The Adventure Continues

This is my third outing with a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) variation that still fits me like a sweater several sizes too large... I did not feel very comfortable playing White, and my opponent seemed ill at ease playing Black. Too, the game had its odd moments, as previous ones have had.

perrypawnpusher - RonMeister
blitz 1 10, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 h6 5.0-0 Bc5

The Italian Four Knights Game.

6.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit, although it can come about by transposition from a "modern" Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4 Nc6

Not the first response that I would think of, but it's been played before.

Black also had: 8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6 10.Qc4+ Kg6 11.f4 Rf8 12.f5+ Kh7 13.g4 Nxg4 14.Qe2 Nf6 15.e5 Nd4 16.Qf2 Ng4 17.Qxd4 Qh4 18.Qf4 d5 19.f6 gxf6 20.Nxd5 fxe5 21.Qe4+ Kg7 22.Bxh6+ Qxh6 23.Qg2 Be6 24.h3 Bxd5 25.Qxg4+ Kh8 26.Kh2 Qd2+ White resigned, perrypawnpusher - mjmonday, blitz FICS, 2010;

As well as: 8...Bd6 9.dxe5 Bxe5 10.Nd5 Re8 11.Nxf6 Qxf6 12.a4 Kg8 13.Ra3 d6 14.f3 Qh4 15.g3 Bxg3 16.hxg3 Qxg3+ 17.Kh1 Bh3 18.Rg1 Qh4 19.Qe1 Qxe1 20.Rxe1 Re5 21.f4 Rh5 22.e5 Re8 23.Kh2 Bf5+ 24.Kg3 Rh3+ 25.Kg2 Rxa3 26.bxa3 Kf7 27.Kf2 Bxc2 28.a5 Ke6 29.exd6+ Kd7 30.Rxe8 Kxe8 31.dxc7 Kd7 32.c8Q+ Kxc8 33.Be3 a6 34.Bd4 g6 35.Bf6 Kd7 36.Kf3 Ke6 37.Bh4 Kf5 38.Kg3 Be4 39.a4 Bc6 40.Bd8 Bxa4 41.Bc7 Bd7 42.Bd8 Ke4 43.Bc7 Kd5 44.Kh4 Kc6 45.Be5 b6 46.axb6 Kxb6 47.Bf6 a5 48.Bg7 h5 49.Kg5 Bf5 50.Bf6 a4 51.Be5 Kc5 52.Bg7 Kc4 53.Bf8 Kb3 54.Bd6 a3 55.Bxa3 Kxa3 56.Kh4 Kb4 57.Kg5 Kc3 58.Kh4 Kd4 59.Kg5 Ke4 60.Kh4 Kf3 61.Kg5 Kg3 62.Kf6 Kxf4 63.Kg7 h4 64.Kh6 h3 65.Kg7 h2 66.Kf7 h1Q 67.Ke7 Qd5 68.Kf6 Qe6+ 69.Kg7 Qe7+ 70.Kh6 Qf6 71.Kh7 g5+ 72.Kg8 g4 Game drawn by stalemate, SharkESP - joyce, FICS 2001

9.dxc5 Rf8

Previously I saw: 9...d6 10.cxd6 Qxd6 11.Qf3 Nd4 12.Qd3 Bg4 13.f3 Bh5 14.Be3 Nc6 15.Qc4+ Kf8 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Bc5 Qxc5+ 18.Qxc5+ Kf7 19.Nd5 Nd7 20.Qe3 Nb4 21.Qf4+ Kg8 22.Ne7+ Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - Alquinte, blitz FICS, 2010

10.f4 Kg8

Black has castled-by-hand quickly, and has an edge in the game.

11.e5 Nh7 12.Be3 Qe7 13.Qh5

The Queen move might look aggressive, but it really does not accomplish anything.

13...d6 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Rae1

White cannot play 15.exd6 because his Bishop would be en prise. Stronger than the text would have been 15.Nd5, but Black would still be better after 15...Qd7, threatening ...d6xe5.

