If Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, the creator of the Jerome Gambit, ever dreamed of an exciting game, it might very well have looked like the following one.
Wall,B - Guest1157782
playchess.com, 2013
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Ng6
The kind of move - withdrawing a piece from attack - that someone unfamiliar with the Jerome Gambit might make quickly. (Best was 7...Qf6).
My guess is that at this point Bill got out his psychic micrometer, measured the apparent depth of his opponent's experience with (or understanding of) the opening, and chose a line of play that was most efficacious against an unschooled or uneasy opponent.
8.f5+
Also seen:
8.Qf5+ as in Idealist - pvm, FICS, 2003 (1-0, 42), Petasluk - jackla, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 31), and Petasluk - popasile, FICS 2011 (0-1, 35);
8.Qxc5 as in Permanence - Pianisimo, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 17) and Permanence - jgknight, FICS, 2008 (0-1,38); and
8.Qd5+ as in Siggus - svetma, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 36).
All of these games can be found in The Database.
8...Kd6
Or 8...Ke5, which led to a quick win for White in Superpippo - HarryPaul, FICS 2001 (1-0, 15).
9.fxg6 Kc6
Instead, Black had to fight back with 9...Nf6.
10.Qd5+ Kb6 11.Qb3+ Kc6
Surprisingly enough, Black's King can escape with 11...Ka6 - if he keeps his wits about him. Sure, White can then win back a piece with 12.Qc4+ b5 13.Qxc5, but after the counter-attack 13...Qh4+!? Black can get his Queen over to protect His Majesty, e.g. 14.Kf1 Qxe4 (Black could also try 14...Ne7 with the idea of 15...Rf8+)15.d3 Qc6 when 16.Qxc6 dxc6 17.gxh7 gives White a small advantage, according to Houdini 3.
12.Nc3 hxg6
Now White finishes things off.
13.Qd5+ Kb6 14.Na4+ Ka5 15.b4+ Kxa4 16.Qb3+ Kb5 17.a4+ Kc6 18.Qd5+ Kb6 19.Qxc5+ Ka6 20.Qa5 checkmate
Well, Okay, maybe that title is a bit over-done...
How about: Do Not Underestimate the Jerome Gambit ?
Or: Laugh At Your Own Risk.
perrypawnpusher (1798) - narvi (1957)
Italian Game - Round 1, Chess.com, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
I am generally happy when my opponent plays this line, as it usually means that he is working things out over-the-board. It also gives me the opportunity to grab his annoying dark-squared Bishop, and set up play with the 2 "Jerome pawns" against his extra piece.
7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6
10.0-0 Ng4
This move indicates more than a wish to harass the Queen. Black plans to exchange Queens, stifling any of White's ideas for a quick attack. This is one downside of the 6...Ng6 line.
11.Qg3
As we have seen before, 11.Qe2 is a surprisingly quick route to trouble for White, as in mrjoker - weiran, ICC, 2008.
11...Qh4
I have faced 11...h6 in perrypawnpusher - lorecai, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 14); 11...h5 in perrypawnpusher - Riversider, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 18); and 11...Rf8 in perrypawnpusher - jgknight, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1/2-1/2, 49); and only the last move gave me trouble.
12.Qxh4 Nxh4
13.f4
This may be a tiny bit better than 13.d4. For that matter, 13.Nc3 may be just as good as the text. Of course, transpositions can occur, to.
13...Rf8
This looks like the beginning of castling-by-hand, but Black eventually opts to move his King toward the Queenside.
Bill Wall, who has played the Jerome Gambit many times, successfully, has reminded me on more than one occasion that although Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's creation has its refutations, not many of the people who defend against it actually know them. At the very least, it costs time on the clock to suss them out.
14.d3
It is probably a tossup as to whether 14.f5 or 14.Nc3 are better.
14...Ng6 15.Nc3 c6
White's plan is to advance his "Jerome pawns" and make some kind of mischief. At the same time, he has to be aware that one of Black's defensive ideas is to return the extra piece for two pawns.
Black seems unsure about taking a decisive step, and puts his moves together as necessary.
