Jerome Gambit: Looks Simple, But It Is Not

In the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, the same player from the previous post again tries his best against the "annoying" or "silicon" defense. The line the players explore looks simple, but it is not. 

Anonymous - Anonymous
1 move / 3 days, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 

White has one pawn for his sacrificed piece.

Black's King is annoyingly safe in the center, but White will try batting him around a bit.

This defense was seen as early as the 1993 match between Micah Fisher-Kirshner and the computer program KnightStalker (an early version of ChessBase's Fritz, marketed in the US).

9.Qh3+ Kd6 10.Qd3+ Ke7 11.Qg3 Kf6 

Up until Black's last move, we have been following games where Black was played by computer programs Comet B50, Demon 1.0, Fritz 8, Junior 7, Knightstalker, La Dame Blanche 2.0c, Rybka (v.1 and 2.3.2a), and Zarkov 4.7. None of them chose the move in the game.

What's the problem with the move? Because Black does not want to give up a pawn (11...Kf7 12.Qxe5) he allows the Rook to come to f1, with a check that requires another King move.

12.Rf1+ Ke6 

What is going on?

Well, it's probably not a good idea for White to go pawn-grabbing with 13.Qxg7, as Black not only has the development 13...Nf6, with an even game, he has the sharp riposte 13...Qh4+, when 14.Kd1 Qh5+ 15.Ke1 Qg6 forces the exchange of Queens, and Black's development, activity and Bishop pair give him a clear advantage.

Because computers almost always see White as worse in the Jerome Gambit opening, they constantly look for drawing lines as "best", and, here, Komodo 10 offers one: 13.Qb3+ Kd7 14.Qb5+ Kd6 15.d4 Qh4+ (necessary to move the Queen, otherwise 15...Bxd4 16.Qd5+ Ke7 17.Rf7+ wins it) 16.Rf2 Bxd4 17.Qd5+ Ke7 18.Qf7+ Kd6 19.Qd5+, etc.

So, it's not surprising that White, instead, gives the enemy King another kick, even if it's not objectively the best move.

13.Qg4+ Kd6 14.Qxg7

This capture has its risks. The Queen would probably be safer on g3, but White is not seeking out safety.

14...Ne7 

Protecting the safe Rook. However, after 14...Qh4+ 15.Kd1 Bg4+ White's position would be a mess. 

15.d4 Bxd4 16.c3 

White is still playing with only a couple of pieces, but Komodo 10 rates him as having a slight edge, especially after the recommended return of a piece with 16...Ng6. The reasonable alternative, which Black plays, leads to a difficult position for the defender.

16...Bb6 17.Bg5 

You can almost hear White saying "Gotcha!"

17...Re8 18.Na3 

This Knight means trouble.

18...Be6 

Black needed to try 18...Bg4, but 19.Nc4+ Kc6 (other moves are worse) 20.Qf7 would force him to return a couple of pieces, i.e. 20...Bf2+ 21.Rxf2 b6 22.Nxe5+ Kb7 23.Nxg4.

White's next move settles everything.

19.O-O-O+ Kc6 20.Rxd8 Raxd8 21.Qxe5 Bxa2 22.Qb5+ Kd6 23.Rf6+ Be6 24.e5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Unfinished Symphony (Part 2)

perrypawnpusher - Nivaethan2000
Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament, Chess.com 2016

In the previous post I suggested that White's last move, 10.Nc3, might not be best, as compared to the direct 10.fxe5, as it allows Black a move to prepare for the capture. Black cannot withdraw his Knight from e5, because of the threat Nd5+, forking King and Queen, but he can either counter-attack on White's Queen, or withdraw his King.

The following illustrative games (there are a lot, but they are worth playing over for a better understanding of the position) primarily feature two players well-known to the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde - MrJoker and Bill Wall - and a player who worked with a series of computers that I introduced years ago in "Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (27)"

In 2006 I heard from Jeroen_61 of the Netherlands, who emailed me 

Some time ago when Hiarcs 8 was released after receiving my copy I ran some small tournaments to see how things would go with Hiarcs. Other participants were Junior 7, Shredder Paderdorn (6.02) and Fritz 7. One of the tournaments I conducted with - the Jerome gambit as opening. They are games 40/40' + 40/40' + 40' (round robin two rounds, so 12 games in all). Only two were won by the white side.

...All were posted at a website that Jeroen_61 gave, although an attempt to use the url today got me the message De pagina is niet gevonden, which probably means just what it looks like.

