Jerome Gambit: Hunter's Lament

In Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games, it seems that victory for the attacker turns on a few things happening, while defeat turns on a few things not happening. In a 5-minute game, sometimes that works out, and sometimes it doesn't. But - the games are always exciting.

ratconspiracy - titulajebordo
5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Qe7

10.d4

About equal to the text are:

10.O-O Nf6 11.Nc3 Kf7 12.f4 Re8 13.d3 b6 14.b3 Bb7 15.Ba3 Qd7 16.Rae1 Kg8 17.Qg3 c5 18.Bb2 Rad8 19.f5 Ne5 20.Ne2 Qf7 21.Nf4 Bc8 22.h3 Nh5 23.Nxh5 Qxh5 24.Rf4 Qf7 25.Rh4 Bb7 26.Rf1 Qf6 27.Rhf4 Rc8 28.Rg4 Re7 29.Bxe5 dxe5 30.Rg5 h6 31.Rg6 Qf7 32.Rxh6 Rd8 33.Rg6 Red7 34.h4 Rd6 35.h5 Rxg6 36.hxg6 Qf6 37.Qg4 Qd6 38.g3 Qd7 39.Kg2 Qe7 40.Rh1 White won on time, angelcamina - RomainTristan, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020;

10.Nc3 c6 11.d4 Nf6 12.O-O Kf7 13.f4 Ng4 (13...Re8 14.f5 Nf8 15.Qf3 Kg8 16.Re1 h6 17.Bf4 N8h7 18.h4 Bd7 19.Bg3 Rad8 20.e5 Nd5 21.Ne4 dxe5 22.dxe5 Rf8 23.Nd6 g5 24.Rad1 gxh4 25.f6 Qe6 26.Bxh4 Ng5 27.Qh5 Qg4 28.Qg6+ Black resigned, Anonymous - Anonymous, 3 0 bltiz, lichess.org, 2020) 14.Qf3 d5 15.f5 dxe4 16.Qxg4 Nf8 17.Nxe4 h5 18.Qf4 Nd7 19.Ng5+ Kg8 20.Bd2 Nb6 21.Rae1 Qf6 22.Re8+ Qf8 23.Rxf8+ Kxf8 24.Qd6+ Kg8 25.Qd8# ChessBrah - samuelwillwin, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020;

10.d3 Nf6 11.O-O Ng4 12.Qe2 Nh4 13.Nc3 Be6 14.f4 g6 15.h3 Nh6 16. f5 N6xf5 17.exf5 gxf5 18.Re1 K7 19.Nd5 Qd7 20.Nxc7 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest701131, PlayChess.com, 2019

10...Nf6 11.Nc3 a6 12.O-O Ng4 

The Knight's attack on the Queen should serve no purpose. For example, if now 13.Qd3 Qh4 14.h3 and it will have to move.

13.Qg5 Qxg5 14.Bxg5 h6 15.Be3 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Ne7 

White has 2 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but they are not mobile. The exchange of Queens has taken the life out of his attack, as well. It will take some pluck and some luck to make progress.

17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bg4 19.e4 Rf8 20.e5 Rxf1+ 21.Rxf1 Ke7 22.e6 Rf8 

The protected, passed pawn is something of value, but for now it is effectively blockaded. If there were an attack on the tied-down King, White might be able to make something of the position. In the meantime, too many pawns are stuck on the same colored squares as the Bishop.

23.c4 Rxf1+ 24.Kxf1 Bf5 25.c5 Be4 26.c6 bxc6 27.dxc6 Bxc6 28.Ke2 Kxe6 29.Kd3 Bxg2 30.Kc4 c6 

Black is clearly better. But, is time on his side?

31.b4 Bd5+ 32.Kc3 g5 33.a4 h5 34.b5 axb5 35.axb5 cxb5 36.Kb4 Bc4 

37.Ka5 g4 38.Kb6 h4 39.Kc7 g3 40.hxg3 hxg3 41.Kc6 g2 42.d5+ Bxd5+ 43.Kxb5 g1=Q 

44.Ka6 Qb1 45.Ka7 Bh1 46.Ka6 d5 47.Ka5 d4 48.Ka4 d3 49.Ka3 d2 50.Ka4 d1=R 51.Ka5 Rd8 52.Ka6 Ra8 checkmate

A tough fight. Remember the hunter's lament: Sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you.


graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

Jerome Gambit: Don't Spill the Popcorn

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is like a thrilling action movie - played at high speed (5 minute blitz). It would be rude to interrupt the flow of the game with too many comments like "better would be..." or "less troublesome would be..." Better to watch the game unfold. Don't spill the popcorn.

JovieBoi - Guest471555
5 0 blitz, PlayChess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qe7 9.Nc3 a6 

10.Nd5 Qe6 11.Qf8+ Kc6 12.Qxg7  Nc4 13.d3 

The position on the board is a mess, but, perhaps Black has an edge?

13...b5 14.f5 

Take the Rook, instead. 

