The Most Fortunate Jerome Gambiteer

Looking through the latest batch of Jerome Gambit games played at the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS) I ran across a particularly interesting one...

MIDASMAN  - korppi
blitz, FICS, 2010

At this point Black ran out of time and White had no material to mate, so the game was drawn

Making Something out of Nothing

Jerome Gambit Gemeinde member drumme (who has over 250 games in the updated New Year's Database), performs a bit of a magic trick in the next game. Equally entertaining are the suggestions made by super chess-playing programs Stockfish and Rybka.

drumme - Conats
FICS, 2010


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

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.Bxf7+

A bit more "orthodox" in Jerome Gambit-like openings would be a waiting move like 4.0-0 or 4.Nc3, in order to allow Black to play 4...Bc5 before making this sacrifice.

On the other hand, drumme has scored 64% in the 28 games with this line in the Database, so he has a pretty good idea of what he's doing.

4...Kxf7 5.d4 d6

Black's King feels a draft, so he doesn't open the position further with 5...exd4.

6.dxe5

This may not be the best move, but drumme was 4-0 with it coming into this game – so why not try it again?

6...Nxe5

Played without much thought. Safer was 6...dxe5, but much better than that was 6...Qd7, giving the Black Queen additional protection, followed by 7...dxe5, with a clear advantage.

7. Nxe5+

The Black d-pawn is pinned, and "suddenly" White has a strong attack. 

7...Ke6

This leads to a mate in 5.

Against the better (but still insufficient) 7...Kf6 the two computers have different attacking ideas.

Stockfish likes the piece sacrifice 8.Qf3+ Kxe5, followed by 9.Qf7 Nf6 when it believes that Black's King is more awkwardly placed than White's Queen.

analysis diagram







Continuing 10.Nc3 d5 Stockfish sacs another piece 11. Bf4+ Kxf4 (if 11... Kd4 12. O-O-O+) 12. Nxd5+

analysis diagram







and here answers 12...Ke5 and 12...Kxe4 with 13.O-O-O. Best for Black is considered to be 12...Qxd5.

On the other hand, Rybka answers 7...Kf6 with the trappy 8.h4, as 8...Kxe5 is well met by 9.Qd5+. 

analysis diagram







After 8.Qe8 (best) 9.Bg5+ hxg5 10.hxg5+ Kxg5 11.Nf3+ Kg6 12.Rxh8 Qxe4+ 13.Kf1 White is the exchange ahead and Black has a piece hanging.

analysis diagram






8. Qd5+ Ke7 9. Qf7 checkmate

Not as flashy as the two computers, but it gets the job done quickly.

They're Off!!

The Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament at ChessWorld has started – with a bang. The thirteen-player, double round robin, has seen top-rated Daves111 quickly complete more than half of his games, with 12 wins in 13 games!

Behind him is long-time Gemeinde member blackburne, with 6 points out of 9 games.

Of the 156 games being played, all but one have followed 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ with 4...Kxf7.

Players are again showing their preference for modern Jerome Gambit lines, as in only 22% of the games has White followed up his Bishop sacrifice with the classical Knight sacrifice, 5.Nxe5+.

Further coverage and games will follow, as available.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play...?

If you overlook the fact that I hung my Queen on move 13 in the following game – and you might as well, since both my opponent and I did, too – it's a pretty interesting game in a pretty interesting variation.

Even if that 13th move wasn't pretty at all.

perrypawnpusher - tuffmom
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ Ke6

8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4 Bxd4

Not 9...Qf6 10.dxe5+ Qxe5 11.Rd1+ (11.Bf4 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - joejox, blitz, FICS, 2009) 11...Bd4 12.Qf8+ Ke6 13.Qe8+ Kf6 14.Qf8+ Ke6 15.Qe8+ Kf6 Game drawn by mutual agreement, perrypawnpusher - Joyus, blitz, FICS, 2007;


Nor 9...Ne7 10.Qxe5+ Kc6 11.Qxc5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - GabrielH, blitz, FICS, 2010; and perrypawnpusher - StockholmMoskva, blitz, FICS, 2010.

10.Rd1 c5

11.c3 Ne7 12.Qh5

The Queen can go elsewhere: 12.Qf4 Qf8 13.cxd4 Qxf4 14.Bxf4 cxd4 15.Rxd4+ Kc5 16.Bxe5 Nc6 17.Rd5+ Kb6 18.Na3 Nxe5 19.Rxe5 d6 20.Re7 Bg4 21.f3 Bh5 22.Rc1 Rhe8 23.Rcc7 Rxe7 24.Rxe7 Rc8 25.Rxg7 Rc1+ 26.Kf2 Ra1 27.Rh7 Rxa2 28.Kg3 a5 29.Rxh6 Bf7 30.Rxd6+ Kc5 31.Rd2 b5 32.Kf2 b4 33.Nb1 Ra1 34.Rc2+ Kd4 35.Rd2+ Kc5 36.Rc2+ Kd4 37.Nd2 Kd3 38.Rc7 Kxd2 39.Rxf7 Kc2 40.e5 b3 41.e6 Kxb2 42.e7 Kc1 43.e8Q Ra2+ 44.Kg3 b2 45.Rc7+ Kb1 46.Qe1 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - Xasquete, blitz, FICS, 2010; or

12.Qh3 Qb6 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.Qa3+ Ke6 15.f4 N5c6 16.f5+ Kf7 17.Nd2 Re8 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Nd6+ Kf8 20.Nxe8 Kxe8 21.Qf3 Ne5 22.Qg3 Kf8 23.Bf4 d6 24.Rac1 Qa5 25.f6 N7g6 26.Bxe5 Qxe5 27.Qxg6 Be6 28.Qxg7+ Ke8 29.Qe7 checkmate, joev6225 - liverpool, GameKnot.com, 2006.

