Sometimes you just have to outplay the other guy...

It's not like you can simply play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and win as you please -- in fact, it's kind of like the opposite.

What it comes down to is that sometimes you just have to outplay the other guy.

Or, failing that, you have to make the next-to-last mistake and let him make the last one...

perrypawnpusher - Lindal
FICS rated blitz game 2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+



This strategy is similar to the one employed by Pederson (see "Jerome Gambit Strikes in Denmark!") after his 6...g6.8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6


"A rather unambitious line on Black's part" as Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member Martin Moller commented in his game against Pederson.

Same here. I'm a pawn up in a balanced position. With some steady work, my advantage should prove itself.

10.Nc3 d6 11.d3 Ke7 12.Bg5 Rf8 13.Rhf1 Ke8 14.Bxf6 Rxf6+ 15.Ke3 Rxf1 16.Rxf1 Be6

If my opponent was content to play against me a pawn down, perhaps he was pleased here with his Bishop vs Knight advantage.

17.a3 Ke7 18.d4 Rf8

Consistent, but not a good idea. Keeping my Kight limited with 18...c6 looks better.

19.Rxf8 Kxf8 20.Nb5 c6 21.Nxa7


Capturing the d-pawn (and, incidentally, making the e-pawn a passer) was less risky.

21...Ke7 22.b4 d5 23.e5 Kd7 24.b5 Kc7 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.a4 Kb7


I have to admit that "losing a Knight" is not the same as "outplaying your opponent".

Even so, White probably can draw by abandoning his piece and a-pawn and focus on marching his King to e8 (or f8 or g8) to help his e-passer promote.

27.Nb5 cxb5 28.axb5 Kb6 29.h3 Kxb5



In a blitz game, anything can happen. Black was willing to play on a pawn down, and he is now clearly winning.

All I had to console myself with was the idea that the guy who allowed White an advantage in the Jerome Gambit was the same guy who let me move through a middle game where White was better. Perhaps he would be just as strong in the endgame.

30.g4 Kb6 31.Kf4 h6 32.h4 Kc6 33.g5 Kd7 34.gxh6 gxh6 35.Ke3 Bf5 36.Kf4 Ke6



Readers with endgame skills are probably beginning to snicker.

37.c3 Bd3 38.Kg4 Be4 39.Kh5 Bd3 40.Kxh6 Kf5


The last two moves have been critical.

With the capture of the pawn, White gained a drawn position: Black's Bishop and King can keep either passer from Queening.

Black's King lurch, however, has given White the advantage. He should have tried something like 40...Be2 when White can make little progress, e.g. 41.Kg5 Bd3 42.h5 Ke7 43.h6 Kf7 44.Kh5 Be4 45.Kg5 Bd3.

41.h5

Well, that didn't last very long. The proper move was 41.Kg7. Now Black can play 41...Be2 and hold the draw.

41...Kg4

Did I mention that this was a blitz game?


42.e6 Bb5 Ok! White is winning again.


My opponent played on, though, no doubt thinking "This guy played the Jerome Gambit against me -- how good could he be?"


43.e7

Back to zero.


It is a challenge to juggle two passed pawns, the opponent's pawn and his Bishop, but it can be done: 43.Kg6 Be8+ 44.Kf6 Kxh5 45.Ke5 Bc6 46.Kd6 Ba4 47.Kxd5 5.19/19 Kg6 48.Kd6 Bb5 49.Ke7 Bc4 50.Kd7 Bb5+ 51.Kd8 Kf5 52.e7 Ke4 53.e8Q+ Bxe8 54.Kxe8 etc.

43...Kf5

The game takes its last rude turn.

After 43...Be8 44.Kg7 Bxh5 the outside passed pawn is captured, and Black has only to trade his Bishop for the other passed pawn with 45.Kf8 Kf5 46.e8Q Bxe8 47.Kxe8 and then "oppose" any attempt by the White King to come to the aid of his pawns: 47...Ke6, etc.

44.Kg7 Kg5 45.h6 Black resigns


graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

Jerome Gambit Strikes in Denmark!

Hi Rick,

Already the first game is decided in my Jerome gambit thematic tournament, and in my favour.!!

Before the tournament began I searched my Jerome file for White wins, and arranged them in variation order.
Here is the game : start 8/10-2008, end 15/10-2008

White: Martin Moller
Black: Jan Pedersen
www.eskak.dk , 10.2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 Qf6+
A rather unambitious line on Black's part, I think, forcing the exchange of Queens, and White is a pawn up (we were following game no. 209).

