The Return of Jerome Gambit for Dummies (Part 7)

It is very common for a chessplayer to look at White's first few moves in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and ask himself, "What is White thinking??" Sometimes the first player has a head full of fever dreams like the following games, which I turned up while looking through The Database for 8-move contests containing the "essence" of the Jerome Gambit, or at least an insight into how it "works".

decent  - fulldecent
lightning, FICS, 2003
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 exd4 6.Ng5+ Kf8 7.Qf3+ Ke8 8.Qf7#


soulman - tobinskov
standard, FICS, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 exd4 6.Ng5+ Ke8 7.Qf3 h6 8.Qf7#


drumme - jherman
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 exd4 6.Ng5+ Ke8 7.Qf3 h6 8.Qf7#


Odizzel - narciso
blitz, FICS, 2005
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 d6 6.Ng5+ Kf8 7.Qh5 Nf6 8.Qf7#


braken - klonka59
2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8 5.Bd5 Nf6 6.Ng5 Nxe4 7.Nxe4 Ne7 8.Qf3+ Black resigned

Yes, indeed, things frequently go differently, if Black defends properly; but these games reinforce the lesson Tartakower liked to pronounce about some opening ideas, that is "dubious, therefore playable". Black relaxed and told himself that he would get around to defending, any time now – to his misfortune.

Sunday Tournament Update

With one game left to complete in the ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, and that one largely unbalanced, the final standings can be predicted as follows



AsceticKingK9                27/28


mckenna215                 23.5/28


braken                          19.5/28


Rikiki00                       19.5/28


Knight32                      18.5/28


shm19cs                       16.5/28


blackburne                     15/28


Magni                            14/28


Haroldlee123                 12/28


DREWBEAR 63           11/28


pixifrufru                         9/28

Baron wd von

Blanc, heart pirate        8.5/28


Luke Warm                     8/28

klonka59                         5/28


martind1991                   3/28

What Do You See?

The following position is from the game braken - mckenna215, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, ChessWorld, 2011, one of the few drawn games in that large 15-player double-round-robin tournaments.

The situation is relatively balanced, but Black's two Bishops are likely to prove more than White's Rook can handle. The game will be decided by what each player can see in the position.

21. Ne7 Ne6

Black allows the win of two pieces for the Rook. I think he simply missed White's 23rd move.

22.Rxe6 Nxe6 23.Qg6+

A smart idea. After the routine 23.Qxe6 Black has 23...Qe8, and the pin on the White Knight is annoying. There are even lines where the Knight can be trapped and won for a pawn or two, pushing the game closer to the split point.

23...Kh8 24.Qxe6 Kh7 25.Nxd5 Qa3

White has won a pawn, and Black seeks counterplay on the Queenside.

Instead of a battle of N+P vs B, or an exchange of minor pieces into a Q+Ps vs Q+Ps endgame, things should now shift to an attack on Black's King with 26.g4!? 

26.Ne3

Not wanting to lose the a-pawn, but giving Black the counterplay he was seeking.

26...Qc1+ 27.Nf1 Qxc3

The game has changed again. Now Black is looking to take the d-pawn and be up a pawn, with a freed Bishop to dominate the humbled Knight.

White says "no, thank you" and forces the draw by repetition.

28.Qe4+ Kg8 29.Qe8+ Kh7 30.Qe4+ Kg8 31.Qe8+ Kh7 Drawn

Sunday Tournament Update

With five games left in the ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, the leaders have been decided, but battles still rage up and down the finish line.

AsceticKingK9 has taken first place with 27 points out of 28 games, mckenna215 has taken second with 23.5 points out of 28 games, and braken has taken third with 19.5 points out of 28 games.

However, with a recent win Rikiki00 has lept to a tie with Knight32 for fourth place with 18.5 points, and with one game still in play he could, with another win, move into a tie for third.

Down the ladder, Luke Warm is holding onto eleventh place with 8 points, but, with a final win, pixifrufru could leap over him to 9 points out of 28 games. Both could be bypassed by Baron wd von Blanc, heart pirate, who has 7.5 points with two games to complete.

Even martind1991, holding down last place with 2 points out of 23 games, can vault over his nearest rival, klonka59, if he finishes strongly. 

Sunday Tournament Update

The standings of the current ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament

AsceticKingK9                                                  25/26
mckenna215                                                      23.5/28
braken                                                               19.5/28
Knight32                                                           18.5/28
Rikiki00                                                            17.5/26
shm19cs                                                            15.5/27
blackburne                                                          15/28
Magni                                                                 12/26
Haroldlee123                                                      11/27
DREWBEAR 63                                                11/28
pixifrufru                                                             8/27
Baron wd von Blanc, heart pirate                       7.5/26
Luke Warm                                                          6/26
klonka59                                                              4/24
martind1991                                                         1/15

Sunday Tournament Update

There is an old caution that If you strike the King, you must kill him. Anything less than a terminal blow will allow the monarch to strike back...

Two weeks ago I reported that the player leading the ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, AsceticKingK9, had suffered his first and only loss, on time; and that in his remaining two games, he was past the time limit, so his opponent could claim wins there, too.

A look at the ChessWorld site today indicates that AsceticKingK9 is back at the board and playing, again, giving the possibility of him finishing the tournament with 27 points in 28 games. 

Second place has already been wrapped up by mckenna215, with 23.5 points in 28 games.

Rikiki00 continues to creep forward in the race for third, fourth and fifth place, now having 17.5 points in 25 games. He is hoping to bypass Knight32 with 18.5 points out of 28 games and Braken  with 18.5 points out of 27 games. 

Sunday Tournament Update

Little has changed at the top of the standings in the ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, where almost 90% of the games have been completed.

AsceticKingK9 remains the un-catchable winner with 25 points out of 28 games.

He is followed by mckenna215, with 23.5 points out of 28 games.

Rikiki00 has snagged a point in the race for third, fourth and fifth place, now having 16.5 points in 24 games. He is hoping to bypass Knight32 with 18.5 points out of 28 games and Braken  with 18.5 points out of 27 games. 

Who Recovers First

White surprises Black.

Black surprises White.

Sometimes it is not only "who surprises who" that counts, but who recovers from the surprise first, as the following game from the soon-to-be-finished ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament shows.

braken - klonka59
ChessWorld
Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8

The Jerome Gambit Declined, a rare bird.

White surprises Black with the gift of what is, objectively, a won game. Black, in turn, surprises White by preferring to be a pawn down, with an ill-at-ease King.

5.Bd5 Nf6 6.Ng5

This attacking move opens the diagonal for White's Queen while preparing a fork of Black's heavy pieces. Nonetheless it has its downside.

