The Jerome Gambit is most known for the Bishop sacrificed at f7, and the active role the Queen plays. In the following game, however, a Knight stars. At first it seems to be making a transparent threat, but it quickly overwhelms the defender's game.
Wall, Bill - Anonymous
lichess.org, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6
8.O-O Nf6 9.Bf4 Qe7 10. f3 Rf8 11. Nc3 Kg8
Black has castled-by-hand. He has the advantage in this middlegame, but he must make good use of his opportunities.
12.Rad1 Nc6 13.Qd2 a6 14.Rfe1 Qf7 15.b3 Ne7 16.Ne2 Ng6 17.Be3 Nd7 18.c4 Nde5
White has developed quickly and has strong pressure on the pawn at d6. He will be able to take over the game, if his opponent slips. He starts with the "Jerome pawns".
19.f4 Nc6 20.f5 Nge5 21.Nf4 Ng4 22.Nd5 Nxe3 23.Rxe3 Ne5
24.Rg3 Kh8 25.c5 dxc5 26.Qc3 Nd7 27.Nxc7
White's Knight threatens the Rook at a8 - and even more. Black should counter with 27...Nf6!?, with his own threat to win the exchange (after ...Nxe4), but he underestimates the danger and replies routinely.
27...Rb8 28.Ne6
The Knight threatens the Rook at f8, the pawn at g7 - and even more.
28...Rg8 29.Ng5 Qe7 30.Nxh7 Re8
Of course, if 30...Kxh7, then 31.Rh3+ Qh4 32.Rxh4 checkmate
31.Ng5 Nf8 32.Qf3 Kg8 33.Qh5 Bxf5 34.exf5 Black resigned
White's pressure on the Kingside will win material, as Black defends, first, attacks on his King, and then, deals with the advancing "Jerome pawns".
In some Jerome Gambit games, Black returns a sacrificed piece forthwith, as part of his "scientific" defense. In other games, he resists and resists, giving the piece back only very begrudgingly.
Witness the following game.
Wall, Bill - Piedras
ChessTempo.com, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Be6
This move, combined with the placement of the Knight on g6, calls out the advance of White's f-pawn. It is interesting to watch Black wriggle and jiggle and try to have his pieces escape.
10.f4 d5 11.f5 d4 12.Qd3 Nf4 13.Qf1 Qh4+ 14.g3 Qh3 15.gxf4 Qxf1+ 16.Kxf1
Black has returned the sacrificed piece, and is down a pawn.
16...Bc4+ 17.d3 Ba6
Calmness returns - but only briefly.
18.Rg1 Kf7 19.Nd2 Nf6 20.b4 b6 21.Bb2 c5 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.e5 Nd5
The "Jerome pawns" are on the march. When the Rooks join in, it will be the end of Black's King.
24.e6+ Kf6 25.Ne4+ Ke7 26.Rxg7+ Kf8 27.Rf7+ Kg8 28.Kf2 Black resigned
A defender unfamiliar with the Jerome Gambit might search for some opening ideas from elsewhere, and try to apply them to the defense. That is a useful practice, and sometimes it works - but not in the following game.
Wall, Bill - Euphron
FICS, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bd6
I sometimes wonder when Black plays this move, if he is remembering the Fork Trick, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Bd3 dxe4 7.Bxe4.
Still, there is a problem applying the logic of that opening line to the Jerome Gambit. The straight-forward 6...Bxd4 was simpler and stronger.
7.dxe5 Bxe5
The piece was safer on e7 or even f8. That is one of the interesting Jerome Gambit wrinkles.
8.Qh5+
There are 64 games in The Database with this move. White scores a solid 67%. (Bill: 100%)
For comparison, there are 69 games with 8.Qd5+. White scores 76%. (Bill: 100%)
8...Kf8
Black's King backs away from the action. "Stronger" (it may not feel that way for someone new to the Jerome Gambit) was 8...Ke6, but White still got plenty of play in Wall,B - Nikelin, lichess.org, 2017, (1-0, 14)
Also dealt with harshly was 8...g6, e.g. 9.Qxe5 Nf6 10.Bg5 Re8 11.Qf4 b6 12.e5 Black resigned, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016.
9.Qxe5 d6 10.Qf4+Qf6 11.Nc3
White is a pawn up, and doesn't mind exchanging Queens. If Black initiates the swap, the recapture will help White's development. The first player certainly has no need to enter complications.