14...Qe5 15.Qxe5 Nxe5 16.Bf4 d6 17.O-O-O 

One King is safe. 

17...Bb7 18.c3 Kd7 19.d4 Nc4 20.dxc5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Nf6 22.Rd4 Rhe8 23.cxd6 cxd6 

With 3 pawns for the sacrifice piece, White has about equalized, especially when considering the safety of each King.

24.e5 Ng4 25.e6+ Ke7 26.b3 Nce3 27.Bxd6+ Kf6 28.h3 Nf2

At about this point, the clock seems to become a factor.

29.Rf1 Rad8 30.g4 Rxd6  31.Rxf2 Nxg4 32.hxg4 h5 33.gxh5 Rexe6 34.Rxd6 Rxd6

The smoke has cleared. White has this one.

35.Kc2 Rd5 36.a4 bxa4 37.bxa4 a5 38.c4 Rxf5 39.Rxf5+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: To b or Not To b

The fate of Black's b-pawn overshadows much of the following game. It never falls - but the defender's attention is distracted enough that White makes progress elsewhere and slowly overwhelms the position.

Wall, Bill - Guest173767
PlayChess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qd5+

8...Ke8 

Yes, Black can offer the b-pawn with 8...Be6. This was seen in Wall, Bill - CheckMe, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 23) and Wall,B - Guest249301, PlayChess.com 2013 (1-0, 30).

There are other ways to decline:

8...Ke7 as in Wall,B - Guest4395, Internet, 2001 (1-0, 18) and Wall,B - Guest3157671, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 28); and

8...Kf8, Wall,B - Chung,J., Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 25).

9.d3

Or 9.d4 as in Wall,B - Am53, PlayChess.com, 2013 (1-0, 14) and Wall,B - Guest7665109, PlayChess.com, 2019 (1-0, 22).

9...h6

Or 9...c6 in Wall,B - Seven11, Chess.com, 2008 (1-0, 51).

10.O-O c6 11.Qb3 Qf6 

12.Nc3 b5 

Still worrying about the b-pawn possibly falling to the enemy Queen.

13.a4 Rb8 14.axb5 cxb5 15.Rxa7 Be6 

Can you feel it? The weather is changing...

16.Qb4 Bd7 17.Nd5 Qf8 18.Nc7+ Ke7 19.f4
Black resigned

Black is feeling the Rook's pressure along the 7th rank, and will soon face more uncomfortable line-opening with e4-e5, plus the annoying f4-f5. It is all too much.

Unasked Questions

???????

I wanted to share another game by TOMMYFOOKINSHELBY  (see "Jerome Gambit: Smash Finish") because it answers an unasked question or two...

TOMMYFOOKINSHELBY - Fafa05
5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights Defense, often a stumbling block on the way to the Jerome Gambit, although White has options; see, for example, "Jerome Gambit vs Two Knights Defense", parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.

4.Bxf7+ 

This line doesn't have a name, as far as I know, but it might as well be "the impatient Jerome Gambit". The earliest game that I have with it in The Database is from 2001, but it has to be much older than that. My research is lacking here.

Philidor1792, who has contributed much to this blog, explained his approach to the line in "What's Going On Here?"

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Ng6 

Or

6...Nc6 as in Philidor 1792 - guest1334, Bereg.ru, 2014 (1-0, 20), You [Philidor 1792] - Stranger, Chess-Samara.ru, 2014 (1-0, 18), Philidor 1792 - guest3018, Bereg.ru 2014 (1/2 - 1/2, 24), and Philidor 1792 - guest345, Bereg.ru, 2014 (1-0, 15); or 

6...Nc4 as in You - Stranger, Chess-Samara.ru, 2014 (1-0, 26); or

6...Neg4 as in Philidor1792 - Stranger, Chess-Samara.ru, 2014 (1-0, 27); or

6...Qe7 as in Philidor 1792 - Juppzupp, PlayChessBase.com, 2014 (1-0, 24).

7.e5 Ne8

Black has also tried

7...Qe8 in Philidor 1792 - Guest10161477, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 29);

7...Nd5 in You - Stranger, Chess-Samara.ru, 2014 (1-0, 16) and You - Stranger, Chess-Samara.ru, 2014 (1-0, 17), as well as Philidor 1792 - Guest838140, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 28);

7...d5 in Philidor 1792 - guest5, Bereg.ru 2014 (1-0, 42);

7...Qe7 in Philidor 1792 - guest1278, Bereg.ru 2014 (1-0, 29); and

7...d6 in Philidor1792 - Guest805466, PlayChessBase.com 2014 (1-0, 62). 

8.Qf3+ Kg8 

For some reason, Black preferred 

8...Nf6 in Philidor 1792 - CrinjuChess, PlayChess.com 2014 (1-0, 46), Philidor 1792 Sauron2005, PlayChess.com 2014 (1-0, 25), and Philidor 1792 Ppion, PlayChess.com 2014 (1-0, 36); and

8...Ke7 in Philidor1792 - Guest691264, PlayChessbase.com 2014 (1-0, 14)

9.Qd5 checkmate

Oh. Right. Nice work, TOMMY.