6...Nxe4

Perhaps Black has become disoriented, overlooking, for starters, that the White Bishop that should have disappeared at f7 is now protecting the pawn he just grabbed.

Or, perhaps he was aware that the Bishop was still on the job, and expected, after 7.Bxe4, to play 7...Qxg5.

In either case, he missed the more effective 6...Nxd5 7.exd5 Qxg5.

7.Nxe4

Saving the White Knight, and putting the heat on the Black King.

7...Ne7 8. Qf3+ Black resigned

Black will lose his Knight and Queen, for starters.

Sunday Tournament Update

Elvis has left the building.

After rocketing to the top of the chart with a score of 25 points in 25 games in the Chess World Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, AsceticKingK9 has lost his first game – on time – to Haroldlee123. His remaining two games, against martind1991, are over the time limit as well, but have not yet been claimed.

Not that it matters. 25 points is enough to win the tournament. (Oddly enough, early on I predicted that the winner would score 24 points. AsceticKingK9 exceeded that number, but 24 would have been enough to put him ahead of the second place finisher. Lucky guess!?)


Second place has been wrapped up by mckenna215, with a score of 23.5 out of 28 games. 


Third, fourth and fifth places remain a tangle. Knight32 has 18.5 points out of 28 games. Braken has the same score, with one game remaining. Rikiki00 has 15.5 points in 23 games.


It should be pointed out that Haroldlee123, currently in 10th place with 8 points out of 22 games, nonetheless now has upset wins over both AsceticKingK9 and mckenna215. 

Sunday Tournament Update

It is clear now that AsceticKingK9 will take top honors in the current ChessWorld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament.

The 15-player, double round robin contest, is over 80% complete, and AsceticKingK9 leads with 25 points out of 25 games (with three games left to complete).

Second place has been sewed up by mckenna 215, with 23.5 points out of 28 games. His 84% score is impressive, as well.

Third through fifth places are still undecided. Knight32 has completed his run, with 18.5 points out of 28 games. Braken has 18.5 points out of 27 games, so, with one final win, he could pass Knight32. However, Rikiki00 has 15.5 points out of 23 games, and could bypass both Knight32 and Braken with enough wins of his own.

Sunday Tournament Update

With over 80% of its games completed, the ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament continues to be a monstrous battle between its top two competitors.

AsceticKingK9 leads with 24 points out of 24 games. Can he go all the way to 28/28 ?

Mckenna215 is close, with 22.5 points out of 26 games. If he wins his remaining 2 games, he will still need to receive some help from a handful of other players to overtake AsceticKingK9 and take the crown.

It is clear that the player who does not take first place will garner second.

There is an interesting battle shaping up for third place, however, between braken (18.5 points out of 27 games), Knight32 (18.5 points out of 28 games) and Rikiki00 (15.5 points out of 23 games). Braken's last game is against Rikiki00, and the winner would be the odds-on favorite to scramble to the top of the heap.

Draws continue to be almost non-existant, making up less than 2% of the completed games!

Sunday Tournament Update

The ChessWorld Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Thematic Tournament continues, with all of the players firing off moves and many of the games proving to be exciting, entertaining, and instructional affairs.

To date, over 40% of the games have been completed, with White scoring 39% – an unimpressive figure when compared, say, to the Ruy Lopez, but about as robust a number as has been seen in other thematic tournaments, and a downright hearty one for an opening that has several established refutations.

9 of the 210 games (4%, an astonishingly "high" number as compared to only about 9/10th-of-a-percent of the games in The Database) feature the Jerome Gambit Declined with either 4...Kf8 or 4...Ke7.  

63 of the games, a full 30%, are developing along "classical" Jerome Gambit lines (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+), the highest that I have seen in a thematic tournament. 

The remaining 138 games follow "modern" Jerome Gambit lines (not-5.Nxe5+).

The current leaders are mckenna215, with 12.5 points (out of 14 games) and braken, with 11.5 points (out of 17 games).

In a tournament where each player plays 28 games, however, just about anything can happen over the course of the marathon. For example, AsceticKingK9 has 10 points out of 10 games, an impressive 100% score so far. Not far behind is Rikiki00 with 9.5 points out of 12 games.

Neither martind1991 nor Luke Warm have lost (or completed) any games, so their "perfect" scores have not been marred, either.

Sunday Tournament Update

The ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament is underway, all 15 competitors and all 210 games!

We are already seeing results (8 completed games so far, 6 wins by White) from AsceticKingK9, mckenna215, Rikiki00, braken, blackburne, DREWBEAR 63, Knight32, Magni, pixifrufru, shm19cs, klonka59, Baron wd von Blanc heart pirate, martind1991, Luke Warm and Haroldlee123.

Many games are in their early stages, others are racing along.

There are a number of examples of the Jerome Gambit Declined (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8/Ke7) – a relatively rare beast making up only about 9/10th-of-a-percent of the games in The Database – those certainly will expand our understanding of that line.

At least 29% of the games are "classical" Jerome Gambits, with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7+ followed by 5.Nxe5+, which is the highest percentage that I have seen in a recent Jerome Gambit thematic tournament. Some "well established" theory is likely to be stood on its head by the time those games are done!

With about 7 out of 10 games following "modern" (non-5.Nxe5+ lines) there will be plenty of practice to round out the theory of this more tempered approach as well.

Next Sunday I will give further information on the progress of the tournament. When all games have developed far enough for me not to influence their play, I will begin presenting some with annotations.

(By the way, I predict that the tournament winner will score 24 out of 28 points.)

Against the Semi-Italian

I've been having second thoughts about the accuracy of my strategy against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) cousin: Jerome-ized play against the Semi-Italian Opening, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0-0 (my choice) Bc5 5.Bxf7+.

Recently, I've collected 138 games which suggest the brute-force method of "no waiting": 4.Bxf7+, anyhow. At first glance, however, that seems a bit blunt to me, even if it's perfectly playable in lightning chess.

So I was happy to receive the following game, from Welton Vaz, (see "Xadrez, Ficção Cientifíca e Paz").