11...c6
This keeps White's Knight out of d6, but weakens the d6 pawn, and this will have an effect on the rest of the play in the game.
12.O-O Bd7 13.Qg3 Nh6 14.Bf4 Nf7 15.h4
White's h-pawn plays more in the coming action than Black's h-Rook.
15...Re8 16.Rad1 Ne5 17.Bg5 Qe6 18.f4 Nf7
19.f5 Qe5 20.Bf4 Qc5+ 21.Kh1 Bc8
Making room for the Rook to slide over to d8 and protect the pawn on d6. Too late.
22.f6 g6 23.Bxd6+ Nxd6 24.Rxd6 Black resigned
White is only 2 pawns up, but they are the mighty "Jerome pawns", and their advance will cause destruction.
The second round of the Italian Game Classic tournament at chess.com has started. I am in Group 5, along with FedeMamut, stur_lindberg and PDX84.
To start, I have White against FedeMamut and PDX84 - and have been fortunate to be able to play 2 Jerome Gambits.
As always, I will keep you informed of my progress, win, lose or draw.
Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) will lead to tactical mayhem by White, and it is relatively easy - if still educational - for the observer to anticipate the line of play. Sometimes, however - as in the following game - the Jerome Gambiteer develops a strong attacking position, and he has to work out a series of moves to gather in the full point; then, the educational value of the game is even greater.
Wall, Bill - Anonymous
lichess.org, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8
I expected a rash of 5...Kf8 games after the post "Jerome Gambit: Success at Last (Sort of)" which featured a game where Bill surrendered a draw in the line - after 15 straight wins.
6.Nxc6
No more experimenting - Bill had tried 6.0-0 in his last game with the line, and, after 6...Nf6, continued with 7.Nd3. The text is probably strongest.
6...dxc6 7.O-O Qf6
White has only scored 50% against this move, according to The Database - if you ignore Bill's two wins, against no losses, that is.
8.Nc3 Be6
Or 8...Bd6 9.d4 h6 10.e5 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Qxe5 12.Re1 Qg5 13.Bxg5 Black resigned, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016,
9.d3 Ne7
Instead, 9...Rd8 let Black keep an edge, in Wall,B - Guest4658155, PlayChess.com, 2019 (1-0, 29).
10.Be3 Bb6 11.Qd2 h6 12.Rae1 Kg8 13.f4 Kh7
14.f5 Bd7
As will become clear, the Bishop was safer retreating to c8. Black has just connected his Rooks, however, and does not want to interfere.
15.e5 Bxe3+ 16.Rxe3
The position is complicated, and it is not a surprise that Black does not find a defense. The Black Queen may be relativelyt safest after 16...Qh4, but 17.e6 then threatens the Bishop, and White will build his attack when he can play f5-f6 and Ne4.
16...Qg5 17.Ne4
The Queen is trapped.
17...Qh5 18.Rh3 Qe8
Her Majesty has escaped, but His Majesty is doomed.
19.Nf6+ gxf6 20.Qxh6+ Kg8 21.Qxh8+ Kf7 22.Rh7 checkmate
Move the King, protect the piece. The following Jerome Gambit is rather ordinary, with Black even following "scientific" principles and returning the sacrificed piece. Suddenly, Black's monarch has to rush in to help, and he chooses an inaccurate square - and the game finishes shortly thereafter. Very Jerome-ish.
Wall, Bill - Guest701131
PlayChess.com, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Qe7
10.d3
Bill has also tried 10.Nc3, e.g. 10...Nf6 11.O-O Be6 12.f4 Ng4 13.Qg3 Bc4 14.d3 Qh4 15.Qxh4 Nxh4 16.dxc4 Kd7 17.f5 Ne5 18.Bg5 Nxc4 19.Bxh4 Nxb2 20.f6 g6 21.Rab1 Nc4 22.Rxb7 Ne3 23.Rfb1 Nxc2 24.Nd5 Nd4 25.Rxc7+ Ke6 26.Re7 checkmate, Wall,B - Guest3312852, PlayChess.com, 2012.
10...Nf6 11.O-O Ng4 12.Qe2 Nh4
13.Nc3 Be6
To prevent White from planting a Knight at d5, but it sets the Bishop up as a target for the "Jerome pawns".
