The Jerome Gambit Treatment - Unbelieveable! (Addendum)

I was pleased to see that The Database contained more than a few games with the attacking (against the Semi-Italian / Philidor Defense) move 6.Bxf7+ mentioned by Max Euwe and Walter Meiden in their 1963 book Chess Master vs Chess Amateur, and covered in the previous post (see "The Jerome Gambit Treatment - Unbelieveable!"). 

When we look a bit further, at 6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Kf6 - the line with Black's best defense - it is reassuring to find two games with Euwe and Meiden's recommended 8.Nd3.

It is interesting that in the first of those games Black performed the prudent retreat of his King to h7 (an idea mentioned in the previous post); and then, from a better position, he benefitted from an oversight by White to score the point. 

fmarius - bougie
standard, FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 d6 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Nxe5+ Kf6 8.Nd3 Nge7 9.Qf3+ Kg6 10.Nf4+ Kh7 11.0-0 Ne5 12.Qh5 Qd6 13.Rd1 g6 14.Qh4 Qxd1 checkmate

In the second game, clearly the clock played a factor in the blitz game, as both players tossed the advantage (for White, various checkmates) back and forth before splitting the point, as the notes show.

itscml - laudenor
blitz, FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.d4 d6 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Kf6 8.Nd3 Ne5 9.0-0 Nxd3 10.cxd3 Kf7 11.Nc3 c6 12.f4 Bc5+ 13.Kh1 Ne7 14.Qf3 [14.Qh5+ g6 15.Qxc5 Qxd3 White is better] 14...Kg8 15.f5 Bd4 16.Ne2 c5 17.Bf4 Qf8 18.e5 Nxf5 19.Ng3 Be6 20.Bg5 Nxg3+ 21.Qxg3 Bf7 22.e6 hxg5 23.exf7+ Kh7 24.Qh3+ Kg6 25.Qf3 [25.Qf5+ Kh6 26.Qh3+ , etc.,  draw] 25...Rh6 26.Qe4+ [26.Qf5+ Kh5 27.Rf3 Bf2 28.Rh3+ Bh4 29.g4#] 26...Kh5 27.g4+ Kh4 28.Qe1+ [28.Qg2 Bf2 29.Rxf2 Qd6 30.Rf3 Qxh2+ 31.Kxh2 Rf8 32.Qh3#] 28...Kxg4 29.Qg3+ Kh5 30.Rg1 [30.Qh3+ Kg6 31.Qf5+ Kh5 32.Rf3 Bf2 33.Rh3+ Bh4 34.Rg1 Rg6 35.Rxh4+ Kxh4 36.Qg4#] 30...Bf6 31.Qg4+ Kg6 32.Qe4+ Kh5 [32...Kxf7 and Black is better] 33.Qg4+ [33.Rg3 Qc8 34.f8Q g4 35.Qxc8 Rg6 36.Qcf5+ Kh4 37.Qfxg4+ Rxg4 38.Qxg4#] 33...Kg6 34.Qe4+ Kh5 [34...Kxf7 and Black is better] 35.Qg4+ [35.Rg3 mates, as above] 35...Kg6 36.Qe4+ Game drawn by repetition

There are also 3 games in The Database with Stockfish 6's choice, and perhaps the best move, 8.Qf3+!? Alas, none of the attackers were able to discover the recommended 8...Kxe5 9.Qf7!? and although they fought the good fight, only the experienced drumme (457 games in The Database) was able to score - and that was a time forfeit win from a worse position.

drumme - tufng
blitz, FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.d4 d6 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Kf6 8.Qf3+ Kxe5 9.Bf4+ Ke6 10.Qg4+ Ke7 11.Qh4+ Ke8 12.Qh5+ Kd7 13.Nc3 Nf6 14.0-0-0+ Bd6 15.Qf7+ Qe7 16.Qg6 Ne5 17.Bxe5 Re8 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Qg4+ Kd8 20.Rxd6+ cxd6 21.Qe2 Black forfeited on time


jorgemlfranco  - shno
blitz, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 h6 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 d6 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Nxe5+ Kf6 8.Qf3+ Kxe5 9.Bf4+ Ke6 10.Qb3+ Ke7 11.Qa3+ Kf7 12.Qb3+ Kg6 13.Qg3+ Kh7 14.Bxc7 Qg5 15.Bf4 Qa5+ 16.c3 Nf6 17.0-0 g5 18.Bd2 Nxe4 19.Qe3 Bf5 20.c4 Qc5 21.Qc3 Nxc3 22.Nxc3 Bg7 23.Nd5 Rhd8 24.Be3 Qxc4 25.Nc7 Ne5 26.Rab1 Qxc7 White resigned


rabjr - DRES
standard, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 d6 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Nxe5+ Kf6 8.Qf3+ Kxe5 9.Qf4+ Ke6 10.0-0 Qf6 11.Qd2 Qd4 12.Qe2 Nf6 13.Be3 Qxe4 14.Nc3 Qg6 15.Bc5+ Kf7 16.Qg4 Qxg4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.f3 Bxc5+ 19.Kh1 Qd4 20.Rad1 Qc4 21.b3 Qb5 22.Rxd5 Qxf1 checkmate

