Jerome Gambit: Chaos Rules

I enjoy playhing over the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games of ZahariSokolov playing at FICS. He shows an understanding of the opening, and brings a creativity that expands its impact.

In the following very difficult, complicated game, however, his opponent presents an odd, rarely-played defense, and the game quickly leaves recommended play. Still, it takes oversights on both sides before the winner is finally decided.

ZahariSokolov - mmamaju
standard, FICS, 2015

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7

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 - but, in this game at least, it is successful.

6.Nc4 

Electing to retain his Knight. In similar situations (see below) it can be exchanged to double Black's pawns.

6.Qh5 is the strongest response, although there are not many examples in The Database: 6...Qf8 (6...d6 7.Qf7# stivb_99 - spymaster, GameKnot.com, 2008) 7.Nxc6+ (7.0–0 d6 8.Ng6+ hxg6 9.Qxh8 Nd4 10.Na3 Ne2+ 11.Kh1 Be6 12.d4 Bxd4 13.f4 Qf6 14.Nb5 Bb6 15.Bd2 a6 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Bd4 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Qxe5 20.Bxd4 Qxd4 21.c3 Qe5 22.Rae1 Qd5 23.Qxg7+ Kd6 24.Rd1 Qxd1 25.Rxd1+ Kc6 26.Qxg6 Black resigned, guest1200 – satmonger, Internet ChessClub, 2001) 7...dxc6 8.Qxc5+ Ke8 9.Qxf8+ Kxf8 10.c3 Nf6 11.d3 Kf7 12.0–0 Rf8 13.f4 Kg8 14.f5 Bd7 15.h3 Rae8 16.g4 h6 17.Bf4 Rc8 18.Nd2 c5 19.Nf3 c6 20.Nh4 Rf7 21.c4 Rd8 22.Ng6 Be8 23.Rf3 Rfd7 24.Ne5 Re7 25.Rd1 Nd7 26.Nxd7 Rexd7 27.Kf2 Bf7 28.Ke3 Kf8 29.h4 Ke7 30.g5 hxg5 31.hxg5 Ke8 32.g6 Bg8 33.Rh3 Kf8 34.Rh8 b5 35.b3 a5 36.Rdh1 Rxd3+ 37.Ke2 R3d7 38.Bg5 Re8 39.Ke3 bxc4 40.bxc4 Rd4 41.R8h4 Rxc4 42.Rb1 Rb4 43.Rxb4 cxb4 44.Kd3 Rc8 45.e5 Rd8+ 46.Kc2 Rc8 47.f6 c5 48.f7 Bxf7 49.gxf7 Kxf7 50.Rc4 Ke6 51.Bf4 Kd5 52.Kb3 a4+ 53.Kxa4 Kxc4 54.e6 Re8 55.Ka5 Rxe6 56.Bc7 Kc3 57.Bb6 c4 58.Bc5 Re5 59.Kb5 b3 60.axb3 cxb3 61.Kc6 Rxc5+ 62.Kxc5 b2 63.Kd5 b1Q 64.Ke6 Qb5 65.Kf7 Kd4 66.Kxg7 Qc6 67.Kf7 Ke5 68.Kf8 Qd7 69.Kg8 Kf6 70.Kh8 Qg7 checkmate, UNPREDICTABLE - aladu, FICS, 2009.

