Sitting at the computer the other day, I suddenly decided to challenge one of the programs to game of chess. I played the Jerome Gambit, of course. I've done this before - see "Jerome Gambit: Artificial Piffle" and "Contempt?!" Quickly we raced toward one of the more deadly refutations, a trip down memory lane for me that was lined with past escapes - and non-escapes. Suddenly, my opponent came up with a novelty that undid all of its hard work. The rest of the game was a combination of me timidly moving forward, while the computer seemed to lose much sense of things. Come, see. perrypawnpusher - Chess Titans casual game, 2019 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 first example that I have found of this move appeared in the American Chess Magazine of June 1899, in a satirical piece titled "A CHESS SCRAP" by "R.F.", which presented a supposed new-fangled thing - a chess game played over the telephone. The move is not a joke, however. Interestingly enough, when I reported on last year's game against Chess Titans, I noted
I was pretty sure that my opponent was not seriously booked up on the Jerome Gambit, and that the killer move 8...Qh4+!? was not going to show up now.
11...Qd8 An odd move. I have faced a number of alternatives: 11...Qg4 (probably best) in perrypawnpusher - jgknight, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 68); 11...Nf6 12.gxh4 in perrypawnpusher - mikelars, blitz, FICS 2011 (1-0, 12); 11...Qe7 12.Qd5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - intssed, blitz, FICS, 2010(1-0, 12); 11...Qh6 inperrypawnpusher - JTIV, blitz, FICS, 2010(1-0, 32); 11...Qf6 in perrypawnpusher - IlToscano, Chess.com, 2016 (1-0, 18); and 11...Ne7 inperrypawnpusher - constipatedguru, blitz, FICS, 2017 (1-0, 20) 12.Qd5+ This move is good and easy to find. After the game, however, Stockfish 10 recommended that I ignore both the Bishop on c5 and the Knight on h2, at least at first, and play 12.Nc3!? The point is that neither Black piece can move to safety effectively - and a couple of possible Bishop moves would lead to checkmate in 2 or 3 moves. The computer recommends 12...Nf6, which falls right away to the fork 13.e5+. The alternative, 12...Qe8, simply allows 13.Qd5+, and the Bishop will fall next move, and the Knight soon thereafter. White is better, in any event, but the computer is always looking for a "better better." 12...Ke7 13.Qxc5+ d6
A bit of chess advice from C.J.S. Purdy: Examine moves that smite. In the following game my opponent shows some familiarity with the Jerome Gambit, and smites hard at my position - alas, at one point losing his footing, with less than successful results. perrypawnpusher - constipatedguru 5 5 blitz, FICS, 2017 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
Black ignores the (lack of) safety of his King as well as his attacked Knight, and plays a smiting move that is often dangerous to White. 9.g3 Nf3+ Again, a strong, attacking move. 10.Kf1 Nxh2+
Black has two pieces for his Queen. It is not enough. 15.d4 Bd6 16.e5 Nd5 17.Qb3+ Bb4 18.Qxd5
You have to know that if Bill Wall were playing the White pieces he would have played something like 18.Nc3!? 18...d6 19.c3 c6 20.Qf3 Black forfeited on time
Although my opponent chose one of the stronger and more complicated defenses to the Jerome Gambit in the following game, I had my chance to level things out - but missed it. After that, I was simply out-played. perrypawnpusher - HarlemKnight blitz, FICS, 2014 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 start of a complicated, but deadly counter-attack. 9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kf1
Up until this point, Black has been doing very well, and I was surprised to discover later that he has no other games, as Black or White, in The Database. It was time to pour on the heat with 17...Nf5, or let the advanced Knight escape with 17...Ng5. 18.Rd1
Missing my one chance - and they were not coming by very often. With 18.Bxd2 Bxh1 19.Rxh1 White would have a pawn for the exchange, and the game would be a long way from being decided. 18...Nc4 19.Qd3 Qe6
The text is okay, but 19...Nxe5 would be crushing. Black does not need to sacrifice to win, however. 20.g4 g621.f5
The only way to stay in the game, according to Houdini, was to make a play against the wayward Knight with 21.Nd5, although after the exchanges 21...Qxd5 22.Qxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 White would be playing with one pawn for his sacrificed piece, and Black would not have to be in any hurry getting his pieces to better squares to press his attack. 21...gxf5 22.Bxh6 fxg4 23.hxg4 Nxe5 24.Qf5
This blunder ended it all. 24...Nxg4+ White resigned
This is my third Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game with jgknight. The first two were relatively long draws, one last year in 58 moves, and one this year in 49 moves. As they say, "third time is a charm," and I was successful this time. There is even a little bit of "charm" in the game, although if my opponent wanted to preface with the word "lucky" I would not object.
perrypawnpusher - jgknight blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
Black's King bravely protects the Knight, giving up any thoughts of "castling-by-hand", and challenges White to justify his two piece sacrifice.
