Success!

I'm old enough to still have a slide rule, which I used for calculations in high school chemistry class. My cradle wasn't a wi-fi hot spot, and the first mouse that I knew of was Micky, not wireless.

Still, my plan for downloading a ton of games (see "Digging for Gold") and sharing a selection of them – a PGN database of Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+), and Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0-0/4.Nc3/4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+) games – with Readers (see "Sharing the Wealth") is a step closer: by the time you read this post, I will have succeeded in gathering the 100,000,000 games from FICS, in about 120 compressed files (which should take care of the file size problem for my chess database).

Selecting out the meaningful games may still take a while, but I should make my deadline of 01/01/10.

Sharing the Wealth

Throughout December I will be compiling a PGN database of Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+), and Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0-0/4.Nc3/4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+) games to share with the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (and interested others) – on the first of the year, to start 2010 off right!

I have started with a selection of games from my own database, many of which have not been seen on these blog pages. So far the file has almost 3,000 games – I hope to add more as the days go on (see "Digging for Gold").

Digging for Gold

I'm always looking for Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and Jerome Gambit-related games.

Since I play much of my chess at FICS, I often go to their online database to search for games. My request for games identified as "C50" in the ECO system usually returns 200 games (the maximum in a search) from the day in question.

I can use my ChessBase8 to filter games that are likely to interest me, doing a position search (Kings and Queens on their home squares, the White Bishop on f7). I can do another search on players who used the Jerome in that previous search, to see if I've found an unknown member of the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde. 

I recently found over 170 Jerome Gambit games from one player, a pleasant discovery.

Recently Marcel Van Kervinck used his computer to pull 100 million games off of the FICS site. I haven't yet figured out how to handle a PGN file that size (supposedly my ChessBase program can handle files of "only" 40 million games), though.

At about the same time I discovered that Joshua Shriver had collected over 4 million FICS games, which were later refined and put on Josh's website. I happily searched those files for Jerome Gambit gold...

Right now, I'm wondering if there are other online chess-playing sites that would have large numbers of games that I could search as well.  

Readers are welcome to send in suggestions. (Of course, if you want to send in the games, that would be okay, too.)

The Greatest Ever Chess Opening Ideas

I've read through International Master Christoph Scheerer's The Greatest Ever Chess Opening Ideas (Everyman Chess, 2008) and for the life of me I can't find the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) covered, or even referred to.

Imagine that.

I guess I'll have to wait and see if Scheerer writes a sequel, The Most Notorious Chess Opening Ideas Ever, and see if the Jerome Gambit gets any mention there.

Every Game An Exploration, Every Move A Discovery

While I was planning what I thought would be a routine Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) treatment of the semi-Italian Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6), my opponent was working to achieve a defensive formation that he had found in the past to be successful against a handful of White piece setups. As a result, we created something new and interesting.

perrypawnpusher  - sarBear
blitz FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

4.0-0

Although I am still not sure that this is the best "waiting" move (as opposed to 4.Nc3) I keep playing it.

4...Bc5 5.Bxf7+

For the record, after the game I asked Rybka to "blundercheck" (at 5 minutes per move) and this is what it suggested that I play, instead of the sacrifice: 5.c3 d6 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.h3 0-0 10.Re1 a6 11.Bf4 Na5 12.Bf1 White has a slight advantage.

analysis diagram

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ng6

Here, again, there is a choice of moves, and I think that the one played is not best, as it allows me to capture the Black Bishop on c5, which in turn releases the pin on my f-pawn without me having to spend a move with my King to do so. 

8.Qd5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5+ N8e7

This is a new move (9...d6 is more usual), and part of  sarBear's defensive formation.

10.Nc3 b6 11.Qe3

After the game Rybka suggested 11.Qh5 as better, but I don't think it fits in with what I'm trying to do.

11...Bb7

The fianchetto of the Queenside Bishop for Black in Jerome Gambit and Jerome-ish games is relatively modern – examples that I have are 21st Century ones.

I have faced something similar in one of my games, but, as usual, one of the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (in this case, Louis Morin) had earlier contact. 

perrypawnpusher - hogmaster, JG3 thematic chessworld, 2008: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.0–0 b6 11.f4 Bb7

guest1730 - guest1656, ICC, 2001: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 N8e7 9.0–0 b6 10.Qe3 Bb7




12.f4 d5

This is Black's idea, to delay castling-by-hand (generally an early anti-Jerome strategy) and hit hard at the center.

