Jerome Gambit: Escaping the Mania (Part 1)

I recently took on another bot at Chess.com, and, in time, things became balanced - a bit unusual for an opening that has two pieces sacrificed.

If Readers find the line of play to be interesting, there are many links to other, related Jerome Gambits to check out.

perrypawnpusher - LarryFitzgeraldBot

Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

The Database has 3,343 examples, with White scoring 40%; compared to 33,916 games with the basic Jerome Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, with White scoring 52%

Happily, in my 69 games with the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit, I have scored a more substantial 77%.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 

Once, I met 6...Ke8 in perrypawnpusher - opazovalec, 10 2 blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16). 

7.d4 Bd6

LarryFitzgerald's move is natural enough, although I have met others:

7...Neg4 in perrypawnpusher - xxfred, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 28); 

7...Bxd4 in perrypawnpusher - Fazmeister, 2 12, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36) and perrypawnpusher - spince, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41); 

7...Bb4 in perrypawnpusher - kezientz, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); perrypawnpusher - Abatwa, 12 4 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17); perrypawnpusher - Gibarian, 6 6 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33); perrypawnpusher - obmanovichhh, 14 0 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39); perrypawnpusher - LydenChess, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); perrypawnpusher - Aerandir, 4 12 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); perrypawnpusher - SSGSSGSSG, 5 5 blitz, FICS, 2018 (1-0, 20); 

7...Re8 in perrypawnpusher - strandskatan, 5 5 blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 38); perrypawnpusher - hklett, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 31); 

7...Nd3+ in perrypawnpusher - genericme, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2015 (1-0, 22); and

7...Nf3+ perrypawnpusher - wertu, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20) and perrypawnpusher - catmandu, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 12).

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 

Probably better is 9.Ne2 as in perrypawnpusher - lixuanxuan, 14 0 blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 22);  perrypawnpusher - andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (0-1, 18); perrypawnpusher - LttlePrince, lichess.org, 2020 (0-1, 29); and perrypawnpusher - rusalka, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2023 (1-0, 17) 

9...Bxc3+  10.bxc3 

10...b6

Or 10...d6 as in perrypawnpusher - joseluislopez, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 55). 

11.e5 Ne4 

I wondered if the bot was going to grab the e-pawn on move 10. Instead, he puts his Knight on e4 on move 11 - with equally unfortunate results. Continuing as planned with 11...Bb7 was best; and 11...Qe7 was good, as well.

12.Qd5+ Kf8 

Here, we have a basic choice: which piece to capture?

It is interesting that, after the game, Stockfish 15.1 recommended checking the King and then grabbing the Knight, i.e. 13.Ba3+ Ke8 14.Qxe4, slightly ahead of grabbing the Rook directly with 13.Qxa8. Simply grabbing the Knight with 13.Qxe4 was ranked even below 13.0-0.

So, you can guess my move...

13.Qxe4 

White is still better, with more material, better center control, and a safer King.

13...d5 14.exd6 

Probably 14.Qf3 was better, preserving the advanced, supported d-pawn. 

14...Bd7 15.dxc7 Qe8 16.Ba3+ Kf7 17.Qxe8+ Rhxe8+ 

My tripled, isolated c-pawns look vulnerable on the c-file. Will the Bishops-of-opposite-colors turn the game drawish?

18.Kd2 Rac8 19.Rae1 

It would have made more sense (and been stronger) to play 19.Bd6.

19...Be6 

In turn, 19...Rxc7 was the move. 

20. Kc1 h6 21.Kb2 Rxc7 

Things have turned drawish. I suppose that means that both of us have escaped the mania of the Jerome Gambit.

But there is still more chess to play.

[to be continued]

Psychology 102

Many players question the value of the Jerome Gambit. Their task is to play one of the refutations, follow through, and claim the point. One risk, however, is that of being so dismissive of the attack that the defender becomes inaccurate in his play. Again, observe the motto: In the Jerome Gambit, Black wins by force, White wins by farce.

perrypawnpusher - strandskatan
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Re8 8.dxc5 Kg8

Black's play is solid and scientific. He has castled-by-hand and is ready to counter-attack.

Alternately, 8...Nc6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - hudders, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 13); while 8...Nc4 9.Qd5+?? Nxd5 was one of my personal nightmares, perrypawnpusher - TrentonTheSecond, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1,9).

9.0-0 d6 10.cxd6 Qxd6 11.Qe2

After the game, Houdini recommended 11.Qxd6 cxd6 12.Nb5. I wasn't ready to trade Queens.

11...Bg4

Instead, 11...Be6 was seen in perrypawnpusher - hklett, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 31) while 11...Neg4 was Houdini's post-game recommendation. (Often, harassing White's Queen with a Knight proves to be a time-waster, but not in this case.)