Black uncovers an attack on White's Queen with 10...d6, and White's best is the counter-stroke 11.Nd5+, leading to the following: 11...Kd8 Best (11...Kf7 12.Qb3 (or 12.Qg3 Qd8 13.fxe5+ Ke6 14.Qg4+ Kxe5 15.d4+ Kxd4 16.Qd1+ Kxe4 17.Qf3+ Ke5 18.Bf4+ Ke6 19.O-O-O Kd7 20.Qg4+ Kc6 21.Qf3 Be6 22.Nf6+ Kb6 23.Nd5+ Bxd5 24.Qxd5 Ne7 25.Qb3+ Kc6 26.Qa4+ b5 27.Qe4+ Kb6 28.b4 Bxb4 29.Qxb4 Nd5 30.Qd4+ Kc6 31.Qxd5+ Kb6 Black resigned, MrJoker - AshNazg, Internet Chess Club, 2011) 12...Qh4+  (or 12...Qd8 13.fxe5+ Kg7 14.Nb6 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qxe4+ 16.Kd1 Bg4+ 17.Rf3 Bxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 19.Ke1 Qf2+ 20.Kd1 Qf1 checkmate, MrJoker - goesoef, Internet Chess Club 2011) 13.g3 Qg4 14.fxe5+ Kg7 15.d3 dxe5 16.Nxc7 Rb8 17.Ne8 checkmate, Wall,B - Guest5541035, PlayChess.com, 2014) 12.Qg3 Best (or 12.Qc3 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qxh2 14.fxe5 Bg4 15.Qd3 Ne7 16.Nf4 Nc6 17.Ne6+ Bxe6 18.exd6 Ne5 19.Qe2 Qxg3+ White resigned, Fritz 8 - Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 12...Nd3+ Best (or 12...Qe6 13.fxe5 dxe5 (or 13...Ne7 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Bg5 Re8 16.O-O-O Bxe5 17.Qh4 c6 18.Nxe7 Rxe7 19.Qxh7 Bd7 20.Rf8+ Be8 21.Rdf1 Kd7 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.R1f7 Bxf7 24.Rxf7 Re8 25.Qxg6 Kc7 26.Qe6 Kd8 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Qg8+ Kc7 29.g3 Rg7 30.Qf8 a5 31.c3 a4 32.Kc2 a3 33.bxa3 Rh7 34.Qf2 c5 35.a4 Kc6 36.Qe2 Kc7 37.a5 Rh6 38.a4 Rh7 39.Kb3 Rh8 40.Kc4 Ra8 41.Qg4 Rxa5 42.Kb3 c4+ 43.Kb4 Ra6 44.h4 Rb6+ 45.Kxc4 Rc6+ 46.Kd5 Rxc3 47.h5 Rxg3 48.Qf5 Rd3+ 49.Ke6 Kc6 50.h6 Rd2 51.h7 Rh2 52.Qf7 b6 53.Qd7+ Kc5 54.Qb5+ Kd4 55.Qxb6+ Kxe4 56.Qb7+ Kd4 57.a5 Rh6+ 58.Kf5 Rf6+ 59.Kg5 Rf8 60.a6 Black resigned, mrjoker - igort, Internet Chess Club, 2010) 14.d4 Ne7 15.dxc5 Nxd5 16.Bg5+ Ke8 17.exd5 Qxd5 18.Rf2 Be6 19.Rd2 Qxc5 20.O-O-O Rf8 21.Qh4 h5 22.Bh6 Rf5 23.Rd8+ Rxd8 24.Rxd8+ Kf7 25.Rf8+ Qxf8 26.Bxf8 Kxf8 27.Qd8+ Kg7 28.Qxc7+ Kh6 29.h4 Rf1+ 30.Kd2 Rf2+ 31.Ke3 Rf5 32.Qd8 a6 33.Qh8 checkmate, Wall, B - Aburasian, Chess.com, 2010) 13.Qxd3 Best (or 13.cxd3 Qf7 14.Qg5+ White resigned, cliang - parrot, FICS, 2009) 13...Qg7 14.c3 Ne7 15.b4 Bb6 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Qc2 Qh6 18.h3 Qh4+ 19.Rf2 Be6 20.d3 Rf8 21.a4 Qg3 22.Kf1 Qh2 23.Rf3 Qh1+ 24.Kf2 Bd7 25.b5 Be6 26.c4 Kd7 27.Qc3 Rg8 28.Bd2 Qh2 29.d4 Bf7 30.e5 Nf5 31.d5 Rge8 32.Re1 Nh4 33.e6+ Kc8 34.Rg3 Bxe6 35.dxe6 Rxa4 36.Qb3 Ra8 37.Qb2 Kb8 38.e7 Nf5 39.Rg5 d5 40.Rxf5 gxf5 41.cxd5 Ra4 42.Qe5 Ra2 43.Qd4 h5 44.d6 cxd6 45.Qxd6+ Ka8 46.Re6 Rc2 47.Qd8+ Rc8 48.Qxb6 Rg8 49.Rg6 Rxg6 50.Qxg6 h4 51.e8=Q Black resigned, Wall,B - BBchess engine, Lahore, 2015} 

