Jerome Gambit: Chaos Rules

I enjoy playhing over the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games of ZahariSokolov playing at FICS. He shows an understanding of the opening, and brings a creativity that expands its impact.

In the following very difficult, complicated game, however, his opponent presents an odd, rarely-played defense, and the game quickly leaves recommended play. Still, it takes oversights on both sides before the winner is finally decided.

ZahariSokolov - mmamaju
standard, FICS, 2015

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7

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 - but, in this game at least, it is successful.

6.Nc4 

Electing to retain his Knight. In similar situations (see below) it can be exchanged to double Black's pawns.

6.Qh5 is the strongest response, although there are not many examples in The Database: 6...Qf8 (6...d6 7.Qf7# stivb_99 - spymaster, GameKnot.com, 2008) 7.Nxc6+ (7.0–0 d6 8.Ng6+ hxg6 9.Qxh8 Nd4 10.Na3 Ne2+ 11.Kh1 Be6 12.d4 Bxd4 13.f4 Qf6 14.Nb5 Bb6 15.Bd2 a6 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Bd4 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Qxe5 20.Bxd4 Qxd4 21.c3 Qe5 22.Rae1 Qd5 23.Qxg7+ Kd6 24.Rd1 Qxd1 25.Rxd1+ Kc6 26.Qxg6 Black resigned, guest1200 – satmonger, Internet ChessClub, 2001) 7...dxc6 8.Qxc5+ Ke8 9.Qxf8+ Kxf8 10.c3 Nf6 11.d3 Kf7 12.0–0 Rf8 13.f4 Kg8 14.f5 Bd7 15.h3 Rae8 16.g4 h6 17.Bf4 Rc8 18.Nd2 c5 19.Nf3 c6 20.Nh4 Rf7 21.c4 Rd8 22.Ng6 Be8 23.Rf3 Rfd7 24.Ne5 Re7 25.Rd1 Nd7 26.Nxd7 Rexd7 27.Kf2 Bf7 28.Ke3 Kf8 29.h4 Ke7 30.g5 hxg5 31.hxg5 Ke8 32.g6 Bg8 33.Rh3 Kf8 34.Rh8 b5 35.b3 a5 36.Rdh1 Rxd3+ 37.Ke2 R3d7 38.Bg5 Re8 39.Ke3 bxc4 40.bxc4 Rd4 41.R8h4 Rxc4 42.Rb1 Rb4 43.Rxb4 cxb4 44.Kd3 Rc8 45.e5 Rd8+ 46.Kc2 Rc8 47.f6 c5 48.f7 Bxf7 49.gxf7 Kxf7 50.Rc4 Ke6 51.Bf4 Kd5 52.Kb3 a4+ 53.Kxa4 Kxc4 54.e6 Re8 55.Ka5 Rxe6 56.Bc7 Kc3 57.Bb6 c4 58.Bc5 Re5 59.Kb5 b3 60.axb3 cxb3 61.Kc6 Rxc5+ 62.Kxc5 b2 63.Kd5 b1Q 64.Ke6 Qb5 65.Kf7 Kd4 66.Kxg7 Qc6 67.Kf7 Ke5 68.Kf8 Qd7 69.Kg8 Kf6 70.Kh8 Qg7 checkmate, UNPREDICTABLE - aladu, FICS, 2009.