16.Bd2 Kd8 17.f5 Ne7 18.h3 Ne5 19.g4
White feints at the Kingside, but I mostly wanted to secure the pawn at f5 before advancing the e-pawn.
19...Kc7 20.Bg5 Kd8
Complications. Black wants his Rook on the f-file to restrain White's f-pawn. At the same time, he needs to protect his Knight at e7; and putting the Rook at f7 would allow White to drive the Knight at e5 to the Queenside with d4. Still, events that follow suggest that 20...Ng8 might have been more in line with what Black hoped for.
21.d4 Nf7 22.Bf4
22...a5
Black plans to put his Bishop at a6, and kick White's Knight with b7-b5-b4. This struck me as a bit odd, but my opponent was rated a good bit more than me, so what did I know?
Rybka's suggestion after the game isn't any more dynamic: 22...g6 23.Rae1 b6 24.Rf3 h5 25.f6 Ng8 26.g5 Re8 27.Rfe3 Bd7 28.Kg2 with an even position.
23.e5 dxe5 24.dxe5 b5
After the game Rybka suggested that Black could keep White's advantage small by sacrificing the exchange: 24...Nxf5 25.gxf5 Bxf5 26.e6 Bxe6 27.Rad1+ Ke7 28.Be3 Ke8 29.Bc5 b6 30.Bxf8 Kxf8.
I'm pretty sure that neither my opponent nor I were thinking along those lines!
25.e6 Nh8
White's advantage in development has to be decisive here. It is almost as if he sacrificed a piece to get to this position. Oh, wait - he did!
26.Rad1+ Ke8 27.Bc7 Ba6
Black should be thinking about returning a piece for a couple of pawns, but the risk is that White's remaining "extra" pawn is liable to be advanced and dangerous.
28.Rd6
I had looked at the stronger 28.Rd7 Nd5 29.Nxd5 cxd5 but had only considered the mundane follow-up, 30.Rxd5, whereas 30.Rxg7 would have created serious threats from the advancing e- and f-pawns.
28...Nd5 29.Nxd5 cxd5 30.Rxd5 b4 31.Rfd1 g6
Black has chased away White's Rook from f1, and has pressure on the white pawn at f5, but White's development decides the game.
32.Rd8+ Rxd8
White sets his e-pawn up to Queen after 32...Ke7 33.R1d7+ Kf6 34.g5+!? (34.e7 mops up after 34...Re8 35.Rxa8 Rxa8 36.Rd8 Kxe7 37.Rxa8 Nf7 38.Rxa6 but without the pawn Queening) 34...Kxg5 35.e7
33.Rxd8+ Ke7 34.Bd6+ After this shot, Black resigned
I was really happy to find the Bishop move, the Rook "sacrifice" is a sham: 34...Kxd8 35.e7+ and the pawn will both capture the Rook and promote to a Queen.
Sometimes the person playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) gets just enough assistance from the defender that the opening can almost look like it really does lead to a powerful attack...
perrypawnpusher - obturator
blitz, FICS, 2012
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
10.0-0 Rf8 11.f4
Equally strong was 11.d4, as in fehim - cybernoid, FICS, 2006: 11...Be6 12.e5 dxe5 13.dxe5 Ne7 14.exf6 Rxf6 15.b3 Nd5 16.Qe4 Qd6 17.Bb2 Rh6 18.g3 Kd7 19.Rd1 Re8 20.c4 Bg4 21.Qxg4+ Black resigned.
Instead, 11.f3 was the introduction to an ultimate "Jerome pawn" game, mrjoker - PhlebasP, ICC, 2009 (1-0, 35).
11...Qe7
I have also faced 11...Rf7 in perrypawnpusher - dkahnd, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 30) as has Louis Marin, in mrjoker - Mandragora, ICC, 2008 (1-0, 49);
as well as 11...Ng4 in perrypawnpusher - dkahnd, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 24), perrypawnpusher - lorecai, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 47), and perrypawnpusher - jgknight, blitz, FICS, 2010 (½-½, 58).