15...dxe5 16.fxe5 Rxf1+ 17.Rxf1 Nxe5

Not only does 17...Qxe5 give Black better chances, the text is surprisingly inaccurate.

18.Bd4

Continuing the fight, from a position of weakness. Instead, White could have drawn with the humorous repetition of position: 18.Nd5 Qe6 19.Nc7 Qe7 20.Nd5 Qe6 etc.

18...Nc4

This wandering Knight is now at grave risk. Prudent and practical was developing its partner instead with 18...Ng5.

19.b3

Not the best response. After the game Rybka pointed out that if White played the curious 19.Nd5 he could have worked his way into winning material. Black's next two moves would be forced: 19...Qe6 20.Nc7 Qd7. Then, with 21.Qc5 White would be able to win the Rook at a8 or the Black Knight in a few more moves.

analysis diagram





19...Nd2

Seeking danger instead of safety. Clearly, shortage of time was an issue: we were playing with a 1 10 control. Black would still have been better after 19...Nb6.

20.Rd1 Black forfeited on time

A shame. The final position is better for RonMeister, and my "threat" of  capturing the Knight with Rd1xd2 would only have led to me being checkmated on the move with ...Qe7-e1#

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the correct move for White was 20.Nd5. With the Black Knight wandering off, defense of his King is more difficult, and Black's strongest defense – 20...Qe6 21.Qg6 Qxg6 22.Ne7+ Kh8 23.Nxg6+ Kg8 – allows White finally to win back his piece with 24.Ne7+ Kh8 25.Rf7 Nf6 26.Rf8+ Kh7 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28.Nxc8.

analysis diagram

Bloodied but Unbowed

I took another shot at the Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit, with mixed results. The surprise and novelty of the line was enough to give me chances in the game, but at critical points I was simply out-played.

Congratulations to my opponent for taking on and overcoming my challenge.

I'll be back.

perrypawnpusher - mjmonday

blitz FICS, 2010

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

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5

Transposing to the Italian Four Knights.

6.Bxf7+

Transposing to a "modern" variation of the Jerome Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Nc3.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4

8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6

10.Qc4+ Kg6

Provocative.

11.f4 Rf8

After the game Fritz 8 suggested in interesting castle-by-hand: 11...d6 12.b3 Kh7 13.Bb2 Rf8 14.Rae1 Kh8 when Black is better, although all of White's pieces and his "Jerome pawns" are developed and ready to rumble.

analysis diagram






12.f5+

Fritz 8 preferred: 12.e5 Ng8 13.Qd3+ Kf7 14.f5 when Black's advantage is slight. 

12...Kh7 13.g4

Simply an oversight.

13...Nxg4 14.Qe2 Nf6 15.e5 Nd4

Likewise, this is a slip by Black that could have minimized or overturned his advantage. 

16.Qf2

The Queen should have gone to d3.

16...Ng4 17.Qxd4 Qh4

White has recovered his sacrificed material, but his King is now in more danger than Black's.

18.Qf4 d5 19.f6 gxf6 20.Nxd5

White overlooks his last chance to make a game of it: 20.exf6. After 20...Bd7 (if 20...Rxf6 then 21.Qxc7+) 21.f7 Be6 22.Qxc7 d4 23.Ne4 Rac8 24.Qg3 Qxg3+ 25.hxg3 Rxc2 26.Nf6+ Nxf6 27.Rxf6 Bd5 the ending has some drawing chances. 

20...fxe5 21.Qe4+

White has nothing now, and further sacrifices will not change the outcome of the game.

21...Kg7 22.Bxh6+ Qxh6 23.Qg2 Be6 24.h3

Here Rybka calmly announced that Black has a checkmate in 22 moves.

24...Bxd5 25.Qxg4+ Kh8 26.Kh2 Qd2+ White resigned

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.