There are so many ways for those who defend against the Jerome Gambit to wander off of the main lines. In the following game, the attacker strikes quickly, before his opponent has any more ideas.
Wall, Bill - Guest2021162
PlayChess.com, 2020
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Ke7
Ah, yes. As I noted in the game ZahariSokolov - mmamaju
standard, FICS, 2015 (0-1, 44) - See"Jerome Gambit: Chaos Rules")
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...
It is a rare line - there are only 13 examples in The Database, with White scoring 77 percent - but it is worth knowing the best response, if only, like in the current game, you want to finish quickly.
6.Qh5
Brute threat.
6...Nf6
Okay, it turns out that Black is not messing with his opponent's head, he's lost in an opening that he was not prepared for.
Komodo 10 suggests that the defender's only hope is 6...Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2 Qf8+ when White can settle for a somewhat boring pawn-up Queenless middlegame: 8.Kg1 Nd4 9.Nf3 Nxf3+ (if 9...Nxc2, then 10.Qc5+ will win the Knight) 10.Qxf3 Qxf3 11.gxf3 Nf6.
On the other hand, perhaps a Jerome Gambiteer, seeking a wild attacking game, would be upset by a boring, pawn-up Queenless middlegame? Perhaps, with the right opponent, at the right time, Black might do well to try...
7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Nc4 checkmate
In the following game, nothing very exciting happens after the initial sacrifices - until the defender damages his own defenses, at which point the game is over.
Wall, Bill - Guest1735790
PlayChess.com, 2020
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6
The game has reached a routine position that has been seen many times before. White has some standard moves and ideas at his fingertips. Black is objectively better, but he has to assemble a plan.
10.d3 Be6
This move is okay, but it calls out White's f-pawn.
11.f4 Bf7 12.O-O Qe7
Likewise, this move is a siren call to White's Knight.
13.Nc3 c6
14.Bd2 Re8
With his pieces massed in the center, Black believes that chasing after the a-pawn would be a distraction; yet, his opponent decides to grab it.
15.Qxa7 b5
This loosens the Queenside a bit. Komodo 10 recommended the routine 15...Kg8 16.Rae1 h6 17.b3 Kh7 with a balanced game.
16.Qb6 Qd7 17.f5 Ne7
18.Bf4 Nh5 19.Bg5 h6 20.Bd2 Nf6
Back to where things were. Black can still consider "castling" his King to h7.
21.a4
Switching the focus to the Queenside. Getting the Rook into the game would allow greater pressure on Black.
21...bxa4 22.Rxa4
22...g6
This is a slip, forgetting about the dangers of the f-file.
23.fxg6 Black resigned
White will win material, and he will have an attack on the enemy King.
?!?
Now that you have what you want, do you really want what you have?
The above question appears twice in the first six moves of the following game. The game turns on the answer to each of the questions.
Wall, Bill - Guest1573554
PlayChess.com, 2020.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
"The Italian Game", perhaps Black muses. "I wish I had a few more defenders to play against it."
4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5
"Wow! An extra Knight and an extra Bishop!" celebrates Black.
"I would like to get a return on my investment," thinks White. "As in my earlier games."
6.Qh5+ Kf6
"This will do," smiles White.
7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+
Black resigned here in Wall,B - Guest2892618, PlayChess.com, 2015.
8...Kf8
Or 8...Kf7 as in Wall,B - Guest1468523, PlayChess.com, 2013 (1-0, 14).
9.Qxc5+ d6
Bill has also seen 9...Ne7, as in Wall,B - SMNN, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 27).
White has regained his two sacrificed pieces, and remains two pawns up. There is still more work to do, but this is a decent start.
In the meantime, too, Black has to figure out what he is going to do.
10.Qb5 Nf6
Or 10...c6 as in Wall,B - Guest733407, PlayChess.com 2014 (1-0, 21).
11.O-O
White could have protected his e-pawn - e.g. 11.d3 as in Wall,B - KSPF, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 23) - but he would happily respond to 11...Nxe4 now with 12.Re1.
11...h5
Black considers activating his Rook, to attack White's King. He is not finished fighting - but what to do?. Perhaps White's Queen is misplaced?
12.d3 Ng4 13.Nc3 c6 14.Qb3 Qe7
Where to put the Queen? Can the Bishop move without giving up a pawn? Must the King Rook stay at home? Things to figure out.
15.f4 h4 16.h3 Nf6 17.f5 Black resigned
I think Black decided that his game was just too uncomfortable, and that there were better opportunites, elsewhere.
Sometimes the Jerome Gambit results in a tactical explosion that clearly wins the game. Other times, as in the following encounter, it leads to positions where an observer might muse "Sure, okay, but that's just a little thing, right, how can it lead to a loss?" The little things add up.