12.Nc3
Also possible was 12.f5 Ne5 13.Nc3 b6 14.d4 Nc4 15.Qg5 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Qxe4 17.Qxg7 Bxf5 18.Bh6 Rf7 19.Qg5 Kd7 20.Rae1 Qxd4+ 21.Kh1 Nd2 22.Rxf5 Rxf5 23.Qxf5+ Kc6 24.Bxd2 Qxd2 25.Rf1 Re8 26.Qf3+ Kc5 27.Qa3+ Kc6 28.Qa4+ b5 29.Qa6+ Kd7 30.Qxb5+ c6 31.Rf7+ Re7 32.Qb7+ Kd8 Black resigned, holofernes - kdosch, FICS, 2001.
12...Ng4
Also seen is 12...c6 as in perrypawnpusher - parlance, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 20), although 12...Kf7 with plans to continuing castling-by-hand may be best.
13.Qg3 Bd7 14.f5 N6e5 15.d4 d5
Black returns a piece and undermines White's pawn at f5, but this might be less painfully accomplished (at least the first step) by 15...Nf6 16.dxe5 dxe5.
Now White's game takes a step forward.
16.Nxd5 Qd6 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Bf4 Qc5+ 19.Kh1 Nf7 20.Nxc7+ Ke7
21.Nxa8
I was pleased to be the exchange and a few pawns ahead, but 21.Qh4+, continuing the attack on the King, was stronger.
21...Rxa8 22.Bg5+
This was a nervous, short-of-time move. Better was the straight-forward 22.Qxg7.
22...Ke8 23.c3 Bc6 24.Rae1 h6 25.Be3 Qc4 26.Qxg7 Bxe4 27.Qg8+ Kd7 28.Qxa8
I had my clock back under control, and needed only avoid a serious blunder to bring home the point.
28...Qc6 29.Rd1+ Kc7 30.Bf4+ Kb6 31.Qg8 Black resigned
This is my third Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game with jgknight. The first two were relatively long draws, one last year in 58 moves, and one this year in 49 moves. As they say, "third time is a charm," and I was successful this time. There is even a little bit of "charm" in the game, although if my opponent wanted to preface with the word "lucky" I would not object.
perrypawnpusher - jgknight
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
Black's King bravely protects the Knight, giving up any thoughts of "castling-by-hand", and challenges White to justify his two piece sacrifice.
7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+
Black is headed for what I've referred to as the "Nibs Defense". See "Repairing A Variation" parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 for some background.
9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kf1
When I posted my game with this line against JTIV last year, I wrote
This is my current choice, although it is not clear why. The updated New Year's Database [now The Database] has 4 games (other than the current one) with this move, with White scoring 50%. I've scored 33% in 3 games (until now).
The Database has 15 games with the alternative, 10.Kd1, with White scoring 73%. That's in part to me scoring 100% in 6 of those games; but 3 of those wins are identical 11-movers with the "Buyer's Regret Variation".
Updating: The Database now has 9 games with 10.Kf1, with White scoring 78% (me, 75%). It still has 15 games with 10.Kd1, with White scoring 73% (me 100%).
I am still not sure which 10th move I will play next time, especially since I concluded at one point that 10.Kf1 "is not an improvement" over 10.Kd1.
10...Nxh2+
Tempting, as it is another forward-going, attacking move, but it probably only keeps the game in balance.
11.Kg2 Qg4
I smiled when I saw this move. I've recommended it a couple of times on this blog, when either Black "holds onto his advantage" or the game is "about even". Today I would go with the latter assessment.
The move is not mine, however, but the recommendation of Some Loser, the author of Unorthodox Chess (2005), who has occasionally played the Jerome Gambit. (Really. Read my book review.)
12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5+ Ke8
Black's moves are interesting: he cannot protect his c-pawn with 13...Kd8, as 14.Qf8 checkmate would follow.
Yet, his best move would have been 13...d6, encouraging White to take the c-pawn, as after 14.Qxc7+ Bd7 15.Rxh2 (what else?) White's King would be defenseless against Black's Queen – and other pieces: 15...Qe2+ 16.Kg1 Qe1+ 17.Kg2 Qxe4+ 18.Kf1 Qf3+ 19.Ke1 Rc8!?. Not only is White's Queen in trouble, Black threatens the deadly 20...Kf8!