Second best seems to be 6.d4 Bb4+ (6...Nxe5 7.dxc5 d6 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.f4 Nc6 10.O-O h6 11.cxd6+ Qxd6 12.e5 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 hxg5 14.exf6+ Kxf6 15.fxg5+ Kxg5 16.Nc3 Bf5 17.Rd2 g6 18.Nd5 Rad8 19.Rad1 Bg4 20.Re1 Nb4 21.Re5+ Bf5 22.Rf2 Rxd5 23.h4+ Kxh4 24.g3+ Kg5 25.Ree2 Nxc2 26.Kg2 Nb4 27.Kf3 Bg4+ 28.Kg2 Bxe2 29.Rxe2 Rhd8 30.Re7 R5d7 31.Re5+ Kf6 32.Rb5 Nxa2 33.Rxb7 c5 34.Rb5 c4 35.Ra5 Nc1 36.g4 Nb3 37.Rb5 Nd4 38.Rb4 Rc7 39.b3 c3 40.Rxd4 Rxd4 41.Kg3 c2 42.b4 c1=Q 43.b5 Rc3+ 44.Kh4 Qh1 checkmate, ainafets - Straineryou, FICS, 2007; 6...Nxd4 7.Bg5+ Nf6 8.O-O d6 9.Ng4 Bxg4 10.Qxg4 Ne6 11.Rd1 Nxg5 12.Qxg5 Kd7 13.Qf5+ Ke7 14.Nc3 Qf8 15.e5 Bxf2+ 16.Qxf2 dxe5 17.Qc5+ Kf7 18.Qxc7+ Kg8 19.Qxe5 Re8 20.Qc7 Ng4 21.Qc4+ Qf7 22.Qxg4 Black resigned, trebbor - saucer, FICS, 2001) 7.c3 d6 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.Bxf6+ gxf6 10.Nxc6+ bxc6 11.cxb4 c5 12.a3 cxd4 13.O-O Qg8 14.g3 Be6 15.Qxd4 Bc4 16.Re1 Qe6 17.Nd2 f5 18.exf5 Black resigned, Darthnik - Amoxicillin, FICS, 2011.

There is also the reasonable-looking 6.Nxc6+ bxc6 (6...dxc6 7.d3 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be6 9.O-O Kd7 10.e5 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Ng4 13.h3 Ne3 14.fxe3 Bxe3+ 15.Bf2 Bxf2+ 16.Rxf2 Ke7 17.c3 c5 18.d4 Qd5 19.Qf3 Raf8 20.Qxd5 Bxd5 21.Nd2 Rxf2 22.Kxf2 b5 23.Nf3 Rf8 24.a3 h5 25.Kg3 Rg8 26.Rf1 g4 27.hxg4 Rxg4+ 28.Kf2 Rf4 29.Ke3 Re4+ 30.Kd2 Rg4 31.Rf2 Black forfeited on time, perrypawnpusher - salla, blitz, FICS, 2010) 7.d4 Bb6 (7...Bb4+ 8.c3 Bd6 9.Bg5+ Nf6 10.e5 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Kf8 12.O-O h6 13.exf6 gxf6 14.Be3 d5 15.Bc5+ Kg8 16.Nd2 h5 17.Nf3 Bg4 18.Qd3 Bxf3 19.Qg6 checkmate, CoachCrupp - zzzozzzo, FICS, 2008) 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.e5 Ba6 10.exf6+ gxf6 11.Be3 Qg8 12.Rg1 Re8 13.a4 c5 14.a5 cxd4 15.axb6 dxe3 16.Rxa6 axb6 17.fxe3 Qg5 18.Qf3 Kf7 19.Kd2 Re7 20.Nc3 Rhe8 21.Nd5 Re4 22.Nf4 Qc5 23.Ra3 Qe5 24.Rd3 Qa5+ 25.c3 Qb5 26.Qh5+ Qxh5 27.Rxd7+ Black resigned, jankrb - Red House, RedHotPawn.com, 2013;

6...Ne5

Black's best response is 6...d5, which would be a TN, keeping his advantage.

7.d3

White should simply take the Knight on e5 and be better. With the text, he returns the advantage to his adversary.

One wonders if one of Alekhine's cats jumped on White's keyboard. 

7...Nxc4 8.dxc4 h6 9.Nc3 c6 10.Qg4 Qf8 11.O-O Kd8 12.Be3 Be7 13.e5 d6 14.Qh5 

14...Kc7 15.exd6+ Bxd6 16.Ne4

A slip. Better was 16.c5 Be7 17.Qd5+. 

16...Nf6 17.Qf3 Bg4 18.Qf4

Perhaps Stockfish 7's suggestion held out more hope: 18.Bf4 Bxf3 19.Bxd6+ Qxd6 20.Nxd6 Kxd6 21.gxf3. 

18...Bxf4 19.Bxf4+ Kc8 20.Nd6+ Kd7 21.Nxb7 Be2 22.Rfe1 Bxc4 23.Rad1+ Bd5 24.c4 Kc8 25.Nd6+ Kd7 26.cxd5 Nxd5 27.Bg3 

White has been fighting back fiercely since losing his Queen, and he is helped by Black's next move, which actually gives the attacker the advantage in the game. Perhaps time problems?

27...Re8 28.Ne4

A missed opportunity for White, as he had 28.Rxe8 Qxe8 29.Nxe8 Rxe8 with a small advantage.

