The "Jerome pawns" - the one White obtains in exchange for his piece(s) - can be a powerful attacking or positional force. However, if White does not take care of his pawns, they can also become targets and the cause of his downfall, as in the following game.
ulla - abebe
milenrousoulski's mini-tournament,
GameKnot.com, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf6
Four years ago, in "BSG: Later on in the Discussion", I suggested that now, after 6.Nf3, the game would be equal. Shortly afterwards, I faced 5...Kf6 played by RVLY, a specialist in the line (see "Whose Territory Are We Fighting On?"), but after 6.c3 Kxe5 we transposed into more regular 5...Ke6 lines. GOH, a member of the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde playing at FICS, has faced 6.c3 Ne6 and 6.c3 d6. To date, The Database does not include a game with my suggestion 6.c3 Nc2+!?
6.Ng4+
There are 66 games with this line in The Database, played by the likes of Jerome Gambiteers GOH, HauntedKnight, MyGameUMove, stretto, Wall and yorgos.
6...Ke7 7.c3 Ne6
Or 7...Nc6 8.d4 d6 9.d5 Bxg4 10.Qxg4 Qd7 11.Qxd7+ Kxd7 12.dxc6+ Kxc6 13.0-0 Nf6 14.f3 h6 15.Be3 Be7 16.Nd2 b5 17.Nb3 a6 18.Nd4+ Kb7 19.Nf5 Bf8 20.Bd4 Re8 21.Rfd1 Re6 22.a4 g6 23.axb5 gxf5 24.bxa6+ Ka8 25.exf5 Re5 26.Bxe5 dxe5 27.Rd8+ Ka7 28.Ra5 Bc5+ 29.Rxc5 Rxd8 30.Rxc7+ Kb8 31.Rc6 Nd5 32.Rxh6 Nf4 33.g3 Rd1+ 34.Kf2 Nd3+ 35.Ke2 Nxb2 36.Rb6+ Black resigned, Wall,B - GYHZ, FICS, 2010.
8.d4 h5
Or 8...Nf6 9.d5 Nc5 10.0-0 Ke8 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.b4 Na6 15.e5 Qg6 16.Qd4 b6 17.f4 Bb7 18.f5 Qg5 19.Nd2 c5 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Ne4 Qg4 22.Nd6+ Kd8 23.Qxg4 Black resigned, Wall,B - Darksquare, 15 0 game, Chess.com, 2010.
9.Ne5 Qe8 10.d5
Unsettling the pawn front and ignoring the pawns left behind (e.g. at g2). White should have tried 10.0-0 followed by adding another pawn to the center with f2-f4.
10...Nc5 11.Bg5+ Nf6 12.Qd4 d6 13.Nc4
White might have done better to try 13.Nd2 dxe5 14.Qxc5+ Kd8 15.Qe3, although Black would still have the advantage.
13...Qg6
Striking back at the pawns.
14.Bxf6+ gxf6 15.g3 Qxe4+ 16.Qxe4+ Nxe4 17.0-0
The g-pawn is safe, but Black will now unravel his position and make use of his extra material. White does not complicate enough to distract him.
17...Kf7 18.Re1 Ng5 19.Nbd2 Bg4 20.Re3 Bh6 21.f4 Nh3+ 22.Kg2 Rhe8 White resigned
There is still play in the game, even after the Rooks are exchanged, but with only a pawn for Black's piece, it would be all uphill for White.
Creativity in chess has its place, even in the following game, as long as it doesn't overstep its boundaries.
Fandral - LuigiBot
standard, FICS, 2013
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+ 7.c3 Bd6
The computer software LuigiBot (rated in the 1500s at FICS) comes up with an interesting maneuver that has also been seen in the past by Jerome Gambiteers Darrenshome, jfhumphrey, stretto, Sir Osis of the Liver, and HauntedKnight. It is playable, if Black figures out the proper continuation.
8.dxe5 Bxe5
Missing the proper 8...Be7.