12.f3 Bh5 13.Bf4 Qe6 14.Qf2 c6 15.g4

Objectively, not the best move, but I was pretty sure that my opponent liked his 2-piece advantage on the Kingside, and would figure that he had an extra piece to invest in an attack - if he were properly provoked.

15...Nfxg4?!

Ah, so many of us can resist anything but temptation. The boring 15...Bf7! was probably better, keeping Black's advantage.

16.fxg4 Nxg4 17.Qh4 Bg6 18.Rae1 Rad8 19.h3 Nf6 20.Bg5 Rd4

Despite Black's huffing and puffing, the game is even - which is not the expected outcome of the sacrifice. 

Worse, it is time to recall the ironic aphorism inspired by many of Bill Wall's games: Often in the Jerome Gambit, when the game is equal, White is better. In this case, Black has invested (and continues to invest) too much time in his calculations, and his clock soon will become an issue.

21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Rxf6 Qe5 23.Rf4 Rd2 24.Rf2 Qd4 25.Kg2 Rxf2+ 26.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 Kf7 28.Ke3 Ke6 29.Rd1 Ke5

White's extra pawn doesn't give him much more than a slight edge, but time is now on his side.

30.Rd7 Rb8 31.a4 a6 32.a5 b5 33.axb6

Better was 33.Ra7

33...Rxb6 34.b3 Rb5 

A time-pressure mistake that I missed. I wonder how much precious time my opponent spent trying to figure out why I didn't simply capture the Rook.

35.Rd4 Rc5 36.Rd3 a5 37.Na4 

Almost coming to Black's rescue by dropping material - my clock was ticking too. After the game Houdini suggested the patient 37.h4 Ke6 38.Kd4 Rh5 39.Rh3 Kd6 40.Ne2.

37...Rxc2 38.Nb6 

Another error.

Here, Black is better, and can now win a pawn with 38...Bxe4, but, unfortunately, he forfeited on time.

Jerome Gambit: Quantity Does Not Assure Quality

There are a lot of games in the notes to the following game.

It reminds me of my visit to The Ohio State University Chess Club, decades ago. I played 13 games, each with a different opening or defense. I lost every game. The club members didn't know what to say - How could someone who knew so much, know so little?

perrypawnpusher - GladiadorAguila

"Play The Italian Game III", Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 

Instead, 4...Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ would be the Noa or Monck Gambit.

5.Bxf7+ 

5...Kxf7 6. Nxe5+ Nxe5 

Instead, 6...Ke8 7.Nxc6 bxc6  was seen in perrypawnpusher - opazovalec, 10 2 blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16) 

7.d4 Bxd4 

A slight improvement over 7...d6 seen in perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, 3 12 blitz, FICS 2011 (1/2 - 1/2, 62).

Also seen was 7...Bd6 in perrypawnpusher - joseluislopez, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 55); perrypawnpusher - lixuanxuan, 14 0 blitz, FICS, San Jose, California US 2014 (1-0, 22);  perrypawnpusher - LttlePrince, blitz, lichess, 2020 (0-1, 29); perrypawnpusher -andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 18);

And 7...Bb4 in perrypawnpusher - kezientz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); perrypawnpusher - Abatwa, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17); perrypawnpusher - SSGSSGSSG, blitz, FICS, 2018 (1-0, 20); perrypawnpusher - obmanovichhh, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39); perrypawnpusher - LydenChess, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); perrypawnpusher - Aerandir, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); and perrypawnpusher - Gibarian, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33). 

And 7...Neg4 as in perrypawnpusher - xxfred, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 28);

And 7...Re8 as in perrypawnpusher - hklett, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 31); perrypawnpusher - strandskatan, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 38) 

And 7...Ng6 as in perrypawnpusher - aksakal, blitz, FICS, 2017 (1-0, 17) 

And 7... Nc6 in perrypawnpusher - hudders, blitz, FICS, 2010, (1-0, 13) 

And 7...Nd3+ in perrypawnpusher - genericme, blitz, FICS, 2015 (1-0, 22) 

And 7...Nf3+ in perrypawnpusher - wertu, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20) and perrypawnpusher - catmandu, blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 12)

8.Qxd4 Nc6

This is an improvement over 8...Re8 seen in perrypawnpusher - Fazmeister, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36); perrypawnpusher - KaZC, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 61); and perrypawnpusher - spince, blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41) 

Also seen was 8...d6 in perrypawnpusher - hklett, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 20); perrypawnpusher - JoseSoza, Chess.com 2012 (0-1, 34); and  perrypawnpusher - andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 39). 

And 8...Qe7 in perrypawnpusher - BigKalamar, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49); and perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16).