Ghandy - devgru
blitz FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6


4.c3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+

Just like with the Jerome Gambit proper, there has developed a "modern" treatment of the Jerome-ized Semi-Italian opening, one which does not include 6.Nxe5+. Several games in the current Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament at Chessworld have developed that theme:

6.d3 Nf6 ( 6...d6 7.0-0 Bg4 8.a4 Nf6 9.b4 Bxb4 10.cxb4 a6 11.Bd2 b5 12.a5 Bh5 13.Bc3 Rf8 14.Nbd2 Ne7 15.Qb3+ Kg6 16.d4 exd4 17.Bxd4 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Kh7 19.Qh3 Ng6 20.g3 c5 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.Be3 c4 23.Qg2 Qe7 24.f3 Rad8 25.Qf2 Ng4 26.Qe1 h5 27.fxg4 hxg4 28.Rxf8 Rxf8 29.Bd4 Rd8 30.Qe3 b4 31.Nxc4 Qe6 32.Nb6 b3 33.Rb1 Ne7 34.Rxb3 Nc6 35.Bb2 Rd1+ 36.Kg2 Qf7 37.Qf4 Qxb3 38.Qf5+ g6 39.Qf2 Nxa5 40.Nd5 Qd3 41.Qf7+ Kh6 42.Qg7+ Kh5 43.Nf4+ Kg5 44.Bf6 checkmate, Piratepaul - calchess10, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009) 7.0-0 d6 (7...Rf8 8.Kh1 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.b4 Bd6 11.g3 b6 12.Nh4 Kg8 13.Nd2 Nxc3 14.Qb3+ Rf7 15.Qxc3 Nd4 16.Ne4 Bb7 17.Be3 c5 18.bxc5 bxc5 19.Rab1 Bxe4+ 20.dxe4 g5 21.Nf5 Nxf5 22.exf5 Rxf5 23.Rb7 Bc7 24.Qxc5 Qd3 25.Kg1 Qd6 26.Qxc7 Qxc7 27.Rxc7 a5 28.a3 Rf7 29.Rc5 e4 30.Re5 Rd7 31.Rxe4 Rad8 32.Bb6 Ra8 33.Ra4 Ra6 34.Be3 Kf7 35.Rb1 Rd5 36.Kg2 Ke6 37.Rb7 h5 38.Re4+ Kf6 39.Rb6+ Rxb6 40.Bxb6 Rb5 41.Bd8+ Kf5 42.Ra4 g4 43.Bxa5 Kg5 44.Bb4 h4 45.Be7+ Black resigned, Piratepaul - Black Puma, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009) 8.a4 a6 9.b4 Ba7 10.Qb3+ Be6 11.c4 Nd4 12.Qd1 Rf8 13.Nc3 Kg8 14.Kh1 Bg4 15.Be3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5 17.Rg1 Nxf3 18.Rg2 Qh4 19.Ne2 Rf7 20.Bxa7 Rxa7 21.b5 Ra8 22.a5 Raf8 23.Qb3 Nd2 24.Qc2 Rxf2 25.Qxd2 Rxg2 26.Rg1 Rxh2 checkmate, Piratepaul - blackburne, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009;

6.d4 Bd6 ( 6...exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ ( 7...Bb6 8.Ne5+ Nxe5 9.dxe5 Qe7 10.Qf3+ Ke8 11.0-0 Qxe5 12.Bf4 Qxb2 13.Nc3 Kd8 14.Nb5 Qxb5 15.Rab1 Qa5 16.Rbc1 d6 17.g3 Bh3 18.Rfd1 Kd7 19.e5 h5 20.Qxb7 Nh6 21.Rd5 Qxa2 22.Be3 Bxe3 23.Qxc7+ Ke8 24.Qc6+ Kf7 25.Qc2 Rac8 26.e6+ Ke7 27.Qb1 Qxf2+ 28.Kh1 Qg2 checkmate, yorkypuddn - braken, Chessworld, 2008) 8.Nfd2 Nxd4 9.0-0 d6 10.a3 Ba5 11.b4 Bb6 12.Nc4 Nc6 13.Nc3 Bd4 14.Qf3+ Qf6 15.Qxf6+ Nxf6 16.Kh1 Bxc3 17.Ra2 Be5 18.f4 Bd4 19.b5 Ne7 20.Bb2 Bxb2 21.Rxb2 Nxe4 22.Rb4 Nc5 23.f5 Nd5 24.Rb2 Rf8 25.g4 Nf6 26.h4 Nxg4 27.Rg1 h5 28.Rbg2 Bxf5 29.Nd2 g6 30.Re2 Kg7 31.Kg2 Bd3 32.Re7+ Rf7 33.Rge1 Bxb5 34.Nf3 Bc6 35.Rxf7+ Kxf7 36.Kg3 Bxf3 37.Rf1 Ne5 38.Rxf3+ Nxf3 39.Kxf3 Re8 40.Kf4 Kf6 41.Kg3 Kf5 42.Kf3 Re4 43.Kf2 Kf4 44.a4 Rxa4 White resigned, TWODOGS - Piratepaul, JG2 Chessworld, 2008) 7.d5 ( 7.dxe5 Be7 8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.b4 a6 10.e6 dxe6 11.Qh5+ Kf8 12.c4 Bxb4+ 13.Bd2 Bxd2+ 14.Nbxd2 Qf6 15.0-0 Nge7 16.Qc5 Kg8 17.e5 Qf5 18.Nd4 Qxe5 19.Qxe5 Nxe5 20.f4 Nf7 21.Rae1 g6 22.Nxe6 Bxe6 23.Rxe6 Kf8 24.Rfe1 Re8 25.Ne4 Nc6 26.Rxg6 h5 27.Kf2 Rh6 28.Rg3 h4 29.Rg4 Nd6 30.Nxd6 Rxe1 31.Kxe1 cxd6 32.h3 Kf7 33.Ke2 Kf6 34.Rg5 Na7 35.Kf3 b5 36.cxb5 Nxb5 37.Kg4 Rh7 38.a4 Nc7 39.f5 Rg7 40.Rxg7 Kxg7 41.Kxh4 Kf6 42.g4 Ke5 43.Kg3 Nd5 44.h4 Nf6 45.h5 Nxh5+ 46.gxh5 Kxf5 47.Kh4 a5 48.h6 Kg6 49.Kg4 Black resigned, pawn_starr - astandenuk, Gameknot, 2006) 7...Nce7 8.c4 Ng6 9.a3 Nf6 10.Nbd2 Nf4 11.0-0 Qe7 12.Nb3 Nxe4 13.Bxf4 exf4 14.Re1 Re8 15.Nbd2 Qf6 16.Nxe4 Qg6 17.Nh4 Qh7 18.Nf6 gxf6 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Rxe8+ Bf8 21.Ng6 Kg7 22.Nxf8 Qd3 23.Re7+ Black resigned, TWODOGS - eddie43, JG2 Chessworld, 2008;