9.Qd5+ Kf6 10.f4 Qe7
Black should bite the bullet, instead, and play 10...Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3 Ne7, when material would be even, and White would be a bit better due to more central control by the "Jerome pawns" and a safer King.
11.fxe5+ Kg6 12.0-0 Nh6 13.Rf3 Rf8
Hoping to hold off the attack, but allowing mate.
14.Rg3+ Kh5 15.Qd1+ Rf3 16.Qxf3+ Kh4 17.Rh3 checkmate
After the previous game, I was pleased to come across the following Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
JMonson has played the Jerome Gambit at FICS for at least 5 years (scoring 58%). Here he runs afoul of a relatively rare counter-attacking idea. The whole line deserves further exploration.
JMonson - fischerJrSON
standard, FICS, 2013
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Nfg4
A plucky move by Black - Let White choose which piece he wants to capture, I want to attack!
The Database has only 3 earlier examples: two wins for White and one draw, a misleading result.
8.dxc5
Here, Black lost on time in Apterygidae - Danialian, standard, FICS, 2011. There is not much to learn from that.
Houdini prefers 8.f3 for White, leaving Black with an edge after 8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Qh4+ 10.Kd2 Qf6 11.Ke2 d6 12.Nd5 c5 13.Nxf6 cxd4 14.Nxg4 Bxg4 15.fxg4 Rac8. Jerome Gambiteers might want to remember 8.f3.
8...Qh4
Instead, 8...c6 was played in the up-and-down MyGameUMove - SoftBrutal, FICS, 2013: 9.O-O Re8 10.Nd5 b6 11.b4 bxc5 12.bxc5 Nf6 13.Nxf6 Qxf6 14.Qh5+ g6 15.Qxh7+ Ke6 16.Qh3+ Ke7 17.Qg3 Ba6 18.Bg5 Bxf1 19.Bxf6+ Kxf6 20.Kxf1 a5 21.f4 Nc4 22.Qg5+ Kg7 23.f5 Kf8 24.Qxg6 Rxe4 25.Qh6+ Kf7 26.Qg6+ Ke7 27.Qg7+ Kd8 28.Qg8+ Re8 29.Qg5+ Kc7 30.f6 Re5 31.Qg3 Nd2+ 32.Kg1 d6 33.Rd1 Rae8 34.cxd6+ Kxd6 35.Rxd2+ Kc7 36.Re2 Kd6 37.Rxe5 Rxe5 38.f7 Ke7 39.Qxe5+ Kxf7 40.Qd6 c5 41.Qc6 c4 42.Qc5 a4 43.Qxc4+ Kf6 44.Qxa4 Kf5 45.c4 Ke4 46.c5+ Kd3 47.c6 Ke3 48.c7 Ke2 when White ran out of time and Black had no material to mate, giving a draw. Many improvements are possible for both sides.
9.Be3
This just loses a piece.
Instead 9.Qd5+ Ke7 10.g3 (10.Qd4 Kf7 11.Bf4 is about equal) 10...c6 (10...Qf6 11.f4 Nf3+ 12.Kf1 Qd4 13.Qxd4 Nxd4 14.Nd5+ Kf7 Black would have an edge) 11.Qd6+ Kd8 12.gxh4 Nf3+ 13.Ke2 Re8 14.Kxf3 h5 15.Bg5+ Re7 16.Bxe7+ (16.Qxe7+ Kc7 17.Qd6#) 16...Ke8 17.e5 b6 18.Ne4 Ba6 19.Rad1 Rd8 Black resigned, in stretto - shutrick, FICS, 2007.
9...Nxe3 White resigned
Periodically in this new year we will be looking at different lines in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and be providing ideas (and study material) which may deliver "first aid" or heavier "fixes" in situations where White's play has been injured.