Wall, Bill - Guest7121133
PlayChess.com, 2020
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6
Bill is 8 - 0 from this standard position, which goes back at least as far as Charlick - Mann, corresponcence, Australia, 1881 (1-0, 72). The Database has 196 games with this position, with White scoring 71%.
10.d4 Rf8 11.O-O Rf7
It probably would have been more prudent for Black to have castled-by-hand with 11...Kf7 and 12...Kg8.
12.Nc3 Bd7 13.f4 Ng4
After White's Queen has made so many early moves - Qh5, Qd5, Qxc5, Qe3 - it might seem logical to "punish" her for those misdeeds; but, by wasting a tempo here and there, Black seems to actually reward such sallying.
14.Qe2 a6
This looks like a waste of time. It is enjoyable to see the recommendation of Komodo 10 (26 ply): 14...Qf6 15.Qd3 Qh4 16.h3 Nf6 17.f5 Ne7 18.Bd2 Kf8 19.Rf4 Qg5 20.Rf2 Qh4 21.Rf4, etc, draw. I have pointed out before that computer engines seem to think so little of White's play in the Jerome Gambit that they grab a chance for the first player to force a draw by repetition, salvaging a half point, whenever possible. I doubt that Bill would have gone along with such a plan.
15.f5 Qh4 16.h3
The Knight must retreat, and Black must surrender a piece. He would do it best with the straight forward 16...Nf6 17.fxg6 hxg6, with advantage to White.
16...Nh6
This gives White too much along the f-file.
17.fxg6 Rxf1+ 18.Qxf1 b5 19.Bxh6 Black resigned
In the following Jerome Gambit game, Black's Knights gallop all over the Kingside, without accomplishing much, which all seems a bit surprising, until the end, when White's tactics win the day.
Wall, Bill - Guest3615175
PlayChess.org, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Qf6
This is one of those positions where Black does better with a Knight of f6. Still, he maintains an edge with the text.
10.Nc3 N8e7 11.d4 Nh4
Aggressive looking, true, but I think it doesn't accomplish much.
12.Qg3 Neg6
Protecting the advanced Knight a second time, but overlooking White's effective response.
13.Bg5 Nxg2+
Surrendering a Knight.
14.Qxg2 Nf4 15.Qg3 Black resigned
Best for Black now is 15...Nh5 16.Bxf6 Nxg3 17.hxg3 gxf6, when White will win a second pawn with 18.Nd5, in a position where the first player has a material advantage, better development and better pawn structure.
The following game features an early slip by Black which surrenders his advantage. It is instructive, however, to see how White builds his attack, culminating in checkmate.
Wall, Bill - Guest6179121
PlayChess.com, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Nf6
Black is unfamiliar with the Jerome Gambit. In addition, my guess is that this is a blitz game, and that Black did a rapid "calculation" - I have 3 pieces developed to 1 of his, and I attack his Queen!
8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qb5 a6
The loss of a tempo increases the danger.
11.Qb3+
Raising the question (which takes time to answer) - can White afford to grab the b-pawn after 11...Be6? It is likely not worth the effort: 11...Be6 12.Qxb7 Qd7 13.Qb4 c5 14.Qa3 Nxe4. Still, Black declines to make the offer.
11...Kf8 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd5 14.O-O+ Ke8
15.Nc3 c6
Black does not fall for 15...Nxc3 16.Qf7#
16.Ne4 Rf8 17.Nd6+ Kd7 18.Rxf8 Qxf8
19.d4 Kc7 20.Bg5 h6 21.Rf1 Qg8 22.Rf7+ Kb8 23.Rxb7+ Bxb7 24.Qxb7 checkmate
Ouch.
In the following game, Black's initial moves give him good play. He relaxes too soon, however, and finds danger along the f-file - twice.
Wall, Bill - Guest2056949
PlayChess.com, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4
6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.Be3 Ng4
Give Black extra points for creativity. There is only one other game in The Database with this move - a blitz win for the second player.
9.Qb4 Nxe3 10.fxe3
Stockfish 10 sees Black with a winning game.
10...d6
Ooops.
Won games don't win themselves.
Perhaps the game should have continued 10...Qh4+ 11.g3 Qe7 12.O-O+ Nf6, still good for Black.
11.Rf1 Qxf1+ 12.Kxf1 Nf6 13.Qc4+ Be6 14.Qxc7+ Kg6 15.Qxd6 Rae8
White has a Queen and 3 pawns for a Rook and a Bishop. He can work up an attack on the enemy King, or continue to pick off material.
16.Nc3 Rhf8 17.Kg1 Ng4 18.Nd5 Kf7 19.Rf1+ Nf6 20.e5 Black resigned
The Knight, pinned along the f-file, is done for.
When a defender loses to the Jerome Gambit, it usually happens one of two ways. White either falls upon him like a ton of bricks, or Black defends effectively - until something happens. Sometimes the slip the second player makes seems small, but the punishment can still be harsh.
