Two Knights Good Night

What to do, on the way to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), if you meet the Two Knights defense, instead?

Some will answer: sacrfice, anyway!

Guest2711112842 - Guest2432796094

Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

My personal preference when facing the Two Knights defense has been to play 4.Nc3 and to hope for 4...Bc5, allowing the Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit with 5.Bxf7+.

Also check out "Jerome Gambit vs Two Knights Defense" Parts 1, 2, 3, 4. 

4.Bxf7+

Some players strike first, in a sort of an impatient Jerome Gambit.

From the 2024 post "Jerome Gambit: Impatience"

Four years ago, in the blog post "Unasked Questions" I looked at the Two Knights line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bxf7+ and commented 

This line doesn't have a name, as far as I know, but it might as well be "the impatient Jerome Gambit". The earliest game that I have with it in The Database is from 2001, but it has to be much older than that. My research is lacking here.

Subsequently (see "Jerome Gambit: Facing Up to 4.Bxf7+ in the Two Knights [Part 2]"), thanks to Dr. Timothy Harding's UltraCorr 3A (2010) collection of correspondence chess games, I uncovered Draper, Dr - Child, AW., Belfast - Dublin team correspondence match-2 1891-2, an earlier game with that "impatient" line.

4....Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Nc6 

White has sacrificed two pieces for two pawns. He is counting on his opponent's shaky King - and possible uneasiness in a strange position - to arrive at some compensation,

7.e5 Nd5 8.Qf3+ 

8...Ke6 

Stepping into danger to protect his attacked Knight.

A much safer alternative is 8...Nf6, giving some of the sacrificed back.

9.c4 Bb4+ 10.Kf1 

It may not be readily apparent, but this square is the best for the King.

10...Nxd4 

Not looking into the position deep enough. Blitz?

11.Qxd5+ Kf5 

Ouch. The problem with 11...Ke7 is 12.Bg5+ and White loses his King.

12.Qf7+ Ke4 

Interposing with 12...Qf6 will still lead to checkmate. 

13.Qf4+ Kd3 14.b3 Rf8 15.Qe3+ Kc2 16.Na3+ Bxa3 17.Qd2 checkmate

Very nice!

Jerome Gambit: When Opportunity Knocks

When opportunity knocks, it is best to answer.

Black's slip on his 7th move was the first knock.

His tumble on the 17the move was the final knock.

The door to checkmate was then opened.

JeromeGambitOnly - nicovpaterakis

5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Ng6 

It is possible that Black just mixed up defensive ideas here.

Best was the Annoying Defense, 7...d6 8.fxe5 dxe5, the vexation of many Jerome Gambit players (see 1 and 2 for starters).

8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qc4+ 

White also has the pawn fork 9.f5+, i.e. 9...Kd7 10.Qb5+ c6 11.Qe2 Ne5 12.d4 Nf7 13.O-O with a better game.

9...Ke7 10.Nc3 Nxf4 

Black can take this pawn, as long as he defends well afterward.

11.O-O Be6 12.Nd5+ Nxd5 13.exd5 

Black is up a piece and a pawn.

White has some compensation, in terms of open lines against the enemy King.

13...Bd7 

Blame it on blitz.

The correct retreat for the Bishop was the other way, 13...Bf7, when White would have to work to keep the game in hand. 

Stockfish 16.1 suggests 14.b3 Kf8 15.Bb2 h5 (15...Nf6 16.Rxf6!? gxf6 17.Qf4 Kg8 18.Bxf6 Qd7 19.Bc3 Re8 20.Qg5+ Bg6 21.Rf1 White is better) 16.Rae1 Nf6 17.Qf4 Kg8 18.Re3 h4 19.h3 Rh6 20.Qxh6!? gxh6 21.Bxf6 Qf8 22.Bxh4 Qg7 23.Rg3 Bg6 24.Rf6 Kh7 25.c4 a6 26.Rgxg6 Qxg6 27.Rxg6 Kxg6 and Black has the exchange for two pawns.