[I agree, Martin: my database has 11 games with this line and White has won 10, the only loss coming in a mis-played Rook-and-pawn endgame. – Rick]
[When NM Brian Wall played against this line, he commented "Luckily, there is an unwritten Law of Chess that states a lower rated player will trade any advantage, no matter how massive, for a certain draw against a higher rated player. The Law is based on the principle that the lower rated player knows in his heart he never deserves to win, no matter how well he has played... Black sees an "opportunity" to trade queens and grabs it with both hands."]
9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.d3
[10.Nc3 d6 ( 10...b6 11.d3 d6 12.Rf1 Rf8 13.Kg1 Kg7 14.Bg5 Nd7 15.Nd5 Rxf1+ 16.Rxf1 c6 17.Nc7 Rb8 18.Ne6+ Kg8 19.Bh6 Ba6 20.Kf2 Nc5 21.Nxc5 bxc5 22.Ke3 Re8 23.b3 d5 24.Rf4 Bc8 25.Kd2 dxe4 26.Rxe4 Rxe4 27.dxe4 Kf7 28.h3 Kf6 29.Ke3 g5 30.g4 Kg6 31.Bf8 h5 32.Bxc5 a6 Black resigned, blackburne Bullit52, www.chessworld.net 2007) 11.d4 c6 12.h3 Re8 13.Re1 Be6 14.Bf4 Rad8 15.Rad1 Nh5 16.Bh2 Rf8 17.g4 Nf6 18.Kg2 Kg7 19.Bg3 b5 20.d5 cxd5 21.exd5 Black resigned, brianwall - maten8, Internet Chess Club 2004]

10...d6 11.Rf1 Kg7 12.Kg1 Bd7 13.Nc3 Rhf8

[13...c6 14.Bh6+ Kxh6 15.Rxf6 Rhf8 16.Raf1 Rxf6 17.Rxf6 d5 18.Rd6 Black resigns, guest1824 - guest1255, Internet Chess Club 2002]
14.h3
[14.Bg5 Nh5 15.Nd5 Rac8 16.Rxf8 Kxf8 17.Rf1+ Kg7 18.Bf6+ Nxf6 19.Nxf6 Bc6 20.Ng4 h5 21.Ne3 Re8 22.Rf4 d5 23.Nxd5 Black resigns, blackburne03 -bobby-pisher, Internet Chess Club 2003]
14...Nh5 15.Be3 a6 16.Nd5
An annoying Knight.

16...c6 17.Nb6 Rxf1+ 18.Rxf1 Rd8 19.Bg5 Resigns

I win a piece.
Best regards,

Martin Moller
Jerome Gambit Gemeinde Member

Jerome Gambit / Jerome Defense

It is not clear which defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) was considered best by its originator, Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, but he defended against the Gambit at least twice in correspondence games and used the same main line each time.

The New York Clipper September 4, 1880 Game No. 1,237 Miron Hazelton In Game 1,193 our contributor Dan Jaeger successfully defended himself against the "Jerome Gambit" in the hands of J. himself. This time Mr. Jaeger tries the attack, with the following result.

 

Jaeger,D - Jerome,A correspondence 1880

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8

Here, in the game cited, our contributor interposed KtP [6...g6].

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qf4+ Nf6 9.Nc3 c6 10.d3 d6 11.h3 h6 12.0-0 g5 13.Qg3 Qe5 14.Ne2

In another game also sent us, White x Q [14.Qxe5], but lost speedily.

14...Qxg3 15.Nxg3 Ke7 16.c3 Be6 17.a4

Quite useless -- or worse.

17...a5 18.Be3 Ba7 19.d4 Rag8 20.f4 gxf4 21.Bxf4 d5 22.Be5

This seems to us a mistake; it looks as if he should now have secured a passed P.

22...Rf8 23.exd5 cxd5 24.Rae1 Rhg8 25.Nf5+ Kd7

The difference in the fighting capacities of the two Kings in this situation is now strikingly apparent in Black's favor.

26.Nxh6 Rg6 27.Nf5 Ne4 28.Ne3 Rxf1+ 29.Rxf1 Bb6

With the charge of this prelate, which White is helpless to prevent, comes victory to the Black banner.

30.g4 Bd8 31.Kg2 Kc6 32.b3

Is now "fought to a stand-still," and outplayed to the end.

32...Bg5 33.Nd1 Nd2 34.Rh1 Bh4 35.b4 axb4 36.cxb4 Nc4 37.Nc3 Nxe5 38.dxe5 d4 39.Ne4 Bd5 40.Kf3 Rg8

and White resigned.

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

A Jerome Gambit Brawl

Although there are plenty of refutations of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) adventurous people keep playing it, and many times, instead of a "simple" win for Black, those games become out-and-out brawls.