13.f5

Of course, my idea was if 13...Ne5 then 14.d4 Nf7 15.e5 when White's "Jerome pawns" are advanced and Black's light-squared Bishop is misplaced. 

13...d4

I think that my opponent was excited about this move, which may explain his upcoming error. Whenever Black is pleased to have reached equality in a Jerome-style game, given that he started out with a couple of extra pieces, something strange is going on.

14.fxg6+ Kg8

Rybka prefers keeping the King in the center with 14...Ke8, something that at first glance seems counter-intuitive. The idea, of course, is to develop the imprisoned Rook from h8 to the deadly f-file, such as: 15.Qf3 dxc3 16.Qxc3 Rf8

15.Qf4

I admit that this was a gamble, that I was pretty sure that sarBear wanted his piece back. The correct continuation according to Rybka was 15.Qd3 Nxg6 16.Nd5 with advantage to White. Surely then there would be a lot of play left in the position.

15...dxc3

Black's one move to avoid disaster was 15...Nxg6. It was a move worth finding, as 16.Qg4 dxc3 17.Qxg6 cxd2 would force White to take the perpetual with 18.Qe6+ Kh7 19.Qf5+ Kg8 etc.

16.Qf7 checkmate

Folly

Remember the quote that the winner in a chess game is the player who makes the next-to-last mistake ? This always seemed hedged a bit by Bronstein's equally wry suggestion that three little mistakes make one big mistake.

In any event, as I indicated in "No Letdown", I believe that when it comes to playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), if my opponent makes a series of small mistakes, and I make a series of smaller mistakes, then eventually I should catch up...

Still, it took a while for me to be at peace with the following game.

perrypawnpusher - lourotors
blitz FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8

The King can also go to e6. See "Crime and Punisher".

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6

7...Nxc2+

As in perrypawnpusher - tiagorom, blitz FICS, 2009, although that game actually took place after this one.

More frequently, Black captures the Knight: 7...hxg6 8.Qxg6+ (8.Qxh8 Nh6 9.Qxd4 Qg5 10.0-0 Bc5 11.Qh8+ Ke7 12.d4 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - tampajake, FICS, 2009) 8...Ke7 9.Qg5+ Ke8 10.Qe5+ Qe7 11.Qxd4 Bg7 12.Qc4 Kd8 13.Nc3 Nf6 14.0-0 c6 15.d4 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Qxd5+ Qd7 19.Bg5+ Kc7 20.Qc5+ Qc6 21.Qxc6+ bxc6 22.c3 Rb8 23.b3 Rh5 24.Bf4+ Kb7 25.Bxb8 Kxb8 26.Rae1 Ba6 27.Re8+ Kc7 28.Rfe1 Bh6 29.R8e5 Rxe5 30.Rxe5 Bd2 31.c4 Bc3 32.Re4 Bb7 33.d5 cxd5 34.cxd5 Bxd5 35.Re7+ Kb6 36.h4 Bf6 37.Rd7 Be6 38.Rd6+ Kc7 39.Rxe6 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - adamzzzz, blitz FICS, 2009.

I've also seen 7...Nf6 8.Qe5+ Ne6 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - fintrade, blitz FICS, 2009 (8...Qe7 9.Nxe7 Bxe7 10.Qxd4 d6 11.Nc3 Be6 12.Nd5 c5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Qxf6 Rf8 15.Qxe6+ Kd8 16.Qxd6+ Ke8 17.d3 Rd8 18.Qe7 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - patitolo, blitz FICS, 2005)

8.Kd1 Nf6

This may work in analogous situations, but not here: best was 8...hxg6 9.Qxg6+ Ke7 and the position is unclear after 10.d3 or 10.Kxc2. 

9.Qe5+ Be7 10.Nxh8

Squandering an advantage, when the simple 10.Nxe7 Qxe7 11.Qxe7+ Kxe7 12.Kxc2 was available.

White's Knight will be stuck in the corner, just as Black's will in the opposite corner, but the second player will come out a piece ahead.

10...Nxa1 11.d4

It might have been a bit better to go after the enemy Knight immediately with 11.b3, intending Qxa1.

