessary nor best. Given enough time, Black would figure this out - but there is not enough time.

15.fxe5 Rf8 

Rushing reinforcements to the f-file. Instead, he could have simply given back the sacrificed piece with 15...Kg8, or struck back with 15...Bc4.

16.exf6 Nf5 

Blocking the dangerous f-file, which the King will soon escape from.

17.fxg7 Kxg7 18.Qxc5

White is happily up 2 pawns, although, after 18...Qd4+ 19.Qxd4 Nxd4 20.Bf4 Nxc2 Black would regain 1, and the Bishops-of-opposite-colors could prove drawish.

18...Rc8 

This is active, but it is not enough to save the game.

19.Qe5+ Kf7

Back onto the danger file.

20.g4 Qd6 

A fatal slip.

21.Qxd6 Kg6 22.Qxe6+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Bullet Weapon

As the games of angelcamina, on lichess.org, show, the Jerome Gambit is an effective weapon in bullet - one minute, no increment, time control - chess. The attack can be powerful when there is little time to create a defense. The chaos across the board encourages errors and benefits the player more experienced with Jerome themes.

angelcamina - slowjac
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bb6 

Black makes a reasonable move, but it is often the case that reasonable moves are not enough in the Jerome Gambit.

8.dxe5 Ne8 9.Qd5+ 

Next time, angelcamina will no doubt try 9.Qh5+!?

9...Kf8 10.b3 c6 11.Ba3+ c5 12.Na4 d6 13.Nxb6 axb6 

Things are pretty messy, but I think White's position is easier to find moves for.

14.O-O-O Bd7 15. Kb2 Rxa3

An interesting idea, hoping to make use of the a-file that White had opened. Still, Black might have done better by continuing with the idea that he had started, trying 15...Bc6.

16.Kxa3

Stockfish 10 sees this position as equal, but, if you have to select a plan - or even a move - quickly, White has to be for choice.

16...Qc7

Intsead, after the already mentioned 16...Bc6, White would have a Rook and a pawn or two against Black's two extra pieces, and the game would be balanced.

Now the "Jerome pawns" start to make themselves felt. 

17.exd6 Qc6 18.Qd3 Nf6 19.e5 Ne8 20.f4 g6 21.Rhf1 b5 22.Kb2 Kg7 23.g4 Rf8 24.f5 c4 25.Qc3 b4 26.Qxb4 c3+ 27.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 28.Kxc3 gxf5 29.gxf5 

28...Bxf5 30.d7 Bxd7 31.Rxd7+ Kh6 

Abandoning the Rook at f8, but it really doesn't matter; the game is over. Only the clock can save Black now, and White has enough firepower to move quickly toward checkmate.

32.Rxf8 Nc7 33.Rxc7 b6 34.Rf6+ Kg5 35.Rb7 Kg4 36.Rbxb6 h5 37.Rb7 h4 38.Rg7+ Kh3 39.Rh7 Kxh2 40.Rxh4+ Kg1 41.Rh7 Kg2 42.Rg7+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Finish the Game

Tacical sharpness - plus the ability to move quickly - is essential in fast games. With a 1 0 bullet time control, it is essential to be able to finish the game when you are handed the opportunity.

In the following game, angelcamina does so, admirably.

angelcamina - bbobbyfischerx41
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 d6

9.O-O c6 10.f4 c5 11.Qf2 Neg4 

Black's last few moves waste time, but he still holds on to the advantage.

12.Qe2 Re8 13.h3 Nh6 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Qb6 

Looking to set up a discovered check, but the direct 15...Qd4+ 16.Be3 Qxe5 would win a pawn. 

16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.Qh5+ Ke6 

With 17...Kg8 it would take a little bit longer for White to checkmate him.

18.Rxf6+ Kd7 19.Rxb6 axb6 20.Qf7+ Re7 21.Rd1+ Kc6 22.Qxe7 Bd7 23.Qd6 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: As Time Goes On

In the following game, Black and White exchange surprises - in 1 0 bullet games they can be deadly, because there is not a lot of time available to assess them deeply. White's focus on Black's King pays off in the middle game, and Black cannot put similar pressure on the enemy monarch, as time goes on.

angelcamina - tatrod
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. White does not want to go along with Black's quiet game. 

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Kf8 

Black introduces his surprise. Stockfish 10 gives Black the advantage after this interesting move, although it prefers 6...Nxe5. From a practical point of view, The Database has 9 games with this line, with White scoring 78%.

7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.d4

No doubt Black thought he had just prevented this move, otherwise he would have played 7...bxc6. Still, he decides to be cautious.

8...Bb4 9.e5 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nd5 11.Ba3+ Ke8 

12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qh6 Bf5 

This allows White's Queen to enter the Kingside, and Black is ultimately doomed.

14.Qg7 Rg8 

Despair.

15.Qxg8+ Kd7 16.Qxh7+ Kc8 17.O-O-O 

White figures he can work it out from here.

17...Nxc3 18.Rd2 b519.Bc5 Kb7 20.Kb2 

Time is always short. White protects his a-pawn from the Knight, but what he really wanted to find was 20.Bd6!?

20...Qd5 

Instead, 20...Na4+ 21.Ka1 Nxc5 would put Black ahead again. Now, Black's advancing pawns look scary, but they come to nothing.

21.Kxc3 a5 22.Kb2 b4 23.Qe7 Q4 24.Rhd1 a4 25.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 

A final slip. 

26.Qxb4+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: I Hate RoboCalls

I hate robocalls - those annoying phone calls that provide an endless supply of scams and sales pitches. My home town has one of the largest collections of call centers in any city, and it is not unsual for me to receive 10 bogus calls a day. I let the calls go to my voice recorder, unless I recognize the name given by Caller ID (my favorite is "Illegal Scam" - for real), so that I do not waste time with fool things.

Except, sometimes the phone rings when I am playing a blitz game, online...

perrypawnpusher - pepxbcn
10 0 blitz, FICS, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.O-O Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+ 

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Re8 

Black has a decent position. I have lost once from here - perrypawnpusher - kholthaus, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 45) - and won once - perrypawnpusher - Odeon, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 15). Over all, The Database has 5 previous games, with White scoring 40%.

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 d6 12.b3 Bd7 13.Bb2 Ne7

Eyeing the f5 square, but 13...Be6 was just fine.

14.e5 Nh5 15.exd6 

My original plan was to play 15.Rae1, and I should have stuck with that. Sometimes I think my handle should be "perrypawngrabber".

15...cxd6 16.Qxd6 Qb6+ 

White has two pawns for the sacrificed piece, but Black remains better. And, now -

Ring! Ring! Ring! Blast, that stupid phone! Another call! So distracting! So annoying!*

17.Kh1? Qxd6 White resigned

Sigh.

Sadly, that's not the first time that I have hung my Queen in a Jerome Gambit game.

(*It is also a generational thing. When my kids' phones ring, they figure a friend is trying to reach them. When my phone rings, I ask myself, "Who died?" In this case, the White Queen.)