Instead, 10...Kd8 allows White to capture the Knight at e5 after all, and the game is roughly balanced: 11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.d4 (or 12.d3 Bb4 13.Qh4+ Ne7 14.Bd2 d5 15.O-O-O d4 16.Bf4 Qe6 17.Nd5 Bd6 18.Bxd6 cxd6 19.Rf6 Qe5 20.Nxe7 g5 21.Qh6 Qxe7 22.Rxd6+ Bd7 23.Rxd4 Kc7 24.Rc4+ Bc6 25.Qh3 b5 26.Rc3 Kb7 27.d4 Bxe4 28.Re1 Rad8 29.Qd3 Rhe8 30.Qxb5+ Ka8 31.Rce3 Qd6 32.Rxe4 Rxe4 33.Rxe4 Qxh2 34.Qf1 h5 35.c3 g4 36.Qe2 Rc8 37.Re8 Rxe8 38.Qxe8+ Kb7 39.Qe4+ Kb6 40.c4 Qg1+ 41.Kd2 Qf2+ 42.Kc3 Qg3+ 43.Kb4 Qf2 44.Qe6+ Kc7 45.Qe7+ Kc8 46.Kc5 Qxb2 47.Qe8+ Kc7 48.Qc6+ Kb8 49.a4 Qb6+ 50.Qxb6+ axb6+ 51.Kd5 h4 52.Ke4 Kc7 53.Kf4 h3 54.gxh3 gxh3 55.Kg3 h2 56.Kxh2 Kd7 57.Kg3 Kc7 58.Kf4 Kc6 59.Ke5 Kc7 60.Ke6 Kb7 61.d5 Kc8 62.Ke7 Kc7 63.d6+ Black resigned, Fritz 5.32 - Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 12...Qxd4 (or 12...Bxd4 13.Rf8+ Ke7 14.Qf3 Qc5 (or 14...g5 15.Rf5 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qg7 17.Rxg5 Qf6 18.Bf4 d6 19.e5 dxe5 20.Qe3 h6 21.Bxe5 Qxg5 22.Bf4+ Kf7 23.Bxg5 hxg5 24.Qxg5 Nf6 25.O-O-O Rh5 26.Qf4 Rc5 27.Rf1 Rf5 28.Qxc7+ Kg6 29.Re1 b6 30.h4 Rc5 31.Qg3+ Kf7 32.Qd6 Bg4 33.Re7+ Kg6 34.Qd3+ Rf5 35.c4 Rh8 36.Qg3 Rc5 37.Re6 Kg7 38.Rxf6 Kxf6 39.Qxg4 Rhc8 40.Qd4+ Ke6 41.Qe4+ Kf6 42.Qf3+ Ke6 43.g4 Rxc4 44.Qf5+ Ke7 45.g5 R4c5 46.Qe4+ Kd6 47.Kb2 b5 48.g6 Rc4 49.Qf5 R4c5 50.Qf6+ Kd7 51.g7 Rxc2+ 52.Kb3 R2c4 53.g8=R Rxg8 54.Qf7+ Kd6 55.Qxg8 a6 56.Qxc4 bxc4+ 57.Kxc4 Ke5 58.Kb4 Kf4 59.a4 Kg4 60.Ka5 Kxh4 61.Kxa6 Kg3 62.Kb5 Kf4 63.a5 Ke5 64.a6 Kd6 65.a7 Ke5 66.Kc5 Ke4 67.a8=Q+ Ke3 68.Qd5 Ke2 69.Kd4 Kf2 70.Qe4 Kf1 71.Ke3 Kg1 72.Kf3 Kh1 73.Qc2 Kg1 74.Qg2 checkmate, Junior 7-Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 15.Nd5+ Kd6 16.c3 Bg7 17.Be3 Qc4 18.e5+ Bxe5 19.Rd1 Bg7 20.Nb6+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Abrok chess engine, Palm Bay, FL, 2015) 13.Bg5+ Ke8 14.Qf3 Qg7 15.Nd5 Bd6 16.O-O-O c6 17.e5 Bb8 18.e6 d6 19.Qf7+ Qxf7 20.exf7+ Kf8 21.fxg8=Q+ Kxg8 22.Rde1 cxd5 23.Re8+ Kg7 24.Re7+ Kg8 25.Bh6 Black resigned, Wall,B - Amyan engine, Palm Bay, FL, 2015. 

10...c6 11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.d3 

White supports his e-pawn, plans to unleash his dark-squared Bishop, and castle Queenside. This slow idea is probably more effective than 12.Qf3, even if the idea is computer-generated, e.g. 12...Nf6 13.Ne2 (13.d3 Bb4 14.Bd2 d6 15.d4 Qe6 16.O-O-O Ng4 17.d5 Qg8 18.Qg3 Ke8 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Nb5 cxb5 21.Bxb4 Ne5 22.Rxd6 Nc4 23.Qg5 Nxd6 24.Qe5+ Qe6 25.Qxh8+ Kd7 26.Rd1 h5 27.Rxd6+ Qxd6 28.Bxd6 Kxd6 29.Qd8+ Black resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, D1N5TWD1, 2008) 13...Rf8 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Bf4 Qc5 16.O-O-O Be5 17.b4 Bxf4+ 18.Qxf4 Qxb4 19.Qe5+ Kd8 20.Rxf6 Re8 21.Re6 Rxe6 22.Qxe6 Qf8 23.Qe5 Qe7 24.Qd4 b6 25.e5 Bb7 26.Nc3 c5 27.Qg4 Bc6 28.Qf4 h5 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 Rc8 31.Qa4 Rc7 32.Qe4 Rc6 33.Qa4 Qe6 34.c4 Rc7 35.Qd1 a6 36.Qe2 Rc6 37.g3 b5 38.h4 bxc4 39.Qxc4 Qf7 40.Qb3 Kc7 41.Qd3 Kc8 42.Rd6 Rxd6 43.Qxd6 Qf1+ 44.Kd2 Qg2+ 45.Kc1 Qc6 46.Qd2 Kc7 47.Qa5+ Kb7 48.Qd2 Qe6 49.Qb2+ Kc6 50.Qg2+ Kb5 51.Qb7+ Ka5 52.Qc7+ Kb4 53.Qb7+ Kc3 54.Qb2+ Kd3 55.Qc2+ Kd4 56.Qb2+ Kd5 57.a3 Qg4 58.Qb7+ Kxe5 59.Qc7+ d6 60.Qe7+ Kd5 61.Qb7+ Ke6 62.Qb3+ Ke5 63.Qb2+ Qd4 64.Qe2+ Kd5 65.Qg2+ Qe4 66.Qd2+ Ke5 67.Qb2+ Kf5 68.Qb8 Qd3 69.Qc8+ Ke5 70.a4 Qc4+ 71.Kd2 Qxa4 72.Qc7 Qd4+ 73.Ke2 Qe4+ 74.Kf2 Qd3 75.Qe7+ Kd5 76.Qe8 Qf5+ 77.Kg1 Kd4 78.Qb8 Ke3 79.Qb3+ Qd3 80.Qf7 Kd2 81.Qa2+ Ke1 82.Qa5+ Qd2 83.Qa1+ Qd1 84.Qc3+ Ke2+ 85.Kh2 Qd4 86.Qa3 Qf2+ White resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, D1N5TWD1, 2008.