Second best seems to be 6.d4 Bb4+ (6...Nxe5 7.dxc5 d6 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.f4 Nc6 10.O-O h6 11.cxd6+ Qxd6 12.e5 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 hxg5 14.exf6+ Kxf6 15.fxg5+ Kxg5 16.Nc3 Bf5 17.Rd2 g6 18.Nd5 Rad8 19.Rad1 Bg4 20.Re1 Nb4 21.Re5+ Bf5 22.Rf2 Rxd5 23.h4+ Kxh4 24.g3+ Kg5 25.Ree2 Nxc2 26.Kg2 Nb4 27.Kf3 Bg4+ 28.Kg2 Bxe2 29.Rxe2 Rhd8 30.Re7 R5d7 31.Re5+ Kf6 32.Rb5 Nxa2 33.Rxb7 c5 34.Rb5 c4 35.Ra5 Nc1 36.g4 Nb3 37.Rb5 Nd4 38.Rb4 Rc7 39.b3 c3 40.Rxd4 Rxd4 41.Kg3 c2 42.b4 c1=Q 43.b5 Rc3+ 44.Kh4 Qh1 checkmate, ainafets - Straineryou, FICS, 2007; 6...Nxd4 7.Bg5+ Nf6 8.O-O d6 9.Ng4 Bxg4 10.Qxg4 Ne6 11.Rd1 Nxg5 12.Qxg5 Kd7 13.Qf5+ Ke7 14.Nc3 Qf8 15.e5 Bxf2+ 16.Qxf2 dxe5 17.Qc5+ Kf7 18.Qxc7+ Kg8 19.Qxe5 Re8 20.Qc7 Ng4 21.Qc4+ Qf7 22.Qxg4 Black resigned, trebbor - saucer, FICS, 2001) 7.c3 d6 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.Bxf6+ gxf6 10.Nxc6+ bxc6 11.cxb4 c5 12.a3 cxd4 13.O-O Qg8 14.g3 Be6 15.Qxd4 Bc4 16.Re1 Qe6 17.Nd2 f5 18.exf5 Black resigned, Darthnik - Amoxicillin, FICS, 2011.

There is also the reasonable-looking 6.Nxc6+ bxc6 (6...dxc6 7.d3 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be6 9.O-O Kd7 10.e5 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Ng4 13.h3 Ne3 14.fxe3 Bxe3+ 15.Bf2 Bxf2+ 16.Rxf2 Ke7 17.c3 c5 18.d4 Qd5 19.Qf3 Raf8 20.Qxd5 Bxd5 21.Nd2 Rxf2 22.Kxf2 b5 23.Nf3 Rf8 24.a3 h5 25.Kg3 Rg8 26.Rf1 g4 27.hxg4 Rxg4+ 28.Kf2 Rf4 29.Ke3 Re4+ 30.Kd2 Rg4 31.Rf2 Black forfeited on time, perrypawnpusher - salla, blitz, FICS, 2010) 7.d4 Bb6 (7...Bb4+ 8.c3 Bd6 9.Bg5+ Nf6 10.e5 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Kf8 12.O-O h6 13.exf6 gxf6 14.Be3 d5 15.Bc5+ Kg8 16.Nd2 h5 17.Nf3 Bg4 18.Qd3 Bxf3 19.Qg6 checkmate, CoachCrupp - zzzozzzo, FICS, 2008) 8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.e5 Ba6 10.exf6+ gxf6 11.Be3 Qg8 12.Rg1 Re8 13.a4 c5 14.a5 cxd4 15.axb6 dxe3 16.Rxa6 axb6 17.fxe3 Qg5 18.Qf3 Kf7 19.Kd2 Re7 20.Nc3 Rhe8 21.Nd5 Re4 22.Nf4 Qc5 23.Ra3 Qe5 24.Rd3 Qa5+ 25.c3 Qb5 26.Qh5+ Qxh5 27.Rxd7+ Black resigned, jankrb - Red House, RedHotPawn.com, 2013;

6...Ne5

Black's best response is 6...d5, which would be a TN, keeping his advantage.

7.d3

White should simply take the Knight on e5 and be better. With the text, he returns the advantage to his adversary.

One wonders if one of Alekhine's cats jumped on White's keyboard. 

7...Nxc4 8.dxc4 h6 9.Nc3 c6 10.Qg4 Qf8 11.O-O Kd8 12.Be3 Be7 13.e5 d6 14.Qh5 

14...Kc7 15.exd6+ Bxd6 16.Ne4

A slip. Better was 16.c5 Be7 17.Qd5+. 

