Bluffing with a Pair of Twos

Sometime after the first Queen check, those who defend against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) realize, either in laughter or in tears, that White's moves are planned and part of a whole attack (unsound, perhaps, but an attack nonetheless).

If White is willing to toss a piece or two into the fire, would he further sacrifice an exchange or a Rook as well?

I think that question ran through my opponent's head in the following game, and it allowed me enough room to wriggle toward a draw. When Black relaxed one move too soon, I was able to run away with the whole point.

perrypawnpusher - LeiCar
blitz FICS, 2010

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

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

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Qf6

The move ...Qd8-f6 is seen more often in the 6...Kf6 line of play and is a bit unusual here. Still, it fits in with Black's plan to play his King Knight to e7, rather than f6.

10.0-0

A couple of previous games continued: 10.d4 N8e7 (10...Nh6 11.h3 Qh4 12.0-0 Bd7 13.Nc3 Bc6 14.Bd2 Rf8 15.f4 b6 16.f5 Ne7 17.Rf4 Qh5 18.Raf1 Kd7 19.Qg3 Rg8 20.d5 Bb7 21.Rh4 Qf7 22.Rf3 a6 23.Ne2 Qf6 24.Bc3 Qf7 25.Nd4 c5 26.Ne6 b5 27.Bxg7 Nhxf5 28.exf5 Bxd5 29.Rd3 Nxf5 30.Nxc5+ Kc6 31.Qe1 Rxg7 32.Rg4 Rxg4 33.hxg4 Kxc5 34.Qc3+ Kb6 35.gxf5 Qxf5 36.Qd4+ Kc6 37.Rc3+ Kd7 38.Qg7+ Bf7 39.Rf3 Qc5+ 40.Kh1 Qh5+ 41.Kg1 Qc5+ 42.Rf2 Re8 43.Qxf7+ Re7 44.Qf5+ Kc7 45.Qxc5+ dxc5 46.Rd2 c4 47.c3 Kc6 48.Kf2 h5 49.Kg3 Re4 50.Kf3 Rg4 51.g3 a5 52.Rh2 Rg5 53.Rh4 Kc5 54.Kf4 Rd5 55.Rh2 b4 56.Re2 bxc3 57.bxc3 a4 58.Re5 Kd6 59.Re4 Kc5 60.Re5 Kd6 61.Re4 Kc5 62.a3 Rd3 63.Re5+ Kb6 64.Rxh5 Rxc3 65.Rh6+ Kc5 66.Rh5+ Kb6 67.Rh6+ Kc5 68.Rh5+ Kd4 69.g4 Rxa3 70.g5 c3 71.g6 c2 72.Rh1 Rb3 73.g7 Rb8 74.Kf5 Kd3 75.Kf6 Kd2 76.Rh2+ Kd1 77.Rh1+ Kd2 78.Rh2+ Kc1 79.Rh8 Rg8 80.Rxg8 Kb2 81.Rb8+ Ka3 82.Rc8 Kb2 83.g8Q a3 84.Qc4 a2 85.Qxc2+ Ka3 86.Rc3+ Kb4 87.Qb3+ Ka5 Black resigned, guest2199[Louis Morin/mrjoker] - guest401, ICC, 2004) 11.0-0 b6 12.f4 Nc6 13.c3 Ba6 14.Rf3 Kd7 15.f5 Nh4 16.Rh3 Rae8 17.Nd2 d5 18.e5 Qxf5 19.Rxh4 g5 20.Rh6 Rhf8 21.Qh3 Qxh3 22.Rxh3 Rf7 23.b3 Ref8 24.Ba3 Rh8 25.Rf3 Rxf3 26.Nxf3 h6 27.Re1 Ke6 28.h3 Bd3 29.Re3 Be4 30.Nd2 Bf5 31.g4 Bg6 32.Rf3 Rg8 33.Rf6+ Kd7 34.Nf3 Be4 35.Nd2 Bg6 36.e6+ Ke8 37.e7 Nxe7 38.Re6 Rg7 39.Bxe7 Rxe7 40.Rxg6 Re1+ 41.Kf2 Ra1 42.Rxh6 Rxa2 43.Ke3 Kf7 44.Rh7+ Kf6 45.Rxc7 Ra1 46.c4 dxc4 47.bxc4 Ra3+ 48.Ke4 Rxh3 49.Rxa7 Rh4 50.Kd5 Rxg4 51.Ne4+ Kf5 52.Rf7+ Kg6 53.Rf6+ Kh5 54.Rxb6 Rf4 55.Nf6+ Kh4 56.Ke5 Rf1 57.d5 Re1+ 58.Kd6 Rf1 59.Kd7 g4 60.Nxg4 Kxg4 61.c5 Rf7+ 62.Ke6 Rh7 63.d6 Rh6+ 64.Kf7 Rh7+ 65.Kg6 Rd7 66.Rb4+ Kf3 67.Rd4 Ke3 68.c6 Rd8 69.c7 Ra8 70.Rb4 Black resigned, mrjoker - Igor77, ICC, 2008.