Black is now able to move on to victory. 

28...Re6 29.f3 h5 30.Rc1 Rg6 31.Nc5+ Kc8 32.Ne6 Qb4 33.Rb1 Qb6+ 34.Bf2 Qa6 35.a3 Re8 36.Nc5 Rxe1+ 37.Rxe1 Qc4 38.Ne4 Qb3 39.Nc3 Nxc3 40.bxc3 Qxc3 41.Re8+ Kd7 42.Re1 Qxa3 43.Bh4 Qb4 44.Kh1 Qxh4 White resigned

RHP JG Tourney Round 2 Games (1)

In the ongoing RedHotPawn.com Jerome Gambit thematic tournament, there have been some more completed games, from the second round.

SeinfeldFan91 defeated Red House two games to none, to advance to the next round.

SeinfeldFan91 - Red House

Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5 Ke6 7.f4 Nf6 (returning the two sacrificed pieces) 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qb5 (TN according to The Database) Re8 11.d3 Kg8 12.O-O a6 13.Qb3 Kh8 14.Nc3 Rab8 15.f5 h6 16.Be3 Ng4 17.Ba7 Ra8 18.Bd4 Qh4 (a short-lived counter-attack) 19.h3 Ne5 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.f6 gxf6 22.Rxf6 Re6 23.Raf1 Rxf6 24.Rxf6 Kh7 25.Bxe5 dxe5 26.Rf7 Kh8 27.Nf6 Black resigned

Red House - SeinfeldFan91

Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.O-O (A "modern" Jerome Gambit variation; in this game White's attack never quite gets going.) Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.d3 Rf8 8.h3 Kg8 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Nce2 Qe8 11.c3 Qg6 12.Ng3 Kh8 13.b4 Bb6 14.a4 a6 15.b5 Na5 16.Rb1 axb5 17.axb5 Nd7 18.Bd2 Qxg3 19.d4 Qg6 20.Qe2 Bc4 White Resigned


Swiss Toni defeated Marko Krale two games to none, to advance to the next round.

Marko Krale - Swiss Toni

Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.O-O (Another "modern" Jerome) Nf6 6.c3 Nxe4 7.Qe2 d5 8.d3 Nf6 9.Bg5 Bd6 10.Nbd2 h6 11.Bh4 Re8 12.Re1 g5 13.Bg3 Kg8 14.Nb3 Kh7 15.h3 Nh5 16.Bh2 g4 17.hxg4 Bxg4 18.Qe3 Ng7 19.Bg3 Nf5 White Resigned

Swiss Toni - Marko Krale

Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.Qh5 Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.d4 Qe7 11.O-O Bd7 (Charlick - Mann, corres, 1881, [1-0, 72] continued 11...Ng4) 12.Nc3 Bc6 13.Bd2 Kf7 14.f4 Nxe4 15.f5 Nf8 16.d5 Bd7 17.Nxe4 h6 18.f6 gxf6 19.Bc3 f5 20.Bxh8 Black resigned


Although Swiss Toni - jecidi and jecidi - Marko Krale from the second round have yet to be completed, round three's match between SeinfeldFan91 and Swiss Toni has begun. 

RHP JG Tourney Round 1 Games (3)

In the ongoing RedHotPawn.com Jerome Gambit thematic tournament , a couple of kinds of players need to be mentioned: those who join because the opening looks new and interesting or challenging or fun; and those who join because they have some knowledge of the opening, and want to test their understanding against others.

The following game features a player who has Jerome Gambit experience - but it was not enough to prevent his opponent from evening their mini-match (see jecidi - Red House, Giuoco Piano Jerome gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2014).

Red House - jecidi
Giuoco Piano Jerome gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2014

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

4...Kxf7 5.d3

A "modern" Jerome Gambit - no 5.Nxe5+. It must be said, though, that the move would be increasingly playable on White's next two moves.

5...h6 6.O-O a6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Na4 Ba7 9.c3 Rf8

Planning to castle-by-hand, but 9...b5 is stronger.

10.Re1 d6 11.b4 Kg8

Mission accomplished.

12.Be3 Bd7 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Bd4 Bxd4 16.cxd4 Re8

17.Nc3 c6 18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Nh7 20.f4 Bf5 21.Qf3 Qd4 22.Kh1 Qxb4

The "Jerome pawns" are not adequate compensation for the sacrificed piece.