16...Nf6 17.Qf3 Bg4 18.Qf4

Perhaps Stockfish 7's suggestion held out more hope: 18.Bf4 Bxf3 19.Bxd6+ Qxd6 20.Nxd6 Kxd6 21.gxf3. 

18...Bxf4 19.Bxf4+ Kc8 20.Nd6+ Kd7 21.Nxb7 Be2 22.Rfe1 Bxc4 23.Rad1+ Bd5 24.c4 Kc8 25.Nd6+ Kd7 26.cxd5 Nxd5 27.Bg3 

White has been fighting back fiercely since losing his Queen, and he is helped by Black's next move, which actually gives the attacker the advantage in the game. Perhaps time problems?

27...Re8 28.Ne4

A missed opportunity for White, as he had 28.Rxe8 Qxe8 29.Nxe8 Rxe8 with a small advantage.

Black is now able to move on to victory. 

28...Re6 29.f3 h5 30.Rc1 Rg6 31.Nc5+ Kc8 32.Ne6 Qb4 33.Rb1 Qb6+ 34.Bf2 Qa6 35.a3 Re8 36.Nc5 Rxe1+ 37.Rxe1 Qc4 38.Ne4 Qb3 39.Nc3 Nxc3 40.bxc3 Qxc3 41.Re8+ Kd7 42.Re1 Qxa3 43.Bh4 Qb4 44.Kh1 Qxh4 White resigned

Another RHP Jerome Gambit Tournament - Game 2

If you are playing an opening that is "off the beaten path" and your opponent takes you off of that path, is it a good thing or a bad thing? In the following game Black's opening creativity serves him much less well than following the stodgy main line of the Jerome Gambit.

jankrb (2055) - Red House (1588)
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit tournament, RedHotPawn, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7

Of the almost 4,600 games in The Database which reach the position after White's 5th move, only 9 show Black's 5th move response, with the simple Knight recapture being the most popular alternative. See "An Odd Line In An Odd Line" and "Jerome Gambit, Paulsen Variation".

6.Nxc6+

Best play now appears to be 6.Qh5! which appeared in 3 games: guest1200 - satmonger, Internet Chess Club, 2001 (1-0, 26); stivb_99 - spymaster, GameKnot.com, 2008 (1-0, 7);  and UNPREDICTABLE - aladu, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 70).

Each time, Black missed the best defense, pointed out by Rybka, 6...Bxf2+!? 7.Kxf2 Qf8+ 8.Nf3 Nf6, although White would still have an edge.

6...bxc6

Stronger was 6...dxc6, preventing the White d-pawn from advancing 2 squares, as in perrypawnpusher - salla, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 31).

7.d4 Bb6

There is no need to repeat the offbeat 7...Bb4+, from CoachCrupp - zzzozzzo, FICS, 2008: 8.c3 Bd6 9.Bg5+ Nf6 10.e5 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Kf8 12.0-0 h6 13.exf6 gxf6 14.Be3 d5 15.Bc5+ Kg8 16.Nd2 h5 17.Nf3 Bg4 18.Qd3 Bxf3 19.Qg6 checkmate.

8.Bg5+ Nf6 9.e5 Ba6 

10.exf6+

An interesting try, according to Houdini, is 10.Qf3!? Kf7 (not 10...Bxd4 11.Bxf6+ gxf6 12.Qxf6+ Ke8 13.Qxh8+ Ke7 14.Qxh7+) 11.Nd2 h6 (a bit better than 11...Bxd4 12.exf6 Re8+ 13.Ne4 Rxe4+ 14.Qxe4 Bxb2 15.Rb1 Bxf6 16.Qf3 Qe7+ 17.Kd1 Re8 18.Bxf6 gxf6±) 12.Be3 Re8 13.0-0-0 and White has an advantage as he will recover his sacrificed piece.

10...gxf6 11.Be3 Qg8 12.Rg1 Re8 13.a4 c5 14.a5 cxd4 15.axb6 dxe3 16.Rxa6 axb6 17.fxe3 Qg5

Both Kings remain uneasy, but White has an extra piece which he can make use of as soon as he consolidates his position.