12...d6

Alternately: 12...d5 13.Qh4+ (13.Qf3!?) Ke8 14.Bf4 Qe6 (or 14...Qe7 15.Bg5 Qe6 16.O-O-O d4 17.Ne2 Qg4 18.Nf4 Qxh4 19.Bxh4 Ne7 20.Bf6 Rf8 21.Ne2 Bg4 22.Rd2 Bb4 23.c3 dxc3 24.bxc3 Bxe2 25.Rxe2 Ba3+ 26.Kc2 Kd7 27.Ref2 a5 28.Kb3 Bd6 29.e5 Bc7 30.e6+ Ke8 31.Bg7 Rxf2 32.Rxf2 a4+ 33.Kc2 Nf5 34.Bf6 Bd8 35.Bxd8 Rxd8 36.g4 Ng7 37.Rf7 Nxe6 38.Rxb7 Rd7 39.Rb4 Ra7 40.Rc4 Kd7 41.a3 Kd6 42.h4 Ra5 43.g5 Nc7 44.Rf4 Ne6 45.Rf7 Rf5 46.Rxh7 Rf2+ 47.Kb1 Nf4 48.Ra7 Nxd3 49.Rxa4 Ne5 50.Rd4+ Kc5 51.Re4 Nc4 52.Re6 Nxa3+ 53.Ka1 Rh2 54.Rxg6 Rxh4 55.Rh6 Rg4 56.g6 Rg2 57.Rh5+ Kd6 58.Ra5 Nb5 59.c4 Nd4 60.Ra8 Rxg6 61.Rd8+ Kc5 White resigned, mrjoker - far, Internet Chess Club, 2008) 15.O-O-O d4 16.Qf2 (or 16.Bc7 Be7 17.Qe1 dxc3 18.Qxc3 Nf6 19.Kb1 Rf8 20.h3 b5 21.g4 c5 22.Qd2 Bb7 23.Rde1 c4 24.Qa5 cxd3 25.cxd3 Qd7 26.Rf3 Rc8 27.Bh2 h5 28.gxh5 Nxh5 29.Rxf8+ Bxf8 30.Qd2 Rd8 31.Rd1 Bxe4 32.Qe3 Qe6 33.Ka1 Bf5 34.Qg1 Bb4 35.a3 Qb3 36.Qe3+ Be6 White resigned, sackville - jayking, GameKnot.com, 2007) 16...b5 (or 16...Ne7 17.Bh6 Bb6 18.Na4 c5 19.Nxb6 axb6 20.a3 Bd7 21.Qf8+ Black resigned, mrjoker - tomnoah, Internet Chess Club, 2010) 17.Kb1 Bb6 18.Ne2 c5 19.Bg5 Ne7 20.Nf4 Qf7 21.Qe2 Qg7 22.Nd5 Bd8 23.Nf6+ Black resigned, Topper76 - mrdenetop, Chess.com, 2011 

Or 12...Bd4 13.Ne2 Bxb2 14.Qf3 Nf6 15.d4 Bxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxe4+ 17.Be3 Qxf3 18.Rxf3 Ne4 19.O-O-O a6 20.Rf4 d5 21.c4 Be6 22.cxd5 Bxd5 23.Nf3 Nc3 24.Re1 Nxa2+ 25.Kb2 Kd7 26.Bc5 Rhe8 27.Rd1 Re2+ 28.Rd2 Rxd2+ 29.Nxd2 Re8 White resigned, tapirus - Yigor, Chess.com, 2011. 