In the following game, the lines in the notes may appear complicated, but they are the kind that an attacker can enter, knowing that, in the end, he will prevail.
Wall, Bill - Guest2038506
PlayChess.com, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6
Black has defended well and has a piece for a pawn. He would do well to take care of his King, castling-by-hand.
8.O-O Nf6 9.Nc3 Re8
The defender continues in his task.
It might be relevant to note, however, that Bill has reached this position 15 times, and has scored 13 - 1 - 1. It is a familiar hunting ground.
10.Bg5 h6
11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Nh5
According to The Database, this move is a novelty. Black casually goes about exchanging a Knight for a Bishop.
13.f4
White strikes with what he has. Things are going to get messy.
13...Nc6 14.fxg5+ Kg6 15.Qd3 Nxg3
Black continues according to his plan, unaware that the situation has changed.
16.Rf6+ Kg7
The first shock is that the pawn at g5 cannot be captured, as it would lead, inexorably to checkmate: 16...Kxg5 17.Qxg3+ Kxf6 18.Nd5+ Kf7 19.Rf1+ Bf5
20.Rxf5+ Ke6 21.Qg4 Qh4 22.Nxc7+ Ke7 23.Nd5+ Kd8 24.Qxh4+ Kd7 25.Rf7+ Re7
26.Rxe7+ Nxe7 27.Qxe7+ Kc6 28.Qc7+ Kb5 29.c4+ Ka4 30.Qd7+ b5 31.Qxb5# White does not have to know the exact sequence; he can find his way down the path, move-by-move.
The second shock is that Black's best defense requires him to sacrfice his Queen immediately: 16...Qxf6 17.gxf6 Nh5 (Black has a Rook, a Bishop and a Knight for a Queen and 2 pawns, but his position is very difficult) 18.Nd5 Ne5 19.Qd4 Bd7
20.Nxc7 Nxf6 21.Qxd6 Rac8 22.Rf1 Rxc7 23.Qxc7 Black still has 3 pieces for his Queen, but White should be able to out-play him.
17.Qxg3 Ne5 18.Nd5
18...c6
Black's best defense was complicated and still inadequate: 18...Bg4 19.Qh4 h5 20.h3 Be6 21.Nf4 (21.Qxh5
Rh8) 21...Bf7 22.g6 Bxg6 (22...Qxf6 23.Nxh5+) 23.Qg5 Kh7 24.Nxg6
Qxf6 25.Qxf6 Nxg6 26.Qf7+ Kh6 27.Qxc7 Re7 28.Qxd6 Rf8 29.Re1 Black's Rook and Knight can not stop White's Queen from nabbing pawns and prevailing.
19.gxh6+ Black resigned
Mate will come the next move.
The following game is chock full of Jerome Gambit moves and themes. It is an enjoyable argument for adding that "refuted" opening to your repertoire, if only for light entertainment.
Wall, Bill - Guest2047860
PlayChess.com, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4
What to do about the pawn fork? The simplest idea is 6...Bxd4, giving back a piece for a pawn. Black opts for something a bit more complicated.
6...Bb4+ 7.c3
Now, what?
Well, The Database suggests 7...Qh4!?, which has 13 wins for Black, against 2 losses, although it is fair to point out that those 2 wins for White were by Bill Wall.
Or, the Knight can retreat with either 7...Nb6 or 7...Nc6, giving up the Bishop.
Or the Bishop can retreat with 7...Be7, giving up the Knight.
With an imaginary smile on its face, Stockfish 10 suggests that even 7...Bc5 leads to Black's advantage.
7...Bxc3+
Giving up the piece for a pawn, after all, leading to a position where he has an edge.
8.Nxc3
8...Ng6 9.O-O c6
Black senses that Winter is coming, and takes early steps to limit White's developing pawn center.
It is interesting to note that The Database has no examples of either 9...d5 or 9...h5, Stockfish 10's recommendations. Maybe, I should give the alternative title of "Jerome Gambit Secrets #11" to today's post?
Jerome Gambit theory continues to expand and evolve. You, too, can add to it.
10.f4 d6
White goes through his checklist: pawn center, Rook on f-file, enemy King on f-file, actual enemy piece to kick with a pawn, possible pawn break in the center...
11.f5 N6e7 12.Bg5
Another thematic Jerome Gambit move, although it is usually aimed at a Knight at f6, not e7. In fact, Komodo 10 now suggests that Black "remedy" this situation with 12...Nf6, with an even game.
12...h6
It is natural to challenge a pin immediately, but, in this case, this is a mistake - encouraging another thematic Jerome Gambit move.
13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.f6
The hits just keep on coming.
14...g6
Leading to a delightful ending, but the stronger defense, 14...Nxf6, falls to 15.Bxf6, and White's heavy pieces will win the day.
15.fxe7+ Ke8 16.exd8=Q checkmate
