The Opponent

Whether it was Tarrasch, Tartakower or Znosko-Borovsky who said "Before the endgame, the gods have placed the middlegame," it seems equally important to note here that "Between the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and a victory, stands the Opponent."

perrypawnpusher - spontex

blitz 8 8, FICS, 2009

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 g6 A new move, but not such a good one, as it returns too much material. Standard is 8...Qf6 or 8...Qh4+.

9.Qxe5+ Kc6 10.Qd5+

Going for the non-existent mate. It was better to take the Rook, although play remains complicated, if in White's favor, after 10.Qxh8 Qe7 11.Nc3 Nf6 12.e5.

10...Kb6 11.Nc3 c6

This move helps White get back on track. After the game Rybka 3 suggested: 11...a5 12.Na4+ Ka7 13.Qxc5+ b6 14.Qd4 Ne7.

12.Na4+ Kc7 13.Qe5+ Bd6 14.Qxh8 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qg4

A very interesting offer of even more material, with the opportunity to muddy things up. A reasonable response for White now is 16.d3.

16.Qxg8 Qf3 17.Rf1 Qxe4+ 18.Kd1 b5

Too generous: 18...Qxa4 was the right move, leaving White up the exchange and a pawn.

19.Nc3 Qd4

More mischief was available with: 19...Qg2 20.Re1 Qxh2 21.d4 Qxg3 22.Qxh7 Ba6.

The annoying thing was that I was a Rook ahead, and it didn't feel at all like I was winning.

20.Qxh7 Bb4 21.Qxg6 d6 22.Qd3

To put an end to Black's dangerous piece play, although 22.Ne4 was clearly stronger.

22...Bg4+ 23.Ne2 Qxd3 24.cxd3 Re8 25.Re1 c5

26.a3 Ba5 27.b4 cxb4 28.axb4 Bb6 29.Bb2 Bf2

My opponent refused to roll over and play dead. Still, 30.Kc2 would limit my damages now.

30.d4 Bxe1 31.Kxe1 Rxe2+ 32.Kf1 Rxd2 33.Bc3 Rxh2 34.Rxa7+ Kb6

Well, okay, White still has an advantage. A small one.

35.Rf7 Bh3+ 36.Kg1 Rg2+ 37.Kh1 Rxg3 38.Rf6

How to explain this move?? Would you believe that my dog, Ginger, was pestering me to go outside, so I made a move quickly – and then watched my Bishop disappear.
38...Rxc3 39.Rxd6+ Kc7 40.Rd5 Kc6 41.Rh5 Bg4 42.Rg5 Bf3+ 43.Kh2 Bd5 44.f5



And here we have what might be guessed to be a "typical" Jerome Gambit endgame, where White has two pawns against Black's piece. The one problem: White's game is lost.


44...Rc4 45.Rg6+ Kc7 46.Rg7+ Kd6 47.Rg6+ Kd7 48.Rg7+ Kd6 49.Rg6+ Ke7 50.Rb6 Rxb4 51.Kg3 Rxd4


An unfortunate slip, levelling the game: 51...Kd7 52.Kf4 Kc7 was much better.

52.Rxb5 Kf6 53.Kf2 Kxf5 54.Ke3 Re4+ 55.Kd3 Re5 56.Kd4 Re4+ 57.Kxd5 Re5+ 58.Kc4 Rxb5 59.Kxb5 Drawn
Hats off and a firm handshake to spontex, for a fight to the finish.

Go for Broke

When playing a go-for-broke opening like the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), it can be difficult sometimes to decide whether to play a solid, if calm, move, or continue to play wild, attacking shots. In the following game, DREWBEAR 63 takes time to play a "normal" couple of moves – and gets overtaken by eddie43.


DREWBEAR 63 - eddie43
JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.Nc3

More frequently seen is 8.f4, which has its own problems, starting with 8...Qh4+.

8...c6 9.0-0

A dynamic alternative was shown by Jerome Gambit Gemeinde honorary member Geoff Chandler: 9.d4 Bxd4 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.fxe3 Qf6 12.0-0-0+ Kc7 13.Qh3 d5 14.Qg3 dxe4 15.Rhf1 Qe7 16.Rf7 Qxf7 17.Qxe5+ Kb6 18.Na4+ Ka6 19.Nc5+ Kb6 20.Na4+ Ka6 21.Nc5+ Kb6 22.Na4+ Ka6 drawn, greenpawn34 - Homedepotov, redhotpawn, 2008

9...Qf6

Coming to the rescue.

10.Qh3 Kc7 11.Qg3 d6 With a safe King, Black's two extra pieces are looking large.

