Latest UON - With Jerome Gambit

I recently heard from Gary K. Gifford, editor, that the latest issue of the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter - #35, September, 2018 - is now available for download, online at Yahoo! Groups (https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Chess-Unorthodox-UON/files/UON%2035_Sept_2018_merged.pdf?guccounter=1)

I have mentioned UON on this blog a number of times, for its coverage of a large number of unorthodox openings - including, of course, the Jerome Gambit.

It's like welcoming back and old friend who hasn't been by in a while.

Here's a peek at Issue #35

1. 2 King’s Gambits and a Latvian, by Gary K. Gifford
2. Jerome Gambit Game #1, Rick Kennedy
3. Jerome Gambit Game # 2, Bill Wall
4. Combats homériques à partir des gambits, Dany Sénéchaud
(Homeric* Fights from the Gambits)
5. Diemer-Duhm Gambit, Bob Jansen

Check it out.

Another Distant Relative?

As promised, I have done more research on an opening variation that I previously looked at (see "A Bridge To... Somewhere" and "Abridged") as a possible inspiration to Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in his creation of the Jerome Gambit.

A variation of the Scotch Gambit - called either the Sarratt Attack or the Vitzthum Attack - has similar sacrifical fireworks on f7: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5!? with the possible followup of 5...Nh6 6.Nxf7+ Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5.

The earliest example I have seen is 

Sarratt,J - NN
casual game, 1818
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5 Ne5 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 Black resigned

Two other relevant examples are

Conrad Waldemar Vitzthum von Eckstaedt - Baron Tassilo von Heydebrand under Laso
Leipzig, 1853
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Qh5 Qe7 7.f4 d6 8.0-0 Na5 9.Bd3 Ng4 10.h3 Nf6 11.Qf3 h6 12.Bd2 Nc6 13.b4 Bb6 14.b5 Nd8 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 17.Nxf7 Nxf7 18.e6 Qxe6 19.Bf4 Nf6 20.Nd2 0-0 21.Bc4 Qf5 22.Qb3 Qh5 23.Rae1 Kh8 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Rxe4 Nd6 26.Re5 d3+ 27.Kh2 Qh4 28.Bg3 Bg1+ 29.Kh1 Rxf1 30.Bxh4 Bd4+ 31.Kh2 Bxe5+ 32.Bg3 Bxg3+ 33.Kxg3 d2 White resigned


Conrad Waldemar Vitzthum von Eckstaedt - Adolf Anderssen
Leipzig, 1855
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Qh5 Qe7 7.f4 d6 8.h3 Na5 9.Bd3 Nf5 10.Nxf7 g6 11.Qe2 Ng3 12.Qf3 Nxh1 13.Nxh8 Qh4+ 14.Kd1 Nf2+ 15.Ke2 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Be6 17.Qb5+ Nc6 18.Qxb7 d3+ 19.cxd3 Nd4+ 20.Kd1 Bg4+ 21.hxg4 Qh1+ White resigned


I have also found several more Blackburne games

Charles H. Stanley - Joseph Henry Blackburne 
Manchester, 1862
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qd5+ Kg7 10.Qxc5 d5 11.b4 dxe4 12.Bb2 Re8 13.b5 Re5 14.Qc4 Be6 15.Qa4 e3 16.0-0 Rg5 17.f4 e2 18.fxg5 exf1Q+ 19.Kxf1 Qd5 20.Nd2 Rf8+ 21.Kg1 Bh3 22.Nf3 Rxf3 23.gxf3 Qxg5+ 24.Kf2 Black announced mate in 6 moves


Joseph Henry Blackburne - Alexander Steinkuehler
Manchester, 1872
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Qh5 0-0 7.0-0 d6 8.h3 Qe7 9.f4 Be6 10.Bd3 f5 11.Nd2 Kh8 12.Ndf3 fxe4 13.Bxe4 Bf5 14.Re1 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 Qd7 16.Bd2 d3+ 17.Kh2 dxc2 18.Rae1 a5 19.Bc3 Kg8 20.Nxh7 Bf2 21.Qg6 Bxe1 22.Nhg5 Rf6 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8+ Ng8 25.Nh7+ Kf7 26.Nfg5+ Kg6 27.Nf8+ Raxf8 28.Qh7 checkmate