10...N8e7

Or the questionable 10...Bh3 11.Qxh3 Nf4 12.Qf3 Kd7 13.d3 Rf8 14.Qxf4 Qxf4 15.Bxf4 Rxf4 16.Nc3 Nf6 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 h5 19.c4 h4 20.Rae1 h3 21.Re4 Rf6 22.Rfe1 c6 23.Re7+ Kc8 24.dxc6 bxc6 25.Rxg7 Rhf8 26.Re2 R6f7 27.Rxf7 Rxf7 28.gxh3 Kd7 29.Re3 d5 30.cxd5 cxd5 31.Kg2 Kd6 32.d4 Kc6 33.h4 Rf4 34.h5 Rg4+ 35.Rg3 Rxd4 36.h6 Rh4 37.Rh3 Rg4+ 38.Kf3 Rg8 39.h7 Rh8 40.Ke3 Kd6 41.Kd4 Ke6 42.b4 Kf5 43.Kxd5 Kg4 44.Rg3+ Kh5 45.Rg7 Kh6 46.Rxa7 Rxh7 47.Rxh7+ Kxh7 48.b5 Black resgined, perrypawnpusher - TJPOT, blitz FICS, 2009

11.f4 Bd7

After the game, Rybka suggested that Black could maintain an edge by rearranging his pieces (and preparing to exchange Queens): 11...Rf8 12.f5 Nc6 13.d3 Nge7 14.Nc3 Qd4 15.Rf3 a6 16.Rh3 h6.

analysis diagram






12.f5

This move looked attractive, in light of my past experiences chasing Black's Knights to e5 and then beyond; but it did not take into account the special changes to the position that the Queen on f6 makes. Later, Rybka counselled patience: 12.d4 Rf8 (a very useful move) 13.Nc3 Kf7 14.f5 Kg8 (White's f-pawn is pinned) 15.Qd3 Nh4 16.Be3 d5 17.g3 Nhxf5 (returing the piece for two pawns) 18.exf5 Bxf5 with an even game.

analysis diagram







12...Ne5 13.d4 Ng4

Here Rybka preferred 13...Ne5-c6. I don't think I'm ever going to understand the proper Knight, pawn, and Queen placements!

14.Qd3 a6 15.h3 Bb5

What is strange about this position is that neither my opponent nor I saw the natural response 16.c4, which would win a piece for White.

16.Qc3

I remember getting all panicky when this move was played, thinking: How did this happen? This has never happened to me in a Jerome Gambit before!

Of course, nothing had "happened" except that I overlooked a strong reply.

16...Bxf1 17.hxg4 Bb5

Well, I've got my "Jerome pawns" in exchange for... a Rook. As they say in cards, I might as well "play them like I have them."

18.g5 Qf7 19.Qxc7 Rc8

This is an active, developing move, but it only leads to equality. Rybka recommended in the post mortem: 19...Nxf5 20.Qxf7+ Kxf7 21.exf5 Rhe8 22.Kh2 Re1 23.Nd2 when White has two pawns for the exchange, but Black has much better piece placement and the advantage.

analysis diagram






20.Qxd6 Qc4 21.f6

Well, it is clear that somebody's King is in danger!

21...Qf1+

After 21...Ng6 22.fxg7 Rg8 the position would be very unclear.

22.Kh2 gxf6 23.gxf6 Ng6

Black's attacking Queen is no longer around to defend.

24.Qe6+

A Rook down, I was comfortable with a draw. Had I tried for more, say with 24.Nc3, Black had 24...Qf2, setting up his own repetition-of-position with checks at h4 and e1.

24...Kf8

An unfortunate slip: 24...Kd8 25.Qd6+ Kd8 26.Qe6+ etc. was the draw.

 25.Bh6 checkmate

Between the Refutation and the Resignation...Part 2

Concerning the discussion going on at Chess.com about the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), there is an alternate viewpoint to that of Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (and Chess.com) member Bill Wall ("it's the type of opening I like in blitz chess and I have had fun and success with it. My success this year has been 18 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss") – that of Chess.com member Kacparov("The Jerome gambit can be easily refuted").