Here is a game by HauntedKnight, a regular player of things Jerome. He has 144 games in The Database, scoring an over-all 49%, which is the over-all average for White in those 27,400 games. With the Jerome Gambit proper he scores 42%, which is comparable to the 43% of all Jerome Gambit games in The Database.
HauntedKnight - Josue
standard game, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Be7
Josue, the higher-rated player, chooses a very reasonable, if unpopular line. The Database has only 12 games with this move, but White has scored only 38% against it.
7.dxe5
White avoids the ostentatious 7.f4 which brings a lot of visual excitement, but more "flash" than "bang": 7...Nc6 8.d5 Nb4 9.a3 Na6 10.0-0 Nf6 11.e5 Ne8 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qh6 Bf8 14.Qh3 d6 15.e6+ Kg7 16.b3 Be7 17.f5 Nf6 18.Bb2 c6 19.c4 cxd5 20.Nd2 dxc4 21.Ne4 Nc5 22.Nxf6 Bxf6 23.Bxf6+ Qxf6 24.bxc4 b6 25.Qg3 Bb7 26.Qxd6 Rad8 27.Qf4 Rd4 28.Qe3 Re4 29.Qd2 Rd8 30.Qf2 g5 31.Rad1 Red4 32.Qf4 Rxf4 White resigned, wirerabbit - SimpleOne, FICS, 2007
7...d6
Alternatives include:
7...g6 8.Qd5+ Kg7 9.b3 h5 10.Bb2 Kh7 11.Nd2 c6 12.Qd3 d6 13.exd6 Bf6 14.e5 Bg7 15.0-0-0 Bf5 16.Qe2 Be6 17.h3 b5 18.g4 h4 19.f4 Bd5 20.Ne4 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Qa5 22.Kb1 Rd8 23.g5 Nh6 24.gxh6 Bxh6 25.f5 Rhg8 26.Rhg1 g5 27.f6+ Rg6 28.e6 Qb6 29.e7 Rxd6 30.e8Q Rxd1+ 31.Rxd1, Black resigned, gollydali - Letranite, FICS, 2011;
the sturdy 7...Nh6 8.Qd5+ (8.Qh5) 8...Kf8 9.Bxh6 gxh6 10.Nc3 c6 11.Qd3 d6 12.Qf3+ Kg8 13.0-0-0 Bg4 14.Qxg4+ Kf8 15.Qf4+ Ke8 16.e6 Bg5 17.Qxg5 Qxg5+ 18.Kb1 Qxg2 19.Rhg1 Qxe4 20.Nxe4 Ke7 21.Rxd6 Rhg8 22.Rxg8 Rxg8 23.c4 Rg4 24.Rd7+ Kxe6 25.Nc5+ Kf6 26.Rxb7 Rxc4 27.Nd3 Rd4 28.Kc2 Rh4 29.Rxh7 Rxh2 30.Kc3 Kf5 31.b4 a6 32.a4 Ke4 33.Re7+ Kd5 34.Re5+ Kd6 35.f4 h5 36.Rg5 h4 37.Kc4 Rc2+ 38.Kd4 h3 39.Rh5 h2 40.Rh6+ Kd7 41.Nc5+ Kc7 42.Rh7+ Kb6 43.Rb7 checkmate, exatapalov - MeTaLoV, FICS, 2011;
the solid 7...Ke8 8.0-0 h6 9.Qg4 Bf8 10.Qg6+ Ke7 11.Nc3 c6 12.Be3 Qe8 13.Qd6+ Kd8 14.Qd4 Kc7 15.Bf4 Qe6 16.Rad1 a6 17.Na4 b5 18.Qb6 checkmate, CoachCrupp - tuffnut, FICS, 2008;
and the overly-casual 7...Nf6 8.exf6 Bxf6 returning the piece 9.0-0 Re8 10.e5 (10.Qd5+) Rxe5 11.Bf4 Re7 12.Qh5+ Kg8 13.Bg5 Bxg5 14.Qxg5 d6 15.Qh5 Re5 16.Qf3 Qe7 17.Nd2 Bd7 18.Nc4 Rf8 19.Qb3 Be6 20.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Qf6 22.Ne3 Qxf2+ 23.Kh1 Qxe1+ 24.Nf1 Qxf1 checkmate, Howtocastle - svadali, FICS, 2003.
