Jerome Gambit Delayed: Consulting The Database and Stockfish

The following game has a line in the Jerome Gambit (Delayed?) that I am not very familiar with, so I consulted with The Database and Stockfish 8 for some assistance. It is good to see jfhumphrey move quickly to victory.


jfhumphrey - ckilee
5 0 blitz, FICS, 2017

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O

4...Nf6

Transposing to a Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6) with ...Bc5 added.

The Database has 1,148 games with this position, with White scoring 42%. (For comparison, The Database shows White scoring 45% after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+)

5.Bxf7+ Kxf7

Now The Database has 1,909 games with this position (oh, the joys of transposition) with White scoring 40%.

6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4

The Database has 291 games with this position, with White scoring 45%.

7...Bd6

Now, however, The Database has 35 games with this position, with White scoring 71%. From a practical point of view, Black has made an error that generally gets punished.

Interestingly enough, Stockfish 8 sees the text move as giving White less than a half of a pawn advantage. It prefers 7...d5, and this is backed up by The Database, which has 10 games with that move - all of them wins for Black.

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 Bd6 10.e5 Bc5+

Stronger than 10...Ne4?! 11.exd6 (11.Qd5+!?) Nxd6 12.Qd5+ Kf8 13.f5 Qf6 14.Nc3 c6 15.Qf3 Nf7 16.Be3 Ne5 17.Qe4 d5 18.Qd4 Kf7 19.Bf4 Re8 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.Qf2 Kg8 22.Rae1 Qxe1 23.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 Bxf5 25.Qe7 h5 26.h3 Bxc2 27.Qxb7 Rf8 28.Qxc6 Bd3 29.Nxd5 Rf1+ 30.Kh2 Be4 31.Qe6+ Kh7 32.Qxe4+ Black forfeited on time, Teterow - yelloman, FICS, 2011.

11.Kh1 Ne4 

Better alternatives are: 11...d6 12.exf6 Qxf6 13.Nc3 c6 (13...Qf5 14.Nd5 c6 15.Nc3 d5 16.Ne2 Re8 17.Ng3 Qf6 18.Bd2 Qxb2 19.Rb1 Qf6 20.Nh5 Qf5 21.Bc3 d4 White forfeited on time, aymmd - JabbaChess, FICS, 2012) 14.Ne4 Qf5 15.Nxd6+ Bxd6 16.Qxd6 Re8 17.Bd2 Be6 18.Bc3 Bd5 19.Qc5 Bxg2+ 20.Kxg2 Qxc5 White resigned, motorfot - theophraste, FICS, 2014;

11...Bb6 12.exf6 Qxf6 13.Qd5+ Qe6 14.Qh5+ Qg6 15.Qf3 Rf8 16.f5 Qc6 17.Qb3+ d5 18.Nd2 Kg8 19.Nf3 Qc4 20.Bg5 Qxb3 21.cxb3 Bxf5 22.Be7 Rfe8 23.Bb4 Be4 24.Ng5 h6 25.Nh3 c5 26.Bc3 Rf8 27.Rfe1 Bf5 28.Nf4 d4 29.Bd2 Rae8 30.Nd5 Black forfeited on time, jfhumphrey - Dimo, FICS, 2012; and

11...d5 12.exf6 gxf6 13.Nc3 Bf5 14.Nxd5 Bxc2 15.Qxc2 Qxd5 16.Bd2 Rag8 17.Bc3 Be3 18.Rad1 Qb5 19.a4 Qc6 20.Rf3 Bc5 21.Qf5 Be7 22.a5 Rd8 23.Re1 Rd5 24.Qe4 Rd7 25.Rh3 White forfeited on time, aymmd - GriffySr, FICS, 2011.

Incorrect are 11...Nd5 12.Qxd5+ Black resigned, Svrbt - pantyhose, FICS, 2011 and

11...Ng8 12.Qd5+ Ke8 13.Qxc5 Ne7 14.f5 Rf8 15.f6 gxf6 16.Bh6 Rg8 17.exf6 b6 18.Qh5+ Ng6 19.f7+ Ke7 20.Qg5+ Kd6 21.Rd1+ Kc6 22.Qd5 checkmate, chessmoods - MChessplayer, FICS, 2012.

Best is 11...Be7 12. exf6 Bxf6 when White has a slight edge. 