7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+
Black is headed for what I've referred to as the "Nibs Defense". See "Repairing A Variation" parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 for some background.
9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kf1
When I posted my game with this line against JTIV last year, I wrote
This is my current choice, although it is not clear why. The updated New Year's Database [now The Database] has 4 games (other than the current one) with this move, with White scoring 50%. I've scored 33% in 3 games (until now).
The Database has 15 games with the alternative, 10.Kd1, with White scoring 73%. That's in part to me scoring 100% in 6 of those games; but 3 of those wins are identical 11-movers with the "Buyer's Regret Variation".
Updating: The Database now has 9 games with 10.Kf1, with White scoring 78% (me, 75%). It still has 15 games with 10.Kd1, with White scoring 73% (me 100%).
I am still not sure which 10th move I will play next time, especially since I concluded at one point that 10.Kf1 "is not an improvement" over 10.Kd1.
10...Nxh2+
Tempting, as it is another forward-going, attacking move, but it probably only keeps the game in balance.
11.Kg2 Qg4
I smiled when I saw this move. I've recommended it a couple of times on this blog, when either Black "holds onto his advantage" or the game is "about even". Today I would go with the latter assessment.
The move is not mine, however, but the recommendation of Some Loser, the author of Unorthodox Chess (2005), who has occasionally played the Jerome Gambit. (Really. Read my book review.)
12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5+ Ke8
Black's moves are interesting: he cannot protect his c-pawn with 13...Kd8, as 14.Qf8 checkmate would follow.
Yet, his best move would have been 13...d6, encouraging White to take the c-pawn, as after 14.Qxc7+ Bd7 15.Rxh2 (what else?) White's King would be defenseless against Black's Queen – and other pieces: 15...Qe2+ 16.Kg1 Qe1+ 17.Kg2 Qxe4+ 18.Kf1 Qf3+ 19.Ke1 Rc8!?. Not only is White's Queen in trouble, Black threatens the deadly 20...Kf8!
Of course, after 13...d6 14.Qf2! White would secure his King and the game would be in balance after 14...Nf6 15.Rxh2 Nxe4 16.Qe3 Qe6.
14.Rxh2
First 14.Qe3 was a bit more prudent.
14...d615.Qe3 Nf6
For the most part, the excitement has died down. Both Kings are relatively safe, and White is ahead by a pawn (a reasonable outcome, having faced down a refutation).
16.Nc3 c6
After the game Fritz 10 censured this move. Can you see why?
17.b3
I was looking for development, and decided to put my Bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal.
I totally overlooked 17.f5!? which threatens to trap Black's Queen. Black has a defense, of course, in 17...g5, but it costs a couple of pawns, say, after 18.Rh6 Rf8 19.d3 Rf7 20.Qxg5 and, further, Black's d-pawn is at risk, as well.
17...h518.Rh4
I almost always see these things a move too late.
18...Qe619.d3 Ng420.Qe2Rh621.Bb2 d5
White has been more effective in rushing his troops to back up their footsoldiers.
22.exd5
Personal failing: I am always willing to "let the air out of the position" if I am even the tiniest bit of material ahead.
22...Qxe2+ 23.Nxe2 Ne3+24.Kf3Nxd5
Messier, but stronger, was 24...Nxc2.
So, what is going on here?
White is better developed (including his King), is a pawn ahead, and hopes to pick up one or two more pawns.
It is essential that Black get his pieces out, cause as much disruption as possible, and keep his eyes on the possibility of transitioning to the welcoming arms of the drawish (even when down pawns) Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame. jgknight fights, but the battle is not his today.
I have presented some of the "don't worry, be happy" Jerome Gambit games of Bill Wall, where he seems to be unconcernedly worse – until he is suddenly unarguably better.
Now I've run across some 2011 games by axykk at FICS with the same attitude; and I'd like to share a few.
axykk - gasparegg blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
There is enough of a difference in ratings between axykk and his opponent to believe that White is giving "Jerome Gambit odds."
Unlike many "odds" situations, however, here gasparegg knows a thing or two about the Jerome.
Oh, yeah! Black heads right toward one of the more complicated – if not well-known – refutations, the "Nibs" line.
The Database has 7, 664 Jerome Gambit games with 4...Bxf7+, 3,103 games with 5.Nxe5, and 263 games with 7.Qf5+. Only 43 games have the position in the diagram, and White has scored 52%.
This is about where I begin to get nervous in my games against the Nibs. (After a bad start of losing 3 out of 4 games, I've won the next dozen.) Somehow, I don't think that axykk was worrying yet.
9.g3 Nf3+
As the kids say in their game, "Getting warmer..."