11...d6 12.Qg3

12...Kd7

The King moves to allow the Queen to attack the Knight. Rybka suggested after the game 12...c5 13.d5 Bg4+ 14.Ke1 with a winning advantage for Black. The c-pawn acts as a shield against checks by the White Queen (see the following note) and the Bishop check moves the enemy King away from the Knight's escape square, c2.

13.Nf7

It was time to sue for peace with 13.Qh3+ Ke8 (or 13...Kc6 14.Qc3+, etc.) 14.Qg3. Of course, if Black then plays 14...c5 (or any other number of moves) instead of repeating the position, he is still comfortably ahead.

13...Qf8 14.Ng5 Nh5

Quite unexpectedly, White's Knight has been allowed to escape, and this move loses a piece.

The fact is that the position is quite complicated, as Rybka's post mortem analysis indicates: 14...h6 15.Nh3 Qf7 (hoping to safe the Knight at a1)16.Nc3 b5 17.Nf4 Qc4 18.Qd3 Ng4 (taking aim at White's other Rook) 19.Qxc4 bxc4 20.Nh3 Rb8 21.f3 Nf6 22.Nf4 Ng8 23.Nfd5 which is evaluated as slightly better for Black. The cramp on his Queenside limits White's play.

15.Qg4+ Kd8 16.Qxh5 Qxf2

17.Qe2

I should have simplified with 17.Nf7+ Kd7 18.Qf5+, forcing the exchange of Queens.

17...Qh4

In turn, my opponent missed 17...Qxd4+ which keeps the pot boiling.

This is feeling like the typical Jerome Gambit family game: I'm staying in the game with help from my opponent – a dangerous way to live.

18.Nf3 Qh5 19.Nc3 Bg4

20.b3 d5 21.Nxd5 Bd6 22.Bg5+ Kc8 23.Kd2

Hoping to gather in the Knight at a1, at last, but Black can now play 23...Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Qxg5+ recovering a piece. He will eventually have to give it back with ...Na1xb3, but White's advantage will be made smaller.

23...c6 24.Rxa1

Understandable, as the enemy Knight has been sitting in the corner for over a dozen moves. I also thought that the open file would give me attacking chances against Black's King. It does, although 24.Bf4 was probably more straight forward.

24...cxd5 25.Rc1+ Kd7

White now has a mate in 7 (a better, but still losing choice for Black was 25...Kb8) but of course, it won't play itself.

26.e5

This move is inadequate, as, for starters, it allows 26...Bxf3+ and Black can work his way to a draw.

It also misses 26.Qb5+ Ke6 27.Qxd5+ Kd7 28.Qb5+ Ke6 29.Rc7 Bf4+ 30.Kc2 Kd6 31.Qc5+ Ke6 32.Qe7 mate

analysis diagram





26...Bb4+ 27.Kc2 Rc8+

Black, in turn, wants to use the c-file for attack. It shouldn't work. It does.

28.Kb2 Rxc1 29.Kxc1

It was time for the stranded Bishop to come home with 29.Bxc1. Now it will be lost.

29...Bxf3 30.gxf3

Well beyond my sight was Rybka's suggestion 30.e6+, which would have allowed White to draw after 30...Kc6 31.Qc2+ Kd6 32.Bf4+ Kxe6 33.Qc8+ Kf7 34.gxf3 Qxf3 35.Qxb7+

30...Qxg5+ 31.Kc2

 Sigh. Another pawns vs Bishop endgame, this time with Queens instead of Rooks (see my game against CorH).

33.f4 31...Qg6+ 32.Kb2 Qb6

This hurries the loss, although Rybka's analysis is ultimately just as painful: 33.Qd3 Be7 34.f4 Qh6 35.Qg3 Qg6 36.Qh3+ Kc7 37.f5 Qg1 38.Qc3+ Kb8 39.f6 Qf2+ 40.Kc1 Ba3+ 41.Kd1 Qxh2 42.b4 Qxa2 43.e6 Qb1+ 44.Ke2 Qe4+ 45.Kd1 Qh1+ 46.Ke2 Qg2+ 47.Kd1 Qf1+.

33...Qxd4+ 34.Kb1 Ba3 35.Qg4+ Kc6 36.Qc8+

Resignation would have been okay, instead.

36...Kb6 37.Qc2 Qg1+ White resigned

A Word from the Wise...

Arnie Moll's column at Chess Vibes, "Salieri down the Rabbit-Hole", has fun things to say about strange openings in quick games. It's worth taking a break from the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) to read.