14.Qe4+ Be6 15.Qxe6 checkmate

 

Searching for "Jerome Gambit" on the Chinese "Baidu" search page returned the following information, in Google translation

Jerome GambitIt is an opening variation in chess, belonging to...Italy's start(ECO code C50This branch is characterized by sacrificing pieces to gain initiative. The following is key information:

Opening characteristics

• Starting moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Bxf7 + Kxf7 5. Nxe5 + Nxe5 6. Qh5 + Ke6
• Core strategy: White creates an offensive by sacrificing her queenside bishop (4.Bxf7+) and knight (5.Nxe5+), and Black can easily fall into a passive position if she doesn't respond properly.1

Typical game example

• December 14, 2023Mexicanga(1675 points) CorrectaboboraIn a rapid game of chess (1743 points), White used this opening, and Black ultimately won.1
• March 16, 2021JeromeGambitOnly(1234 points) CorrectRodes95In a super-fast game (1503 points), White made several mistakes, leading to Black losing within the time limit.2

History and Controversy

• This opening is considered high-risk (White suffers piece losses) and is often used in fast games or instructional examples; it is rarely seen in actual matches.12

It is easy to help the translation of "Italy's start" to the Italian OpeningI was not able to find the games Mexicanga - Correctaboorain, 2023 

and JeromeGambitOnly - CorrectRodes95, 2021 in The Database, 

so I have some more research to do.

In case you missed a couple of earlier posts referring to the Jerome Gambit game, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura - Grandmaster Dmitrij Kollars, you can catch the recent YouTube video by Square One Chess, titled "Hikaru Is CRAZYY! Sacs 2 Pieces In First 5 Moves & Annihilates 2600+ GM!"

How's this for an introduction?

Today's game is one of the most brutal sacrificial trollings of an elite grandmaster that you're ever likely to witness. I don't even remember seeing Magnus Carlsen do anything quite as extreme so early in the opening as what you're about to see from the great Hikaru Nakumura, who in a shocking resurrection of a horrendous 150 year-old gambit sacrifices not one but two entire pieces by move five in a brash and irresponsible attack that should have never worked. So, I don't know what else to tell you. This game is going to unscrew your head and then you might know what's coming next. I don't even want to say it. Once you regain your composure, though, you might just be inspired to try this crazy opening against your own opponents as it does have the potential to be quite venemous as you are about to see...

"Brash and irresponsible." I like that. So true. 

Enjoy.

Of Two Minds

Facing a scary, unorthodox - refuted - opening, puts me of two minds, both Uh oh and Yay.

Kind of like my opponents, facing my Jerome Gambit.

Oh, well...

perrypawnpusher - bot

play vs bot, Chess.com, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Bc5 

What's this? The Busch-Gass Gambit? Shades of deja vu, given the previous post. 

See "Worth a Second Look... (Part 1, 2, 3)".

By the way, it is probably best to point out, right away, that my play in this game is often not best. 

3.Bc4 

I know, the main line is 3.Nxe5, but I was hoping to transpose to a Jerome Gambit, if my opponent were to now play 3...Nc6.

3...Bxf2+ 

Uh oh.

Bots always make me nervous.

Just how tactically powerful is this electronic beast?

4.Kxf2 f6 

The bot transposes to a form of the Damiano Defense?

Yay.

How does the addition of ...Bxf2+ change things?

Actually, after the main line Damiano, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6, then 3.Bc4 is okay, if not as forcing as 3.Nxe5, but, then, the best response for Black would be 3...Nc6, not 3...Bc4, because...

5.Nxe5 

This tactic cries out to be played.

5...fxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

After the game, Stockfish 16.1 preferred 6...Ke7 7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Qd5+ Ke7 9.Qxe5+ Kf8 10.Rf1 Nf6 11.Kg1 Nc6 12.Qg3 d5 13.Bxd5, but White's attack against the King would still be strong. 

7.Qxe5+ Qe7 8.Qxh8 Qxe4 

White is ahead a Rook, with more material to come.

It is sad to note that the computer sees exchanging Queens instead, here, with 8...Qf6+, as best for Black.

As things are, in the mainline Damiano Defense, Black's capture of the e-pawn would come with check - but in this game he has given up a Bishop, making that not possible.

9.Qxg8+ 

Missing the simple 9.Re1, winning Black's Queen, but the move still promises an upcoming checkmate.

9... Ke7 10.Qf7+

Patzer sees check, patzer gives check.

Again, 10.Re1, instead, would win the enemy Queen (and lead to mate).

10...Kd8 

Here, 10...Kd6 is punished by 11.Qf6+. 

11.Qf8+ Qe8 12.Qxe8+ Kxe8 

I am pretty sure that a human, playing Black, would resign here.