6.a4 Nf6 7.d3 Ng4 8.0-0 d6 9.h3 Nf6 10.b4 Nxb4 11.cxb4 Bd4 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.f4 Re8 14.f5 Ng8 15.Qg4 Nf6 16.Qf3 Kg8 17.Ra2 a5 18.b5 c6 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Rb2 Ba6 21.Re1 c5 22.Rbe2 Rb8 23.Nd2 d5 24.e5 Nh7 25.Qg3 Qc7 26.Nf1 c4 27.f6 g5 28.Nh2 Nxf6 29.Ng4 Nxg4 30.hxg4 cxd3 31.Rd2 Re6 32.Bb2 Rxb2 33.Rxb2 Rc6 34.Qf2 Rc1 35.Rd2 Rc2 36.e6 Rc1 37.e7 Qxe7 38.Rxc1 Bc4 39.Qxd4 Qb4 40.Rb2 d2 41.Qxd2 Qc5+ 42.Kh1 Qd6 43.Rxc4 Qf6 44.Rc8+ Kf7 45.Rb7+ Black resigned, Haroldlee123 - TWODOGS, JGTourney4, Chessworld, 2009;

6.Qb3+ Ke7 ( 6...Kf8 7.0-0 Nf6 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Be7 10.Nh4 d5 11.Ng6+ Kf7 12.Nxh8+ Qxh8 13.exd5 Ne5 14.d6+ Kf8 15.dxe7+ Kxe7 16.dxe5 Nh5 17.Qb4+ Kf7 18.Re1 Kg8 19.Qc4+ Kh7 20.e6 Qe8 21.Nc3 b6 22.Nd5 Bxe6 23.Qxc7 Rc8 24.Qxa7 Qd8 25.Bxh6 Bxd5 26.Re5 Black forfeited on time, majorminor - Entangle, FICS, 2004) 7.0-0 Nf6 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Be3 d6 11.Nbd2 Qe8 12.Rfe1 Kd8 13.e5 dxe5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bxb6 Nxf3+ 16.Nxf3 Qc6 17.Rad1+ Bd7 18.Ne5 Qxb6 19.Nf7+ Kc8 20.Qd3 Rd8 21.Nxd8 Kxd8 22.Qa3 c5 23.Qe3 Kc7 24.Qe5+ Kd8 25.Rxd7+ Nxd7 26.Qe8+ Kc7 27.Qxa8 Nb8 28.Re8 Qxb2 29.Qxb8+ Kb6 30.Re6+ Ka5 31.Qxa7+ Kb4 in progress, Crusader Rabbit - metalwarrior1969, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009;

6.b4 Bb6 7.a4 ( 7.b5 Nce7 8.Nxe5+ Ke8 ( 8...Ke6 9.d4 d5 10.exd5+ Qxd5 11.Qg4+ Kd6 12.Ba3+ Bc5 13.0-0 Bxa3 14.Nxa3 Bxg4 15.Nxg4 Nf6 16.c4 Qg5 17.c5+ Ke6 18.Rae1+ Kf7 19.Ne5+ Kg8 20.Nf3 Qd5 21.Rxe7 Kh7 22.Rxc7 b6 23.Nc2 bxc5 24.Rxc5 Qxa2 25.Nb4 Qb3 26.Nd5 Nd7 27.Nf6+ gxf6 28.Rc7 Rhd8 29.Re1 Qxb5 30.Re7+ Kg6 31.Nh4+ Kh5 32.Rc5+ Nxc5 33.dxc5 Qb1+ White resigned, majorminor - gamay, FICS, 2007) 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Nxg6 Nf6 11.Qe5 Bxf2+ 12.Kd1 Ng4 13.Qxh8+ Kf7 Black resigned, majorminor - Fugly, FICS, 2007) 7...a6 8.a5 Ba7 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Bb2 Re8 11.Qb3+ d5 12.d4 exd4 13.cxd4 Rxe4 14.Ne5+ Nxe5 15.dxe5 Rxe5 16.Bxe5 Be6 17.Nc3 d4 18.Qd1 dxc3 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Ra3 c2 22.Rf3 Qb2 23.Qg6 Bb3 White forfeited on time, majorminor - boepke, FICS 2004

6.0-0 d6 7.b4 Bb6 8.d4 exd4 9.Nxd4 Ne5 10.Qh5+ Kf8 11.f4 Nd3 12.f5 Nf6 13.Qf3 Ne5 14.Qe2 c5 15.Ne6+ Bxe6 16.fxe6 cxb4+ 17.Kh1 bxc3 18.Nxc3 Qe7 19.Nd5 Qxe6 20.Nxf6 gxf6 21.Ba3 Rg8 22.Rad1 Rd8 23.Qh5 Ng4 24.h3 Rg5 25.Qxg5 hxg5 26.hxg4 Qxe4 27.Rxf6+ Ke7 28.Rff1 Qxg4 29.Rde1+ Kd7 30.Rf7+ Kc8 31.Rc1+ Kb8 32.Rf6 Qh4 checkmate, majorminor - arkascha, FICS 2005

6...Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ke6


8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4 Ne7 Black is surprised, and makes a poor response.

An interesting alternative: 9...Nd3+ 10.Ke2 Nxc1+ 11.Rxc1 Qg5 12.Qxc5+ Qxc5 13.dxc5+ Kxc5 14.b4+ Kb6 15.a4 a5 16.bxa5+ Rxa5 17.Na3 Ka6 18.Nb5 c6 19.c4 Ne7 20.Rcb1 cxb5 21.axb5+ Kb6 22.c5+ Kxc5 23.Rxa5 b6 24.Ra8 Rf8 25.f3 d5 26.exd5 Kxd5 27.Rb8 Rf6 28.Kf2 Bf5 29.Rc1 Ng6 30.Rb7 Nf4 31.Rd1+ Kc4 32.Rxg7 Bd3 33.g3 Bc2 34.Rc7+ Kxb5 35.Rxc2 Ne6 36.Rd6 Kb4 37.Rb2+ Black resigned, kaboes - musix, Gameknot, 2007

10.dxc5+


This move leads to a winning advantage for White, but next time I am sure that Ghandy will take the simpler 10.Qxe5+ Kc6 11.Qxc5#.

10...Kxc5 11.Qxe5+ Kc6
White is up a pawn, but, more importantly, Black's King is not safe.

12.Be3 d6 13.Qd4 Bg4 14.Qa4+ b5 15.Qa6+ Kd7 16.Qxb5+ c6 17.Qd3

Black has some open lines (that he has purchased with his pawns) which he can place his Rooks on, but they are not adequate compensation.