For example, here's a battle from the latest Jerome Gambit tournament -

bobbob78 - panga74

www.gameknot.com 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Nf6

An unusual defensive idea, but he gets away with it.

8.Qf5+

The way to proceed: 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qg5 Re8 11.d3 Kg8 12.0-0 Ng4 13.f5 Qxg5 14.Bxg5 h6 15.Bd2 h5 16.Nc3 b6 17.Nd5 c6 18.Nc7 Ba6 19.Nxa6 Kf7 20.Nc7 h4 21.Nxa8 Rxa8 22.Rf4 Nf6 23.Rxh4 c5 24.Rf1 Rc8 25.Rf3 c4 26.Bc3 Ne8 27.Rg3 a5 28.Rh7 Kg8 29.Rh4 a4 30.Rhg4 Rc7 31.h4 Ra7 32.Bd4 a3 33.b3 cxb3 34.cxb3 Rc7 35.f6 g6 36.Rxg6+ Kf7 37.Rg7+ Ke6 38.Rxc7 Nxc7 39.Rg7 Ne8 40.Re7 checkmate, blackburne - plummy, www.chessworld.net 2007

8...Kf7 9.fxe5 d6 10.Qf3 dxe5

White has now, instead, a regular Jerome Gambit position: two pawns for a piece and he has his work cut out for him.

11.Nc3 c6 12.d3 Bb4 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Rf8 15.Bg5 Kg8

16.d4 Qb6

Black is not sitting still: his King has castled by hand, and White's center is under attack.

17.Kh1 Nd7 18.Qg3 Rxf1+ 19.Rxf1 exd4

The position looks simple, but it is not. Black's move asks to be checkmated in 4.

20.Bh6 g6 21.Qd6

This still mates, but White had two pleasant Queen offers: 21.Qe5 Nf6 22.Qe8+ Nxe8 23.Rf8 checkmate.

21...Qd8 22.Qxd4

White is still winning, and there still is a mate (in 12) but surely 22.Qe6+ Kh8 23.Rf7 Qg8 24.Bf4 Qg7 25.Qe8+ Qg8 26.Be5+ Nxe5 27.Qxe5+ Qg7 28.Qxg7 was simpler.

22...Qe7 23.h3

But this is not nice: Black is now winning.

23...b5 24.e5 Bb7

It was time for some consolidation with a move like 24...Qe6, when Black has stopped all the mate threats and is still up a piece.

25.e6 c5

Giving the piece back, trading Queens, and possibly looking toward a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame -- but White's advanced pawn gives him a big edge.

26.Qxd7 Qxd7 27.exd7 Bc6 28.Rf8+

A miscalculation: White is looking for the endgame, too; and probably the draw. With the Rook on d1, instead, White can win.
28...Rxf8 29.Bxf8 Bxd7 30.Bxc5 a6 31.Kg1 draw

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"

Jerome Gambit: Transylvanian Terror!

Although I won the first game in our 2-game match (see "Jerome Gambit: Return to Transylvania") I think that my opponent, mika76, was unlucky, not out-played by me.

In our second game mika76, using the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), bowled me over.

Let me be clear.

A long time ago I read an article that described chess players' thinking about winning and losing. They won, most said, because of brilliant play on their own part. They lost, most said, because they had blundered. This makes a tiny bit of sense – until you realize that chess players play against each other.

"I beat Gronch Quigly," Augie Schnutz proclaims, "with brilliant play"; while Quigly replies "I lost to Schnutz, because of my blunder."

I won't have any of that: Mika76 beat me with strong play. Take a look.

mika76 - perrypawnpusher
www.GameKnot.com 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nxe5+
A Delayed Jerome Gambit, a rather rare beast.

6...Nxe5 7.d4


Transposing to the regular Jerome, a move down. Interesting. Black has one more piece developed – the Knight at f6 – but it blocks his strongest response, ...Qh4. "Objectively" Black is doing very well, but for some psychological rumblings, see "Sac a pawn, or a piece, or a..."

7...Bd6


Paging Dr. Freud! I have no idea where this move came from, but I am sure mika76 was glad to see it. I suspect I was in an anything wins against the Jerome Gambit state of mind – a deadly place to be, since my opponent plans to press and press until my game cracks.

Logical was 7...Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 with the typical advantage Black has early.

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 Bd6 10.Nc3 Bb4 11.e5 Ne8

12.Qd5+ Kf8 13.f5 Qe7 14.0-0 Qc5+ 15.Qxc5+ Bxc5+ 16.Kh1 Bd4

By exchanging Queens Black has eliminated the immediate danger to his King, but his development continues to lag.

In the meantime, White's pawns become more annoying.