Joseph Henry Blackburne - William R. Ballard
blindfold simul 1 of 5 London, 1872
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Qh5 Qe7 7.0-0 Ne5 8.Bb3 d6 9.h3 Ng8 10.f4 d3+ 11.Kh2 Nf6 12.Qd1 Neg4+ 13.hxg4 Nxg4+ 14.Kg3 h5 15.f5 Be3 16.Bxf7+ Kf8 17.Qxg4 hxg4 18.Bxe3 Qe5+ 19.Bf4 Qxb2 20.Nd2 dxc2 21.Nc4 Qc3+ 22.Ne3 Bd7 23.Kxg4 Ba4 24.Nd5 Qd3 25.Bg6 Rh6 26.Ne6+ Kg8 27.Ne7+ Kh8 28.Rh1 Qd1+ 29.Raxd1 cxd1Q+ 30.Rxd1 Bxd1+ 31.Kg3 Rh1 32.Bd2 Bh5 33.Bc3 Rg8 34.f6 Bxg6 35.Nxg6+ Kh7 36.f7 Black resigned


Joseph Henry Blackburne - Henry William Birkm Gifford
The Hague, 1874
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Qh5 Qe7 7.f4 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.f5 d3+ 10.Kh1 dxc2 11.Nc3 Ne5 12.Nd5 Qd8 13.f6 Ng6 14.fxg7 Kxg7 15.Qxh6+ Kxh6 16.Ne6+ Kh5 17.Be2+ Kh4 18.Rf4+ Nxf4 19.g3+ Kh3 20.Nexf4 checkmate


Joseph Henry Blackburne - Arthur Davy
blindfold simul 1 of 10 Sheffield, 1874
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Qh5 Qe7 7.0-0 d6 8.h3 Ne5 9.Bb3 Bd7 10.f4 Qf6 11.Nd2 Qg6 12.Qh4 f6 13.Ne6 Bxe6 14.Bxe6 Nef7 15.Nf3 Qxe4 16.Re1 d3+ 17.Kh1 Qb4 18.c3 Qb6 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qh5+ Kf8 21.f5 Nf7 22.Re6 Bf2 23.Bd2 Qxb2 24.Rf1 Bg3 25.Qg4 Be5 26.Qc4 c5 27.Qxd3 Qxa2 28.Nxe5 fxe5 29.Rxd6 e4 30.Qg3 Qc4 31.Rd1 Nxd6 32.Qxd6+ Kf7 33.Qd7+ Kf6 34.Bf4 Black resigned

UON #33

The latest issue (#33) of Gary K. Gifford's ever-interesting and always-enlightening "Unorthodox Openings Newsletter" (in pdf format; see "UON", among others) is now available.

Among many topics, "UON #33" contains material from the "Dany Sénéchaud" post to this blog - an interesting game by the French chessplayer (and openings explorer) with notes, and speculation about possible early influences on Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's creation of the Jerome Gambit.

Well worth checking out.

What's Going On Here?

We have been looking at the creative ideas of Philidor 1792, and, like the animated character Buzz Lightyear says, they go "To infinity - and beyond!" 

Of course, in this case, they start with the Jerome Gambit - and go beyond.

Here are some of the ideas that Philidor 1792 sent in an email, along with his large collection of games.  

Since I wrote to you last time, I've played many Jerome games and found some fun ideas.

First of all, I explored the Modern Jerome Gambit and realized that here, in contrast to Double Jerome Gambit, one doesn't need to wait when opponent develop his bishop to c5 square (because the Qh5+ idea isn't involved), so why not to play Bxf7+ in response to Be7 or Nf6, without waiting Bc5 move? 

As you wrote in your blog some people belive that "it is bad investment to sacrifice the second piece with 5.Nxe5" and prefer to "focus on development". (If there is any soundness to be found in the Jerome, then I believe it involves replacing 5. Nxe5+ with a different move. - Gary K. Gifford). Why do we need a black bishop on c5 then? 