A Trip to the Dark Side

When I'm in a Jerome Gambit mood at FICS I want to play White, so I take my turns with Black at a quicker time control like 3 0 – probably too fast for me – to get back to a chance for my favorite opening as soon as possible.

In the following game, however, I noticed that my opponent was fmarius, who I recall has a gazillion games in the updated New Years Database (okay, about 130), so I decided to see if he wanted to play the Jerome against me.

fmarius - perrypawnpusher
blitz 3 0, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4

That's right, he also likes to go into the Jerome out of the Italian-Gambit-turned-Scotch-Gambit (as well as the regular Jerome Gambit move order)...

Yes, he'll also play 4.Bxf7+ against your Blackburne Shilling Gambit, too.

In fact, he'll play it against the Semi-Italian Opening, not even waiting for ...Bc5.

4...exd4 5.c3 dxc3 6.Bxf7+

6...Kxf7 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5

Oddly, Fritz8 recommends the intermediary 8.Qh5+, seeing the position after 8...g6 9.Qxc5 cxb2 10.Bxb2 as even. I am sure that fmarius would have been thrilled with that position, though, with the white pieces.

8...d6

I had no interest in 8...cxb2 9.Bxb2 Nf6 10.0-0 d6

9.Qxc3 Nf6 10.0-0 Bg4

White has an edge here, but I noticed that my opponent was going through his time even faster than I was. I figured that if I gave him a few more things to think about, that problem might only get worse. 

11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.e5 dxe5

I think he was expecting ...Nxe5, so this elicited more thought.

14.Nbd2 Rd8 15.Rae1 Kd7

Queenside castling-by-hand. Probably not best, but safest; and something to do as the clocks tick.

16.Nxe5+ Nxe5

17.Qd4+

Time pressure slip. Instead, 17.Rxe5 kept White's edge.

17...Kc8 18.Rxe5 Rxd4

In lost position, White forfeited on time

White was better most of the game. I am not sure that I am ready to face fmarius and his Jerome repertoire at a slower time control

Starting Over

This is my first post-break game (see "Busted!"), and except for a missed shot on move 16, it looks like the rest has helped my game. Time will tell.

 perrypawnpusher  - ozypawnstar
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+

Oddly, the online FICS games database has yeabro- ozypawnstar, FICS, 2010, which continued 5.Ng5+ Qxg5 listed as a win for White...

5...Ke6

Taking up the challenge.

Previously ozypawnstar played 5...Ke8: 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qg4 Nf6 8.Qf4 Nxc2+ 9.Ke2 Nxa1 10.Nc3 Bd6 11.Nd5 Bxe5 12.Qxe5+ Kf7 13.Nxf6 Qxf6 14.Qxc7 Re8 15.d3 Kg8 16.Qc4+ Kg7 17.Be3 d6 18.d4 Rxe4 19.Rxa1 Be6 20.Qc7+ Kh8 21.Qxb7 Rf8 22.Qxe4 Bc4+ 23.Ke1 d5 24.Qc2 a6 25.b3 Bb5 26.a4 Bd7 27.b4 Qh4 28.h3 Re8 29.b5 Qxd4 30.Rd1 Qb4+ 31.Kf1 axb5 32.Rxd5 Rc8 33.Bd4+ Kg8 34.Qd2 Qc4+ 35.Kg1 Qxd5 36.axb5 Bxb5 37.Qh6 Qxd4 38.g3 Bc6 White resiged, GuyEtienne - ozypawnstar, FICS, 2008.

6.c3

Best.