17...d5 18.f3 Bh5 19.Na3 Kc7 20.Qa6 dxe4 21.Rd1 Qb8 22.Nc4


White's position is so overwhelming, he even had Bf4 on this move or the next. Instead, he captures more of Black's army, and that works just fine.
22...exf3 23.Qa5+ Kc8 24.Nd6+ Kd7 25.Nf7+ Ke8 26.Nxh8 fxg2 27.Qxh5+


Now Black has some hope of hanging on a bit longer with 27...g6, but decides instead to end it all quickly.

27...Kf8 28.Qf7 checkmate

Beware: The Sneak!

Black's biggest dangers in playing against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) are overconfidence, a dismissive attitude and inattention. If any of these plague the second player in the early moves of the game, an otherwise blatant maneuver called The Sneak might arise.

In its starkest form, The Sneak looks like this:

I know what you're thinking: nobody would fall for that, letting the Bishop get trapped.

It is true, not everybody does fall for it. Here are some warnings, though:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3

2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.d3 Nc6 5.c3 Bc5 6.a4 d6 7.Nf3 Ng4 8.0-0 Rf8 9.b4 Bxf2+ 10.Rxf2 Nxf2 11.Kxf2, Viejoasquerosos - BigJase, redhotpawn, 2006 (1-0, 40)

2...Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7

4...Kf8 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.c3 Qf6 7.d3 d6 8.a4 Ke8 9.Bg5 Qg6 10.h4 h6 11.h5 Qe6 12.Bd2 Bd7 13.b4 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2, SIRMO - AAlekhine, chessworld, 2007 (1-0, 47)

5.d3

5.c3 d6 ( 5...Nf6 6.d3 h6 7.0-0 g5 8.Qb3+ Ke8 9.Kh1 g4 10.Ng1 h5 11.Bg5 Rh7 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qg8+ Qf8 14.Qxh7 g3 15.Qg6+ Qf7 16.Qxg3 d6 17.a4 Be6 18.b4 Nxb4 19.cxb4 Bxb4 Piratepaul - DREWBEAR 63, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 26)) 6.d3 Nf6 ( 6...Bg4 7.Ng5+ Kf8 8.Qxg4 Qe7 9.Ne6+ Ke8 10.Nxg7+ Kf7 11.Nf5 Qf6 12.Bg5 Qe6 13.a4 Nf6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.b4 Bb6 16.a5 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2, Piratepaul - metalwarrior1969, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 36)) 7.Bg5 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.g4 Bg6 10.Nbd2 h6 11.Bh4 Qd7 12.a4 h5 13.b4 Bxf2+ 14.Bxf2, Piratepaul - blackburne, chessworld, 2008 (0-1, 22);

5.0-0 Nf6 6.d3 Rf8 7.Nc3 Kg8 8.Ne2 d6 9.a4 Be6 10.c3 h6 11.b4 Bxf2+ 12.Rxf2 Ng4 13.Rf1 Black Puma - Sir Osis of the Liver, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0,35)

5...Nf6

[ 5...h6 6.c3 ( 6.0-0 g5 7.h3 Nf6 8.a4 d6 9.c3 g4 10.hxg4 Bxg4 11.b4 Bxf2+ 12.Rxf2 Black Puma - DREWBEAR 63, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 21)) 6...d6 7.0-0 ( 7.a4 Bg4 ( 7...Qf6 8.b4 Bxf2+ 9.Kxf2, SIRMO - Ratscales, chessworld, 2008 (1-0, 36)) 8.b4 Bxf3 9.Qxf3+ Qf6 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 11.bxc5 dxc5, braken - willitfw, chessworld, 2008 (1-0, 51)) 7...Nf6 8.a4 Na5 ( 8...Bg4 9.b4 Nxb4 ( 9...Bxb4 10.cxb4, Piratepaul - calchess10, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (1-0, 44)) 10.cxb4 Bd4 11.Ra2 a6 ( 11...Nh5 Piratepaul - TWODOGS, JGTourney4, ChessWorld 2009 (1-0, 32)) 12.Nbd2 Nh5, Piratepaul - eddie43, chessworld, 2008 (0-1, 56)) 9.b4 Bb6 10.bxa5 Bxa5, braken - eddie43, chessworld, 2008 (1-0, 23)

6.Bg5

6.a4 Rf8 7.c3 d6 8.0-0 Kg8 9.Ng5 ( 9.b4 Nxb4 10.cxb4 Bxb4 11.Qb3+ Kh8 12.Qxb4 0-1 Black Puma - stampyshortlegs, JGTourney4, ChessWorld, 2009 (0-1, 24)) 9...Bg4 10.Qe1 Nh5 11.h3 Bxh3 12.Nxh3 Ng3 13.b4 Nxb4 14.cxb4 Bd4 15.Ra2 Nxf1 16.Kxf1, SIRMO - manago, chessworld, 2008 (1-0, 18)

6...Rf8 7.0-0 Kg8 8.c3 Qe8 9.Kh1 d6 10.a4 Bg4 11.b4 Qh5 12.Bd2 d5 13.bxc5 dxe4 14.dxe4 Nxe4 Piratepaul - delboy138, chessworld, 2008 (1-0,17)

A Closer Look (Part IV)

Until improvements come along in the "modern" lines of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) I'm going to stick with the classical 5.Nxe5+, even it it's a "fish-y" move -- at least it's a fish with attitude.


Here are some more games from the recently completed Ninja Knights T3 Jerome Gambit thematic tournament at ChessWorld (see "A Closer Look (Part I)", "A Closer Look (Part II)" and "A Closer Look (Part III)").

First, a couple of quickies:

braken - queen st, www.chessworld.net 2008: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+ 7.c3 Be7 8.dxe5 b6 9.Qf3+ Ke8 10.0-0 g5 11.Rd1 Bb7 12.e6 d6 13.Qf7

mediax - willitfw, www.chessworld.net 2008: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.c3 Nd3+ 8.Ke2 Nf4+ White resigned

Ouch.