17.Bf4 d6 18.e6 Nf6 19.Nb5 Bb6 20.Rae1 Ke7


21.c4 a6 22.Nc3 Ba5 23.Re3 Bxc3 24.Rxc3 b6 25.b4 Bb7
I finally have my Bishop developed, but there are dangers in the position.

26.h3 Rag8 27.c5


While Black is looking for a Kingside counter-attack, his Queenside springs a leak. Mika76 keeps his pressure on.

27...Nd5

This looked okay to me, but Rybka prefers 27...dxc5 28.bxc5 Ne4 29.Rc4 bxc5 30.Re1 Rf8 31.Rexe4 Bxe4 32.Rxe4 Rxf5 33.g4 Rd5 when things are messy, but the computer sees Black as better.

By keeping things complicated, mika76 looks for his chances.

28.cxd6+ cxd6



Surprisingly (to me) a game-losing decision: White is keeping things very dangerous for Black, and now gets his reward.

Rybka prefers 28...Kf6 29.Rd3 Nxf4 30.Rxf4 cxd6 31.Rxd6 Ke5 32.Rfd4 Rb8 33.Kh2 Rhe8 34.g4 g6 35.Rd2 Be4 to keep Black's edge, but that looks a lot like computer logic.

29.Bg5+ Ke8 30.Rc4 h6 31.Bh4 Rf8 32.Rfc1 Black resigned

A Jerome Gambit Gemeinde Denmark Adventure

Hi Rick,

I found the Jerome games that you sent me very interesting, and they have made me start a thematic tournament at the Danish site http://www.eskak.dk/ where we begin after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

Ten players, and me playing White in all games !

I want 4.Bxf7+ to be a complete surprice for my opponents, and am looking forward to sharpening my Jerome Gambit tactics.

You will of course get the games.

Best regards

Martin Moller
Denmark

Randspringer!

Readers who enjoy unorthodox chess openings will be pleased to learn that there is a new Randspringer availiable, a triple issue (#82 - #84), with 152 pages. Costs are 14,80 Euro plus 3 Euro for international shipment. Or $25.00 to the USA, I believe.

If you are interested, please contact Peter Reuter at savethewhalenow@yahoo.com

On a related note, I would like to quote from a footnote to a book review that I wrote for Chessville a year or so ago. I do not know if the offers still hold – why not email Peter and ask him?

Peter Reuter (savethewhalenow@yahoo.com) has an announcement sure to set your mouth watering: years 3 through 6 of Rainer Schlenker’s mind-bending German language magazine Randspringer – trailblazer of unusual opening ideas, a contemporary of the legendary Myers’ Openings Bulletin, predecessor to the Unorthodox Openings Newsletter – are available in book form.

But wait – there’s more! Here is a synopsis:

Handbuch der Unregelmaessigen Schacheroeffnungen, Bd. 3 bis 6 [Manual of Unorthodox Chess Openings, vol. 3 to 6]. Reprinted Randspringer volumes 1984 to 1987, 4 paperbacks, 700 densely packed pages with offbeat theory and unorthodox openings of the eighties!

If you order these titles, Peter will throw in:

(1) Randspringer #78. Trossinger Partie 1 e4 & 2 Lc4 auf alles [1 e4 & Bc4 versus (almost) everything, e.g. 1 e4 c6, 2 Bc4!? d5, 3 Bb3 de4:, 4 Qh5! g6, 5 Qh4] (August 2006, 42 pages).

(2) Randspringer #79/80. Up dates Franco-Polnisch 1 e4 e6, 2 d4 b5! (January 2006, 98 pages)

(3) Randspringer #81. Matt in 20 Zuegen. 19.Jahrhundert virtuell im Geiste. Henry Birds. This covers a multitude of unorthodox openings, much b3&f4 material, Sicilian Winger 1 e4 c5, 2 b4, Danish Gambit 1 e4 e5, 2 d4, Ruth Counter Attack 1 d4 Sf6, 2 Lg5 Se4, Kentucky Defense 1 d4 Sh6?! and many more (May 2006, 62 pages).

(4) Festschrift 100 Jahre SV Schwenningen. The large games section covers some of Schlenker’s theoretical and practical efforts in chess (April 2006, 56 pages).

Also, those who order will be sent along a free copy of the 1997 book: Franco-Polnisch 1 e4 e6, 2 d4 b5 u.a. [and others] (paperback, 96 pages).With plenty of games and analysis, Randspringer can certainly be enjoyed by those (like myself) whose first language is not German. These 1050+ pages are not lost to the ages...

I was also able to track down the book version of the first year of Randspringer, but discovered that for some reason there was no bound version of year two. Peter was industrious enough to offer me photocopies – an offer I could hardly refuse!

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"