Jerome Gambit: What Can I Say?

In my second game in the first round of the "Italian Game Battlegrounds" tournament at Chess.com, I got the chance, again, to play in Jerome Gambit style when it wasn't absolutely necessary. What can I say? 

perrypawnpusher - Aborygen
Italian Game Battlegrounds, Chess.com, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Na5 

I have covered this line in many past posts. It doesn't seem to have a name. The idea, apparently, is that Black wants to exchange a Knight for a Bishop, after 4.Bb3 Nxb3, etc.

White's best response to 3...Na5 is to go along with the plan, after grabbing a pawn: 4.Nxe5 Nxc4 5.Nxc4 d5 (Stockfish's suggestion) 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.Ne3, when it is difficult to find Black's compensation for the material, other than whatever psychological discomfort White may have for being pulled out of his opening routine.

4.Bxf7+ 

The Jerome Gambit treatment. What can I say?

I have played this three times before: perrypawnpusher - metheny, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 8); perrypawnpusher - sebapvar, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 10 ); and perrypawnpusher - wred, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 35).

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7 

Strange, because it seems to block Black's development, but after the game Stockfish 10 identified this move as best.

6.Nc3 Nf6 7.d4 d6 

White has 2 pawns for his sacrificed piece, and Black's King is uneasy, while one of his Knights appears unemployed.

8.Nd5+ 

The idea here is that Black needs more than 8...Nxd5 9.exd5 dxe5 because of 10.Bg5+, winning the Queen.

8...Ke8 9.Bg5

This seems to be a novelty, according to The Database, but it is a reasonable idea: if, now, 9...dxe5, then 10.dxe5, and Black's Knight at f6 is pinned and will be lost. Still, that might have been the best route for my opponent to take.

9...Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qh5+ 

The idea behind exchanging on f6.

11...g6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Qxg6+ 

White is down 2 pieces for the moment, but he has 4 extra pawns.

13...Kd7

Black's King seeks safety on the Queenside. It might have been a bit more secure on the Kingside, after 13...Kf8 14.Nxf6 Qe7, but White would still be better, as his 4 pawns would outweigh Black's extra piece.

14.Nxf6+ Kc6 

15.b4

Hitting the offside Knight.

15...Nc4 16.b5+ 

A two-fold move: If Black captures the pawn, White's Rook can come into play, with check, with Rb1+; and if Black does not capture the pawn, White has stopped him from playing ...b7-b5 - I had been looking at a possible Qf7, attacking the Knight and possibly bringing the Queen over to the Queenside, but what if the defender just supported the Knight with the pawn? 

16...Kb6 

Black does not want the pawn, yet, and now White's 17.Qf7 would be met by 17...Rf8, and things would not be so clear after 18.Qxc4 Qxf6. Time to get White's Knight out of the way.

The position is complicated, but White has to at least gain back material - while threatening checkmate various ways.

17.Nd5+ Ka5 

Persistent in resisting the pawn, but this opens up another avenue of attack for me.

18.Qg3 

If Black now captures the b-pawn, White gathers in some material: 18...Kxb5 19.Qb3+ Kc6 20.Qxc4+ Kd7 21.Nxc7 and White would simply be 4 pawns up. In the meantime, White threatens to bring his Queen to c3 or b3 - with check.

18...Qh4 

Threatening White's pawn at e4, and possibly, after that, White's uncastled King; but it is too late. White keeps moving with check.

19.Qc3+ Kxb5 20.Nxc7+ Kb6 21.Nxa8+ Black resigned

If, now, 21...Kb5, White's Rook would finally enter the fray with 22.Rb1+, and the Knight would be lost.

Checking Back

When I reported on the game AreWeThereYet - metheny, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 28) in "Watch that last step...", taking a look at the nameless opening line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Na5  (which immediately got a Jerome Gambit-style twist, 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+) I neglected to mention that the two played again four days later, with the outcome quickly reversed: AreWeThereYet - metheny, blitz, FICS, 2009:  5...Ke8 6.Qh5+ Ke7 7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.d4 Qe7 9.Qd5 checkmate.

Time to check back and see how the opening is faring.

soulman  - Tadziu
standard, FICS, 2011

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

4.Bxf7+

This move is not necessary; White can play the stronger (but much less fun) 4.Nxe5 instead.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+ Ke7
 

 
If you do a position search in The Database (using ChessBase1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nh5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7 6.Qh5 and 5...Ke8 6.Qh5+ Ke7 continuations – note that in the first case it is Black to move, in the second case, White.

7.Qf7+

Do a position search now, though, and the data return is clear, at least from one perspective: 55 games, White scores 71%.

7...Kd6 8.Qd5+

This is a good move, and in the majority of games White played it.

Only eleven games (1/5) had the best move for White, 8.d4. As only three games had Black playing the strongest reply to that move, 8...Qf6 (and Black won two of them), it is best to go over the reason that White should remember 8.d4.

After 8.d4 White threatens the devastating 9.Bf4, and Black's "best" is 9...Qf6, which falls to the inventive (and as yet unplayed) two-piece sacrifice, 10.Nc4+ Nxc4 11.Bf4+ Qxf4 12.Qxf4+ winning Black's Queen. (White can even interpolate 12.e5+ and wind up winning another piece.)

If Black defends against 8.d4 with 8...Nh6, instead, he immediately regrets that his Knight cannot go to f6 after 9.Qd5+ Ke7 10.Bg5+, winning the Queen. No better is 8...Ne7, as after 9.Qh5 White threatens Ne5-f7+, winning the Black Queen and Black wishes the Knight were on h6...

8...Ke7 9.d4

Clearly soulman has everything under control.

9...Nc6
 
Saving the wayward Knight that got this whole adventure started.
 
10.Bg5+

But losing the King after 10...Nf6 11.Qf7+ Kd6 12.Nc4 checkmate.

Black resigned

It Worked -- This Time

After eight years (or more) of studying the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and kindred lines, I still have solved only a piece of its complexity.

Luckily, most of my opponents have solved even less.


perrypawnpusher  - metheny
blitz FICS, 2009

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

I have looked at this line (see "Offside!" and "The Other Side") but never faced it.

4.Bxf7+

Of course.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6

A very interesting and about even position. After the game Rybka suggested that play now continue 6.d4 Nf6 7.Qe2 b6 8.0-0 Bb7 9.Nc3 c5 with maybe a small edge to White.

analysis diagram

6.Qh5 d6

Instead, Black could get an edge with 6...Nf6 7.Qh3+ Ke7 8.Ng6+ hxg6 9.Qxh8 Kf7 10.Qh4 Nc6 11.0-0 d5.

7.Qf5+

Best. BunkerBuster - Ricdah, FICS, 2007 continued: 7.Qf7+ Kxe5 8.d4+ Kxe4 9.Be3 (9.c3+ Kxd4 10.Qd5#) 9...Bf5 (9...Qf6 10.Nd2+ Kf5 11.g4+ Kxg4+ 12.Rg1+ Kh4 13.Nf3+ Qxf3 14.Bg5+ Kh3 15.Qf3+ Kxh2 16.Qg3#) 10.Nc3 checkmate

7...Ke7 8.Qf7 checkmate

 This game was anticipated by forqueray - bhull, blitz FICS, 2006.

Answer to Quiz #7:

The problem with this line for White is that if he follows 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 with the thematic 5.Nxe5+, after 5...Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

there is no loose Bishop on c5 (as in the Jerome Gambit) for the Queen to pick up. White remains with two pawns for two pieces, and Black's unsafe King is not enough compensation for such a sacrifice.

This is not an improvement upon the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

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.