Next, Black plays a 6th move TN/TL which seems to confuse White, who has an even game afterwards, but whose game goes quickly downhill nonetheless:

braken - delboy138, www.chessworld.net 2008: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Nd3+ 7.Qxd3 Be7 8.d5 d6 9.Bf4 Nf6 10.Nd2 Rf8 11.Nf3 Kg8 12.Ng5 Nh5 13.Nxh7 Nxf4 14.Qg3 Kxh7 15.h4 Nh5 16.Qh2 Bf6 17.0-0-0 Be5 18.g3 c5 19.f4 Nxf4 20.h5 Bg4 21.gxf4 Bxf4+ White resigned


Here, the tournament winner returns material in a manner that gives White a small but solid plus -- but then hangs on until the Rooks and pawns endgame, where he outplays his opponent.

mediax - Carlos Azcarate, www.chessworld.net 2008: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.d3 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Rf1 Ke8 13.Bh6 Nf6 14.Bg7 Ng4+ 15.Kg1 Rg8 16.Re1+ Kf7 17.Bd4 Rd8 18.Rf1+ Bf5 19.h3 Rxd4 20.hxg4 Rxg4 21.Nc3 c6 22.Rae1 b5 23.Ne4 Kg7 24.Nd6 Rg5 25.Nxf5+ gxf5 26.Re6 Rg6 27.Re5 Rf8 28.Re7+ Kh8 29.Rxa7 f4 30.Rf3 h5 31.Re7 Rfg8 32.Re2 Rg4 33.Kh2 R8g5 34.c4 Kg7 35.b3 Kf6 36.Re4 Rxg2+ 37.Kh3 R2g3+ 38.Rxg3 Rxg3+ 39.Kh2 Rxd3 40.Rxf4+ Kg5 41.Rf2 Kg4 42.Rg2+ Kf4 43.cxb5 cxb5 44.Kg1 b4 45.Rf2+ Rf3 46.Kg2 Rxf2+ 47.Kxf2 Ke4 48.Ke2 Kd4 49.Kd2 h4 50.Ke2 Kc3 White resigned

Next White, the main champion of the "classical Jerome Gambit" in this tournament, comes out of the opening with the advantage and builds on it -- until his unfortunate 23rd move gives the game away.

mediax - queen st, www.chessworld.net 2008: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qc3 Qg5 9.0-0 Nf6 10.d4 Qg6 11.dxc5 Nxe4 12.Qf3+ Bf5 13.cxd6 Nxd6 14.h3 Kf7 15.Qb3+ Be6 16.Qc3 c6 17.Bf4 Ne4 18.Qf3 Rad8 19.Bc7+ Bf5 20.Bxd8 Rxd8 21.Qb3+ Kf8 22.f3 Ng3 23.Rf2 Rd1+ 24.Kh2 Rh1checkmate

Finally, a rock-em, sock'em battle.

mediax - braken, www.chessworld.net 2008: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qe3 Nf6 9.d4 Re8 10.f3 Bf5 11.0-0 Nh5 12.Qb3+ Be6 13.d5 Bc8 14.Nc3 Kg8 15.h3 Nhf4 16.Bxf4 Nxf4 17.Rf2 Bxh3 18.gxh3 Nxh3+ 19.Kf1 Nxf2 20.Kxf2 Qh4+ 21.Ke3 Rf8 22.Ne2 Qh3 23.Ng1 Qh1 24.Qc4 Rxf3+ 25.Nxf3 Qxa1 26.Qxc7 Qxb2 27.Qxd6 Qb6+ 28.Qxb6 axb6 29.Ng5 Rxa2 30.c4 Ra5 31.Kd4 b5 32.cxb5 Rxb5 33.Ne6 Rb6 34.Kc5 Rxe6 35.dxe6 Kf8 36.Kd6 Ke8 37.e5 h5 White resigned


graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

A Closer Look (Part III)

Here are some more interesting and enjoyable games to play over from the recently completed Ninja Knights T3 Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) thematic tournament at ChessWorld (see "A Closer Look (Part I)" and "A Closer Look (Part II)").

Although the "modern" Jerome Gambit with 5.0-0 (instead of 5.Nxe5; see "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter IV") risks less, it also gives White less for his sacrifice, and he must rely on development and attack against the enemy King in order to bring home the point.

The following game has an amusing mate at the end.


drewbear - braken, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5.0-0 Nh6 6.d3 Ng4 7.h3 Bxf2+ 8.Rxf2 Nxf2 9.Kxf2 Qf6 10.Nc3 Nd4 11.Nd5 Qd6 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.Qf3+ Ke8 14.e5 Qc5 15.Kg1 c6 16.Nc7+ Kd8 17.Nxa8 Rf8 18.Bg5+ Ke8 19.Nc7 checkmate


Sometimes White just doesn't have enough:

casker - mediax, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5.0-0 Nf6 6.d3 Rf8 7.Nc3 h6 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Kg8 10.d4 d6 11.d5 Ne7 12.Ne2 c5 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b4 Nxe4 15.c3 Ba6 16.Re1 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Nxc3 18.Qc4+ Ncd5 19.e4 Rc8 20.exd5 cxd5 21.Qb3 Kh8 22.a4 d4 23.b5 Rc3 24.Qb4 Nd5 25.Qb1 Rcxf3 26.gxf3 Qg5+ 27.Kf2 Qh4+ 28.Kg2 Nf4+ 29.Kf1 Qh3+ White resigns

By far the most popular line in the tournament was the "modern" 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 (see "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter V" and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter VI").

Combining 5.d3 with c2-c3 and b2-b4 was seen a number of times, including in the following game:

casker - drewbear, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5.d3 Nf6 6.c3 b5 7.0-0 h6 8.Na3 g5 9.b4 Bd6 10.Qb3+ Kg7 11.Nxb5 a6 12.Na3 g4 13.Nh4 Ne7 14.Nc4 Ne8 15.g3 Ng6 16.Nf5+ Kh7 17.Ncxd6 cxd6 18.Qf7+ Black resigned

Sometimes White simply out-played his opponent:

drewbear - queen st, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5.d3 d6 6.0-0 Nf6 7.Bg5 Qe7 8.Nc3 Re8 9.Nd5 Qe6 10.Nxc7 Qd7 11.Nxa8 b5 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nh4 Bb7 14.Nf5 Bxa8 15.Qh5+ Kf8 16.Qh6+ Kg8 17.Qxf6 h5 18.Qg6+ Kf8 19.Qxh5 Ne7 20.Qh6+ Kf7 21.Nxe7 Kxe7 22.Qh7+ Kd8 23.Qxd7+ Kxd7 24.Kh1 b4 25.c3 Rb8 26.c4 Bd4 27.Rab1 Rg8 28.f3 Kc6 29.a3 Bc5 30.axb4 Bxb4 31.Ra1 Kb7 32.Ra4 Bc5 33.b4 Bd4 34.b5 Kb8 35.Ra6 Bc5 36.g4 Bb7 37.Ra2 Rh8 38.Kg2 Kc7 39.Kg3 Kd7 40.h4 Ke6 41.g5 Bc8 42.Rh1 Kf7 43.h5 Be3 44.g6+ Kg7 45.Re2 Bf4+ 46.Kh4 Bb7 47.Ra1 Ra8 48.Rd1 a6 49.b6 a5 50.d4 Ba6 51.Rc2 Rb8 52.c5 exd4 53.Rxd4 dxc5 54.Rxc5 Be3 55.Rd7+ Kh6 56.Rh7 checkmate

Sometimes when White didn't outplay his opponent, the "clock" proved helpful:

drewbear - willitfw, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5.d3 d6 6.0-0 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3+ Nf6 9.g4 d5 10.g5 dxe4 11.dxe4 Nd4 12.Qc3 Ne2+ 13.Kg2 Black lost on time.