23.a3 Qe7 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Rxe4 Nf8 26.a4 Rad8 27.h3 Ne6 28.f5 Ng5 29.Qe2 Nxe4 30.Qxe4 Qxe5 31.Qc4 Qd5 32.Qf4 Qe5 33.Qg4 Qxa1 White resigned

RHP JG Tourney Round 1 Games (1)

In the ongoing RedHotPawn.com Jerome Gambit thematic tournament previously mentioned, a couple of kinds of players need to be mentioned: those who join because the opening looks new and interesting or challenging or fun; and those who join because they have some knowledge of the opening, and want to test their understanding against others.

The first kind can quickly come undone, as sacrificing a piece or two is very risky, if it only leads to an "unclear" position. The second kind can stretch the knowledge of the opening - especially if they are paired against each other.

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

We have seen earlier games by Red House in a RHP Jerome Gambit tournament (1,  2).

Red House - jecidi

Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2014
Round 1

4...Kxf7 5.d3 h6 6.O-O a6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Na4 Ba7 9.c3 Rf8 10.Re1 d6 11.b4 Kg8 12.Be3 Bd7 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bxd4 16.cxd4 Re8 17.Nc3 c6 18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Nh7 20.f4 Bf5 21.Qf3 Qd4 22.Kh1 Qxb4 23.a3 Qe7 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Rxe4 Nf8 26.a4 Rad8 27.h3 Ne6 28.f5 Ng5 29.Qe2 Nxe4 30.Qxe4 Qxe5 31.Qc4 Qd5 32.Qf4 Qe5 33.Qg4 Qxa1 White resigned

bikingviking - Swiss Toni

Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2014
Round 1
4...Kxf7 5.d3 Nf6 6.O-O Kg8 7.Nc3 Be7 8.Nh4 d6 9.f4 Bg4 10.Qe1 Nd4 11.Qf2 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Bxh4 13.g3 Bf6 14.Be3 Nf3 15.Kh1 exf4 White resigned

Marko Krale - katella

Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2014
Round 1

4...Kxf7 5.c3 Nf6 6.d3 Ng4 7.O-O Nxf2 8.Rxf2 Re8 9.Bg5 Ne7 10.d4 Bb6 11.Nxe5 Kg8 12.Nf7 Rf8 13.Nxd8 Rxf2 14.Kxf2 Ng6 15.Qf3 c5 16.Qf7 Kh8 17.Qe8 Nf8 18.Qxf8 checkmate


katella - Marko Krale

Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2014
Round 1

4...Kxf7 5.d3 Nf6 6.h3 h6 7.a3 Rf8 8.O-O Kg8 9.b4 Bb6 10.c4 Bd4 11.Ra2 a6 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Bb2 Ne6 14.Bxe5 d6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.c5 dxc5 17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Nc3 Qxc3 19.a4 Qxd3 20.Qxd3 Nxd3 21.Rd2 Nb4 22.e5 Be6 23.g4 Nd5 24.Rd4 Rf3 25.Kg2 Ra3 26.f4 Nb6 27.f5 Bd5 28.Kh2 Rxa4 29.Rxa4 Nxa4 30.e6 Kf8 31.Re1 Ke7 32.h4 c6 33.g5 hxg5 34.hxg5 Ra8f8 35.Re5 b5 36.Kg3 b4 37.Kg4 b3 38.Kh5 b2 39.Re1 Be4 40.Kg6 b1=Q 41.Rxb1 Bxb1 42.Kxg7 Bxf5 43.g6 Bxe6 44.Kh6 Rf2 White resigned

Marko Krale (whose games we have seen before) advances to the next round.

Another RHP Jerome Gambit Tournament - Game 1

Instead of grabbing the second sacrificed piece, Black plays a defensive system - but he plays it too defensively. Hanging on to material, instead of returning it at the right moment, can spell disaster, even (especially) against the Jerome Gambit.

jankrb (2055) - musirpha (1874)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 

6.Nxc6 

Experimental are 6.Nd3, from Wall,B - Tim93612, Chess.com 2010 (1-0, 36) and 6.0-0 from billwall - DeDrijver, Chess.com, 2012 (1-0, 20).