So I tried to play Bxf7+ after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 as a response to any black move. After that I saw that in the arising positions the main idea of the Halloween Gambit is applicable. For example after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Ng6 7.e5 the black knight doesn't have any secure square (the g4 ana h5 squares are controled by the white queen and after Nd5 or Ne4, Qf3+ with a fork may follow.)

I had a lot of fun playing this kind of Jerome gambit. There are a lot of games in attachment. Hope you like them!

Closer... But not there yet

I keep playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), especially one particularly risky variation, knowing that someday one of my opponents will know enough about the wild defense to sacrifice his Queen and destroy me...

I make my moves, remembering Gary K. Gifford's re-naming of the opening as the "Jerome Gamble" – and breathe a sigh of a relief as someone gets closer... but not there yet.

perrypawnpusher - intssed
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+

The alternative in this 6...Ke6 variation (one of the many Jerome Gambit refutations) is 7.f4, although 7...d6 – a favorite of computers – presents its own problems.

7...Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+

Not the first move a naive defender would think up. So – how much does intssed know??

9.g3 Nf3+

Closer. "Getting warmer..." as the kids say in their game.

10.Kf1

Better-known is 10.Kd1 – which is why I played this alternative. Also, there is a built-in distraction for Black.

10...Nxh2+

This is a how-do-I-get-out-of-this-mess style move. I first saw it when I was reviewing Unorthodox Chess, by Some Loser (no joke, check out my review at Chessville.com).

11.Kg2

Now Some Loser's analysis continues with the smart 11...Qg4, when 12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5+ d6 14.Qf2 Nf6 15.Rxh2 Nxe4 16.Qe3 Qe6 is about even. 

analysis diagram







Instead, my opponent recoiled from the whole situation, moving his Queen away from the attack by my pawn. We've seen this kind of reflexive move before, and it can lead to disaster.

11...Qe7 12.Qd5 checkmate

Unorthodox Chess Openings Magazines

If you enjoy playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) you probably have an interest in playing other "unorthodox" chess openings, as well.

While you may not have the Myers Openings Bulletins at hand (M.O.B. 1979-1988, New M.O.B. 1992-1996)

I've mentioned on this blog three other magazines devoted to unusual opening lines that are still being published.

Kaissiber, a German language magazine published by FIDE Master Stefan Bücker, is always a treasure trove of solid chess creativity and chess history. The current Issue #37 has a large article on the Sicilian Wing Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.b4!?), for example, and on a reversed Budapest Gambit coming out of the Tal Gambit in the Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3!? dxe4 4.Ng5) amongst other explorations.

The grand-daddy of current unorthodox openings magazines is Rainer Schlenker's Randspringer. The current publication is a triple issue, full of "Kaffeehaus-Schach". Schlenker's imagination knows few bounds, but he frequently plays the openings he presents, and his games are amusing and educational.

A relative "youngster" in the group is the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter. Issue #26 recently appeared. Yes, that is a picture of Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk on the cover. Editor Gary K. Gifford has an interview with Ms. Kosteniuk on the inside pages. There is also a ton of games by Philip du Chattel, who loves to play Nh6 in Hippopotamus style formations. Also catching my eye was more thought, analysis and games on the Tayler Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2!?).

Why not check them all out?

Blackburned! #2

My heart pounds when I start a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game.

It's always a gamble – the Jerome Gamble, Gary Gifford calls it – how much of the many refutations does my opponent know?

Can he get to me before I can get to him??

perrypawnpusher - LtPoultry
blitz 10 0, FICS, 1020

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

Our story begins...

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

This can lead to the dreaded Whistler Defense, or the much misunderstood Blackburne Defense. Quo vadis?

7.Qxe5 d6

Blackburne! Sac that Rook! Trap that Queen! Mate that King!

8.Qxh8

Falling for the Blackburne bait.

8...Qh4

Yes!