9.Qc4+

Or 9.Qd3 as in perrypawnpusher - anandh, blitz, FICS 2011 (1-0, 11); perrypawnpusher - Duir, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0,42); and perrypawnpusher - bartab, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 19)

9...d5 

9...Ke7 as in perrypawnpusher - Avious, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 40) 

10.exd5 Re8+ 11.Be3 Ne5 

Black still has his traditional piece-for-two-pawns advantage.

12.Qb3 

Better might have been 12.Qf4.

12...Neg4 13.O-O-O Nxe3 14.fxe3 Kg8 

With both Kings safe, the focus can turn to the "Jerome pawns" which seem more like targets than attacking units.

In the tactics that follow, things do not get better.

15.Rhe1 a6 16.d6+ Be6 17.Qxb7 cxd6 18.Qb4 d5 19.e4 Bg4 20.Rd2 Qc7 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Qxh2 

Take the heavy pieces off of the board (making White's King safer), and in club play (like this game) White would have interesting chances in the endgame.

After the game Stockfish 15.1 scoffed at this idea, however, considering Black to be more than a piece better. 

23.Qd2 Qc7 24.Qd3 

The Rook lift 24.Re3 might have been better. 

24...Be6 25.Rd4 Qc5 26.Ra4 

At this point I was out of ideas and merely shuffling pieces. 

26...a5 27.Qd4 Qg5+ 28.Qd2 Qb5 29.b3 Red8 30.Qe2 Qg5+ 31.Qd2 

The final mistake, a mouse slip - I resigned immediately

 

Jerome Gambit: Folie a Deux (Part 1)

I won my third round game - an Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit - in the "Italian game Classic" tournament at Chess.com, when my opponent and I seemed to have the same "hallucination" about a tense, tactical position. Up until then, I had been awkwardly struggling to lurch my way back to equality - only to be smacked around by a violent return of my sacrificed material.

Given the distracted level of my play, I consider myself quite lucky.

perrypawnpusher - Sp1derR1c0
Italian Game Classic, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 

Whew! My game against Winawer99 in the same round continued 4...Nxe4, and I decided to avoid my past suffering with the Noa Gambit / Monck Gambit / Open Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit - 5.Bxf7+ - and played, instead, 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Bd3 dxe4 7.Bxe4 Bd6 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.d4, a line that I also have struggled with. It showed: on my way to a possibly drawn Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame, I overlooked a checkmate in 2 moves (0-1, 21).

5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

What difference does the addition of Knights at c3 and f6 make, when compared to the regular Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+)?

Komodo 10 shows it to improve Black's position by about 3/4 of a pawn.

The Database has 2,731 games with the Four Knights version, with Black scoring 61%. This compares to 15,157 games with the Jerome, proper, with Black scoring 54%.

I have to admit, in my own games, Black scores 25% in my Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit games (62) versus scoring 17% in my regular Jerome Gambit games (336). 

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Re8

I like this move. Instead of worrying which piece to save, Black develops another one, on a crucial file. Let White figure it out!

8.dxc5 

In preparing this post, I was amused to discover that Komodo 10's second choice, here, was not a capture, but 8.0-0, fully relying on the fact that not all of the pieces will be able to escape, e.g. 8...Bd6 9.f4!? Nc6 10.e5, etc. 

That line, in turn, raised a question for me: Has anyone ever tried moving the f-pawn right away, i.e. 8.f4 ? It turns out that The Database has two examples - Svirfneblin - cosmoo, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 24) and Mvskoke - Panico, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 36). It is an example of going too far, however, as Black has 8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6 and he is doing better than in the normal lines.

By the way, The Database has 6 games with 8.0-0 (Black scores 56%) - and in 3 of them, Svirfneblin had the White pieces. I will have to look at more of his games...


8...Kg8 

Finishing castling-by-hand. I have noted

This is an improvement over 8...Nc6 of perrypawnpusher - hudders, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 13) and 8...Nc4 of the tragic perrypawnpusher - TrentonTheSecond, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 9),

9.O-O d6 10.cxd6 cxd6 

This is probably an improvement over 10...Qxd6, which I faced a couple of times perrypawnpusher - hklett, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 31) and perrypawnpusher - strandskatan, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 38). I was prepared, sort of

After the game Houdini recommended the dull 11.Qxd6 cxd6 12.Rd1 with pressure against Black's d-pawn, although Black is still better.

11.Be3 

An odd move; the Bishop usually goes to g5. I was planning to play f2-f4, but, for some reason I was worried about ...Qb6+ at some point, so I protected the a7-g1 diagonal. Of course, White's b-pawn is not vulnerable to that enemy double attack, until the Bishop moves. I suspect Caffeine Deficiency Disorder.

11...Be6 12.f3 

This is the move that White sometimes plays when he gives up on his plan to attack, and decides to hunker down and challenge Black to do something with his material advantage. Suddenly - comparatively, as the time control was 3 days per move - that became my plan.

The word "collywobbles" comes to mind.

[to be continued]