12.Na4 Bb4 13.c3 Ba5 14.d4 Nd7 15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Qe6 17.Qxg7 Qxe5

18.Bf4

With 18.Qxe5 Nxe5 19.Bf4 White could have reclaimed one of the missing pieces, and found himself back in familiar two-pawns-for-a-piece Jerome Gambit territory. The text wins the exchange, but allows Black to develop his remaining pieces.

Further resistance becomes more difficult.

18...Qxf4 19.Qxh8 Ndf6 20.Qg7+ Bd7 21.Rad1 Qxa4 22.Rd4 Qxa2 23.Rfd1 Rd8 24.g4 h6 25.f4 Bb6 White resigned.

Busy!

Suddenly, this blog has turned busy!

Not only am I providing updated games and analysis from the ongoing Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) thematic tournament at Chessworld, but I am playing in a 10-player Jerome Gambit Welcoming Tournament at that site as well! (Well, someone has started off against me with the Ruy Lopez, another with the Ponziani Opening; while another has offered a Petroff Defense and yet another a Sicilian; with even someone throwing in a 1.d4 – still working out the bugs, I guess.)

Anyhow, I hope to keep providing daily posts, news, games and analysis; although some days things might be a bit thin, like today...

Ed, Ed and Eddie

Here are three recent wins by eddie43 from the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) thematic tournament at Chessworld:

Black Puma - eddie43

JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 h6 6.c3 Nf6 7.d4 Bd6 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5+ Bxe5 10.f4 Bd6 11.e5 Bc5+ 12.Kh1 Ne4 13.Qd5+ Ke8 14.Qxe4 Be7 15.f5 d5 16.Qf3 b6 17.f6 gxf6 18.exf6 Bd6 19.f7+ [ 19.Qxd5] 19...Kd7 20.b4 Ba6 21.a4 Bxf1 22.Qf5+ Kc6 23.Qxf1 Qh4-+ 24.b5+ Kb7 25.h3 Qg3 26.Ba3 Qh2 checkmate

calchess10 - eddie43

JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.d3 h6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.h3 d6 8.0-0 Be6 9.a3 a6 10.b4 Ba7 11.Nh2 Bd4 12.Bb2 Qd7 13.Rb1 Na7 14.Ne2 Bb6 15.Kh1 g5 16.Ng3 h5 17.Nf3 Rag8 18.c4 g4 19.Nh4 gxh3 20.Ngf5 Ng4 21.gxh3 Nxf2+ 22.Rxf2 Bxf2 23.Ng2 Bxf5 24.exf5 Qxf5 25.Nf4 Qxf4 26.Qe2 Rg3 27.d4 Rxh3+ 28.Kg2 Qg3+ 29.Kf1 Rh1 checkmate

stampyshortlegs - eddie43

JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.c3 Nh6 9.Qf4 Rf8 10.Qg3 White resigned

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, the Wizard of Draws

blackburne as Blackburne with black

Mention the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and most people will either give you a blank look, or remember "that game that Blackburne played in London in the 1880s".


In the ongoing Jerome Gambit thematic tournament at ChessWorld, player blackburn brought out J.H. Blackburne's defense, a line of some contention. One hundred and twenty four years ago, Blackburne, as Black, crushed the Jerome Gambit with fine sacrificial play. Improvements show that White can do better, and at least draw, if not win -- but the play remains complicated.


DREWBEAR 63 - blackburne
JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009

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

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


J.H. Blackburne's defense, returning a piece and preparing to offer a Rook as well.

7.Qxe5 d6
The start of fireworks.

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.0-0


From here the Black Death played 9...Nf6 10.c3 (10.Qd8 was an improvement suggested in the Brooklyn Chess Chronicle 8/1885) 10...Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4 checkmate, Amateur - Blackburne, London 1885







analysis diagram







9...Qxe4



This is blackburne's updating of Blackburne. The move has been seen before, but it omits blocking in the enemy Queen, which brings about dire consequences.
10.Nc3

An alternative was 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.d3 Qf5 12.Qxc7 Nf6 13.d4 Be6 14.dxc5 Bc4 15.Bh6+ Ke8 16.Re1+ Ne4 17.Nc3 Qxf2+ 18.Kh1 Qf7 19.Rxe4+ Be6 20.Qxd6 Black resigned, obviously - dmyze, GameKnot, 2004

10...Qxc2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.d3 Qxd3 13.Bh6+

With his Queen unlocked, DREWBEAR 63 can press a mating attack.