Even the idea of a "delayed classical Jerome Gambit" popped up:

mediax - casker, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5.d3 h6 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ke6 8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.Bf4 Qf6 10.c3 Qxf5 11.Bxe5+ Qxe5 12.Nd2 Ke7 13.0-0 Qg5 14.Nf3 Qg6 15.d4 Bb6 16.Nh4 Qh7 17.f4 Kd8 18.f5 Nf6 19.e5 Nd5 20.Rad1 Ne3 21.Ng6 Nxd1 22.Rxd1 Re8 23.b4 d5 24.c4 dxc4 25.Kh1 Bxf5 26.Nf4 Bd3 27.e6 Qf5 28.g3 Qe4+ 29.Ng2 White resigned

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

A Closer Look (Part II)

The recently completed Ninja Knights T3 Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) thematic tournament at ChessWorld – won by Carlos Azcarate – has many interesting and enjoyable games to play over (see "A Closer Look (Part I)").

A number of players followed up 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 in the "modern Jerome Gambit" fashion with 5.c3 (for a discussion of this move, see "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XII").


Piratepaul - drewbear, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5...Nf6 6.Ng5+ Kg8 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bxd4 9.Qb3+ d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.0-0 h6 12.Ne4 b6 13.Nbd2 Kh7 14.Nf3 Be6 15.Qc2 g6 16.Qxc6 Bf5 17.Ng3 Bd3 White lost on time;

delboy138 - Carlos Azcarate, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5...Nf6 6.Qb3+ Ke8 7.Ng5 Qe7 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 b6 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.fxe3 Ng4 12.Qd5 Qxg5 13.Qxc6+ Bd7 14.Qxa8+ Ke7 15.Qxh8 Qxe3+ 16.Kh1 Nf2+ 17.Rxf2 Qe1+ White resigned

casker - delboy138, www.chessworld.ne 2008: 5...Nf6 6.0-0 Rf8 7.Qb3+ d5 8.d3 Kg8 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nbd2 Kh8 11.Ne4 Bd6 12.Qxd5 Bf5 13.Neg5 Bg6 14.Nh4 Be7 15.Nxg6+ hxg6 16.Nf7+ Rxf7 17.Qxf7 Qd6 18.Be3 Rf8 19.Qc4 Qf6 20.Rae1 b6 21.h4 Bd6 22.Qxc6 Qxh4 23.g3 Qg4 24.Qh1+ Kg8 25.f3 Qe6 26.b3 Qd5 27.f4 Qxd3 28.fxe5 Bxe5 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Qh8+ Ke7 31.Bg5+ Kd7 32.Qd8+ Black resigned;


queen st - drewbear, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5...Qf6 6.0-0 h5 7.b4 Bb6 8.c4 Nxb4 9.Qb3 a5 10.c5+ Kg6 11.cxb6 cxb6 12.a3 Nc6 13.Bb2 d6 14.d3 Ra6 15.Bc1 Be6 16.Qd1 Bg4 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qxf3 19.gxf3 Nd4 20.Nd2 Kh7 21.Kh1 Ne7 22.Nc4 Nxf3 23.Nxd6 Ng6 24.Kg2 Ngh4+ 25.Kg3 b5 26.Nxb7 Rg6+ White resigned;


casker - braken, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5...Nf6 6.d3 Rf8 7.Qb3+ d5 8.Ng5+ Kg8 9.0-0 Kh8 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.fxe3 Nxe4 12.Nf7+ Rxf7 13.Rxf7 Be6 14.Rf1 Nc5 15.Qd1 Qg5 16.Qf3 Nxd3 17.g3 Nxb2 18.Na3 e4 19.Qf2 Nd3 20.Qe2 Nce5 21.Nb5 Bh3 22.Rf4 Nxf4 23.exf4 Nf3+ 24.Kf2 Qe7 25.Nd4 Nxh2 26.Kg1 Ng4 27.Qb5 e3 28.Qxd5 e2 29.Ne6 Re8 30.f5 Qg5 31.Qe4 Qe3+ 32.Qxe3 Nxe3 33.Kf2 Nc2 34.Rc1 e1Q+ 35.Rxe1 Nxe1 36.Kxe1 Bxf5 37.Kd1 Bxe6 White resigned

The majority of the games continued after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 with either the "modern" 5.d3 or 5.0-0, or the classical 5.Nxe5, each which requires a separate "closer look".

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

A Closer Look (Part I)

The recently completed Ninja Knights T3 Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) thematic tournament at ChessWorld – won by Carlos Azcarate – showed White scoring 65.5 points out of 156 games, for 42%, a figure consistent with that of other recent Jerome Gambit tournaments.

It is a tribute to the fighting nature of the players that there was only 1 draw in the whole tournament -- which amounts to about 6/10th of 1% of the games.

An overwhelming 92% of the games featured the "modern Jerome Gambit" – 5th move alternatives to the traditional 5.Nxe5+.

Three defenders declined the Bishop sacrifice (not recommended!) – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ – with 4...Kf8, and two of them "got away with it": 5.Bb3

5.Bc4 Nf6 6.d3 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 b6 Black claimed a win on time. 0–1 TJay2465 - yorkypuddn, www.ChessWorld.net 2008;

5.d3 Kxf7 6.c3 Nf6 7.Ng5+ Ke7 8.Qb3 Ng4 9.d4 exd4 10.Qf7+ Kd6 11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.Nf7 Nb4 13.cxb4 Bxb4+ 14.Bd2 Nf6 15.Bxb4+ d6 16.Nxd8 Nxd5 17.Bd2 Rxd8 18.exd5 b6 Black claimed a win on time, eddie43 - yorkypuddn, www.ChessWorld.net 2008

5...Nge7 6.Ng5 Nd4 7.Nf7 Qe8 8.Nxh8 d6 9.Bf7 Qb5 10.d3 Qb4+ 11.c3 Qa5 12.b4 Qb5 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.cxd4 Qb4+ 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ 16.Bxd2 Bg4 17.dxe5 g6 18.Bh6 checkmate, drewbear - yorkypuddn, www.ChessWorld.net 2008