Or 12...Bb4 13.Qh4+ (13.Bd2!?) Nf6 14.Bd2 Rf8 15.Nd5+ cxd5 16.Bxb4+ d6 17.O-O-O d4 18.Bd2 Be6 19.Bg5 Bxa2 20.b3 h5 21.Rd2 Rf7 22.Rdf2 Raf8 23.Kb2 Bxb3 24.cxb3 b6 25.Bh6 Rg8 26.Bf4 Qe6 27.Bg5 Rgf8 28.Bh6 Qg4 29.Qxg4 hxg4 30.Bxf8+ Rxf8 31.b4 a6 32.Kb3 Ke6 33.Ra1 Ra8 34.Rfa2 Rc8 35.Rc2 Ra8 36.Rc7 g5 37.Kc4 Ne8 38.Rc6 Ke5 39.Kb3 b5 40.Rcxa6 Rc8 41.Rf1 Ke6 42.Kb2 Rc3 43.Ra3 Rxa3 44.Kxa3 Nf6 45.Rc1 Nd7 46.Kb2 d5 47.Rc6+ Ke5 48.exd5 Kxd5 49.Rg6 Ne5 50.Rxg5 Ke6 51.Kc2 Kd5 52.h4 gxh3 53.gxh3 Ke6 54.Rh5 Kd5 55.h4 Ke6 56.Rh6+ Ke7 57.Rb6 Nf3 58.h5 Ne1+ 59.Kd2 Nf3+ 60.Ke2 Ng1+ 61.Kf2 Nh3+ 62.Kg3 Ng1 63.h6 Kf7 64.Rxb5 Black resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, The Jeroen Experience, 2003 

Or 12...Nf6 13.Qh4 Bd4 14.Bg5 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxc3+ 16.Ke2 Qxc2+ (16...Rf8 17.Rxf6 Rxf6 18.Rf1 Ke8 19.Bxf6 Qxc2+ 20.Ke3 Qc5+ 21.d4 Qa3+ 22.Kf2 Qxa2+ 23.Kg1 Qf7 24.Bg5 Qg7 25.Rf6 d6 26.Qf4 a6 27.Bh6 Qe7 28.Rf8+ Kd7 29.Rf7 c5 30.Rxe7+ Black resigned, Junior 7 - Fritz 5.32, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 17.Bd2 Qb2 18.Rxf6 Qxf6 19.Bg5 Rf8 20.Bxf6+ Rxf6 21.e5 Black resigned, Wall,B - XCCY, FICS, 2011. 

13.Qh4+ 

A little more attention to the dark squares...

13...Ke8

Black's response is fine, although it is not the only one. For example, 13...Kd7 14.Rf7+ Ke8 15.Rf3 (15.Rxh7 Qd4 16.Ne2 Qf2+ 17.Qxf2 Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Rxh7 19.Bf4 Ke7 20.Bg5+ Nf6 21.Rf1 Bd7 22.Ke1 Rf8 23.Nf4 Be8 24.h4 Bf7 25.d4 Kd7 26.Bxf6 Bc4 27.Nd3 Rhf7 28.e5 c5 29.Rf4 Bxd3 30.cxd3 Ke6 31.Rg4 cxd4 32.Rxg6 Kd5 33.g4 dxe5 34.g5 Rc8 35.h5 Rc1+ 36.Ke2 Rc2+ 37.Kf3 Rd2 38.h6 Rxd3+ 39.Kg4 Rc7 40.Rg7 Rc2 41.h7 Ke4 42.Re7 Rg2+ 43.Kh5 Rh3+ 44.Kg6 Rgh2 45.Rxe5+ Kf3 46.Re7 d3 47.Bc3 d2 48.Bxd2 Rxd2 49.Kg7 Rdh2 50.g6 b5 51.Rxa7 b4 52.a4 Ke3 53.Rb7 Rh5 54.Rxb4 Ra5 55.Rb8 Rxa4 56.b4 Ra6 57.h8=Q Rxh8 58.Rxh8 Kf4 59.Kh7 Kg5 60.g7 Rh6+ 61.Kg8 Rc6 62.Kf7 Rf6+ 63.Ke7 Rf3 64.g8=Q+ Kf4 65.Qc4+ Kg3 66.Rg8+ Kf2 67.Qc2+ Ke3 68.Qc3+ Ke2 69.Rg2+ Rf2 70.Qc2+ Kf3 71.Qxf2+ Ke4 72.Ke6 Kd3 73.Rg3+ Kc4 74.Qc5 checkmate, Fritz 8 - Deep Sjeng 1.5, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 15...Ne7 16.Bg5 Rf8 17.Rxf8+ Kxf8 18.O-O-O Ng8 19.Ne2 Bb6 20.d4 Qe6 21.Qxh7 Qf7 22.Qh8 Bg4 23.Re1 Qxa2 24.d5 Re8 25.Rf1+ Bf5 26.Ng3 Qa1+ 27.Kd2 Ba5+ 28.Ke2 Qa2 29.Kf3 Qc4 30.exf5 gxf5 31.Bh6+ Ke7 32.Qh7+ Kd8 33.Bg5+ Kc8 34.Qxf5+ Kb8 35.Qf7 Rc8 36.Ra1 Bc7 37.Be3 c5 38.c3 Qb3 39.Ne4 Qc2 40.b4 a6 41.bxc5 dxc5 42.d6 Bb6 43.Rc1 Qd3 44.Nf2 Qb5 45.d7 Rd8 46.Bf4+ Ka7 47.Rd1 Qc6+ 48.Ne4 Qa4 49.Rd2 Qc6 50.Rd6 Qc7 51.Kf2 c4+ 52.Ke2 Nh6 53.Bxh6 Bc5 54.Be3 Bxe3 55.Kxe3 a5 56.Qd5 Kb8 57.Nc5 Ka7 58.Ne6 Black resigned, Junior 7 - Deep Sjeng 1.5, The Jeroen Experience, 2003. 

