Jerome Gambit: In the Meantime

White waiting for the second round to begin in the "Italian Battleground" tournament at Chess.com, (1 game to go now in Group 3, although it will determine the final player to advance to the second round), I decided to join the "Let's Play The Italian Game" tournament on that site, as well: 15 players, split into 5 groups of 3, the winner of each trio advances. I have played 3 games so far - one of them a Jerome Gambit (yay!). (I won a game with Black, and another game with White that I was unable to transform a Two Knights into an Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.) 

I also wandered over online to FICS, and was able to snag a blitz game - against an opponent who was probably having a bad day. Still, the game had a bright moment for me - because I remembered the recent post here, "Jerome Gambit Secrets #5"!

perrypawnpusher - juliebabe
6 12 blitz, FICS, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Ne7

Black hits back against the White Queen - in this situation, it is not enough.

In "Jerome Gambit Secrets #5" I noted

When I posted the game on this blog, back then, I recommended, instead [of 8...Ne7], 8...Qh4!?, which  had been played a number of times before - as early as a supposed 1899 telephone game - and which continued to be played, year after year. (So: 8...Qh4 isn't much of a "secret".)

The odd thing is, when I was reviewing the current game I had Stockfish 9 do a "blunder check", and it recommended that Black's King simply walk away with 8...Kc6!?, allowing 9.Qxe5, but giving Black a won game. The Database has 3 games with this suggestion, all wins for Black. (I can't decide if keeping the 8...Kc6 secret from the "Secret" was intentional or sloppiness.)

9.Qxe5+ Kc6 10.Qc3

It would be hard to forget this move after playing over Hardy, C. - NN, 10 0 blindfold, lichess.org, 2018 (1-0, 13) - " 10.Qc3!, intending 11.b4 or 11.d4, with a strong attack".

10...d6

Nine years ago I played a game that continued 10...Qf8 11.d4 Qf6 12.Qxc5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - nicolasalk, blitz, FICS, 2009, but it had slipped my mind. 

11.d4 Kd7 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.O-O b6

The distractions of the Jerome Gambit are too much. It does not help that the computer considers as best even more King wandering, i.e. 13...Kc6 14. Qf3 Kb6 although Black would still be lost.

14.Rd1+ Ke8 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 Black resigned

Professor Houdini (Part 1)

The other day I played a 2 12 blitz Jerome Gambit game, checkmating my opponent in 15 moves. A simple thing? Hardly. With the help of Houdini, afterwards, I discovered that my opponent and I had missed a whole lot.

perrypawnpusher - ficshicks
blitz 2 12, FICS, 2014

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Ne7

This is not Black's strongest defense.

An error by the defender, especially in an opening as sketchy as the Jerome Gambit, is a gift. The attacker should know what kind of gift that it is, and respond accordingly. In this case, it is important to realize that White can regain his sacrificed material, but that Black can find safety for his King.

9.Qxe5+

At this point, Black resigned in perrypawnpusher - ktonthat, blitz 10 5, FICS, 2009.

9...Kc6

Here, Black resigned in perrypawnpusher - Greystroke, blitz, FICS, 2012.

10.d4

I had forgotten that 10.Qc3 is the right move here, because a past opponent and I quickly left the path with 10...Qf8 11.d4 Qf6 12.Qxc5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - nicolasalk, blitz, FICS, 2009.

Instead of expanding his pawn center, and dreaming of checkmate, White should think of pinning and winning the Black Bishop after 10...b6 11.b4 d6 12.d4 Kb7 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.dxc5 Nc6 when Black's King is safe, and White is ahead a couple of pawns.

Even at that point, White should modestly play 15.0-0, instead of grabbing more matrial with 15.cxb6 axb6 16.Qxg7 because of 16...Rg8 17.Qc3 Rxg2 when Black would be winning!