Perhaps his opinion was based on his own experience in games like the following, which Kacparov shared.

Kacparov - Slotherman

Chess.com

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

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

This is a solid defense, if Black knows what he is doing.

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.Nc3

A relatively unexplored variation, compard to 8.f4

8...Qf6 9.d4 Qxf5 10.dxc5+ Kc6 11.exf5 d6 12.cxd6 cxd6 13.Bf4 Bxf5

By exchanging Queens, Black has taken much of the energy out of White's attack – for which the first player has sacrificed a piece for a pawn. Note that even should Kacparov win the pawn at d6, his "Jerome pawns" will be split, one on each side of the board.

14.0-0-0 Nf6 15.Rhe1 Rhe8 16.f3 Nc4

White develops and looks for opportunities. Black continues to exchange pieces.

17.b3 Rxe1 18.Rxe1 Nb6 19.Kd2 Re8 20.Rd1 Nbd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Bg3 Re3

The pawn on c2 is a tempting target for Black. Only White is aware how risky it is, however.

23.Bf2 Rc3 24.Rc1 a5 

Overlooking the fact that the Rook is trapped.

25.Bd4 Rc5 26.Bxc5 dxc5 27.Re1 h5

White now has a Rook and a pawn for two pieces, a small advantage at this point.

28.a3 b5 29.g3 g5

It is this slip that gives the game away. 

30.Re5 Bxc2 31.Kxc2 g4 32.f4 b4 33.axb4 axb4

34.Rxh5 Ne3+ 35.Kd3 Nd1 36.Kd2 Nf2 37.Re5 Kb5 38.f5 Nh3 39.f6 Black resigned

That is a lot of energy to spend on defeating a lower-rated player, and if Kacparov's other Jerome Gambit games were just as much a struggle, it is clear why the opening holds little attraction in his eyes.

Between the Refutation and the Resignation...Part 1

I've mentioned the discussion going on at Chess.com about the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). Some find it to be an interesting opening, some find it to be a poor one.

Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (and Chess.com) member Bill Wall has been positive about possible uses of the gambit ("it's the type of opening I like in blitz chess and I have had fun and success with it. My success this year has been 18 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss").

Chess.com Kacparov has been more skeptical ("The Jerome gambit can be easily refuted."). 

Both are relatively strong club players, and I'd like to present a Jerome Gambit game by each.

Wall - Rajiv

Chess.com, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4

The Nibs Variation, which received a serious look in the series "Repairing a Variation (Part 1)", "(Part 2)", "(Part 3)" and "(Part 4)". It is a wild, but dangerous, refutation.

Between the refutation and the resignation, however, the chess gods have placed the middle game (and sometimes the endgame).

7.0-0 Ng4

This is the traditional move, although Wall has also met 7...Qxe4, recommended by Rybka: 7...Qxe4 8.dxc5 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qc6 10.Re1 d6 11.cxd6 Qxd6 12.Bf4 Nf3+ 13.Qxf3 Qb6 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.Bxc7+ Qf6 16.Qxd5+ Be6 17.Qxb7 Rhe8 18.Bd8+ Black resigned, Wall - Gorodetsky, Chess.com, 2010 

8.h3 Bb6

9.hxg4

Less successful was 9.Qf3+ N4f6 10.e5 Bxd4 11.exf6 Nxf6 12.c3 Bb6 13.Nd2 Rf8 14.Ne4 Qxe4 15.Qd1 d5 16.Re1 Qf5 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Rxe3 Bd7 19.Rf3 Qe5 20.Qd2 Rae8 21.Re3 Qd6 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.b3 Qe5 24.Rf1 Bc6 25.Kh1 Qe2 26.Qc1 d4 27.cxd4 Qe4 28.d5 Qxd5 29.f3 Kg8 30.Rd1 Qe6 31.Qf4 Nd5 32.Qd4 Ne3 33.Rc1 Bxf3 34.Kg1 Nxg2 35.Rxc7 Qe3+ 36.Qxe3 Nxe3 37.Kf2 Bc6 38.b4 Nd5 White resigned, Sir Osis of the Liver - perrypawnpusher, JG3 thematic, Chessworld.net, 2008.

9...d6 10.f3 Be6

11.Be3 Bc4 12.Re1 Ne7

13.f4

The "Jerome pawns".

13...Rhe8 14.Nd2 Ba6 15.Nf3 Qg3

16.a4 Ba5 17.c3 Kf8 18.b4 Ng6

19.f5 Nf4 20.Bxf4 Qxf4 21.Qc2 c5

White seems to be holding on remarkably well, given that his opening has been refuted.

