I was going to just quietly add the following sad Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit game to The Database, but then I decided that it had a worthwhile point or two. Also, sharing it on the blog would give my opponent (and others) a chance for a good laugh at my expense. Fair is fair.
perrypawnpusher - pblond
blitz, FICS,2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
By the way, it turns out that I had played my opponent a few months before, and I didn't remember it at the time of this game.
4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.
Apparently I had played this against pblond before, and didn't remember that, either.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ke6
There is a lot that I could write about this line, but it turns out that I have already written much of it in my coverage of perrypawnpusher - pblond, blitz, FICS, 2011. I wish that I had remembered it. So much for being prepared or booked-up!
8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4 Bxd4 10.Rd1 c5
At first glance, the addition of ...h6 for Black and 0-0 for White seems to be in the first player's favor in the Semi-Italian variation of the Jerome Gambit. In the 7...Ke6 line, however, the presence of Black's Bishop on c5 means that White cannot play f2-f4, so he must, instead, fumble around with d2-d4.
Perhaps it is time to look into 9.b4!? (I almost wrote "I am sure that Bill Wall could play 9.Kh1 followed by f2-f4 and get away with it," but I think 9...Qf6 would be a very good, disruptive answer for Black.)
11.c3 Ne7 12.Qh3 Kc7
In this way Black gets out of the pin along the d-file and finds some shelter for his King, at the cost of returning one of his two extra pieces.
13.cxd4 d6
Giving me a chance.
Not quite as strong as 13...cxd4, from our earlier encounter, which continued 14.Rxd4 d6 15.Qc3+ N7c6 16.Bf4 Qf6 17.Bxe5 Qxe5 18.Rc4 Be6 19.Qxe5 dxe5 20.Rc1 Rac8 21.b4 Kb8 22.Nd2 Nd4 23.a4 Ne2+ White resigned, perrypawnpusher - pblond, blitz, FICS, 2011.
Now 14.Qc3 Nd7 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Bf4 b6 17.b4 Kc6 was perrypawnpusher - tuffmom, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17), but 14...Nf7 would be a bit of an improvement: after 15.dxc5 Nc6 16.cxd6+ Kb8 White's pawns balance out Black's extra piece.
Nine wins and two draws from the position in the third diagram. You would think that I would remember the one loss, and who I lost to. Nope. As Forrest Gump said, Stupid is as stupid does.
14.dxe5 Bxh3
Ooooops...
Oh, well, that's the story of the Jerome Gambit: live by the blunder, die by the blunder.
White resigned
I have seen games where a player gives odds of pawn, Knight, Rook or Queen and then wins brilliantly. I do not know how many games where the odds-acceptor's wins have been published. Here is one I gave "Jerome Gambit odds" and lost.
perrypawnpusher - pblond
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6
The Semi-Italian Opening.
4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.
Of course, White does not have to sacrifice. He can keep a small edge with 5.c3 d6 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.h3 0-0.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ke6
I have played this position a number of times. The deeper I get into the game, the more it feels like I am walking through a junkyard, and I keep expecting to see myself amongst the wrecks.
8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4 Bxd4
The capture seems best, but has not always been played:
9...Qf6 10.dxe5+ Qxe5 11.Rd1+ (11.Bf4 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - joejox, FICS 2009) 11...Bd4 12.Qf8+ Ke6 13.Qe8+ Kf6 14.Qf8+ Ke6 15.Qe8+ Kf6 draw, perrypawnpusher - Joyus, blitz, FICS, 2007 ;
9...Ne7 10.Qxe5+ Kc6 11.Qxc5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - GabrielH, blitz, FICS, 2010 & perrypawnpusher - StockholmMoskva, blitz, FICS, 2010.
10.Rd1 c5
A reasonable move, but not actually necessary, as my opponent showed in perrypawnpusher - richardachatz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2-1/2, 71) by playing 10...Ke7. Remember, Black is two pieces up. In that game I was lucky to swindle my way to a draw.
Also good for Black is 10...Qf6 11.Rxd4+ Ke7.
11.c3 Ne7
12.Qh3
I have played this move successfully before, but I think that 12.Qh5 as in perrypawnpusher - Lakritzl, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 20) and perrypawnpusher - tuffmom, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 26) or 12.Qf4 as in perrypawnpusher - Xasquete, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 46) might be better.
In truth, all still leave White struggling for even equality.
12...Kc7
Stepping out of the pin, although also good for Black was 12...N7g6 as in perrypawnpusher - Repunante, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17). [Hmmm... doesn't look like I've posted this game here yet - RK]
13.cxd4 cxd4
Or 13...d6 14.Qc3 Nd7 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Bf4 b6 17.b4 Kc6 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - tuffmom, blitz, FICS, 2010.
14.Rxd4 d6
perrypawnpusher - Jantra, blitz, FICS, 2010 continued with 14...N7c6 (1-0, 26) Black probably should have played 14...Kb8 first.
15.Qc3+ N7c6 16.Bf4
After the game Rybka recommended 16.f4, giving Black an edge after 16...Nf7 17.Be3 g5
16...Qf6
Black's defense is now solidly in place. He is even threatening to win the exchange after 17.Bg3 Nf3+ 18.gxf3 Qxd4.
17.Bxe5 Qxe5 18.Rc4 Be6
Black is ready to finish up.
19.Qxe5 dxe5 20.Rc1 Rac8 21.b4
Hope springs eternal, but Black is even able to castle-by-hand on the Queenside. White has nothing for his sacrificed piece (the extra pawn is meaningless).
21...Kb8 22.Nd2 Nd4 23.a4 Ne2+ White resigned
Whew! This was a very good game by pblond, and it certainly shows what a struggle the Jerome Gambit can sometimes deliver – for White.