9.O-O

Telegraphing where the King will be, when Black wants to attack.

I've always been a bit uneasy about the "refutation of the refutation" 9.d4.

9...Qxe4

Uh oh... This doesn't look right.

Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885 continued 9...Nf6, trapping the White Queen, before a series of sacrifices finished White off 10.c3 Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4 checkmate.

Of course, I would have veered off with 10.Qd8.

10.Qxh7+

Letting my Queen escape immediately.

Instead, AlgozBR - khuizen, blitz FICS, 2009 continued: 10.d3 Qe5 11.Qxh7+ Qg7 12.Qh4 Be6 13.Nc3 Re8 14.Ne4 Bb6 15.Be3 Qxb2 16.Qh7+ Qg7 17.Ng5+ Black resigned

10...Kf8 11.Nc3

A bit better was 11.d3, as in obviously - dmyze, GameKnot.com, 2004: Qf5 12.Qxc7 Nf6 13.d4 Be6 14.dxc5 Bc4 15.Bh6+ Ke8 16.Re1+ Ne4 17.Nc3 Qxf2+ 18.Kh1 Qf7 19.Rxe4+ Be6 20.Qxd6 Black resigned.

11...Qxc2 12.Qh4  Black resigned

White's Queen is not trapped, Black's King is at risk, and White is ahead the exchange and a couple of pawns. 

It was not completely necessary to resign here. DREWBEAR 63 - blackburne, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 continued a few more moves, for example – after 12.d3 instead of 12.Qh4 – without changing the outcome: 13.Bh6+ Ke8 14.Rfe1+ Kd8 15.Qxg8+ Kd7 16.Qe8 checkmate

Still Krazy after all these years...

It is always good to hear from other chess players, especially those who have an appreciation for creative and off-beat lines of play.

I recently received an email from Garry Gifford, editor of the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter and co-author (along with Davide Rozzoni and Bill Wall) of Winning with the Krazy Kat and Old Hippo. Nowadays, Gary is doing well with the New Hippo as well as the Krazy Kat

Marty [Martin Frère Hillyer, author of Thomas Frère and the Brotherhood of Chess: A History of 19th Century Chess in New York City] and a few club guys took me to the Marshall Club in NY as a going away present (I am moving to Austin).

I played the Krazy Kat against a 2098 player. I took a drawing line, but later realized I had a forced win! [International Master] Calvin Blocker verified that for me last week... though I already knew.

I also use the Krazy Kat in round 4 to defeat a psycologist in just 18 moves.

I used a modern Hippo on Saturday to defeat Marty's Colle....

A few words about Austin, Texas, by the way: when you are in town and hungry, check out the legendary Torchy's Tacos... It's also hard not to mention that in a Christmas-time tag-team match between two of the "Kennedy Kids" (known as they made their way from Houston to Austin as "the locusts") and The Salt Lick all-you-can-eat Bar-B-Que restaurant, the visitors were held to a draw ("Pack the rest up. We'll have it for breakfast...")

G.K.G.

It's fun to include Gary K. Gifford as part of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Gemeinde – not so much because he plays the Jerome Gambit (he doesn't) but because of his support of the opening, publishing several of my Jerome Gambit articles in the fantastic and fantastical "Unorthodox Openings Newsletter" (see "Jerome Gambit Scrapbook") – which can be found among the Yahoo Groups – and coining the nickname "The Jerome Gamble".

Players who like the Jerome Gambit are probably playing their share of unorthodox chess openings, too.

It's also a delight to stop by Chessville and visit Gary's chess comics that fill out "The Chess Player's Chronicles", as well as his tactics page there.

Like I've said: Jerome Gambit Gemeinde members are interesting people!

Platypus Perils and Follies

Here's another example of what Gary K. Gifford, editor of the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter,  would call "the Jerome Gamble" (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). The "bet" pays off, but only after some tense – and ridiculous – moments.

perrypawnpusher - Banassi

blitz 2 12, FICS, 2009

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

If Black is brave – or knowledgeable – enough to play this move, his game has a good chance at a happy ending.