Instead, 6.Qh5 is the rowdy Banks Variation, from Banks,P - Rees,M, Halesowen v Lucas BS, 2003 (1-0, 45). It is interesting to compare this line with the Paulsen Variation, where Black has placed his King on e7, instead of f8, e.g. the recently-discussed jankrb - Red House, Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, RedHotPawn, 2013.

6...bxc6 

As noted as recently as in the game jankrb - Red House, Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, RedHotPawn, 2013, the preferred capture is 6...dxc6, preventing 7.d4. The Database has many examples.

7.d4 Be7

A bit better was 7...Bb6 as in perrypawnpusher - hdig, blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 17) and perrypawnpusher - mika76, GameKnot.com, 2008 (1-0, 17). 

8.Qf3+ 

Certainly an improvment over 8.f4 of perrypawnpusher - badhorsey, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 26). 

8...Ke8 9.0-0 d6 10.c4 Nf6 11.e5 dxe5 12.dxe5 Ng8

This retreat spells trouble.

13.Rd1 Bd7 14.e6 Nf6 15.exd7+ Kf7 16.Qxc6 Bd6 17.c5 Be5 18.f4 Black resigned

Another RHP Jerome Gambit Tournament - Game 2

If you are playing an opening that is "off the beaten path" and your opponent takes you off of that path, is it a good thing or a bad thing? In the following game Black's opening creativity serves him much less well than following the stodgy main line of the Jerome Gambit.

jankrb (2055) - Red House (1588)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, RedHotPawn, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7

Of the almost 4,600 games in The Database which reach the position after White's 5th move, only 9 show Black's 5th move response, with the simple Knight recapture being the most popular alternative. See "An Odd Line In An Odd Line" and "Jerome Gambit, Paulsen Variation".

6.Nxc6+

Best play now appears to be 6.Qh5! which appeared in 3 games: guest1200 - satmonger, Internet Chess Club, 2001 (1-0, 26); stivb_99 - spymaster, GameKnot.com, 2008 (1-0, 7);  and UNPREDICTABLE - aladu, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 70).

Each time, Black missed the best defense, pointed out by Rybka, 6...Bxf2+!? 7.Kxf2 Qf8+ 8.Nf3 Nf6, although White would still have an edge.

6...bxc6

Stronger was 6...dxc6, preventing the White d-pawn from advancing 2 squares, as in perrypawnpusher - salla, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 31).

7.d4 Bb6

There is no need to repeat the offbeat 7...Bb4+, from CoachCrupp - zzzozzzo, FICS, 2008: 8.c3 Bd6 9.Bg5+ Nf6 10.e5 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Kf8 12.0-0 h6 13.exf6 gxf6 14.Be3 d5 15.Bc5+ Kg8 16.Nd2 h5 17.Nf3 Bg4 18.Qd3 Bxf3 19.Qg6 checkmate.

8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.e5 Ba6 

10.exf6+

An interesting try, according to Houdini, is 10.Qf3!? Kf7 (not 10...Bxd4 11.Bxf6+ gxf6 12.Qxf6+ Ke8 13.Qxh8+ Ke7 14.Qxh7+) 11.Nd2 h6 (a bit better than 11...Bxd4 12.exf6 Re8+ 13.Ne4 Rxe4+ 14.Qxe4 Bxb2 15.Rb1 Bxf6 16.Qf3 Qe7+ 17.Kd1 Re8 18.Bxf6 gxf6±) 12.Be3 Re8 13.0-0-0 and White has an advantage as he will recover his sacrificed piece.

10...gxf6 11.Be3 Qg8 12.Rg1 Re8 13.a4 c5 14.a5 cxd4 15.axb6 dxe3 16.Rxa6 axb6 17.fxe3 Qg5

Both Kings remain uneasy, but White has an extra piece which he can make use of as soon as he consolidates his position.

18.Qf3 Kf7 19.Kd2 Re7 20.Nc3 Rhe8 21.Nd5 Re4 22.Nf4 Qc5 23.Ra3 Qe5 24.Rd3 Qa5+ 25.c3 Qb5 26.Qh5+ Qxh5 27.Rxd7+ Black resigned

Another RHP Jerome Gambit Tournament (Round 2)

Here is the second round of the second Jerome Gambit thematic tournament that I encountered at RedHotPawn.com from 2013 (won by jankrb), starting from the Jerome Gambit position:

musirapha (1874) - ZorroTheFox (1447)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, RedHotPawn, 2013

(1-0) This game will be covered in a subsequent post.


