Kerfuzzled!

Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) seems to just add to the confusion (for example, among others, "Sac a pawn, or a piece, or a...") of the world at large...


Take the following example.


Danivarl - Carpediem
Internet, 2007

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

The "classical" Jerome Gambit, as opposed to "modern" treatments that avoid the second piece sacrifice.

5...Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+
Alonzo Wheeler Jerome preferred this intermediary check, instead of the immediate piece capture.

7...Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qc3 Ne5

This move seems to be asking for trouble, but Black is confident that he has the proper reply. In this he is only half right.

10.f4 Nf3+


Oh, how I have suffered in facing this Knight move, in various positions: see "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter III," "Jerome Gambit: Fools walk in..." and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XVI"

In those games, however, the Knight sac was well-coordinated with ...Qh4+

11.Qxf3

Black: Oh, dear, what was I thinking??

11...Be6 12.f5 Bf7 13.d4 Nf6 14.e5

Here come those Jerome pawns!

14...Nd7 15.e6

This can be annoying enough when White is down a piece, but here he is ahead in material.

15...Qh4+ 16.g3 Qxd4 17.Qxb7 Qe5+

A sudden discomfort for the White King, but it is a minor thing if well-managed: 18.Kf2 Qxf5+ 19.Kg1 Bxe6 20.Qxa8+ Kf7 21.Qg2 (not 21.Qxh8, which allows a draw by repetition with 21...Qc5+, etc.).

18.Kd1 Rb8

Black does not see that he now has the winning attack on the King that leads to an advantage in material: 18...Bh5+ 19.g4 Bxg4+ 20.Kd2 Qe2+ 21.Kc3 Bf3 22.Qxc7 Nf6 23.Qf7+ Kd8 24.e7+ Kc8 25.Qc4+ Qxc4+ 26.Kxc4 Bxh1

19.Qxc7

Chess is a complicated game – and this game has become complicated. The stable 19.Qf3 is enough for White to settle things down, with advantage.

19...Bh5+


This time Black sees it.
20.Kd2 Qd5+ 21.Ke3 Qf3+


But what does he see??

He had a draw with the likes of 21...Qe5+ 22.Kf2 Qe2+ 23.Kg1 Qe1+ 24.Kg2 Qe4+ 25.Kg1 Qe1+ etc.

Instead, he gives White a gutsy way to escape to the center of the board: 22.Kd4 Rb4+ 23.c4 Nf6 (of course 23...Qxh1 leads to mate: 24.exd7+ Kf8 25.d8/Q+ Be8 26.Qde7+ Kg8 27.Qxe8#) 24.Nc3 Qf2+ (24...Qxh1 is answered with 25.Qc8+ and White's capture of a Rook offsets Black's) 25.Be3 Qxf5 26.Bf4 and White has the advantage.

analysis diagram

But, what does White see??

White Resigns

Why not join in the discussion?

Pete Banks ("blackburne") and I have quite a discussion going about the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) in the "comments" section of "Jerome Gambit: Transylvanian Terror!"

Why not join us and add your own opinions?

Jerome Gambit Scrapbook

From time to time I will post addresses of online Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) resources.

Readers are, of course, welcome to contribute to this list.

"Jerome Gambit"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Gambit

"Jerome Gambit, or Jerome Gamble?" – Rick Kennedy & G. K. Gifford

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/4Ov5SGzNMWKr5Ej95W53b--AauVveeS2EpSkC-YUoz44lmTMiI4O_v0m2t-WeTQrC5Dx1jaldvZ-K6ryw6v3uARMr_iXLyNONSP_-PQp/UON-17%20-%20Jan-Apr2007.pdf


"Jerome Gambit – Revisited," by Rick Kennedyhttp://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/8Pn5SIQEWbgFsvUMPrsheeTkz1oZyIfk_IqIQtypSCpyjfdjJvxIinrlDy7YjtET6RBhLAepEZTkpPCcUjMSN1tWA3RRam1oBfCEYUOC/UON18-May-Aug_2007.pdf


"Nobody Expects the Jerome Gambit!" by Rick Kennedyhttp://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chess-Unorthodox-UON/files/


"The Good Old Days," Opening Lanes, ChessCafe, by International Master Gary Lanehttp://www.chesscafe.com/text/lane111.pdf


"Chess Made Easy," Opening Lanes, ChessCafe, by International Master Gary Lanehttp://www.chesscafe.com/text/lane112.pdf


"Jerome Gambit" HANGING PAWN :: Tip's Blog
http://www.lockism.com/engine/html/jeromewhite/jeromewhite.htm

A Walk on the Wild Side... (Part II)

Pete Banks ("blackburne") continues with his adventures...

"A Walk on the Wild Side..."

P Banks - R Brodie
Wolverton U-100 Cup

Halesowen v Bushbury
15.10.2008

25 minutes for 30 moves.
I'd better play quickly.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

Ah! This gives me the chance to play the Jerome Gambit.
After the night I've had, I NEED to play it!

4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5
I love to see the look of bewilderment on their faces when they realise I've just sacced two pieces in 5 moves!