14.Bf4 Qe7 15.Bg5 Qg7 

White has some positional pressure - on the dark squares, along the f-file - and an advantage in development, although not (yet) full compensation for his sacrificed piece. He can finally castle, then plan to double his Rooks.
16.0-0-0 Be6 17.Rf3 Black forfeited on time

Quite a surprise. As my opponent subsequently forfeited on time his game with the White pieces - and forfeited games to other players as well - something in the "outside world" must have intervened.

By the way, after the game, Stockfish 7 suggested that instead of doubling Rooks, I consider 17.d4!? Bxd4 18.Rxd4!? (eliminating the dark square Bishop) with the following possibility 18...Qxd4 19.Qf4 Qg7 20.Qxd6 Bc4 21.Rd1 when Black is still in a bind, although the computer still puts him ahead by only about 3/4 of a pawn. A deep idea, not anything I had considered.

Jerome Gambit: Unfinished Symphony (Part 1)

The following game, my most recent Jerome Gambit from an ongoing Chess.com tournament, was an adventure from start to finish. The adventure was shorter than I expected, however. It is filled out with related games played at a number of different online sites, all from The Database.

perrypawnpusher - Nivaethan2000
Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament, Chess.com 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4

This is a popular line, but it is the first time that I have played it. I have preferred 7.Qf5+, and am something like 59 - 10 with the move. That's a score of almost 86% - why take the risk of something new? As I mentioned in a previous post, I need to keep learning about the Jerome Gambit.

White's King is going to be insecure for a while, and if he castles, it will be Queenside.

7...Qf6 8.Rf1 g6

This pawn kick is understandable, but Knight moves also have been played.

For example, 8... Ne7 was seen in Wall,B - Asterisk engine, Palm Bay, FL, 2015 (1-0, 39).

Also 8...Nh6 9.Nc3 c6 10.fxe5 Qxe5 11.Qh4 Rf8 12.Rxf8 Bxf8 13.d3 Bb4 14.Bd2 Qf6 15.Qh5 d6 16.Qe8+ Qe7 17.Qh8 g5 18.h4 g4 19.Bxh6 Bxc3+ 20.bxc3 Qxh4+ 21.Ke2 Kd7 22.Rf1 Kc7 23.Rf7+ Kb6 24.Qd4+ Ka6 25.Qa4+ Kb6 26.Be3+ c5 27.Qb3+ Kc6 28.Qd5+ Kb5 29.Rxb7+ Black resigned, tapirus - mrdenetop, Chess.com, 2011.

There was the creative 8...Nd3+ as in MrJoker - Melbourne, Internet Chess Club 2011 (1-0, 29). 

9.Qh3+ Ke7

Again, this is not the only move (although it foreshadows the theme of play along the dark squares).

Examples of games with the novel way of returning the piece, 9...Ng4, are mrjoker - jmt, Internet Chess Club, 2008 (1-0, 29);  Wall,B - Guest3164644, PlayChess.com 2013 (1-0, 20); and Wall,B - Betarsolta, PlayChess.com, 2015 (1-0, 12). 

The imprudent 9...Kf7 was seen in Wall,B - Guest1690223, PlayChess.com, 2012 (1-0, 12).

The alternative 9...Kd6 has been met several ways: 

10.fxe5+ Qxe5 11.d3 (11.Nc3!?) Kc6 12.Nc3 d6 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Bf4 Qh5 15.g4 Bxg4 16.Qh1 Bb4 17.e5+ Kb6 18.Qg1+ Ka6 19.Qd4 Bxc3+ 20.bxc3 Nh6 21.Qa4+ Kb6 22.Rb1+ Black disconnected and forfeited, MrJoker - Melbourne, Internet Chess Club, 2011; 

10.Qg3 Nf7 (best is 10...Nd3+) 11.e5+ Nxe5 12.Nc3 Ke6 13.Ne4 Nf3+ 14.Qxf3 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qe7 16.f5+ Kd5 17.Kd1 Qxe4 18.c4+ Ke5 19.Re1 d5 20.Rxe4+ dxe4 21.d4+ Bxd4 22.Qf4+ Kf6 23.fxg6+ Kxg6 24.Qg5+ Kf7 25.Qd5+ Be6 26.Qxd4 Nf6 27.Ke1 Rhf8 28.Qe5 Rac8 29.Bg5 Kg6 30.Bd2 Bf5 31.Qf4 e3 32.Bxe3 Rce8 33.Ke2 Bg4+ 34.Kd3 Rd8+ 35.Kc2 Bf5+ 36.Kb3 Rd3+ 37.Kb4 a5+ 38.Kxa5 b6+ 39.Kb4 c5+ 40.Kb5 Bd7+ 41.Kxb6 Nd5+ 42.cxd5 Rxf4 43.Bxf4 Rxd5 44.Rc1 Be6 45.b3 Kf5 46.Kc6 Kf6 47.Rc2 Rf5 48.Bc1 Bd5+ 49.Kd6 Ba8 50.Bb2+ Kg6 51.Be5 Rf8 52.Rxc5 Rf2 53.a4 Rxh2 54.b4 Ra2 55.a5 Bh1 56.Bc3 Rg2 57.b5 Rxg3 58.b6 Rd3+ 59.Kc7 Re3 60.a6 Re7+ 61.Kd6 Rf7 62.Rc6 Black resigned, Zappa 1.1 - Deep Fritz 8, Blitz:5, 2006.