8.Qf3+
Probably best, although after 8.exd6 White had interesting play 8...Qxd6 9.Qe2 (9.Qf3+ Nf6 10.0-0 Bg4 11.Qb3+ Be6 12.Qxb7 Rhb8 13.Qa6 Qxa6 14.Nc3 Qxf1+ 15.Kxf1 a6 16.Be3 Ng8 17.Rd1 Rxb2 18.Bd4 Rxc2 19.Ne2 Bc4 20.Kg1 Bxe2 21.Re1 Bb5 22.f4 Rd8 23.Bf2 Rdd2 24.Bg3 Rxg2+ 25.Kh1 Rgd2 26.e5 Bc6+ 27.Kg1 Bc5+ 28.Kf1 Bg2 checkmate, Idealist - fake, FICS, 2000) 9...Be6 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.0-0 Rhf8 12.e5 Qc6 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Be3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Qxc3 17.Qh4 b6 18.Bd4 Qc4 19.c3 c5 20.Rac1 cxd4 21.cxd4 Qxa2 22.Qg5 Rf7 23.f4 Raf8 24.Rcd1 Qd5 25.Kh1 Qxg5 26.fxg5 White resigned, stretto - ifufocop, FICS, 2007 (26);
Aggressive was 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qf3+ Ke8 10.Nc3 c6 11.0-0 (11.Bf4) dxe5 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.Qg3 Nf6 14.Be3 Be6 15.Bh6 Rd8 16.Qf3 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Kf7 18.Bg5 Rd8 19.Rxd8 Qxd8 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.h4 h5 22.Qe2 b5 23.Nd1 a5 24.Qe1 a4 25.Ne3 Bxh4 26.b3 Bg5 27.f4 Bxf4 28.Nf1 Kg7 29.g3 Bg5 30.c4 bxc4 31.bxc4 Bxc4 32.Qb4 Bxf1 33.Kxf1 Qd3+ 34.Kg2 Qd2+ 35.Kh3 Qxb4 36.a3 Qxa3 White forfeited on time, Stockholm - MorphyLives, FICS, 2007.
8...Ke8
9.Be3
Alternatives:
9.Qh5+ g6 10.Qf3 dxe5 11.Nc3 Be6 12.0-0 c6 13.Be3 Nf6 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Bh6 Bg4 16.Qd3 Bxd1 17.Rxd1 Rd8 18.Qc4 Rxd1+ 19.Nxd1 Qd6 20.Nc3 Qb4 21.Qe6 Qxb2 22.Bg7 Qc1+ White resigned, quixote - RRustyy1, Chess.com, 2012;
9.exd6 Qxd6 10.Bf4 Qb4+ 11.Nd2 Qxb2 12.0-0 Nf6 13.Bxc7 Bg4 14.Qd3 Rc8 15.Nc4 Qb5 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Qxd6 Nxe4 18.Rfe1 Be2 19.Qe6+ Kf8 20.Qxe4 Rxc7 21.Rxe2 Kf7 22.Qf4+ Kg6 23.Re5 Qb2 24.Qg5+ Kf7 25.Rae1 Qb6 26.Qf4+ Qf6 27.Rf5 g5 28.Qxc7+ Black resigned, jfhumphrey - JeversonM, FICS, 2012;