My opponent has also faced: 6.Qh5 Nf6 7.Nf7 Qe7 8.Qh3+ Kxf7 9.0-0 Nxc2 10.Qb3+ Qe6 11.Qxc2 Qxe4 12.Qxc7 Qc6 13.Qf4 Bd6 14.Qd4 b6 15.Nc3 Bb7 16.f3 Rhe8 17.d3 Be5 18.Qh4 Kg8 19.Bg5 a6 20.Rac1 Bd4+ 21.Kh1 h6 22.Ne2 Qd6 23.Bf4 Qe6 24.Nxd4 Qxa2 25.Nf5 Qxb2 26.Nd6 Re2 27.Nxb7 Rxg2 28.Be5 Qxe5 29.Kxg2 Re8 30.Rce1 Qb2+ 31.Kg1 Rf8 32.Qc4+ Kh8 33.Nd6 b5 34.Nf7+ Kh7 35.Ng5+ hxg5 36.Qc5 Rg8 37.Qxg5 Rf8 38.Kh1 Qd4 39.Rg1 Rf7 40.Rg3 Qxd3 41.Rh3+ Kg8 42.Qh4 Qf5 43.Qh8 checkmate, fmarius - ozypawnstar, FICS, 2010.

6...d6

Varying from the main line, which features a King's walk and which did not serve him well in the past: 6...Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Kxe4 8.0-0 Kxd4 9.d3 d5 10.Qh5 Nf6 11.Be3+ Kxd3 12.Rd1+ Kc2 13.Na3+ Bxa3 14.Rac1+ Kxb2 15.Qe5+ Kxa2 16.Rd2+ Kb3 17.Qc3+ Ka4 18.Rd4+ Kb5 19.Rb1+ Bb4 20.Rdxb4+ Ka5 21.Qa3 checkmate, icefive - ozypawnstar, FICS, 2009.

7.cxd4 dxe5 8.d5+

I used up a third of my thinking time on this move, only to learn after the game that Rybka preferred 8.dxe5, which I had rejected because of the cramping response 8...Qd3.

My goal in this (and later) games was to use more time on early critical positions than I usually allowed myself, with the hope that finding the right move or plan would shorten the game (with a win) and the time wouldn't be needed later. So even though I didn't find the "best" move, what I understood about the position was helpful and worth the time.

8...Kd6

The King was safer on f7.

9.d4

Open the center, develop pieces.

9...Qf6

Black reverses moves. He should have played 9...exd4 10.Qxd4 Qf6, although White would still be better.

10.dxe5+

Missing the great move 10.f4 (I had a similar plan in mind), which  floods the center with "Jerome pawns." Then 10...Ke7 11.dxe5 looks very uncomfortable for Black.

10...Qxe5 11.Nc3 Nf6 12.f4 Qe8

13.e5+ Kd7 14.0-0 Ng8

15.Be3

I was very happy with this patient move. It was not time to fling pawns further forward.

15...Bb4

This should cost a piece.

16.Qd4

Leading to an advantage, but 16.Qa4+ probably would have lead to my opponent's resignation. (Note to self: once you find a good move, sit on your hands...etc.)

16...Bxc3 17.bxc3 Ne7

18.e6+ Kd8 19.f5 Qb5 20.c4 Qb4 21.f6

This works, but 21.Qxg7 was better, as after 21...Rg8 22.Qf7 the White f-pawn advances with greater impact.

21...Nxd5

An oversight. I think my opponent saw that the c-pawn was pinned, but a pawn capture wasn't my only possible response.

22.Qxd5+ Qd6 23.fxg7 Rg8 24.Qxd6+

I saw a win and went for it, missing the quicker 24.Rf8+ Ke7 25.Bg5 checkmate. 

24...cxd6 25.Rf8+ Ke7 26.Rxg8 Kxe6 27.Rf8 b6 28.g8Q+ Ke7 29.Qf7 checkmate

Watch that last step...

I was logged onto FICS, waiting to challenge "metheny" to a game – a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), I hoped – when "AreWeThereYet" got to him first. I hung around and watched the first few moves – and then settled in to enjoy the whole game: a fun battle, with a lesson at the end.

AreWeThereYet  - metheny

blitz 10 0, FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Na5

Ooooooh. He's asking for it. I was saying to myself: sac the Bishop, sac the Bishop, sac the Bishop...

4.Bxf7+

Yes! I decided to stick around and watch the game.

I have 85 games with this move in my database: 55 wins, 28 losses, 2 draws – scoring 66%. Not bad, but I thought it would be higher.

I've sprinkled in a few short games along with my notes.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8

Rybka and others have preferred 5...Ke7: 6.Nc3 (6.Qf3 Nf6 7.Qa3+ d6 8.Qxa5 dxe5 9.Qxe5+ Kf7 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Qc3 Re8 White resigned, M,T-Lothar, remoteschach.de, 2006) 6...Qe8 7.d4 Kd8 8.0-0 d6 9.Nf3 Qg6 10.Qd3 equal game ;

Also 5...Ke6 6.d4 d6 (6...Bd6 7.Qg4+ Ke7 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.Bxf6+ gxf6 10.Qg7+ Ke8 11.Qf7 checkmate, tih - Shatranje, FICS, 2000) 7.Nd3 d5 8.exd5+ Kxd5 9.Qh5+ Kxd4 10.Be3+ Ke4 11.Nd2 checkmate Sims - Collins, Detroit, 1999;

Or 5...Kf6 6.d4 d6 (6...g5 7.Qf3+ Ke7 8.Bxg5+ Nf6 9.Qxf6+ Ke8 10.Qf7 checkmate, thefrench - bouffant, net-chess, 2002) 7.Qf3+ Bf5 8.Qxf5+ Ke7 9.Qf7 checkmate, Karlsson - Parkes, IECC 2001.