Of course, after 13...d6 14.Qf2! White would secure his King and the game would be in balance after 14...Nf6 15.Rxh2 Nxe4 16.Qe3 Qe6.
14.Rxh2
First 14.Qe3 was a bit more prudent.
14...d6 15.Qe3 Nf6
For the most part, the excitement has died down. Both Kings are relatively safe, and White is ahead by a pawn (a reasonable outcome, having faced down a refutation).
16.Nc3 c6
After the game Fritz 10 censured this move. Can you see why?
17.b3
I was looking for development, and decided to put my Bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal.
I totally overlooked 17.f5!? which threatens to trap Black's Queen. Black has a defense, of course, in 17...g5, but it costs a couple of pawns, say, after 18.Rh6 Rf8 19.d3 Rf7 20.Qxg5 and, further, Black's d-pawn is at risk, as well.
17...h5 18.Rh4
I almost always see these things a move too late.
18...Qe6 19.d3 Ng4 20.Qe2 Rh6 21.Bb2 d5
White has been more effective in rushing his troops to back up their footsoldiers.
22.exd5
Personal failing: I am always willing to "let the air out of the position" if I am even the tiniest bit of material ahead.
22...Qxe2+ 23.Nxe2 Ne3+ 24.Kf3 Nxd5
Messier, but stronger, was 24...Nxc2.
So, what is going on here?
White is better developed (including his King), is a pawn ahead, and hopes to pick up one or two more pawns.
It is essential that Black get his pieces out, cause as much disruption as possible, and keep his eyes on the possibility of transitioning to the welcoming arms of the drawish (even when down pawns) Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame. jgknight fights, but the battle is not his today.
25.Bxg7 Bg4+ 26.Kf2 Re6 27.Be5 Bxe2 28.Kxe2 Nc3+ 29.Kf3 Nd5 30.Rxh5 Kd7
31.Rh7+ Re7 32.Rah1 Rxh7 33.Rxh7+ Ke6 34.Rxb7 Rg8 35.Rxa7 Ne7 36.g4 Ng6 37.d4 Nh4+ 38.Ke4 Rxg4 39.Rg7 Rxg7 40.Bxg7
40...Ng6 41.a4 Kf7 42.Be5 Ke7 43.a5 Kd7 44.f5 Ne7 45.c4 Nc8 46.f6 Ke6 47.d5+ cxd5+ 48.cxd5+ Kf7 49.Kf5 Na7 50.b4 Nb5 51.a6 Na7 52.Bd4 Nb5
53.a7 Nxd4+ 54.Ke4 Nb5 55.a8Q Nd6+ 56.Kf3 Kxf6 57.Qc6 Ke5 58.b5 Nf5 59.Qe6+ Kd4 60.Qxf5 Kc5 61.b6 Kxb6 62.Qe6+ Kc7 63.Qc6+ Kd8 64.Ke4 Ke7 65.Kf5 Kd8 66.Qb7 Ke8 67.Ke6 Kf8 68.Qf7 checkmate
The first time we played, my opponent pretty much manhandled me. This time? Not so much. The difference? My opponent forgot to insert a particular move into his defense before going on the attack.
perrypawnpusher - HRoark
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
HRoark had experience playing the Jerome Gambit himself a couple of years ago: 3...Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d4 exd4 6.Ng5+ Kf8 7.Qf3+ Qf6 8.0-0 Qxf3 9.Nxf3 Nf6 10.e5 Ng4 11.Bg5 Ngxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Bf4 d6 14.Re1 d3 15.Bxe5 dxe5 16.Rxe5 Bd6 17.Rd5 dxc2 18.Nc3 Be6 19.Rd2 Bb4 20.Rxc2 Bxc3 21.Rxc3 c6 22.Re1 Re8 23.Rf3+ Bf7 24.Rxe8+ Kxe8 25.Re3+ Kd7 White resigned, HRoark - jgknight, FICS, 2009.