13...Ke8

There was no hope in 13...Nxh6, as follows 14.Qxh6+ Kg8 15.Rae1 d5 16.Re8+ Kf7 17.Rfe1 Qd4 18.Nxd5 Qxf2+ 19.Kh1 Qg1+ 20.Rxg1 Kxe8 21.Qxg6+ Kd7 22.Re1 Be3 23.Rxe3 c6 24.Re7+ Kd8 25.Qe8 checkmate

14.Rfe1+ Kd8


Drawing out the pain was 14...Be3 15.Qxg8+ Kd7 16.Rxe3 Kc6 17.Rxd3 Be6 18.Qxe6 a5 19.Qc4+ Kd7 20.Nd5 c6 21.Qg4+ Kd8 22.Bg5+ Ke8 23.Qe6+ Kf8 24.Bh6 checkmate

15.Qxg8+ Kd7 16.Qe8 checkmate

Wing, Center, Wing

While the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) has its refutations, if White isn't put out of his misery quickly, he can develop a very interesting game, even if "objectively" he is "worse". Play can develop all over the board, and in the resulting mayhem, anything might happpen...

gwyn1 - Sir Osis of the Liver
JGTourney4 ChessWorld, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.c3
One of the "modern" variations of the Jerome Gambit – including 5.0-0, 5.Nc3 and 5.d3 – where White avoids the "classical" 5.Nxe5. About 80% of the games in this tournament favored "modern" variations.

5...d5

Black decides to strike back in the center.

6.b4 Bb6

White's plan is clear: knock out the support of the pawn on e5. Black's alternate response was 6...dxe4, responding to an attack on the wing with an attack in the center.

7.b5 Nce7

Again, ...exe4 was possible.

8.Nxe5+ Ke8 9.Ba3


A Queenside Jerome Gambit attack is interesting and unusual. An indication of the fun the opening provides is that there was also a Kingside feint with 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Qf3 Be6 11.d3.
9...Nf6 10.0-0 Nxe4 11.Qf3 Nf5

Black probably needed one more piece in play to be scary, i.e. 11...Be6. Now White hits the Kingside.

12.Qh5+ g6 13.Nxg6


Here we have a complicated, dangerous, and unclear position. Fritz 8 says things will be equal after 13...Kf7 14.Nxh8+ Kg7, even though White would be up the exchange and two pawns. A few more moves give light to the computer's thinking: 15.Nf7 Qf6 16.d3 Nfg3.









analysis diagram




Messy, messy, messy – but fun!
13...Nf6 This move, instead, allows White to attack in the center: 14.Re1+ Be3 15.Rxe3+ Nxe3 16.Qe5+ Kd7 17.Nxh8 Nc4.

14.Ne5+

An oversight.

14...Nxh5 15.Re1 Bxf2+ 16.Kxf2 Qh4+ 17.Kg1 Qxe1 White resigned

Critical Line: 5...Kf8 (Revisited)

It wasn't so long ago that this blog took a look at one of the "Critical Lines" identified for the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) – see "Critical Line: 5...Kf8 (1) - (2) - (3)" – so I wasn't surprised to see it pop up in my most recent game. I took my own advice, and followed the "standard plan of castling, developing pieces, and advancing [the] Kingside pawns with the usual play."

perrypawnpusher - Lark 

blitz 2 12, FICS, 2009 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 Here we go: one of the oldest refutations of the Jerome Gambit.

6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.0-0 Bd6 Whoa! Lark is not kidding: he plans a Kingside attack, and moves his Bishop to focus on h2. It is easy to visualize his Queen on h4 and his Knight on g4 as well.

8.f4 g6 9.d4 Bd7 10.Nc3 Nh6

White's center pawns make ...Nf6 inadvisable.

11.f5 Qh4

12.e5

White's pawns, Black's pieces – and it is hard not to point out the position of Black's King, facing White's Rook...

12...Nxf5

The standard return-the-piece-for-a-pawn-or-two strategem, but my opponent has overlooked something. The calm, cool Rybka 3 later recommended: 12...Bb4 13.Qe1 Qxe1 14.Bxh6+ Ke8 15.Raxe1 Bxf5 and White is up a pawn, although Black is not without counterplay.

13.exd6 cxd6 14.g4 My guess is that when Lark played his 12th move, he overlooked this move, perhaps imagining that 14...Qxg4+ was now playable.

14...Re8 15.gxf5 Bxf5 16.Qf3

Sloppy, giving up a pawn. Better was the development 16.Bf4, of course, followed perhaps by Qd2 and Rae1.

Time was getting short for us, especially my opponent.

16...Qxd4+ 17.Kh1 Kg7 18.Qf2 Here, Black forfeited on time.

It is a bit of irony that materially we have swapped Jerome Gambit roles, as I have an extra piece for my opponent's two pawns, and I have a small advantage.