Three times White proceeded 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 successfully, with two wins on time (willitfw - TJay2465; Piratepaul - jemasc) and a third one "for real": willitfw - queen st, www.ChessWorld.net 2008 5...exd4 6.Ng5+ Ke7 7.Nf3 d6 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.Bxf6+ gxf6 10.a3 Be6 11.b4 Bb6 12.c3 dxc3 13.Nxc3 Qg8 14.0-0 Bh3 15.Nh4 Ne5 16.Nd5+ Kf7 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Qh5+ Ke7 19.Nf5+ Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Qg7 21.f4 Nd3 22.e5 dxe5 23.Qxd3 Rhg8 24.fxe5 fxe5 25.Rae1 Rgd8 26.Qb5 Rd6 27.Rxe5+ Kd8 28.Re8 checkmate

The exotic choices 5.a3 and 5.b3 also scored with the clock, although the latter saw a couple of games through to conclusion:

queen st - Piratepaul,www.ChessWorld.net, 2008: 5.b3 h6 6.Bb2 d6 7.0-0 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Na3 a6 10.d4 exd4 11.g4 Bg6 12.Re1 Nf6 13.Nc4 Rf8 14.Bxd4 Kg8 15.e5 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Rb1 Bxe5 18.Qe2 Re8 19.Rbd1 Bh2+ 20.Kxh2 Rxe2 21.Rxe2 Kh7 22.f4 Bf7 23.h4 Nxg4+ 24.Kg3 Bh5 25.Re6 Qd7 26.Rde1 Nf6 27.Na5 c5 28.Re7 Qg4+ 29.Kh2 Qxf4+ 30.Kh1 Bf3+ 31.Kg1 Qg3+ White resigned

braken - yorkypuddn, www.chessworld.net 2008: 5.b3 d6 6.Bb2 Nd4 7.c3 Nxf3+ 8.Qxf3+ Nf6 9.d4 exd4 10.cxd4 Bb4+ 11.Nc3 Rf8 12.e5 dxe5 13.dxe5 Bg4 14.Qf4 Kg8 15.Qxb4 Nd5 16.Qxb7 Nxc3 17.0-0 Ne2+ 18.Kh1 Rb8 19.Qe4 Qh4 20.Qd5+ Kh8 21.e6 Rxf2 22.Qe5 Rg8 23.e7 Bd7 24.Rad1 Bb5 25.Qxg7+ Rxg7 26.Rd8+ Rf8 27.Rdxf8 checkmate

The in-your-face 5.Ng5+ was championed by tournament winner Carlos Azcarate (see "Carlos Azcarate Topping Ninja Knights T3") to the tune of one win and four losses

Carlos Azcarate - Piratepaul, www.ChessWorld.net 2008: 5...Qxg5 6.d4 Qxg2 7.Rf1 Qxe4+ White resigned;

Carlos Azcarate - eddie43, www.ChessWorld.net 2008: 5...Qxg5 6.d4 Qxg2 7.dxc5 Qxh1+ 8.Ke2 Qxe4+ White resigned;

Carlos Azcarate - casker, www.ChessWorld.net 2008: 5...Qxg5 6.0-0 b6 7.Qf3+ Nf6 8.d4 Nxd4 9.Bxg5 Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Nh5 11.Nc3 h6 12.Bd2 Rf8 13.Nd5 Bd6 14.c4 Ba6 15.b3 Kg8 16.Kh1 Rxf3 17.Ne3 Bb7 18.Nf5 Bxe4 19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.Kg1 Rf5 21.Rae1 Bb7 22.h4 g5 23.hxg5 hxg5 24.Bb4 Kf7 25.Bxd6 Ke6 26.Rd1 Nf4 27.Kh2 Rh8+ White resigned;

Carlos Azcarate - drewbear, www.ChessWorld.net 2008: 5...Kf8 6.Qf3+ Qf6 7.Qxf6+ Nxf6 8.0-0 h6 9.Nf3 Nxe4 10.d3 Nxf2 11.Nh4 Ke8 12.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13.Kxf2 Rf8+ 14.Kg1 Nd4 15.Nc3 Nxc2 16.Nd5 Kd8 17.Rb1 c6 18.Ng6 Rf5 19.Nde7 Rf6 20.Bd2 Nd4 21.b4 d5 22.Re1 Bf5 23.Nxf5 Nxf5 24.Nxe5 g5 25.Nf3 Kc7 26.a4 b5 27.a5 g4 28.Ne5 g3 29.Nf3 Rg8 30.Bc3 Rfg6 31.Ne5 gxh2+ 32.Kh1 Rxg2 33.Nf3 d4 34.Re7+ Nxe7 35.Bxd4 Nf5 36.Be5+ Kb7 37.Bxh2 Ne3 38.Bd6 Rd8 39.Bc5 Rxd3 40.Ne1 Rd1 White resigned;

Carlos Azcarate - queen st, www.ChessWorld.net 2008: 5...Ke8 6.Nf3 Qf6 7.c3 d6 8.0-0 Bg4 9.b4 Bb6 10.Bb2 Qg6 11.d3 Bh3 12.Nh4 Bg4 13.Nxg6 Bxd1 14.Nxh8 Bc2 15.b5 Na5 16.d4 Nc4 17.Ba3 Ba5 18.Bc1 Bxe4 19.Nd2 Bxc3 20.Nxe4 Bxa1 21.Ng5 Nh6 22.Ne6 Kd7 23.Bxh6 gxh6 24.Rxa1 Kxe6 25.a4 Rxh8 26.Rc1 Nb6 27.Rxc7 exd4 28.a5 Na4 29.Kf1 Rb8 30.Rxh7 d3 31.Rxh6+ Kd5 32.Ke1 Nc3 33.Rh5+ Kc4 34.b6 Re8+ 35.Kf1 Re2 36.Rh4+ Kb5 37.Rd4 Rd2 38.g4 Kxa5 39.bxa7 Kb6 40.a8Q Nb5 41.Qd8+ Kc5 42.Qg5+ Kb6 43.Qxd2 Nxd4 44.Qxd3 Nb5 45.h4 Black resigned

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

Carlos Azcarate Wins Tourney

As predicted (see "Carlos Azcarate Topping Ninja Knights T3") Carlos Azcarate took first place in the 13-player, double round robin Ninja Knights T3 (Jerome Gambit) tournament at ChessWorld scoring 79% – 19 wins out of 24 games.

He was followed closely by casker with 18.5 points, braken with 18 points and drewbear with 17.5 points. Next came Piratepaul with and delboy138 each with 16 points, although Piratepaul's score (2-0) in their individual encounters would seem to put him ahead on tie-breaks.

I am hoping to be able to bring you the best and most interesting games played in the tournament over the next few weeks.

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"