Why Play the Jerome Gambit?

I have posted on this blog various novelties and critical variations in the Jerome Gambit. I have shared Jerome blindfold games and games that are over after only a few sips of coffee. 

One of my favorite types of Jerome Gambit games is the one that announces, once again, "This is why I play the Jerome".

The following game - the latest from chessfriend Vlasta Fejfar - is a good example. White enters a line that he has played successfully before. Black is just getting comfortable in his defense, when he gets too comfortable - and a tactical shot turns the game into a miniature win by White.

vlastous - hobi

internet, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Qf6 8.Rf1

The Database has 74 games, with this position. White scores 66%.

8...g6 

Vlasta has also faced 8...Nc6 in Fejfar,V - Vins, corr Czech Republic, 2015 (1-0, 23) and 8...Nd3+ in Vlastous - Kombe, internet, 2017, (1-0, 22). 

9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.fxe5 Qxe5 11.Qf3 Nf6 

Or 11...Qf6, as in vlastous - Marwan 86, internet, 2018, (1-0, 20) 

12.Nc3 d5 

Often this move is strong and liberating for Black - but not here, as White has a tactical answer. More prudent was 12...c6, as in Vlastous - Daboa, ChessManiac.com, 2016, (1-0, 42)

13.Qxf6+ Qxf6 14.Nxd5+ Black resigned

After White captures the Queen he will simply be 2 pawns up - 1 of them passed and protected. Black's "two Bishops" is not sufficient compensation, in either the Queenless middle game or the end game.

Jerome Gambit: Their Majesties

Here is the latest Jerome Gambit from Vlasta Fejfar, featuring two wandering Queens. White's Queen successfully attacks, while Black's Queen is a few steps slow in defending. In a surprise twist, the player who loses his Queen, wins the game!

vlastous - Marwan 86
internet, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

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

This move is at least as old as D'Aumiller - AP, Livorno, 1878 (1-0, 19), appeared in 2 of the Jerome - Charles correspondence games in their 1881 match (both games incomplete), and appeared in 6 of the games in the legendary (to Jerome Gambit players, anyhow) Fisher-Kirshner - KnightStalker match of 1993.

4...Qf6 8. Rf1 g6 

We have seen a couple of Vlasta's opponents try other ideas:

8...Nd3+ "creatively returning a piece" in Vlastous - Kombe, internet, 2017, (1-0, 22); and

8...Nc6 "cold-blooded, but playable" in Fejfar,V - Vins, corr Czech Republic, 2015, (1-0, 23). 

9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.fxe5 Qxe5 11.Qf3 Qf6 

A common criticism of the Jerome Gambit is that White moves his Queen too early and too often. So far in this game, however, Black has kept pace with White.

Vlastous 2344 -Daboa 1799, Chessmaniac.com, 2016, (1-0, 42) saw the alternative, 11...Nf6.

12.Qe2 Qa6 

You can almost hear Black sigh "Enough, already!". The threat to exchange Queens is easily parried, though, and Her Majesty soon finds that she needs to get back in the fray.

13.d3 Ke8 14.Nc3 Ne7 15.Nd5 Qc6 

To protect against the threatened Knight fork at c7.

Black's best defense was 15...Kd8, when a typical messy game can continue with 16.Bg5 c6 17.b4 cxd5 18.bxc5 dxe4 19.Rf7 Re8 20.Qxe4 Qe6 21.Qxe6 dxe6 22.Rxh7 when White clearly has compensation for his sacrificed material, although the game is about even. (Who is more comfortable, though?)

16.Qf3 Nxd5 

Opening the e-file with the enemy Queen facing the King is pretty risky, but the best move, 16...Nf5, still loses. (And it turns out that White doesn't need the e-file after all.)

17.Qf7+ Kd8 18.Bg5+ Be7 

Black does not want to give up his Queen with 18...Qf6.

White decides to give up his.

19.Qf8+ Rxf8 20.Rxf8 checkmate

Very nice.

Correspondence Play (Part 3)

Recently, I received an email from Vlastimil Fejfar, of the Czech Republic, who shared three of his Jerome Gambit correspondence games.

Fejfar, Vlastimil - Vins
corr Czech Republic, 2015

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Qf6

 

A line seen as early as in a note in G.H.D. Gossip's 1891 The Chess Player's Vade Mecum and Pocket Guide to the Openings with all the latest theoretical discoveries and traps in the openings revealed, and more recently supported by FM Eric Schiller in his books on unorthodox openings. (It is fun to read MrJoker's comments about some of Schiller's analysis - see "Joker's Wild" 1, 2 and Conclusion.) 

8.Rf1 Nc6

This move is cold-blooded, but playable. Black simply returns a piece.

9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qh5 Bd7 11.Nc3 Be8 12.Qh3+ Kf7 13.d3 Nge7 14.Be3 h6 15.O-O-O Rf8 16.g4 Kg8

Black castles-by-hand just in time.

White's attack (and two extra pawns) is good compensation for his sacrificed piece.

17.g5 hxg5

Stronger for the defense was 17...Qf7.

18.fxg5 Qg6 19.Rxf8+ Kxf8 20.Qh8+ Ng8 21.Rf1+ Bf7 22.Nd5 Nce7 

Black covers up as much as possible, but he overlooks something. His best chance was 22...Qe6.

23.Nf4 Black resigned

It is Black's Queen, not his King, who is checkmated!