ZorroTheFox (1447) - musirapha (1874)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, RedHotPawn, 2013

1...Kxf7 2.0-0 Nf6 3.d3 h6 4.c3 d6 5.Be3 Bb6 6.Bxb6 axb6 7.Nbd2 Bd7 8.a4 Qe7 9.b4 Rhf8 10.Nc4 Kg8 11.Qb3 Kh8 12.Nh4 Qf7 13.Nd2 Qxb3 14.Nxb3 Rf7 15.Rfe1 g5 16.Nf3 Kg7 17.Ra2 Nh5 18.Rd1 Bg4 19.Nbd2 Nf4 20.d4 Ne2+ 21.Kh1 Nxc3 22.Raa1 Nxd1 23.Rxd1 Nxd4 24.Ra1 Bxf3 25.gxf3 Nxf3 26.Nc4 Nd4 27.Kg2 Raf8 28.Ra2 Rf4 29.a5 b5 30.Na3 Rxe4 31.Rb2 c6 32.Nb1 Re2 White resigned


jankrb (2055) - Red House (1588)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, RedHotPawn, 2013

(1-0) This game will be covered in a subsequent post.


Red House (1588) - jankrb (2055)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, RedHotPawn, 2013

1...Kxf7 2.0-0 Nf6 3.Nc3 Rf8 4.d3 h6 5.h3 Kg8 6.Kh1 Nd4 7.Be3 d6 8.Na4 Nxf3 9.Nxc5 Nh5 10.Nb3 Qh4 11.gxf3 Qxh3+ 12.Kg1 Rf6 White resigned

Another RHP Jerome Gambit Tournament (Round 1)

As I mentioned earlier, while wandering around the RedHotPawn.com website I ran into a couple of Jerome Gambit thematic tournaments from 2013. Since it has been a while since this blog covered a thematic tourney, I thought it would be nice to present all the games. (I have selected a few for individual attention.)

Here is the first round of the second tournament (won by ), starting from the Jerome Gambit position:

ZorroTheFox (1447) - BigD00 (973)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2013

1...Kxf7 2.0-0 Nd4 3.Nxd4 exd4 4.d3 a6 5.Qh5+ g6 6.Qxc5 b6 7.Qxd4 Nf6 8.e5 Nh5 9.Bh6 d6 10.exd6 c5 11.Qd5+ Be6 12.Qf3+ Nf6 13.Qb7+ Bd7 14.Nc3 Rb8 15.Qxa6 Ng4 16.Be3 Qh4 17.h3 Ne5 18.f4 Nc6 19.Ne4 Nb4 20.Qc4+ Be6 21.Qc3 Rhc8 22.Ng5+ Ke8 23.Nxe6 Nd5 24.Qd2 Rc6 25.Nc7+ Nxc7 26.dxc7 Rxc7 27.Rae1 Rd8 28.Bxc5+ Kf7 29.Bxb6 Rcd7 30.Bxd8 Rxd8 31.Rf3 Qf6 32.c3 Kg7 33.Qe3 Qf7 34.Qe5+ Kh6 35.Qg5+ Kg7 36.Re7 Rf8 37.Rxf7+ Rxf7 38.f5 Kf8 39.fxg6 hxg6 40.Qxg6 Black resigned


BigD00 (973) - ZorroTheFox (1447)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2013

1...Kxf7 2.c3 Nh6 3.Ng5+ Kg6 4.h4 d6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Nxd4 7.Rh3 Bxh3 8.gxh3 Qe7 9.Qd3 Nhf5 10.Nd2 Nxh4 11.b4 Bb6 12.f4 Rae8 13.Bb2 h6 14.Ngf3 Nhxf3+ 15.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Qxe4+ 17.Qxe4+ Rxe4+ 18.Kd2 Rg8 19.Rf1 Kf5 20.a4 g6 21.a5 Be3+ 22.Kd3 Bxf4 23.Ba1 Rge8 24.Bc3 Re3+ 25.Kd2 Rf3+ 26.Kc2 Rxf1 27.Kb3 Re3 28.h4 Be5 29.Kc4 Rxc3+ 30.Kb5 a6+ 31.Ka4 Ra1 checkmate


jankrb (2055) - eagleswing (1096)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2013