4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6
10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Rf8
Or 11...Be6 as in perrypawnpusher - HRoark, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 40).
12.Bd2 Kg8 13.Rae1
Black has done well, starting with castling-by-hand to safeguard his King, and he only needs to choose an effective plan to move from having the advantage to having a win.
13...Nb4
Simply irresistible, as Robert Palmer sings.
Instead, 13...Be6 continues his march to victory.
14.Qc4+ Nbd5 15.exd5
Actually, 15.Nxd5 was a bit better.
15...Kh8 16.Ne4 a6
17.Bc3 b5 18.Qd3 Bf5 19.Qd4 c5
20.dxc6ep Nxe4
A slip. I think that Black overlooked the enpassant capture, but now he appears to see the win of the exchange with 21.Rxe4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4.
21.Qxg7 checkmate
Yesterday's game featured White reaching a fine Jerome Gambit position out of the opening, only to miss all of the attacking splendor that he had available. Sad.
In today's game, Black understimates the danger that he faces and quickly goes from two pieces up to two pawns down. Instead of my usual, conservative, "consolidate at all costs" approach, I decided to attack violently.
And it would have worked, too, if I hadn't hung my Queen.
Again: don't blame the Jerome Gambit for this "0-1".
perrypawnpusher - chingching
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6
A rare, usually careless (see the "Halo Effect" theme) response that takes Black quickly from a won game to nearly lost one. It is not an "instant victory", but it should be close.
7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qd5+ Ke8 10.Qxc5 d6 11.Qe3 Nf6
The Queen checks were covered in the notes to my recent games against badhorsey (1-0, 30) and navarrra (1-0, 26). Her Majesty has now returned home safely, two pawns to the better.
12.Nc3 Kf7 13.0-0 Re8 14.d3 c6 15.f4 Ng4
Completing castling-by-hand with 15...Kg8 or striking the center with 15...d5 were better ideas than the off-task, but irresistible, strike at the White Queen.
16.Qg3 Kg8 17.Bd2 d5 18.Rae1 Qb6+
This move caught me by surprise. It is actually a time-waster: compare White's Bishop and Rooks to Black's Bishop and Rooks and ask should Black be taking his Queen away from the action to win a pawn or two?
The similarity to the wandering enemy Queens in my games against irak (1-0, 33) and jgknight (1/2-1/2, 49) encouraged me.
19.Kh1 Qxb2 20.f5 Qxc2
21.Qxg4
Unnecessarily acrificing the Bishop at d2 because I believed that I had a "killer" followup move.
After the game, Houdini suggested the prudent 21.Nb1, instead, as White actually has time to protect his Queenside minor pieces because the Black Knight on g4 isn't going anywhere: after 21...Nf6 White would play 22.e5 and Black's "best" would be to hang his horsie out to dry again with 22...Nh5 23.Qf3.
Houdini's suggestion of 21.Nb1 Rf8 22.Rc1 allows Black to complete his Queenside meal with 22...Qxa2, but after 23.Qxg4 White will go a piece up and soon position his Bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal and advance his "Jerome pawns" with a winning attack on the King.
21...Qxd2
Now, the rather pathetic 22.Ne2 would preserve whatever was left of White's initiative, giving him a small edge at the very best, due to Black's delayed development.
22.f6
Well, at least I could say that the odds were with me: Black has 41 possible responses, and 40 of them lose, almost all of them very quickly.
22...Bxg4
Of course, that one remaining move wins my Queen...
I played on a bit longer and recovered some material, but there was no way that I was going to survive being down a Rook for a Queen.
23.f7+ Kf8 24.fxe8Q+ Kxe8 25.exd5+ Kd7 26.dxc6+ Kxc6 27.Ne4 Qxd3 28.Rc1+ Kb6 29.Rb1+ Ka5 30.Nf2 Qc4 31.Rfc1 Qd4 32.Nxg4 Qxg4 33.Rc3 b5 34.Ra3+ Kb6 35.Rab3 a6 36.Rd3 Rc8 White resigned
My opponent finished up nicely and deserved his comeback win.
Again, don't blame my loss on the Jerome Gambit!