9.e6 Bxe6 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.0-0 Rf8 12.Qg3 Nh5 13.Qd3 Nf4 14.Bxf4 Rxf4 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Rh4 17.Rae1 Qd7 18.Re6 Kf8 19.Qf3+ Kg8 20.Rfe1 Re8 21.Qe3 Rh6 22.Rxh6 gxh6 23.Qxh6 Bf8 24.Qg5+ Bg7 25.Rf1 Qe7 26.Qg3 Qe2 27.f3 Qxc2 28.Qg4 Qg6 29.Qd7 Re2 30.Qc8+ Bf8 31.Qh3 Rxb2 32.f4 Rxa2 33.f5 Qg5 34.f6 Qxd5 35.f7+ Kh8 36.Qg3 Qd4+ 37.Kh1 Qg7 38.Qf3 c5 39.h4 c4 40.Qxb7 c3 41.Qf3 c2 42.h5 Rb2 43.Kh2 c1Q 44.Rxc1 Qe5+ 45.Kh3 Qe6+ 46.Kh2 Rb4 47.Qc3+ Qe5+ 48.Qxe5+ dxe5 49.Kh3 Kg7 50.Rf1 h6 51.g4 a5 52.Rf5 Rb3+ 53.Kh4 Be7+ 54.g5 Bxg5+ 55.Kg4 Rb4+ 56.Kf3 e4+ 57.Ke2 Rb2+ 58.Kd1 Kf8 59.Rxa5 Kxf7 60.Rf5+ Ke6 61.Rf8 Ke5 62.Re8+ Kd4 63.Rd8+ Ke3 White resigned, jfhumphrey - fischbroetchen, FICS, 2011;
Probably best is 9.Bf4 dxe5 10.Bxe5 Nf6 11.0-0 Bd6 12.Bd4 c5 13.e5 cxd4 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.Re1+ Kf8 16.Na3 Kg8 17.Nc4 Qc6 18.Qb3 Be6 19.Rxe6 Qxe6 20.Qxb7 Rf8 21.b3 h5 22.Qxa7 Qg4 23.h3 Qf4 24.Re1 Rh7 25.Re7 g5 26.Rxh7 Nxh7 27.a4 Qxf2+ 28.Kh2 Rf7 29.Qa8+ Kg7 30.Qd5 g4 31.hxg4 hxg4 32.Qd6 g3+ 33.Qxg3+ Qxg3+ 34.Kxg3 Ng5 35.Kh2 Ne4 36.g3 Rf2+ 37.Kh3 Rxc2 38.Kg4 Rc3 39.Kf4 Rxb3 40.Ne5 Rb4 41.Ng6 Rxa4 42.Ne7 Kf7 43.Nf5 Nxg3 44.Nd6+ Ke7 45.Nf5+ Ke6 46.Nd6 Kd5 47.Kg4 Kxd6 48.Kg5 drawn, soonFM - vessoj, FICS, 2005.
9...Nh6
Black is planning something wicked, a threat that shows up in several of the above games. Probably his best move was 9...dxe5.
10.Nc3
It is prudent to note here that White can take the draw with 10.Bxh6 gxh6 11.Qh5+ Kf8 12.Qf3+ Kg7 13.Qg3+ Kf7 14.Qf3+ Kg8 15.Qb3+ Kg7 16.Qg3+ Kf7, etc.
If White wants to play on, it would seem that 10.Qh5+ Nf7 11.exd6 followed by 12.Nc3 would be best.
10...Bg4
The unhappy point: White will lose his Queen.
11.Qg3 Bh4 12.Qf4 Rf8 13.Qxf8+ Kxf8
White continued the fight, but it was too much.
14.g3 Bg5 15.f4 Be7 16.Kf2 Qe8 17.h3 Bd7 18.Ke2 dxe5 19.fxe5 Qh5+ 20.Kd2 Bg5 21.Rae1 Bxe3+ 22.Rxe3 Qxe5 23.Kc1 Kg8 24.Rd1 Bxh3 25.Rd5 Qf6 26.b3 Rd8 27.Rc5 Qf2 28.Nd5 Rxd5 29.Rec3 Rxc5 White resigned
I have faced a number of defenders who fought back against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) by putting their light-squared Bishop on b7 and putting one or two Rooks on the g-file. My success made me lazy in the following game, and the result was not hard to predict.
perrypawnpusher - xxfred
blitz, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Neg4
The nice thing about being two pieces ahead is that you have many choices on how to give one back.