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+

Ah, here is part of the "gamble": does Black know the killing Queen sacrifice, or is he just causing trouble??

9.g3 Nf3+ 

Okay, so far.

10.Kd1 Qe7

Uh, no. That would indicate "brave".

11.e5+

Incredible. Black allows a mate-in-one and White overlooks it!

Waiter! Coffee for my friend and me. None of that de-caf stuff, give me high-test!

11...Kc6

Black misses a chance for complete recovery with 11...Nxe5, since after 12.d4 Kc6 13.fxe5 d5 14.Qd3 Bg4+ he has an edge (and an extra piece).

analysis diagram





12.Qe4+ Kb6 13.Qxf3 d6

Black is not distressed with the loss of the advanced Knight (he is still a piece ahead) and, seeing the White King as vulnerable, he works to open lines in the center.

14.Nc3

After the game, Rybka gave a tortuous route to equality: 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Qb3+ Kc6 16.Qa4+ Kc5 17.Na3 Bg4+ 18.Kd2 dxe5 19.Qb5+ Kd6 20.fxe5+ Ke6 21.Qc4+ Kf5 22.c3 Be3+ 23.Kxe3 Qxe5+ 24.Kf2 Re8 25.Rf1 Qe6 26.Kg1+ Kg6 27.Bf4 Whew!

analysis diagram






14...Be6

15.Na4+

There has to be some kind of attack on the King, I thought.

That is true, but the move played should only lead to a draw. Rybka preferred 15.b4 Bxb4 16.a3 c6 17.axb4 and White is better in a tense position.

15...Kb5

This is too cooperative. After 15...Ka6 White can play to split the point with 16.f5 Qf7 17.Nxc5+ dxc5 18.Qa3+ Kb6 19.d4, with the plan for repetition of position.

16.Qxb7+

Now White does have an attack going.

16...Bb6 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Qxa8

18...dxe5 19.a4+ Kc5 20. d3 exf4

Black continues with his plan to open up the center against the White King. He doesn't have many alternatives.

21. b4+ Kd6 22. Bxf4+ Kd7 23. Qb7 Bg4+ 24. Kc1 Ke8 25. Qa8+

White is ahead two pawns plus the exchange, and has a potential for either opening the a-file for his Rook or creating a protected passed pawn. An endgame is just fine for him.

25...Kf7 26.Qd5+ Kf8 27.Qe4 Qxb4 

A game-ending oversight, but the endgame held nothing but suffering for Black.

28. Qxb4+ Black resigned

U.O.N. #24

The May – Aug 2009 edition of the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter, Issue #24, edited by Gary Gifford, is now available. The UON is a must read for those who play unorthodox openings, including the Jerome Gambit, as I have mentioned before.

UON Issues #1 - #14 can be found in the "files" section of the Yahoo Group "Unorthodox Chess Openings". Issues #15 - #24 can be found in the "files" section of the Yahoo Group "Chess Unorthodox UON".

Contents of Issue #24
Intro and Chess Cartoon
Sometimes even strong players play 1. a4 – Davide Rozzoni
The White Hippo – Ben Spink
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Revisited – Gifford
Myers vs. Lamarche
Mike Surtees/Revolutionary Opening Theory (R.O.T.) – Davide Rozzoni
Basman’s Chess Inheritance – Davide Rozzoni
Tayler Opening [C44] – Peter Bieker & G. Gifford

A reminder: Gary Gifford is a co-author of the recent Winning with the Krazy Kat and Old Hippo (see "Hip' Kat").

UON

In discussing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) I have mentioned the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter on a number of occasions, the most recently being this blog's "birthday" post (see "Happy Birthday: Twelve months of blog...").

Any reader interested in offbeat or unusual chess openings should become familiar with the 23 issues of the free UON. Its current editor, Gary K. Gifford, is also open to reader-written articles – a good way to get your own ideas out in front of a sympathetic group, for support and feedback.

Issues #1 - #14 can be found in the "files" section of the Yahoo Group "Unorthodox Chess Openings". Issues #15 - #23 can be found in the "files" section of the Yahoo Group "Chess Unorthodox UON".