18.Qf3 Kf7 19.Kd2 Re7 20.Nc3 Rhe8 21.Nd5 Re4 22.Nf4 Qc5 23.Ra3 Qe5 24.Rd3 Qa5+ 25.c3 Qb5 26.Qh5+ Qxh5 27.Rxd7+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit, Paulsen Variation

A few years ago, ever in search for material on the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) I was wandering the internet, and came upon "Chess Openings -- Version 3.0" [now 3.1] at http://www.csm.astate.edu/~wpaulsen/chess/chess.htm?002137. The site, designed by Dr. William Paulsen, allows visitors to play moves on an opening board and learn the names of variations, positions, etc.

 

So, of course in the "Beginning Position" I entered 1.e2-e4 and received the introduction

King's Opening
This is the most popular first move in chess. Generally, these games tend to be more open and tactical than the Queen's pawn games. This is a highly recomended opening for beginners. Years ago, this was considered the only "proper" move, with e7-e5 the only "proper" responce. However, there have since been many other alternatives discovered. Depending on black's responce, The King's pawn opening can turn into many things:

So I followed along with 1...e7-e5,

Double King's Pawn
The most popular response to the King's opening. This maintains symmetry and disputes control of the center. In theory, as long as Black can maintain symmetry, Black has secured equality. This line leads to many valid openings.

and then 2.Ng1-f3,

"Epine Dorsale - Part 1"
"Epine Dorsale" means the Dorsal Spine. Hence, this is the main spine in which all other openings branch out from. White immediately attacks the black pawn at e5. Black must either defend this pawn, or else attack White's pawn. The most popular way of doing this is with Nb8-c6, which developes a piece at the same time. However, there are some other good alternatives.

and then 2...Nb8-c6 ("Epine Dorsale - Part 2"),

"Epine Dorsale - Part 2"
Black has made the most common move at this point. Now White has the following options:

Very interesting.

So I played 3.Bf1-c4 ("Italian Game") and 3...Bf8-c5

Giuoco Piano
Giuoco Piano means "Quiet Game", although the game is anything but quiet. Perhaps this was quiet compared to the King's Gambit Variations that were popular at the time, but even so the Giuoco Piano often this turns into a real fighting match. However, if White is the weaker player, he can use this formation to his advantage by playing the Giuoco Pianissimo.

Finally I played 4.Bc4xf7+?

Giuoco Piano - Jerome Gambit
White sacrifices his bishop to get the Black king out into the open. Black must take the bishop or be down a pawn.

Of course I hit the "Continue" button to proceed, the board showed 4...Ke8xf7, and there was further information,

White is a piece down, but hopes to regain that piece. In order to do so, it must sacrifice another piece with Nf3xe5.

Making the move, 5.Ne5+

It looks as though Black can be two pieces up by taking the knight. This is what White hopes Black will think.

Indeed, if Black plays 5...Nxe5

Giuoco Piano - Jerome Gambit "Variation I"
Black takes the second piece, but White can regain the material with Qd1-h5+!

After the followup 6.Qh5+

If the king moves toward the knight to protect it, White can check at f5. Black cannot save his knight. White has two pawns for a piece, and the attack isn't over yet.

What I found interesting was the alternative given to capturing the Knight, 5...Ke7

Giuoco Piano - Jerome Gambit "Variation II"
By moving the king instead of taking the knight, White cannot attack the king with his queen. Black ends up with more material.

Well, this is more attention (and respect) than the Jerome Gambit usually gets, so I had to write to Dr. Paulsen and ask about that rare 5th move for Black. His reply

Yes, 5...Ke7 is my own idea. Since Black is already up a piece, by not taking the knight, Black can foil the gambit. In making this network, I try to keep my eyes open to possibilities "outside of the box." Version 3.0 [of "Chess Openings"] came out in 2003, but there were only about 750 moves back then. Because the new version allows moves to be added so easily, there are now over 5000 moves.