12.Qd5+ Ke8

Or 12...Kf8 13.Qxe4 d6 (13...Qe7 14.Be3 d6 15.Bxc5 dxc5 16.Nc3 Kf7 17.Rad1 g6 18.Nd5 Qe6 19.Nxc7 Rb8 20.Nxe6 Black resigned, HauntedKnight - jonisjonis, FICS, 2010) 14.e6 Qe7 15.f5 c6 16.Nc3 d5 17.Qg4 Qf6 18.Bg5 Qd4 19.Rad1 Qxg4 20.Bf4 Ke7 21.h3 Qh5 22.Rf3 g5 23.Be3 Bxe3 24.Rxe3 g4 25.Rf1 gxh3 26.Rxh3 Qg5 27.Ne2 h5 28.c3 Rg8 29.Rg3 Qxg3 30.Nxg3 Rxg3 31.Kh2 Rg8 32.b3 Kd6 33.a4 b6 34.b4 Ba6 35.Rf2 Ke5 36.e7 Rg5 37.f6 Ke6 38.Kh3 Rf5 39.Re2+ Kf7 40.g3 Black forfeited on time, HauntedKnight - heverson, FICS, 2011. 

13.Qxe4 

White has a pawn advantage. At this point the clock seems to be influencing move choices.

13...Rf8 14.Qxh7 d6 15.Qxg7 dxe5 16.Qxe5+ Be7 

White will finish the game off in short order. 

17.Nc3 Bf5 18.Be3 b6 19.Rad1 Qc8 20.Nd5 Rf7 21.Nxc7+ Kf8 22.Qh8 checkmate

A Level of Strangeness

The following game has a surprise move in a less-than-usual line, and when I researched it in earlier posts, I found a number of editorial errors. Strange...

bemillsy - leoarthur
blitz, FICS, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.O-O Bc5 

See "Jerome Gambit vs Two Knights Defense (Part 4)".

5.Bxf7+

A delayed Jerome Gambit move order (or a transition to a "modern" Jerome Gambit line, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6), although there are about 550 examples in The Database. I have never played the line, but of course Bill Wall has, as have GeniusPawn, GmCooper, HauntedKnight, hinders, sTpny, Teterow, DragonTail and jrhumphrey, to name just a few.

The line was looked at in the games aymmd - MOMLASAM, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 19)  and Wall, B - Guest848078, PlayChess.com, 2012 (1-0, 10) although there were diagram errors and references that subsequently needed correction in both posts.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Nf3+ 

A surprise, but not as strong as the routine 7...Bxd4.

8.Qxf3

The correct capture, with a roughly equal game.

8...Bxd4 9.Bg5 

Overlooking something, perhaps already short of time.

9...Bxb2

Surprisingly, not Black's strongest move, although it does lead to some advantage. Rybka prefers 9...d6 10.Nd2 h6 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.Qxe3 Re8 13.f3 Qe7 14.Rad1 Be6 15.b3 Kg8 with a clear advantage.

10.Nd2 

White should try 10.Qb3+, as after 10...Kg6 11.Qxb2 Kxg5 12.e5 he has chances against Black's uneasy King.  

10...Bxa1 11.Rxa1 d6 White forfeited on time.

Not So Much With A Bang As With A Whimper

I've been enjoying sharing some games by aymmd, who plays online at FICS and whose games began to show up in The Database in the fall of 2010. Until recently, he has only been represented on this blog by one unfortunate loss (see "Challenges"). Today's game does not end in devastation (see "Delayed Devastation" and "More Devastation") but in the quiet acceptance of defeat by Black.

aymmd - rtglass
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Bxf7+

A Delayed Jerome Gambit, although, after 5...Kxf7, the game will have transposed into a "modern" variation, i.e. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6.

5...Kf8

Black does not want to give his opponent the opportunity to play his prepared lines.

6.Nxe5

Temporarily complicating things. Instead, there is the straight-forward 6.Bb3 d5 as in HauntedKnight - bozidaranas, blitz, FICS 2010 (1-0, 13); or  6.Bb3 Ng4 as in jfhumphrey - Dpouchy, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49).

Note that if Black responds to 6.Bb3 with 6...Nxe4 then White has 7.Nc3!? with a kind of Boden Kieseritzky Gambit!

6...Nxe5 7.Bb3

Despite Black's extra piece (for two pawns), White is better.

7...d6 8.d4 Nxe4

Black chooses to return the sacrificed piece, but, in this case 8...Bxd4 was the right move, even thought it would still leave White better.

9.dxc5

Either piece was available for capture. 9.dxe5 might have been a bit stronger.

9...Qh4

Black looks at his lead in development, White's undeveloped Queenside and unprotected Kingside, and thinks: attack.

His move seems to be an all-around attacking strike, but it worsens his situation. Rybka suggest that Black settle down with 9...Nxc5, followed perhaps by 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.Bf4 Qe7 (or 11...Nxb3 12.axb3) 12.Bxe5 dxe5 13.Nd5 Qd7 14.Bc4 c6 15.Ne3 Qxd1 when White's advantage is not too large.

10.Nc3 Nxc3

This is not "settling down" (even if it does compromise the pawns on White's Queenside).