To be able to download the files, I think it is necessary to officially join the particular Yahoo Group, but that takes only a minute or so, and costs nothing.

There is an impressive number of openings covered in the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter, and some recent issues are almost books themselves – for example, #19 is 70 pages, #17 is 80 pages and #21 is 103 pages.

Happy exploring!

Hip' Kat

From a recent email from Garry Gifford, editor of the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter and one of the authors (along with Davide Rozzoni and Bill Wall) of the new Winning with the Krazy Kat and Old Hippo (see my review of the book at Chessville) -

...On a related note, last Saturday I played in Martin Frere Hillyer's first Thomas Frere Chess Memorial tournament (an unrated unadvertised invitational event) . [See my review of Hillyer's impressive Thomas Frère and the Brotherhood of Chess: A History of 19th Century Chess in New York City - RK]

In round 4 I drew with a guy and had to play a 5 minute tie-break game to see who would get the "gold" and who would get the "silver." These were not real gold and real silver, of course, just colored metal to resemble the actual.

So, having black and facing a very booked up player (who was also great at speed chess), I played the Krazy Kat. This was for the Gold, so you can see I take the Kat seriously (also a crowd was watching). Sure enough, my plan was a good one.

White was taking a great deal of time in the opening and early middle game and I could move at the speed of a crazy cat. But perhaps I moved too fast. In the middle game my opponent calculated a way to exchange pawns, pin a knight, gang up on it, and win it. And he did.

But at the cost of much time. I had 1 minute and 14 seconds showing on the clock. He had 6 seconds. "Avoid getting mated and the Gold is yours," said my inner self. And so I toughned up the defense while making some threats of my own with queen and rooks on open files. And 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 1... Black won on time.

Phew! So, I owe the gold to the Krazy Kat.

(By the way, the English Chess Forum has some interesting posts on the Hippopotamus and its creator. And Chess.com has a nice discussion on the Krazy Kat started by author Bill Wall - RK)

Jerome Gambit Scrapbook

From time to time I will post addresses of online Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) resources.

Readers are, of course, welcome to contribute to this list.

"Jerome Gambit"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Gambit

"Jerome Gambit, or Jerome Gamble?" – Rick Kennedy & G. K. Gifford

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/4Ov5SGzNMWKr5Ej95W53b--AauVveeS2EpSkC-YUoz44lmTMiI4O_v0m2t-WeTQrC5Dx1jaldvZ-K6ryw6v3uARMr_iXLyNONSP_-PQp/UON-17%20-%20Jan-Apr2007.pdf


"Jerome Gambit – Revisited," by Rick Kennedyhttp://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/8Pn5SIQEWbgFsvUMPrsheeTkz1oZyIfk_IqIQtypSCpyjfdjJvxIinrlDy7YjtET6RBhLAepEZTkpPCcUjMSN1tWA3RRam1oBfCEYUOC/UON18-May-Aug_2007.pdf


"Nobody Expects the Jerome Gambit!" by Rick Kennedyhttp://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chess-Unorthodox-UON/files/


"The Good Old Days," Opening Lanes, ChessCafe, by International Master Gary Lanehttp://www.chesscafe.com/text/lane111.pdf


"Chess Made Easy," Opening Lanes, ChessCafe, by International Master Gary Lanehttp://www.chesscafe.com/text/lane112.pdf


"Jerome Gambit" HANGING PAWN :: Tip's Blog
http://www.lockism.com/engine/html/jeromewhite/jeromewhite.htm

Unorthodox Duo

I suppose that it is possible that chess players who like the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) might like other unorthodox chess openings as well.

With this in mind, I'd like to steer them to the latest issue (#22) of the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter, edited by Gary K. Gifford (see "But - Is this stuff playable?? (Part II)" and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter IV") for download at http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chess-Unorthodox-UON/files/

Earlier editions of UON would also be of interest, I'm sure.