In light of this it certainly seems reasonable (at least until historical precedents are uncovered) to give 5...Ke7 the title of "Paulsen variation" and award the good doctor (PhD) membership in the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (see "The Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (early)" and "The Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (modern)") – even though there is one earlier example of the line in my database (presented in an earlier post, as well: see "An Odd Line in an Odd Line").

guest1200 - satmonger

ICC 2 12, 2001

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7

By the way, "guest 1200" is our old pal and Gemeinde member, Louis Morin.

6.Qh5

This is the strongest response.

It is a odd thing to recall, but the position is now the same as it was with several games that I played against the computer program WeakDelphi (see "I can't seem to get the hang of these things...") – only with White now to move.

6...Qf8

Black's best plan here seems to be to return a piece with 6...Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2, followed by covering the f7 square with 7...Qf8+; when White is simply a pawn ahead.

Of course, there's always saving the Bishop with 6...d6 7.Qf7 checkmate, stivb_99 - spymaster, gameknot.com, 2008; but that seems a bit too drastic.

7.0-0

Consistent, instead, was 7.Nxc6+ followed by 8.Qxc5+ and White is two pawns up, whether or not he swaps Queens.

7...d6 8.Ng6+ hxg6 9.Qxh8 Nd4

An interesting position. Black's advantage in development means that his two-pieces-for-a-Rook-and-two-pawns imblance gives him an edge.

10.Na3 Ne2+

I think better was more development: 10...Be6 11.d3 Nf6 12.Qxf8+ Rxf8.

11.Kh1 Be6 12.d4 Bxd4 13.f4

Going after the enemy King, regardless. After all, this is a blitz game, and this is the Jerome Gambit.

13...Qf6 14.Nb5

At this point White needs a very good distraction. Luckily, it works.

14...Bb6 15.Bd2 a6 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Bd4
br /> This last move looks ok at first glance, but actually it is a tactical oversight.

18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Qxe5 20.Bxd4

The move to make was 20.Qh4+ followed by the Queen capturing on d4 nabbing a piece. White shows, however, that his line of play also wins for him.

20...Qxd4 21.c3 Qe5 22.Rae1 Qd5 23.Qxg7+ Kd6 24.Rd1 Qxd1 25.Rxd1+ Kc6 26.Qxg6 Black resigns.

An Odd Line in an Odd Line

One of the modern members of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Gemeinde, Louis Morin, played White in the following game. It's a simple equation: Jerome Gambit + blitz = anything can happen.

guest1200 - satmonger
ICC 2 12, 2001
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7


Quite unusual: given the choice of four refutations (5...Kf8, 5...Ke6, 5...Ng6 and 5...g6) Black choses a move instead that gives White the advantage.

6.Qh5 Qf8


It is rare that counter-sacrificing the Bishop at f2 is a good move for the second player (see "Jerome Gambit Strikes in Denmark!"), but here it was his best choice: 6...Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2 Qf8+ 8.Nf3 Nf6 with advantage to White, according to Rybka.

7.0-0

With 7.Nxc6+ bxc6 8.Qxc5+ White would have been happily two pawns ahead.

7...d6 8.Ng6+ hxg6 9.Qxh8


9...Nd4 10.Na3 Ne2+ 11.Kh1 Be6 12.d4 Bxd4 13.f4


Aggressive, but risky, as Black's pieces are beginning to swarm and White's Queen risks entrapment.

13...Qf6 14.Nb5 Bb6

White's Knight sortie is a distraction, and helps bring the game back into balance.

15.Bd2 a6 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Bd4


After 17...Qf7 the game would have been roughly equal. But this gives White a chance.

18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Qxe5 20.Bxd4 Qxd4 21.c3 Qe5 22.Rae1 Qd5


Now Black's game collapses. He had to try the tactical 22...Rf8, although that allows White to spring his Queen and win material: 23.Qh4+ g5 24.Qb4+ Qd6 25.Qxd6+ Kxd6 26.Rxf8,

23.Qxg7+ Kd6 24.Rd1 Qxd1 25.Rxd1+ Kc6 26.Qxg6 Black resigns