10.b4!? Nf3+ (if 10...Bxb4 11.Qb3; best is 10...Bd4) 11.Qxf3 Qxa1 12.bxc5+ Ke7 13.Qb3 Nf6 14.Bb2 Qxb1+ 15.Ke2 Qxf1+ 16.Kxf1 Rf8 17.Qg3 Ke8 18.f5 Rf7 19.Qe5+ Kf8 20.Qxc7 Ne8 21.Qe5 gxf5 22.exf5 b6 23.Ba3 d6 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.cxd6+ Kd8 26.g4 Be6 27.Ke1 Bxa2 28.Qa1 Bd5 29.Qd4 Bh1 30.Qc4 Rd7 31.Qg8 a6 32.g5 a5 33.c4 Rg7 34.Qe6 Raa7 35.d7 Raxd7 36.Qxb6+ Kc8 37.f6 Rgf7 38.Qxa5 Nc7 39.Qe5 Bb7 40.d4 Bg2 41.Kf2 Bc6 42.d5 Bxd5 43.cxd5 Rxd5 44.Qf4 Rdd7 45.Bb4 Kb7 46.Qc4 Nd5 47.Qb5+ Kc7 48.Bc5 Kc8 49.Qa6+ Kb8 50.Bd6+ Nc7 51.h3 Rd8 52.Qb5+ Kc8 53.Bxc7 Rxc7 54.Qf5+ Kb7 55.f7 Rcc8 56.Qxh7 Kc6 57.Qe4+ Kd6 58.Qd4+ Kc7 59.Qf4+ Black resigned, Junior 7 - Fritz 7, Utrecht, 2002; 

10.Nc3 (best) Kc6 11.Nd5 d6 12.Qg3 Qe6 13.fxe5 Qxe5 14.Qxe5 dxe5 15.b4 Bd6 16.Bb2 Ne7 17.c4 b6 18.Rc1 Nxd5 19.exd5+ Kd7 20.c5 bxc5 21.bxc5 Be7 22.Bxe5 Rf8 23.c6+ Kd8 24.Rxf8+ Bxf8 25.Rc3 Be7 26.Re3 h5 27.Bxc7+ Kxc7 28.Rxe7+ Kd6 29.Re8 Kxd5 30.Rg8 Bb7 31.Rxg6 Re8+ 32.Kf2 Bxc6 33.Rh6 Re5 34.d4 Rf5+ 35.Ke3 Rg5 36.g3 a5 37.a3 Bb5 38.Rh7 Kc4 39.Rf7 Kb3 40.Kf4 Rd5 41.Ke4 Be8 42.Kxd5 Bxf7+ 43.Ke5 Kxa3 44.d5 a4 45.d6 Be8 46.Kf6 Kb4 47.Ke7 Bb5 48.d7 Bxd7 49.Kxd7 a3 50.Ke6 a2 51.Kf5 a1=Q 52.Kg5 Qe5+ 53.Kh4 White resigned, DrunkenMaster 1.2 - Comet B48, Torneo tematico GaJero00-A, 2009

10.Nc3 

A little bit better might be 10.fxe5 Qxe5 although it did not make a difference in GeniusPawn - jmchess, FICS, 2000 which continued with 11.Nc3, anyway: 11...Nf6 12.d4 Bxd4 13.Bf4 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxe4+ 15.Kd1 d6 16.Qh4 Kf7 17.Kc1 Bf5 18.Qf2 Qc4 19.Rb1 Ne4 20.Qe3 Qxf1+ 21.Kb2 Qxg2 22.Bh6 Qxh2 23.Ka1 Qxc2 24.Rc1 Qa4 25.Qd3 Rae8 26.Qd5+ Be6 27.Rf1+ Ke7 28.Bg5+ Kd7 29.Rf7+ Kc8 White resigned.

The question is, can Black respond to 10.Nc3 by making the White capture of the Knight on e5 more difficult, if not impossible? The answer, as we shall see, is both yes and no

[to be continued]

What Can We Learn From the Robots?

Torneo tematico GaJero00-A  2009

                      1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 Rybka 2.3.2a (2 CPU) ** 11 01 01 1½ 11 11 11 11.5/14
2 WB Nimzo 2000b       00 ** 01 11 1½ 11 ½1 11 10.0/14
3 SOS 5.1              10 10 ** 00 11 11 11 ½1 9.5/14
4 Comet B48            10 00 11 ** 10 01 11 11 9.0/14
5 Zarkov 4.70          0½ 0½ 00 01 ** 1½ 01 11 6.5/14
6 DrunkenMaster 1.2 00 00 00 10 0½ ** 10 11 4.5/14
7 La Dame Blanche 2.0c 00 ½0 00 00 10 01 ** 01 3.5/14
8 Demon 1.0            00 00 ½0 00 00 00 10 ** 1.5/14


The crosstable above is for the Jerome Gambit thematic chess tournament presented at the Scacchi64.com website, referred to in a couple of earlier posts (see "The Macbeth Attack" and "From the Scacchi64.com Jerome Gambit Thematic").