10.Kf1 Nxh2+
Tempting, but not completely thought out. The move delivers a check, but the Knight pins itself to the Queen. Black can escape to an even game (see the note to the next move), but that's hardly the win that he had a move ago.
Like I said, the refutation is tricky.
11.Kg2 Qh6
Black resigned
Whoa, that was fast. (My opponent JTIV took more than 20 more moves to resign from the same position. On the other hand, intssed tried 11...Qe7 which received 12.Qd5#)
It is clear that in this position White will play 12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5+ winning one piece back; and he still has Rxh2, winning the other piece back, in reserve. For example, 13...Qd6 14.Qxd6+ Kxd6 15.Rxh2 and White is a pawn up, with the better center (it is not clear if Black's King is "insecure" or "developed).
Black's escape hatch was 11...Qg4, unpinning his Queen and offering his Knight escape in case White wants to exchange Queens. Best play would seem to be 12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5 d6 14.Qf2 (not 14.Qxc7+ Bd7 15.Rxh2 Qd2+) Nf6 15.Rxh2 Nxe4 when 16.Qe3 Qe6 looks even.
In today's game I was "Sidetracked" again– my opponent, who has Jerome Gambit experience, might have visited these blog pages as well.
In any event, his use of the "fork trick" to deprive me of the opportunity to play an Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit was timely (given yesterday's post and my recent coverage of the tactical motif) if a bit existentially challenging. After all, he was choosing to play a line that leads to a small advantage for White, instead of choosing to play a line that refutes the first player's opening.
Oh well, as they say a difference of opinion is what makes a chess game...(or was that "a horse race"?) perrypawnpusher - JTIV blitz, FICS, 2010
I am not quite sure why I played this move, instead of the recommended 6.Bd3. Things turned out okay in this instance, but I will probably not repeat my "experiment".
6...Qxd5 7.Nc3 Qc4
This is an interesting idea, aimed at interfering with White's castling (I think) but Black's Queen can go just about anywhere (d6 may be best) and maintain the second player's edge.
8.d3 Qg4 9.0-0 Bd6
10.Ne4 Qg6 11.Be3
After the game Fritz8 suggested 11.Nh4 Qe6 12.f4 with equal play.
11...Bh3 12.Ng3 Bg4 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3
Black has not gained much from his Bishop maneuvers; neither has he lost much. The following pawn sacrifice seems to gain little and lose more.
23.Rfe1 was playable as even after 23...h4 White's Bishop allows him to play g2-g3 now or after Black doubles Rooks on the g-file.
23...Rxg3 24.Bxg3 Ne7
White is ahead a pawn, has a Bishop vs a Knight, and has 2 solid pawn islands vs Black's 3 (including 3 isolated pawns). At our level of play, especially in blitz, it would be presumptious so say the win "is only a matter of technique."
After 47...Kxe2 I had already seen the mindless 48.e8Q+ Kd2 49.Qd7+ Kc1 50.Qxd1+ Kxd1 51.h5 etc, although there are smarter ways for White to win, too.
The following game is another visit with a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) defense / refutation that has sharp teeth and claws – at least in theory. When entering this jungle, I always feel a mixture of excitement and dread as I wonder what will happen this time? See "Closer... But not there yet" and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XVI".
perrypawnpusher - JTIV blitz, FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7
My opponent played the Jerome Gambit successfully 3 days before our game: 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 h6 7.c3 dxc3 8.Qb3+ Ke8 9.Nxc3 d6 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.0-0 b6 12.Re1+ Kd8 13.Qf7 Qf6 14.Re8, checkmate, JTIV - NyteFork, FICS, 2010.
5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+
Whenever I see this move, I suspect that someone has been reading this blog... (Not that that's a bad thing.)
9.g3 Nf3+
And this move almost confirms it...
Interestingly enough, the updated New Year's Database has 25 games (other than the current one) with this position, with White scoring 58%. My own experience with the line is scoring 78% in 9 games.
10.Kf1
This is my current choice, although it is not clear why. The updated New Year's Database has 4 games (other than the current one) with this move, with White scoring 50%. I've scored 33% in 3 games (until now).
The Database has 15 games with the alternative, 10.Kd1, with White scoring 73%. That's in part to me scoring 100% in 6 of those games; but 3 of those wins are identical 11-movers with the "Buyer's Regret Variation".
10.Kf1 Nxh2+
This is an okay followup, although the "magic move" is 10...Ne7. Black has had success with two other moves, as well:
This move allows Black the chance to slip out of his difficulties. The straight-forward 12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5+ Qd6 14.Qxd6+ Kxd6 15.Rxh2 gives White the edge.
12...g6
Necessary was 12...Qe6. The text move turns the game over to White.
13.Qe5+
White's Queen escapes attack with check. Even stronger was 13.Rxh6, since the Black g-pawn would then be pinned.