13.Re1+ Kf8 14.d3 Kg7 15.Nc3 

Like I said, bots make me nervous. No need to rush into things.

15...d6 16.Nd5 Kf8 17.Nxc7 Kg7 18.Nxa8 

18...Nc6 19.Bf4 Nb8 

Sure. Why not?

20.Re7+ Kf8 

21.Rae1 

Timid to the very end. Instead, 21.Rf7+ Kg8 22.Bh6 d5 23.Rf8 mate

21...d5 22.Bh6+ Kg8 23.Bxd5+ Be6 24.Bxe6+ Kh8 25.Re8 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Reversed, Even More Risky

 

It can be tempting to play a reversed form of the Jerome Gambit, but it can be even more risky, as Black discovers in the following game.  

Degner, Uwe - Witt, Monika

Remote S7E Easy-342 email, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nf3 

Perhaps looking to transpose to the Jerome Gambit, if Black plays 3...Nc6.

This looks similar to a Busch-Gass Gambit, which starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Bc5. See "Worth a Second Look... (Part 1, 2, 3)".

3...Bxf2+

The earliest example of this move in The Database, in 2006, is by the "King of Bxf7+", viejoasquerosos, at redhotpawn.com.

The Database has 130 games with this move. Black scores 51%. That is impressive, given that Stockfish 16.1 (38 ply) evaluates the position as about 4 pawns better for White.

Can White ride out the storm?

4.Kxf2 Nf6 5.Nc3 

5...h6 

Black hopes to keep a Knight off of g5, but he would do better with the fork trick 5...Nxe4+ 6.Nxe4 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5

6.Nxe5 Nxe4+ 7.Nxe4 Qe7 

Recall Grandmaster John Nunn's warning: "LPDO, Loose Pieces Drop Off." But - will they?

8.d4 Qh4+ 9.Ng3 Qf6+ 10.Nf3 O-O 

Black sighs, and castles. He has two pawns for two pieces, and his safer King is not sufficient compensation.

11.Ne4 Qd8 12.Ng3 d5 13.Bd3 Bg4 14.h3 Bd7 15.Be3 

15...g5 

Black had to do something...

16.Ne5 Be6 17.Qh5 Qf6+ 18.Ke2 

White's King will be safe at e2.

18...Nd7 19.Raf1 Nxe5 

A slip in a difficult position.

20.Rxf6 Kg7 21.Qxh6+ Kg8 22.Qh7 checkmate

The Path to Advantage Is Narrow

In the following game, Black has a path to advantage, but he mis-steps, and his chances evaporate.

rajasthan - Viroo

3 0 blitz, FICS, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+

The Abrahams Jerome Gambit.

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ 

The path to advantage for Black is now narrow.

4...Ke6 

Black now has an edge, according to Stockfish 17.1 (35 ply), of about 2/3 pawn.

The best response was 4...Kf8, with play similar to that of the regular Jerome Gambit.

5.Qf5+ Kd6 6.Nf3 Qf6 

A Queen exchange would spike the attack.

7.d4 

Well done!

7...Bxd4 

This is okay, but the finesse 7...Bb4+ helps a bit more, i.e. 8.c3 Qxf5 9.exf5 Ba5 10.dxe5+ Ke7 with an equal game.

8.Nxd4 Qxf5 

Better than 8...exd4, played the same day: 9.e5+ Qxe5+ 10.Qxe5+ Kxe5 11.O-O c5 12.c3 d3 13.Bd2 Nc6 14.Na3 d5 15.Rae1+ Kd6 16.f4 Bf5 17.h3 Nf6 18.g4 Be4 19.f5 Ne5 20.Bf4 Rae8 21.Nb5+ Kc6 22.Bxe5 Rxe5 23.Na3 Rhe8 24.c4 a6 25.b3 b5 26.g5 Nh5 27.h4 Ng3 28.Rf2 Nxf5 29.cxb5+ axb5 30.Nb1 Nxh4 31.Nd2 Rxg5+ 32.Kh2 Rge5 33.Nxe4 Rxe4 34.Rxe4 dxe4 35.Rf4 Nf3+ 36.Kg3 g5 37.Rf6+ Kd5 38.Rb6 b4 39.Rh6 d2 40.Rh1 Ne5 41.Kf2 c4 42.Rd1 c3 43.Ke2 Ng4 White forfeited on time in a lost position, rajasthan-Viroo, 3 0 blitz, FICS, 2025.