Jerome Gambit: Finish Quickly

There are so many ways for those who defend against the Jerome Gambit to wander off of the main lines. In the following game, the attacker strikes quickly, before his opponent has any more ideas.

Wall, Bill - Guest2021162
PlayChess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Ke7 

Ah, yes. As I noted in the game ZahariSokolov - mmamaju
standard, FICS, 2015 (0-1, 44) - See"Jerome Gambit: Chaos Rules")

Here we have the "Jerome Gambit, Paulsen Variation", otherwise known as "An Odd Line in an Odd Line". It is more of a psychological ploy than a solid defense...

It is a rare line - there are only 13 examples in The Database, with White scoring 77 percent - but it is worth knowing the best response, if only, like in the current game, you want to finish quickly.

6.Qh5

Brute threat.

6...Nf6

Okay, it turns out that Black is not messing with his opponent's head, he's lost in an opening that he was not prepared for.

Komodo 10 suggests that the defender's only hope is 6...Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2 Qf8+ when White can settle for a somewhat boring pawn-up Queenless middlegame: 8.Kg1 Nd4 9.Nf3 Nxf3+ (if 9...Nxc2, then 10.Qc5+ will win the Knight) 10.Qxf3 Qxf3 11.gxf3 Nf6.

On the other hand, perhaps a Jerome Gambiteer, seeking a wild attacking game, would be upset by a boring, pawn-up Queenless middlegame? Perhaps, with the right opponent, at the right time, Black might do well to try...

7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Nc4 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Nothing Very Exciting Happens - Until

In the following game, nothing very exciting happens after the initial sacrifices - until the defender damages his own defenses, at which point the game is over.


Wall, Bill - Guest1735790
PlayChess.com, 2020

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

The game has reached a routine position that has been seen many times before. White has some standard moves and ideas at his fingertips. Black is objectively better, but he has to assemble a plan.

10.d3 Be6 

This move is okay, but it calls out White's f-pawn.

11.f4 Bf7 12.O-O Qe7 

Likewise, this move is a siren call to White's Knight.

13.Nc3 c6 

14.Bd2 Re8 

With his pieces massed in the center, Black believes that chasing after the a-pawn would be a distraction; yet, his opponent decides to grab it.

15.Qxa7 b5 

This loosens the Queenside a bit. Komodo 10 recommended the routine 15...Kg8 16.Rae1 h6 17.b3 Kh7 with a balanced game.

16.Qb6 Qd7 17.f5 Ne7 

18.Bf4 Nh5 19.Bg5 h6 20.Bd2 Nf6 

Back to where things were. Black can still consider "castling" his King to h7.

21.a4 

Switching the focus to the Queenside. Getting the Rook into the game would allow greater pressure on Black.

21...bxa4 22.Rxa4 

22...g6 

This is a slip, forgetting about the dangers of the f-file.

23.fxg6 Black resigned

White will win material, and he will have an attack on the enemy King.

Jerome Gambit: Careful What You Wish For

?!?

Now that you have what you want, do you really want what you have?

The above question appears twice in the first six moves of the following game. The game turns on the answer to each of the questions.

Wall, Bill - Guest1573554
PlayChess.com, 2020.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 

"The Italian Game", perhaps Black muses. "I wish I had a few more defenders to play against it."

4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 

"Wow! An extra Knight and an extra Bishop!" celebrates Black.

"I would like to get a return on my investment," thinks White. "As in my earlier games."

6.Qh5+ Kf6 

"This will do," smiles White.

7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ 

Black resigned here in Wall,B - Guest2892618, PlayChess.com, 2015.


8...Kf8 

Or 8...Kf7 as in Wall,B - Guest1468523, PlayChess.com, 2013 (1-0, 14). 

9.Qxc5+ d6 

Bill has also seen 9...Ne7, as in Wall,B - SMNN, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 27). 

White has regained his two sacrificed pieces, and remains two pawns up. There is still more work to do, but this is a decent start.

In the meantime, too, Black has to figure out what he is going to do.

10.Qb5 Nf6 

Or 10...c6 as in Wall,B - Guest733407, PlayChess.com 2014 (1-0, 21).

11.O-O 

White could have protected his e-pawn  - e.g. 11.d3 as in Wall,B - KSPF, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 23) - but he would happily respond to 11...Nxe4 now with 12.Re1.

11...h5

Black considers activating his Rook, to attack White's King. He is not finished fighting - but what to do?. Perhaps White's Queen is misplaced?

12.d3 Ng4 13.Nc3 c6 14.Qb3 Qe7 

Where to put the Queen? Can the Bishop move without giving up a pawn? Must the King Rook stay at home? Things to figure out.

15.f4 h4 16.h3 Nf6 17.f5 Black resigned

I think Black decided that his game was just too uncomfortable, and that there were better opportunites, elsewhere.