1...Kxf7 2.Nxe5+ Nxe5 3.Qh5+ Ng6 4.Qd5+ Ke8 5.Qxc5 N8e7 6.d4 d6 7.Qc4 d5 8.exd5 Qxd5 9.Qxd5 Nxd5 10.c4 Nb4 11.Kd2 b6 12.Na3 a6 13.Kc3 a5 14.Nb5 Kf7 15.Nxc7 Ra7 16.Nb5 Re8 17.Nd6+ Ke7 18.Nxe8 Kxe8 19.a3 Nc6 20.Be3 Bb7 21.Rae1 Kf8 22.d5 Nce5 23.Bxb6 Ra6 24.Bd4 Ng4 25.f3 Nf6 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Re3 f5 28.Rhe1 Kg7 29.g3 f4 30.Re7+ Nxe7 31.Rxe7+ Kh6 32.Rxb7 fxg3 33.hxg3 Rg6 34.c5 Rxg3 35.Rf7 Rg1 36.c6 Kg6 37.Rf4 Kg5 38.Rf8 Rf1 39.Kd4 Rd1+ 40.Kc5 a4 41.c7 Rc1+ 42.Kd6 Rc2 43.c8Q Rxc8 44.Rxc8 h5 45.Ke5 Black resigned


eagleswing (1096) - jankrb (2055)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2013

(0-1) This game will be covered in a subsequent post.


musirapha (1874) - deriver69 (1410)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2013

(1-0)This game will be covered in a subsequent post.


deriver69 (1410) - musirapha (1874)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2013

(0-1) This game will be covered in a subsequent post.


Red House (1588) - Marko Krale (1562)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2013

1...Kxf7 2.Nc3 Bd6 3.d3 h6 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nxd6+ cxd6 7.c3 Rf8 8.Re1 Kg8 9.d4 Re8 10.d5 Ne7 11.h3 Ng6 12.g3 Qb6 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Qd2 b5 15.Bxh6 Qd8 16.Bg5 Rf8 17.Kg2 Qe8 18.a4 Bb7 19.Qc2 Nh7 20.Be3 Qf7 21.Qe2 bxa4 22.Rxa4 Qf6 23.Rb4 Bc8 24.Ra1 Nh8 25.Rc4 Nf7 26.h4 Nd8 27.Nh2 Qe7 28.Ng4 Nb7 29.Rc7 Nc5 30.f3 Nf6 31.Bg5 Qd8 32.Rxc5 dxc5 33.Nxe5 d6 34.Nc6 Qc7 35.Qd2 Bd7 36.Na5 Qb6 37.Nc4 Qc7 38.Bf4 Ne8 39.e5 dxe5 40.Bxe5 Qd8 41.Qe3 Qe7 42.Re1 Bb5 43.Nd2 Nd6 44.c4 Nxc4 45.Nxc4 Bxc4 46.d6 Qa7 47.Qg5 Rf7 48.Qg4 Bb5 49.Rd1 Rd8 50.Qe6 Qd7 51.Qd5 c4 52.Bf4 Qc6 53.Qe6 Qd7 54.Qg6 Qf5 55.Qxf5 Rxf5 56.Bg5 Rd7 57.Be7 Kf7 58.g4 Rc5 59.Kg3 c3 60.bxc3 Rxc3 61.g5 Bc6 62.Rf1 a5 63.Kg4 a4 64.f4 a3 65.h5 a2 66.g6+ Ke6 67.h6 gxh6 68.f5+ Kd5 69.g7 h5+ 70.Kh4 Kc5 71.g8Q Rc2 72.Qg1+ Kb5 73.Rb1+ Black resigned


Marko Krale (1562) - Red House (1588)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit, RedHotPawn.com, 2013

1...Kxf7 2.0-0 Nf6 3.d3 Re8 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 Kg8 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nd5 Rf8 8.Bxf6 Rxf6 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 10.h3 Qg6 11.Kh2 Be6 12.c3 d5 13.Re1 Bxf2 14.Re2 Qg3+ 15.Kh1 Bxh3 16.Rxf2 Qxf2 17.gxh3 Rf8 18.Nh2 d4 19.Rb1 Ne7 20.cxd4 Qxd4 21.Qe2 Ng6 22.Rd1 Nf4 23.Qc2 c5 24.Nf3 Qe3 White resigned