8.dxc5 d6
Black has played a number of alternatives, the first shown here being a bit too exotic:
8...Nxf2 9.Kxf2 Rf8 10.Rf1 Kg8 11.Kg1 d6 12.Bg5 dxc5 13.e5 h6 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.exf6 hxg5 16.fxg7 Kxg7 17.Ne4 Bf5 18.Nxc5 Bxc2 19.Ne6+ Kg6 20.Nxd8 Rxd8 21.Rac1 Rd2 22.Rf2 Rxf2 23.Kxf2 Be4 24.Rxc7 a5 25.Rc4 Bd5 26.Ra4 b6 27.b4 axb4 28.Rxb4 Bxa2 29.Rxb6+ Kh5 30.h3 Bd5 31.Rb5 Bc4 32.Rc5 Be6 33.Re5 Bc4 34.Re4 Bd5 35.Rd4 Bc6 36.g3 Be8 37.h4 gxh4 38.Rxh4+ Kg5 39.Kf3 Bc6+ 40.Kf2 Bd5 41.Rd4 Bc6 42.Rc4 Bd7 43.Kf3 Bc6+ 44.Ke3 Bb5 45.Rf4 Bc6 46.Kd4 Bg2 47.Kc5 Ba8 48.Kd6 Bb7 49.Ke5 Bc6 50.Rb4 Bf3 51.Rf4 Bd1 52.Rf5+ Kg4 53.Rf1 Bf3 54.Rg1 Bd1 55.Kd4 Bf3 56.Ke3 Bc6 57.Kf2 Bd5 58.Rd1 Bc6 59.Rd4+ Kg5 60.Ke3 Bb7 61.Rb4 Bc6 62.Rb6 Bd7 63.Rd6 Bb5 64.Rd5+ Kg4 65.Rxb5 Kxg3 66.Rb4 Kg2 67.Kd2 Kf3 68.Ke1 Ke3 69.Rb5 Kd4 70.Rb4+ Black forfeited on time, yorgos - mikheilmikeladze, FICS, 2009;
8...Qe8 9.Bf4 Nxe4 10.Qd5+ Kf8 11.Qxe4 Qxe4+ 12.Nxe4 d5 13.cxd6 cxd6 14.Nxd6 Be6 15.f3 Nf6 16.0-0-0 Ke7 17.Nxb7 Bxa2 18.Rhe1+ Kf7 19.b3 Rac8 20.Nd6+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Kaiser, Chess.com, 2010; and
8...Qe7 9.0-0 Qe5 10.b4 Qxh2 checkmate, stretto - HunterCuinn, FICS, 2008.
9.cxd6 cxd6 10.0-0 Re8 11.Bg5 Kg8 12.h3 Ne5 13.Qd4 Rf8
Missing a chance for the tactical pawn grab: 13...Bxh3 (if 14.gxh3 Nf3+).
14.Rad1 Nf7 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Qxf6 gxf6 17.Nb5 Rb8 18.Nxd6 Nxd6 19.Rxd6 Kh8
White has three pawns for his sacrificed piece, and the game looks about even.
20.Rfd1 Rg8 21.Kh2 f5 22.e5 b6 23.Rf6 Rb7 24.f4
A complete misunderstanding of the needs of the position. White's g-pawn is going to take a lot of heat. Black, too, can attack in the Jerome Gambit!
24...Rbg7 25.Rd2
Better 25.Rg1
25...Bb7 26.Rxf5
Suicide.
26...Rxg2+ 27.Rxg2 Rxg2+ 28.Kh1 Rg5+ White resigned
Continuing my search through The Database's 8-move games, chasing clues to the "essence" of the Jerome Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, (or at least an insight into how it "works"), I came across a lesson (again) for White, written in a handful of games.