6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qxc5 d6
All standard stuff so far. I've played this lots of times but I'm still not sure of the best continuation now.

I've got a piece and 2 pawns for my two pieces and he can't castle. I need to develop quickly and push my extra pawns.

8.Qe3 Be6

[Played once before, but Brodie's bad luck is that it was in the game blackburne - calchess10, chessworld.com 2008, (1-0, 60) - Rick]

9.Nc3 N8e7 10.f4
Threatening a pawn fork.

10...Bd7

I've taken 4 minutes to his 20 so far. Another good reason to play the Jerome.

11.0-0 Re8 12.Qf2

I get nervous if my Q might be pinned, plus this stops ...Nh4.

12...Kg8 13.d4 Nc6 14.f5
This is starting to look good.

14...Nf8 15.Qg3

I don't think he's got time for ...Nxd4.

[15...Nxd4 16.f6 wins - Rick]

15...Qf6 16.d5 Nd4 17.Bg5

His Q is almost trapped. We both thought that if he played 17...Qf7 then f6 wins, but after the game we couldn't quite see a definite win.

[Neither can Deep Rybka 3, although it prefers 18.Qd3 - Rick]

17...Qe5

I don't want to swap queens, or my attack disappears and I might well end up losing.

18.Bf4 Qf6 19.Bg5 Qe5

Draw agreed.

I probably should have tried harder to see a win, but I only had about 10 minutes left to reach 30 moves.

After the evening I'd had I was glad of the draw.

[I fed the game to Deep Rybka 3 Human 32 bit, inside of Fritz8, and had it do a blunder check of the game, set for 5 minutes per half-move. It had only two suggestions of note, preferring 12.f5 (instead of 12.Qf2) Ne5 13.d4 Ng4 14.Qf3 Nf6 15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Bc6 17.Qg3 Qd4+ 18.Be3 Qg4 19.exf6 Qxg3 20.hxg3 Nxf5 21.fxg7 Rxe3 22.Rxf5+ Kxg7 which looks drawish; and 16.Nd5 (instead of 16.d5) Qxd4+ 17.Be3 Qe5 18.Bf4 Qd4+ etc. leading to a draw similar to the game. It is possible that White could make something of 18.f6 (instead of 18.Bf4) Rec8 19.f7+ Kh8 20.Bf4 Qe7 21.Qd3 – but not with the time that he had left. - Rick ]

A Walk on the Wild Side (Part I)

From Great Britain's premier member of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) Gemeinde and regular contributor to this blog, Pete Banks ("blackburne").

"A Walk on the Wild Side"

P Banks v R Brodie
Halesowen v Bushbury
Wolv U-110 Cup
Board 1
15/10/2008

Chapter 1

I haven't played for a couple of seasons, so have forgotten where some of the clubs are. Anyway, I thought our captain had said Rushall, not Bushbury (well, they've both got an 'ush' in them!). Though Tony had sent me directions to Bushbury, I'd looked up Rushall while at work, and simply programmed their postcode into my sat-nav.

I set off in good time, but was held up by traffic and arrived just before 7:30. I tried the back door of the pub they play in. It was locked, so I went round the front.

Now the last time I played here one of the pub regulars spat at my feet as I was walking in, so I was slightly wary. I went in, and the place was deserted except for the barmaid and a few locals playing pool and glowering. The one I noticed particularly had a shaved head, and one of those T-shirts with the arms ripped off that said something like "F--- off world" on the front. He also had 'Love' and 'Hate' tattooed on his knuckles and a dotted line round his neck labelled 'Tear Here'. He had various other tattoos as well, but I didn't take them all in. Well you don't like to stare, do you?

Anyway, as I was asking the barmaid if the chess club still met there, only to be told "Yes, but on Mondays", this character marched purposefully behind me, taking his pool cue with him. Could be in a bit of trouble here I thought. The next thing I know, he taps me on the shoulder. Uh oh.

“Here, mate, you dropped your fags” he said, in a pleasant voice.

Chapter 2

Back in the car park, I had a think, and decided that the venue should have been Bushbury, so I drove there as fast as I could, arriving about 8:00 in the district, but nothing looked familiar.

I didn’t have anyone’s phone number with me, so I pulled into a side road and phoned home. I talked my computer-phobic wife through switching on, logging on, closing down warning messages etc, etc, and eventually managed to get her to navigate to Bushbury’s club site and give me the post code. I quickly found the club, which was locked.

I managed to get let in and sat down in the only empty seat. I now had 25 minutes left on my clock for 30 moves. I thought that the procedure was that if a team
member turned up late, everyone else moved up a place, so I assumed that I was
playing board 4. After the night I’d had so far I needed to let off steam a bit, and under the impression that I was on board 4, thought that my opponent would be relatively weak. So what else could I play but the Jerome Gambit?

After I committed to it, I looked at my opponent again, and recognised him. Surely he was a reasonable player? I sneaked a look over Tony’s shoulder at the match card, and sure enough I was still playing board one! Not one of my better nights!

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