14.f4 g6 15.h3 Nh6 16.f5 N6xf5 17.exf5 gxf5
Black has returned the sacrificed piece for a couple of pawns. If only he could castle Queenside now, the game would be quite interesting.
18.Re1 Kf7
Protecting the pinned Bishop, but White shows immediately why Black should have played 18...Kd7 instead.
19.Nd5 Qd7 20.Nxc7 Black resigned
The story of the following game is straight-forward: after a few chuckles in the opening, complications ensue. In complicated positions, stronger players are more likely to find their way, while more average players are more likely to get lost. And so it goes...
Wall, Bill - Guest2910393
PlayChess.com, 2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6
I always get a chuckle out of this move. Black simply threatens to play ...Nf3+, winning the - currently - unprotected White Queen. Maybe. The move is as old as Jerome - Norton, correspondence, 1876 (unfinished).
7...Qf6 is a good move, Stockfish 10's second choice, behind 7...d6.
Furthermore, The Database - a reasonably representative sample of online club chess play - has 180 games with 7...Qf6, with White scoring only 40%.
Interestingly enough, The Datbase has 21 games where White does not move or protect his Queen, and Black executes the King-and-Queen-fork. However, there are 40 games where White does not move or protect his Queen, and Black overlooks the King-and-Queen-fork. Ooooops.
This split is illustrated in the experience of a long-time Jerome Gambit player who has 187 games in The Database, and who has been forked 3 times from this position. However, 8 other times his opponent was presented with the opportunity, but missed the Knight check.
Chaos runs deep in the Jerome Gambit. Club play is not a simple thing.
8.Qc5
This move is Bill's favorite, although he has also tried 8.Nd2, 8.Be3, 8.Qc3, 8.Qd2 and 8.Qe3.
8...Ne7 9.Nc3
In an earlier game Bill grabbed a pawn, and then slowly ground down his opponent: 9.Qxc7 b6 10.Qc3 Ba6 11.Qa3 Qg6 12.Qxa6 Qxe4+ 13.Kf1 Qxc2 14.Nc3 Nd3 15.Be3 Rac8 16.Qa3 Qxb2 17.Qxb2 Nxb2 18.Bd2 Nf5 19.Re1 Nd6 20.Re2 Ndc4 21.Be1 Rce8 22.Nb5 Nd3 23.Bc3 a6 24.Nc7 Rc8 25.Nxa6 Nce5 26.Bd2 Rc4 27.g3 Ra8 28.Nb4 d6 29.Nxd3 Nxd3 30.Re3 Ne5 31.a3 Rd4 32.Bb4 Nc6 33.Kg2 Ra6 34.Rf3+ Ke6 35.Re1+ Kd5 36.Rf5+ Ne5 37.Bxd6 Kxd6 38.Rfxe5 Rxa3 39.Re6+ Kd7 40.Rxb6 Ra7 41.Rbe6 Rda4 42.h4 R4a5 43.f4 Ra1 44.Rxa1 Rxa1 45.Re5 Ra7 46.Kf3 Kd6 47.Kg4 Ra3 48.h5 Ra1 49.Re8 Rb1 50.f5 Rb7 51.Kg5 Rb4 52.Rg8 Rb7 53.g4 Rc7 54.Rh8 h6+ 55.Kg6 Ra7 56.Rg8 Ra4 57.Kh7 Ke5 58.Rxg7 Kf4 59.Kxh6 Black resigned, Wall,B - Computer-13, Chess.com, 2017.
9...Ng4
10.f3 Ne5 11.Qxc7
Grabbing the pawn, after all.
11...N7c6 12.O-O
A complicated position. Black has an extra piece for two pawns, and is slightly better developed, although he has the standard problem often facing those who defend against Jerome Gambit: his pawn blocks his Bishop which blocks his Rook... A significant factor is that White's Queen is a bit trapped in the enemy position, and Stockfish 10 suggests White work towards b2-b3, Ba3, and then Qd6, exchanging the Queen. If Black could then focus on untangling his pieces, he would maintain an edge.
12...Kg6
The first of two puzzling moves that end the game.
My guess is that Black was unpinning his d-pawn so that it could advance, but the King move is too risky.
13.Nd5
White now has the advantage in a tricky position, but Black is not finished with his surprises.
13...Qe6 14.Nf4+
Black resigned