Now, White's Knight chases the enemy King. 

9.Nxf5+ Ke6 10.Nxg7+ Kf6 11.Ne8+ Ke7 12.Nxc7 b6 13.Nxa8 Kd6 

White's Knight will not escape, but, even so, the first player will be ahead the exchange and a pawn or two.

14.b3 Bb7 15.Bb2 Bxa8 16.O-O Bxe4 

White is better in this Queenless middlegame - the computer puts him over two pieces better.

17.Nd2 Bxc2 18.Nc4+ Kc7 

The final slip. Time pressure? It is a 3-minute game.

19.Bxe5+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: "There Is No Time"

 

I recently ran across the Thursday, March 8, 2012 post on the "Play Chess Openings" blog, subtitled "Chess stories by author Tim Sawyer" - Lakdawala on 2.Ne2!? vs Caro-Kann Defence where there is the following reflection

There is no time to refer to a book during a 3 0 game. You play moves every 1-2 seconds based on memory, intuition, pattern recognition, experience, and the clock!

Tim Sawyer knows his chess. You might get a clue from the title of one of the books he has written - Chess Sampler: Excerpts from 100 of my Chess Books

Actually, I have a list of over 150 chess books Tim has written - and he has written on topics other than chess, as well.

"There is no time..." reminds me of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), and the reason that some of us play that dodgy opening.

Jerome Gambit: Opening of the Day at Chessgames.com

 Today, the "opening of the day" at Chesssgames.com is the Jerome Gambit.

You can play over a dozen games, including ones by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, and contributor to this blog, Yury V. Bukayev.

Check it out.

Jerome Gambit: Return of the Counter-Jerome Defense

  

One strategy that the defender in a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game can use is to give some material back in order to exchange Queens, and slow down the attack.

There is a risk, however, in moving to a slower, pawn-down game, as is shown in the following example.

Ekrem34 - ithepulak

2 1 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 

7...Bxf2+ 

As mentioned in "Jerome Gambit: Still Waters Run Deep"

The "Counter-Jerome Defense" or the "Counter-Jerome Gambit". See "Jerome Gambit: How Bad Has It Gotten?", "Jerome Gambit: Tactical Awareness" and "Jerome Gambit: Be Careful, Look Both Ways".

It is interesting that Stockfish 17.1 evaluates the top 4 moves for Black here as 7...Qe7, 7...Qe8, 7...b6, and 7...Bxf2+.

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 

Black has returned material, to take the energy and danger out of the position.

If White is going to win, he has to make something out of his 1-pawn advantage, in a Queenless middlegame.

In a 2-minute game.

10.d3 d6 11.Rf1 Kg7 

Both players are castling-by-hand. Black's King goes to g7, to allow his Rook to come into play. White immediately aims at the King.

12.b3 Bg4 13.Bb2 Rhf8 14.Kg1 

14...Rf7 15.h3 Be6 16.Nd2 Raf8 17.Nf3 Kg8 18.Ng5 Black resigned

White's Knight presents too many problems: attacking the unprotected Bishop, uncovering further attack on the Knight, and attacking the Rook at f7.

After 18...Re7, then 19.Bxf6. After 18...Bd7, then 19.Nxf7.

 

Jerome Gambit: Taking the Rook Now is Fatal

One of the biggest challenges to the Jerome Gambit is Whistler's defense - less known than Blackburne's defense, but more powerful.

Advice to those playing White is simple: Do not take the Rook.

alivera1234 - Zazzleface

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 

The Whistler defense, which Alonzo Wheeler Jerome faced in the games of his correspondence match with Lt. G. N. Whistler, secretary of the Lexington, Kentucky Chess Club, in 1876.

As I said simply in "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter VIII"

Taking the Rook now is fatal.

8.Qxh8 Qxe4+ 9.Kf1 Nf6 

The strongest move was 9...Qh4, which The Database shows has the record of  12 - 2 - 1 for Black.

10.d3 

So far, following Jerome - D.P. Norton, correspondence, 1876 (1/2 - 1/2, 20).

10...Qh4 11.g3 Qh3+ 12.Ke2 

The King feels the heat.

12...d6 13.Ke1 Qg2 14.Rf1 Bh3 

The Queen, too.

15.Nd2 Rxh8  White resigned