It is not surprising that the tournament leader, Rybka, had the best score with the Jerome Gambit, with 4 wins and a draw. (It climbed to the top by beating the Jerome 7-0. I know how that goes: see "Overrated!")

The next finishers - WB Nimzo, SOS and Comet - all had 3 wins. They were followed in the standings by Zarkov and DrunkenMaster, each with 1 Jerome Gambit win.

Of note, half of the games featured the "classical" 5.Nxe5+, with White scoring 34% (versus 54% in The Database) while half had the "modern" 5.0-0, with White scoring 29% (versus 38% in The Database). 

Interestingly, Rybka played 5.0-0 in all 7 of its games with White and scored 64%, WBNimzo and Comet, the #2 and #4 finishers, all played 5.Nxe5, while 3rd place finisher SOS stuck with 5.0-0.

Perhaps the most "psychological" opening move played in a winning effort - and here I mean the kind of move that would emotionally effect an opponent, if the opponent, indeed, were succeptible to feeling emotions - came in the following game.

DrunkenMaster 1.2 - La Dame Blanche 2.0c
Torneo tematico GaJero00-A, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6

The "Silicon Defense", very popular with computers.

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Qd4

Not the best move, but good and scary - if your opponent can be scared. I doubt that La Dame Blanche shook to its bits, but it might be a good move to try against a human!

11.Qxg7+

White blunders immediately, but surely this must be a coincidence?

Two other choices: 11.Nc3 Kf7 12.d3 Nf6 13.Rf1 Be6 14.Bd2 Rhf8 15.O-O-O Kg8 16.Nb5 Bb6?? 17.Nxd4 Bxd4 18.c3, Black resigned, MrJoker - rgiblon, Internet Chess Club, 2013; and

11.d3 (best) Kf7 12.c3 Qd8 13.d4 exd4 14.b4 Be7 15.O-O+ Ke8 16.Qxg7 Bf6 17.Qg3 Qe7 18.Bf4 a5 19.e5 Bh4 20.Qf3 axb4 21.cxd4 Qf7 22.g3 Be7 23.Rf2 h5 24.Qe4 h4 25.Nd2 Qf5 26.Qf3 Nh6 27.Nf1 Ng4 28.Ne3 Nxe3 29.Qxe3 Be6 30.Qf3 hxg3 31.hxg3 c6 32.g4 Qg6 33.Bh2 Rh4 34.Rg2 Bd5 35.Qf5 Qxf5 36.gxf5 Bxg2 37.Kxg2 Rxd4 38.Bg1 Rd2+ 39.Kf1 b3 40.f6 b2 41.Rb1 Rad8 42.Be3 Rd1+ 43.Kf2 Rxb1 44.fxe7 Rd5 White resigned, Junior 7 -Fritz 8, The Jeroen Experience, 2003.

11...Kd6

Somewhat better was 11...Ke8, 12. Nc3 Qf2+ 13. Kd1 Nf6 14. Re1 Rg8 15. Qxg8+ Nxg8 16. Ne2 Qxg2 17. d4 Bxd4 White resigned, Fritz 5.32 - Fritz 8, The Jeroen Experience 2003. 

12.Kd1

The text is better than White's other choice in the tournament: 12.d3 Qf2+ 13.Kd1 Nf6 14.Bg5 Bg4+ 15.Kc1 Be3+ 16.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 17.Nd2 Raf8 18.d4 Rhg8 19.dxe5+ Kc6 20.Qe7 Nxe4 21.Qb4 Nxd2 22.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 23.Kxd2 Be6 24.g3 Rf2+ 25.Ke3 Rf5 26.Rhe1 Rxe5+ 27.Kf2 Rf5+ 28.Kg1 Bd5 29.c4 Bf3 30.Re6+ Kd7 31.Rae1 h5 32.Re7+ Kc8 33.R1e5 Rff8 34.Rc5 c6 35.Ra5 Kb8 36.Ra3 Rg5 37.Rae3 Bg4 38.b4 Bc8 39.c5 Rd5 40.R7e5 Bh3 41.Re8+ Rxe8 42.Rxe8+ Kc7 43.Kf2 Rd2+ 44.Re2 Rxe2+ 45.Kxe2 Bg4+ 46.Ke3 b6 47.Kd4 a5 48.a3 a4 49.Kc3 b5 50.Kd3 Kd7 51.Ke3 Ke7 52.Kd3 Kf6 53.Ke4 Bf5+ 54.Kf4 Bh3 55.Ke4 Ke6 56.Kd4 Bf5 57.h3 Bxh3 58.Ke4 White resigned, Zarkov 4.70 - La Dame Blanche 2.0c, Torneo tematico GaJero00-A, 2009. 

12...Qxe4 13.h3 Qg6

14.Qxh8

This leads to checkmate in 11 moves. (These are computer chess players we are talking about.) 

14...Qh5+ 15.Ke1 Qh4+ 16.Ke2 Bxh3 17.Rxh3 Qf2+ 18.Kd3 Qf1+ 19.Ke4 Qxg2+ 20.Rf3 White resigned

There follows 20...Qg4+ 21.Rf4 Qxf4+ 22.Kd3 Qf3+ 23.Kc4 Qe4+ 24.Kc3 Qd4+ 25.Kb3 Kb4 checkmate