After all, 7...Qf6 could simply be an example of Black placing a strong piece on a strong square. Or – he could be planning something...
ainafets - Papaflesas
blitz, FICS, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.f4 Nf3+ White resigned
stemplarv - KIAUA
blitz, FICS, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.f4 Nf3+ White resigned
stretto - terma
blitz, FICS, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.0-0 Nf3+ White resigned
stretto - haquitraveis
blitz, FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.0-0 Nf3+ White resigned
Continuing my search for the "essence" of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), or at least an insight into how it "works", I discovered that 7-move wins by Black were not so much improvements in defense (after all, after accepting two sacrificed pieces Black needs merely to "hold on") as they were instances of White throwing away a Knight (see "The Return of Jerome Gambit for Dummies Part 2") , a Queen, or a King. Some examples of the last case are given as a warning for White to "pay attention".
richsilver - Leprichaunt
standard, FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+ Qxg5 6.g3 Qf6 7.Nc3 Qxf2#
BillieBob - SuperCanuck
blitz, FICS, 2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 Qf8 6.Ng5+ Kg6 7.h4 Qxf2#
ytrom - yelloman
lightning, FICS, 2008
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+ Kf8 6.d3 Qf6 7.Nc3 Qxf2#
ChonnyQ - eggert
blitz, FICS, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 h6 6.Nh4 Qxh4 7.Nd2 Qxf2#
stretto - DjinnKahn
blitz, FICS, 2008
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 7.dxe5 Qxf2# (The Database has 5 game examples.)
When you play blitz chess, "things happen." You make moves that you would prefer to un-make. You play games that you would prefer to un-play. When the Jerome Gambit or its relatives are involved, that usually only makes it worse.
chessup - FerDensetsu
standard, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 Nf6 8.Qe5+ Qe7
This is the 17th game in The Database with this remarkable error that combines automatic, stereotypical piece placement with moving a bit too quickly (and realizing it a bit too late). I notice that Jerome Gambit regulars such as GOH, Darrenshome, stretto, yorgos and MyGameUMove have all faced it.
Interestingly, White has won 15 games, drawn one and lost one.
9.Nxe7 Black resigned
Although I have occasionally been accused of having the demeanor of Mr. Rogers on muscle relaxants, I do have times when I am serious, or even downright gloomy – take the "Update: 8...Qf6" post, for example.
Here is another cautionary tale.
Teterow - geneve
lightning, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4
This move, rather than 6.Qh5+, was originally Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's preference.
6...Bb4+
This is an odd move, but it reflects an inconvenient fact, that Black has many ways of dealing with the Jerome Gambit, including choosing which piece(s) he wants to return – and in what way.
The move deserves a look, if only because it has been played by dismissive humans ("sure, why not?") and calculating computers.
7.c3 Qh4
How's that for a kick in the head? Just when you were saying to yourself, "Well, at least he didn't play 6...Qh4!?"
By the way, as long as I am mentioning 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf6+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4, it is necessary to correct and update some of what I wrote in "A Pie-in-the-Face Variation" about a year and a half ago.
Today The Database contains 167 games with the 6.d4 Qh4 line. That's 26 games less than I thought that I had in November 2009, but perhaps that is a result of subsequently cleaning up my databases.
Also, 50 of the current games – about 30% of the 6.d4 Qh4 line – are now human-vs-human encounters, as opposed to only 8 (4%) in the original post. White's scoring has dropped from 50% to 29% amongst humans, which is in the right direction, but it is the ridiculously high 74% for all of the games in The Database. (Again, that is the impact of computer-vs-computer games largely selected by the source for White wins.)