11.bxc3 Qf6 12.cxd6 cxd6 13.Ba3 Nf7 14.c4 Be6 Black resigned

At first Black's decision may come as a surprise, as he is not being crushed. Yet, after 15.Bxd6+ Nxd6 16.Qxd6+ he will be down a couple of pawns; and a sharper move like 15.c5!?, while not winning a pawn for White, might be even more troublesome (note the Rook trapped at h8).

More Devastation

Here is another recent game by aymmd, featuring a variation in an opening line that looks good, but turns out to be significantly different than the original, much to Black's dismay. More devastation.

aymmd - LochChessMonster
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4

7...Nxe4

Black is up two pieces, and he finds a creative way to return one of them; but, as addressed in "Delayed Devastation", the strongest move here is 7...Bd6 (not 7...Bxd4). 

8.Nxe4 Bb4+

Other ideas: 8...d5 in HauntedKnight - astalaveesta, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 29); 8...Be7 in perrypawnpusher - sdockray, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28); 8...Qh4 in perrypawnpusher - kfollstad, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 24); 8...Bb6 in perrypawnpusher - BallsOfFire, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); while 8...Bxd4 seems best as in yorgos - josephjorkens, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 45).

9.c3 Qh4

Black plays va banque... This position is oddly like the one in "Beyond Gloom and Doom" only White has a Knight, not a pawn. at e4. The difference favors White.

Previously seen was 9...d5 in perrypawnpusher - richiehill, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 19); but 9...Re8 or 9...Nc6 are probably better choices.

10.Ng5+ Kg6

I suppose this move was inspired by Black's wish to keep the 8th rank open so that he could place his Rook aggressively. However, he would have done better to try 10...Ke8, e.g. 11.cxb4 h6 12.g3 Qg4 13.dxe5 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 hxg5 15.Bxg5 and White has a lesser advantage. 

11.dxe5 Be7

Black saves his Bishop and attacks White's Knight a third time – but the house falls in on him.

12.Qc2+ Kh6 13.Nf3+ Kh5 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.Qf5+ g5 16.g4+ Kh6 17.Qf6 checkmate

Delayed Devastation

The following game is one of several where White, aymmd, has played a delayed Jerome Gambit. The slight difference in move order seems to have caught his opponent off-guard, allowing him to choose a second-best defense that, in other circumstances, would have been the best... The misunderstanding grows, and then suddenly: devastation.

aymmd - Gremar
standard, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7

This "delayed Jerome Gambit" can also be reached by the "modern" path of 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6

6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6

The best reaction to White's pawn fork here is 7...Bxd4, keeping Black's advantage.

In contrast, in lines where White already has a Knight on c3 (see "Quick Reaction" and "Even is Only Half-Way There"), the text is the best reaction.

Black's mixing of the two lines allows White to equalize.

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4

If Black now gives back a second piece with 9...Bd6, the game is even, e.g. 10.e5 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 and either the Black Knight or the Black Bishop will fall to White's Queen.

Instead, Black fashions a defense that on the surface looks sufficient, and gives him play against White's soon-to-be-isolated e-pawn.

9...Re8 10.fxe5 Rxe5

Black's idea is to doubly attack the pawn at e4, after he has castled-by-hand to remove the pin on his Knight.

11.Nc3 Kg8 12.Bf4

White maintains the initiative, however, and it is remarkable how fast Black's situation deteriorates.

12...Re8 13.e5 Rf8

Sadly, the second player must give up a third piece.

14.exf6 Rxf6 15.Nd5

Black is not allowed time to catch his breath.

15...Rf7 16.Bxc7 Rxf1+

This gives White his choice of checkmates, but there was no easy (or difficult) way out.

17.Qxf1 Qg5

18.Qc4 Kh8 19.Rf1 h5 20.Rf8+ Kh7 21.Qe4+ g6 22.Bd8 Qc1+ 23.Rf1 Qxb2 24.Nf6+ Kg7 25.Qe7+ Kh6 26.Ng8 checkmate

Challenges

Although we in the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde are always improving our openings, there are those who defend who are doing the same. That can lead to some uncomfortable challenges.


aymmd - MOMLASAM
standard, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Bxf7+

Not quite the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

I have three recent games by aymmd in the updated New Year's Database. It' looks like he's just taken up the opening. As he's rated well above me, and is playing the Jerome at a standard time control, not blitz, his games should be interesting.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4

7...Bxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Nc3 Re8

10.Bg5 h6

Not a surprise: besides exchanging pieces, White can keep the tension with 11.Bh4 or try the interesting 11.f4.

11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.f4

Aggressive (the White Rook on the same file as Black's Queen and King) but overlooking the same kind of tactic that I did in my game with Jantra. (Therefore 12.Rad1 was to be considered.)

12...Nf3+ 13.Rxf3 Qxd4+ 14.Kh1 Kg8 15.f5 Bd7 16.Rd1 Qe5 17.Rd5 Qf6 18.Rd1 Bc6 19.Rf4 g5 White resigned