22.bxa5 Qxg4

I asked for Rybka's input on how the game was going, and I received it in a series of evaluations that looked like increasing pressure readings in a boiler that is about to blow up. Here White was rated 2.04 pawns ahead.

23.Rad1 cxd4

2.61 pawns 

24.Rxd4 Qg3 25.Qb3 Qf4

3.67 pawns

26.Qb1 Qg3

5.04 pawns

27.e5 g6

8.72 pawns.

28.Rxd6 Re7

12.28 pawns

29.f6 Ree8

From this position White can see mate. 

30.Qb4 Bb5 31.Rd8+ Kf7 32.e6+ Kxf6 33.Qd4+ Black resigned

Stinkin' up the Chessboard

As host of this blog, I am committed to showing all of my Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) adventures, not just the "good" games. The following embarassment has a few interesting points to it, but can easily be skipped over without losing much.

Two lessons: 1) don't play online blitz when the Olympics are on the TV; and 2) time pressure on the opponent is often the "secret weapon" when it comes to the Jerome Gambit.

perrypawnpusher - johnde
blitz 3 12, FICS 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6

I covered this rare move in "A Strange, But Intriguing, Path (Part 1)", "(Part 2)" and "(Part 3)".

6.Nxc6

Ooops! In playing this game I forgot that I had recommended the win of Black's Queen with 6.Qg4+ Kxe5 7.d4+ Bxd4 8.Bf4+ Kf6 9.Bg5+ Kf7 10.Bxd8.

6...dxc6 7.O-O Nf6 8.d3 Qd4

This keeps my dark-squared Bishop home temporarily, but more consistent would have been 8...Re8 and then ...Ke6-f7-g8, castling-by-hand.

9.c3 Qd7 10.d4 Be7

11.e5

This looks aggressive, but more to the point was 11.Qb3+, winning a piece.

11...Ne8 12.f4 Rf8

I suppose that it should be encouraging to all who play the Jerome Gambit that this position – arrived at even after White missed the "best" line – is better for White. 

13.Qh5

After 13.f5+ Rxf5 14.Rxf5 Kxf5 15.Qh5+ Ke6 White pretty much just develops his Queenside: Bc1-e3, c3-c4, Nb1-c3, Ra1-f8 with a better game. Amazing.

13...Kd5

This is way too bold.

14. c4+

Any reader with tactical skills probably sees the overwhelming power of 14.e6+ here. Too bad I didn't.

14...Kxc4 15.Na3+ Kd5

Better was 15...Bxa3 although after 16.Qe2+ White still has a smashing attack on the King.

16. Qxh7

Anyone for 16.e6+ instead?

16...Qg4 17.Be3

Turning the advantage over to Black.

We now both stumble along for a while.

17...Bf5 18.Qh3 Qe2 19.Qg3 Be4 20.Rfe1 Qxb2 21.Bf2

This is a complicated position, but Black is up a piece, and can soon be up two. His King's position does not offset this: Black is winning.

21...Nf6 

Well, Black was winning, but this move should drop a piece.

If I had noticed.

22. Qb3+ Qxb3 23.axb3 Ng4 24.Nc4 Rxf4 25.Rf1 Bb4 26.Rad1 Raf8

Black's position grows stonger and stronger.

Lucky for me, his time grows shorter and shorter.

27.Be3 Rxf1+ 28. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 29. Kxf1 Nxh2+ 30. Kg1 Ng4 31. g3 Nxe3 32.Nxe3+ Kxd4

White's position is hopeless.

33.Kf2 Be1+ 34.Ke2 Bxg3 35.e6 Kc3 36.e7 Bg6 37.Nf5 Be5 38.Nh4

38...Bd3+

Too little time? Too little patience?

Now Black is no longer winning.

39.Ke3

I was amazed to discover after the game that Rybka sees this move as inaccurate – in fact, as allowing Black to draw. It suggested that after 39...g5 40.e8=Q Bd4+ 41.Kf3 gxh4 42.Qe1+ Kc2 43.Qxh4 Bb6 44.Qb4 c5

analysis diagram





that White has nothing better than to repeat moves for a draw with 45.Qa3 a6 46.Kf4 a5 47.Qa2+ Kc3 48.Qa3 Kc2 49.Qa2+ Kc3 etc. Wow!

analysis diagram







39...g6 40. e8=Q

40...Bd4+ 41.Kf4 Black resigned

White's Knight is enough to overcome Black's two-Bishops-plus-pawns fortress for his King with threats of mate.