8.cxb4
The dynamics of the current position are very similar to that of the position without 6...Bb4+ 7.c3. What that means is that White's best move here after 7...Qh4 has to be 8.0-0. Rybka 3, given 5 minutes per move in "blunder check" mode, further suggested 8...Nc6 9.cxb4 Qxe4 10.b5 Nce7 11.Re1 Qf5 12.Re3 Qxb5 13.Nc3 Qb6 14.Qh5+ Qg6 15.Qc5 b6 16.Qxc7 Qc6 17.Qe5 d6 18.Qg5 h6 when Black has an edge (about 3/4 of a pawn).
analysis diagram
I am not convinced that this is the best path for Black to take, however.
If I were playing the defense, after 6...Bb4+ 7.c3 Qh4 8.0-0. I would prefer the as-yet-unplayed 8...Ng4, answering 9.h3 with 9...Be7. Perhaps Rybka downgrades this line a bit because White can exchange Queens with 10.Qxg4.
Anyhow, the text move is very dangerous and Black takes charge.
8...Qxe4+ 9.Qe2
A bit better is 9.Kf1, covering the g2 pawn, but after 9...Qd3+ 10.Qe2 Qxe2+ 11.Kxe2 Nc6 Black is clearly better in an uncomplicated game. As it it, the game transposes into this line.
9...Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 Nc6
11.Rd1 Nxb4 12.Na3 Nf6 13.Re1 Re8+ 14.Kf1 Rxe1+ 15.Kxe1 d5
16.Be3 Bf5 17.Nb5 c6 18.Nc3
A final slip.
18...Nc2+ 19.Ke2 Nxa1 Black resigned
Looks like there is more work to be done on the 6...Bb4+ variation. With wins in The Database by Jerome Gambit Gemeinde members Darrenshome, HauntedKnight, jfhumphrey, stretto, Teterow, yorgos and, of course, Bill Wall – there is plenty of hope.
After an opening oversight shared with my opponent (I wondered why there were no other examples of his 6th move in The Database) the game goes on to some interesting attacking ideas. So, don't get upset and go away; the game gets better.
perrypawnpusher - acwizard
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
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Kf8
In the Sorensen Variation (see "Battle Again") of the Jerome Gambit, this King move is playable, even laudible. However, in the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit...
7.Nxc6
Of course 7.Ng6+ would win at least the exchange, depending on if the Knight can extract itself.
I think I was patting the dog and telling her I was busy when I made this move... (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)
7...dxc6 8.d3 Ne7
By transposition 8...Nf6 led to perrypawnpusher - vladchess, blitz, FICS, 2011 (½-½, 46) with the relevant continuation 9.Be3 Qe7 10.d4 Bb6 11.f3 Kg8 12.Nc3 Kh7 13.Qd3 g6
9.Be3
Rybka 3 prefers to preserve the Bishop with 9.c3 Bb6 10.d4 and a roughly equal game.
9...Bb6
Black does not want to open the f-file with 9...Bxe3 10.fxe3+ but his King could have safely gone to g8 (and even on to h7) maintaining an edge.
10.Nc3
Instead, 10.d4 kept White's dark-squared Bishop and kept the game balanced. Exchanging the Bishop with 10.Bxb6 cxb6 was seen in stretto - TommyN, FICS, 2008.
10...Kg8 11.Bxb6
Impatience. Again, the way to keep things level was with 11.d4, but the choice of one strategy over another is always easier to see after the game is over.
11...cxb6 12.f4 Kh7 13.d4 Bd7
Here we have a confrontation between the "Jerome pawns" and Black's extra piece. The game is about equal.
14.f5 Rf8
Black has neatly castled-by-hand.
15.Qd3 Rf6 16.g4 g5
This pawn move upsets the balance of the game. It would have been more prudent to simply return the Rook with 16...Rf8.
17.e5 Rf7
This move creates unnecessary grief. Again, after the Rook retired with 17...Rf8, White can try 18.Rae1 Be8 19.Ne4 Kh8 but he still has to be careful with his pawns, lest Black liquidate them by returning his piece.
18.e6 Black resigned
Not only does White's e-pawn fork a couple of pieces, his f-pawn threatens to advance with a discovered check.