10...Bd6

Stronger was 10...d6, as in perrypawnpusher - vypux, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 20). In that game I was able to get away with 11.Qxg7  because my opponent missed 11...Nf5! 12.exf5 Qe8+ 13.Kd1 Bxf5 after which, if anything, Black would have an edge, despite his two-pawn deficit. Note that 14.dxc5? now would be crushed by  14...Qh5+ Instead White should try the sharp 14.d5+!? when Black would be prudent to reply 14...Kb6,

analysis diagram





with in an unclear position where White's King is in more danger than his counterpart, and Black's 2 Bishops and better Rooks give him the more threatening prospects. 

Also, 10...Bb4+ 11.Nc3 (11.c3 is better) appeared in perrypawnpusher - TheChessInnovator, blitz, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 43).

(Having played the line 5 times previously, and apparently having learned very little in the process, I am reminded of the Firesign Theater album, "Everything You Know Is Wrong"!) 

11.d5+ Kb5 

Safer was 11...Kb6 when after 12.Qc3 White has to develop and make threats against the enemy King while taking advantage of Black's trapped (thanks to the Knight on e7) Bishop. Black can, in some situations, consider returning his Knight instead with a well-timed ...Nxd5 followed by a Bishop retreat. Houdini puts White's advantage at less than a pawn, and shows no direct checkmates. 

12.Na3+

This move was based on the simple idea 12...Bxa3 13.bxa3 and then White will have the use of the b-file for a winning attack on the enemy King.

However, after the game Houdini pointed out that after 13...Ka6 there is no "winning attack on the enemy King" and that all White has left is 14.Qxg7 Rg8 15.Qd4 b6 (Not 15...Rxg2 right off because 16.Qa4+ Kb6 17.Rb1+ Kc5 18.Qb4#) 16.0-0 when Black's King escapes with 16...Kb7 and the game is about even.

Instead 12.Qd4 was the move to make, and then White's threats against Black's Bishop and King would give him the advantage, although it would still be a long time before the game would be decided.

12...Kb6 

As suggested above, 12...Ka6 would again leave White with little more than 13.Qxg7 when 13...b6, 13...Ng6 or 13...Re8 (followed by 14.0-0) all look about even. 

13.Nc4+ 

[to be continued]

One step forward, one step back

Although some may consider the phrase "Jerome Gambit opening theory" to be somewhat of an oxymoron, as historical research continues to uncover games and analysis, and as new games starting 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ continue to be played, an understanding of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's creation will continue to advance, one step at a time. Defenses may also advance – or, as in the following game, take a step backward.

perrypawnpusher - nicolasalk
blitz 10 5, FICS, 2009

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
Black has a number of successful strategies at this point.
7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Ne7
Alas, this is not one of them.
9.Qxe5+ Kc6 10.Qc3 The recommended improvement upon 10.d4 Bb4+ ( 10...d6 11.d5+ Kb5 12.a4+ Kb6 13.a5+ Kb5 14.Qc3 Bb4 15.Na3+ Kxa5 16.Nc4+ Kb5 17.Ra5+ Bxa5 18.Qxa5+ Kxc4 19.b3+ Kd4 20.Qb4# 1-0 perrypawnpusher-vypux, blitz, FICS, 2009) 11.Nc3 b6 12.Qb5+ Kb7 13.Qxb4 Nc6 14.Qc4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qh3 16.Qf1 d6 17.Qxh3 Bxh3 18.Be3 Nb4 19.0-0-0 Kc8 20.e5 Bg4 21.Rd2 Re8 22.h3 Bf3 23.Rf1 Bg2 24.Rxg2 a5 25.Re2 b5 26.Rfe1 a4 27.a3 Kd7 28.axb4 a3 29.bxa3 Rxa3 30.Kd2 Kc6 31.d5+ Kb7 32.e6 c6 33.dxc6+ Kxc6 34.f5 Ra4 35.Bf4 Rxb4 36.Re4 Kc5 37.Bxd6+ Kxd6 38.Rxb4 Rd8 39.Rd4+ Kc7 40.Rxd8 Kxd8 41.e7+ Ke8 42.Nxb5 h5 43.Nd6+ 1-0 perrypawnpusher - TheChessInnovator blitz, FICS, 2008)
10...Qf8

Black's defense requires 10...b6 and 11...d6, and his King will survive, albeit down two pawns.

11.d4 Qf6 12.Qxc5 checkmate