6.Qh5+

Not so successful was 6.c3 Qg5 7.Qf3 Qxe5 8.d4 White resigned, majorminor - chilepine, FICS, 2005.

6...Ke7

Again, Rybka and others preferred 6...g6:
a) 7.Nxg6 Qf6 8.Nxh8+ Black resigned, UNPREDICTABLE - Umbertino, FICS, 2009 ;
b) 7.Nxg6 Nf6 8.Qe5+ (8.Qxa5 b6 9.Qe5+ Be7 10.Nxh8 d6 11.Qg5 Nxe4 12.Qg8+ Bf8 13.Qf7 checkmate, jdgalba - lukkaz,FICS, 2008) 8...Qe7 9.Nxe7 Black resigned, fmarius - drwinstonoboogie, FICS 2009;
c) 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Qxg6+ Ke7 9.d4 Bh6 10.Bg5+ Bxg5 11.Qxg5+ Ke8 12.Qxa5 Qe7 13.Nc3 b6 14.Qe5 Qxe5 15.dxe5 Bb7 16.0-0-0 Nh6 slight advantage to White 

7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Qd5+

It is clear from this move that White has at least a draw, as he can repeat positions with continued checks. What if he wants more than a draw?

For starters, he can play as in the game, and pick up the wayward Black Knight at a5.

He can also play 8.d4, threatening to weave a mating net. Black's strongest response is 8...Qf6, but White's surprise shot 9.Nc4+ will allow a win of the Black Queen with 10.Bf4+. Something to remember the next time the line pops up!

8...Ke7 9.Qxa5

Of course, 9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.d4 transposes into the previous note.

It is not as good to jump into a typical Jerome Gambit endgame (Queenless middlegame): 9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.Qxg8 Rxg8 11.Nf7+ Ke7 12.Nxd8 Kxd8 13.d3 b6 14.0-0 Nc6 15.f4 Ba6 16.Nc3 Bc5+ 17.Be3 Bxe3+ 18.Kh1 Nd4 19.Rf3 Nxf3 White resigned, paaras - worpe, FICS, 2004

9...d6 10.Nf3 Bg4

White has a comfortable two-pawn-plus position, and develops his game.

11.d3 Nf6 12.Bg5 Bxf3 13.gxf3 c6 14.Qxd8+ Rxd8

15.Rg1 h6 16.Bxf6+ gxf6 17.Nc3 b5

The endgame may take a while, but the game should be White's. He can infiltrate along the g-file, use f5 as a post for his Knight, and even look to open up another file with a2-a4. 

18.Kd2 a6 19.Ne2 h5 20.Nf4

Working against Black's possible ...d6-d5. I prefer Ne2-d4-f5.

20...Bh6 21.Ke3 Rhg8 22.Rg3 Rxg3

This seems a bit too cooperative, as it allows White to straighten out his pawns. Probably 22...d5 was best, now that the White Knight was pinned. 

23.fxg3 Rg8 24.b4 d5 25.exd5 cxd5

White's play has left his opponent with 4 pawn islands, to his own two. He might now have considered 26.a4 to open a line for his Rook.

26.Kd4 Kd6

If sacrificing a Bishop on move 4 always led to engames like this, we might see masters playing the Jerome Gambit...

27.Nxd5

Surprisingly, a weak move, as Black's next move reveals. In fact, it is hard to say if the move loses the game, or merely leaves White with a difficult draw to find. Amazing!

It looks like 27.Nxh5 was the correct move.

27...f5

The threat of an x-ray attack along the a1-h8 diagonal will win the White Knight: 28.Re1 Bg7+ 29.Ke3 Re8+ 30.Kd2 Rxe1 31.Kxe1 Kxd5, when White has three pawns against Black's Bishop. Fritz8 says Black wins, but not every club player plays like a computer, especially in blitz.

28.Ne3 Bg7 checkmate

Wow. An excting game: interesting opening play, a business-like middle, and a surprising resource that turns the table in the end.

My thanks to both metheny and AreWeThereYet.