I'd also like to mention that Gary, along with Davide Rozzoni and Bill Wall, have an impressive new book out: Winning with the Krazy Kat and Old Hippo (Lulu Press, 2008) at http://www.lulu.com/content/3292224

The Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (modern)

I start the "modern" era of the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde somewhat arbitrarily, taking note of the contribution of L. Elliott Fletcher, whose quite enjoyable Gambits Accepted, a survey of opening sacrifices (1954) contains an interesting Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game. Alas, the players are listed as anonymous, and the location and date are not given.

Invented by an American named Jerome in the latter part of the nineteenth century much of the analysis given below was originated by another American, S. A. Charles, and subsequently revised by Freeborough and Ranken. The opening is frankly unsound but Black's task is by no means easy and he can quite likely go wrong...

Micah Fisher-Kirshner (see"A Few Words With... Micah Fisher-Kirshner") certainly deserves membership, for defending the honor of the Jerome Gambit against an early chess program, Knight Stalker (aka Fritz1) in a 1993 match.Certainly Master Jack Young ("Bozo" of "Bozo's Chess Emporium") should have his enthusiasm for the Jerome Gambit in his "Meet Jerome" article in Randspringer #6, 1990-1991 rewarded with membership.

Although FIDE Master Eric Schiller might shrug off the honor, he deserves a place in the Gemeinde for writing about the Jerome Gambit during a time when few even thought or knew about it, let alone analyzed it or shared their assessments. Unorthodox Chess Openings (1998, 2002), Gambit Chess Openings (2002), and Survive and Beat Annoying Chess Openings (2003) have new analysis, although the author's attitude was less tongue-in-cheek than thumb-in-eye

This is another cyberspace gambit. Virtually no attention was paid to this reckless move [4.Bxf7+] until its supporters started talking about it on the Internet. It can't be found in recent tournament games, and there is a good reason: It stinks. White whips up a brief attack, easily parried, and then spends a long time trying to justify the sacrifice. A popular gambit in cyberspace, but in the real world, it only succeeds in games where Black is a very weak player.

It is important to include Tim McGrew (see "A Few Words With... Tim McGrew") author of "The Gambit Cartel" series of articles at ChessCafe, and explorer of some of the vicissitudes of the Jerome Gambit.

The Gemeinde likewise has membership for Life Master Brian Wall, who has a 100% record with the Jerome Gambit (at least after one game) and who has presented devestating analysis of the Whistler Defense (see "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter VIII") – one of the best refutations of the Jerome Gambit to date.

It's not every day (month, year, decade, century...) that an International Master mentions or makes a suggestion concerning the play of the Jerome Gambit, and because he has, IM Gary Lane (see "International Master Gary Lane") has a place in the Gemeinde; although this is not likely to be mentioned on the FIDE website.

There also are a number of players who deserve mention for their brave commitment to playing the Jerome Gambit, starting with Pete Banks ("blackburne"), whose game GM Lane analyzed in one of his "Opening Lanes" columns at ChessCafe.

Of note also are Louis Morin, whose name should have been mentioned here much earlier for his Jerome Gambit swash-buckling, and A.B. Hailey, who has produced his share of theoretical games.

Gary Gifford, current editor and publisher of the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter (and co-author of the brand new and exciting Winning with the Krazy Kat and Old Hippo) – see "But - Is this stuff playable??" – has been supportive of Jerome Gambit discoveries.

Finally, there are the many players who have ventured Jerome's Double Opening. It is not possible to mention all, but certainly those who have played in the five thematic Jerome Gambit tournaments mentioned on this blog should be welcomed into the Gemeinde: bobbob78, brain50, braken, breaker, calchess10, Capt.Mandrake, Carlos Azcarate, casker, dandoo, delboy138, drewbear, eddie43, Gary_Seven, gobo, hogmaster, HPotter, jelgava, jemasc, Kevin the fruitbat, koloman, mediax, mika76, panga74, Piratepaul, queen st, Rail2Rail, Sir Osis of the Liver, splott, Temmo, TJay2465, tonik, TWODOGS, vlad-tepes, willitfw and yorkypuddn.