12...Qe8

Stronger than: 12...Kc7 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.Qxe5+ d6 15.Qxd4 Nc6 16.Qxg7+ Bd7 17.Bf4 Rg8 18.Qxh6 Qe7 19.Bxd6+ Qxd6 20.Qxd6+ Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - Lakritzl, blitz, FICS, 2009.

13.cxd4

Ooops...

13...cxd4

Double oops...

14.Rxd4+

14...Kc7

As uncomfortable as it looks, Black's King needed to take shelter at e6 where he could protect the Knight at e5. It is not a good time for Black to return the sacrificed piece.

15.Qxe5+ Kd8 16.Nc3 Nc6 17.Qxe8+ Rxe8

18.Rd6 b6 19.Bf4 Bb7 20.Rad1 Re7 21.e5

Stronger, maintaining more of the bind, was 21.Rg6.

21...Nxe5

An oversight.

22.Bxe5 Rxe5 23.Rxd7+ Ke8 24.Rxb7 Rd8 25.Rxd8+ Kxd8 26.Kf1 Black resigned

Brawl

With the time control being a speedy 5 5, the following "Delayed Jerome Gambit" game was more of a brawl than anything like serious chess. I'm glad that I got the last clout in.

perrypawnpusher - Tlslevens
blitz 5 5, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 a6

Okay, this is not a "proper" Jerome Gambit, but there is always the possibility of a "Delayed Jerome Gambit," should my opponent choose.

4.0-0 Bc5

Other delayed Jerome Gambits arrived after 4...Bb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.Bxf7+ (perrypawnpusher - dabbling, blitz, FICS, 2009); and
4...h6 5.Nc3 Nf6 (5...Bc5 6.Bxf7+ perrypawnpusher - angelosgoulianos, blitz, FICS, 2007) 6.d3 Bc5 7.Bxf7+, perrypawnpusher - tschup, blitz, FICS, 2010.


5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke6

I've looked at this move in the regular Jerome Gambit, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6, in "A Strange, But Intriguing, Path (Part 1)", "(Part 2)" and "(Part 3)".

It's funny that in two subsequent games (perrypawnpusher - johnde, blitz, FICS, 2010 and perrypawnpusher - crayongod, blitz, FICS, 2010) I forgot my recommended continuation, 6.Qg4+!?.

It should come as no surprise that I forgot it in the current game in the Delayed Jerome Gambit, too...

7.Qh5

White gets the advantage with 7.Qg4+ Kxe5 8.d4+, whereas the text allows Black to keep his advantage – and transpose back into more "normal" Jerome Gambit lines. 

7...Nxe5 8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.d4

The position is similar to one from the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit, where Black has played 3...h6 instead of the 3...a6 in this game. Because the Black Bishop is still alive at c5, White has to make the less effective d-pawn move, instead of being able to play f2-f4.

9...Bxd4 10.Rd1 c5 11.c3 Nh6

Who invited him to the fight? Black chooses an "aggressive" move, when he should have stayed with the more purposeful 11...Kc7.

12.Qh3

White would have an edge after the complex 12.Bxh6 Rf8 13.Bg5 g6 14.cxd4 gxf5 15.dxe5+ Kxe5 16.Bxd8 Rxd8 instead. 

12...Kc6 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.Rxd4 d6

White has a pawn for his sacrificed piece, but Black's vulnerable King makes the game close to even.

15.Qc3+ Kd7 16.Bf4 Nhg4

This Knight can provide its support more effectively from f7.

17.h3 Nxf2

A wild sacrifice – but this kind of thing can be successful in fast games, where attacking is everything.

After the game Fritz8 recommended 17...Qf6 18.Bg3 Nh6 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Nd2 Qe7 when White is better.

18.Kxf2

Sloppy. Best was 18.Bxe5, as the Knight on f2 has nowhere safe to go. After 18...Qh4 19.Bg3 Nxh3+ 20.gxh3 White is up a piece and clearly better. 

18...Qh4+

Swinging wildly. The proper way to counter-attack was 18...Qf6 leading to a balanced game.

19.g3

Better 19.Bg3.

19...Qxh3 20.Bxe5 Rf8+ 21.Ke2

As smart as poking myself in the eye. Instead, 21.Bf4 kept White's advantage, while now Black has a forced checkmate.

21...Qg2+

Now Black is landing the punches, but he missed 21...Qf1+ 22.Ke3 Rf3+ 23.Kd2 Rf2+ 24.Ke3 Qe2 checkmate. We were moving quickly.

22.Kd3 Rf3+ 23.Kc4 Rxc3+ 24.Nxc3

White has only a Knight and a Rook for his Queen, and his King is in more danger than Black's. 

24...Qxb2 25.Rxd6+ Ke7

A blitz slip.

26.Nd5+ Kf7 27.Bxb2

Whew! Now I'm winning again.

27...Be6 28.Rf1+ Black resigned

Once A Year

I was wandering through the updated New Years Database and noticed that about once a year someone playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) makes a particular unfortunate oversight and gets crushed...

drumme - Cascagians
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

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

6...Qf6 7.dxe5 Qxf2 checkmate 

Last year the same moves (and result) showed up in Nusiance - acuriel, blitz FICS 2009.

Two years ago, the Black Queen went to h4, instead, with the same outcome: 6...Qh4 7.dxe5 Qxf2 checkmate, stretto - DjinnKahn, FICS, 2008.

Take care: Forwarned is forarmed!

Halo Effect

When people notice a good trait in a person, they often assume other positives. With the Jerome Gambit  often a negative "halo effect" occurs – if the early moves are bad, many of the other ones must be bad, too.

perrypawnpusher  - dkahnd
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 

4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Qe7

Starting the counter-attack in the center.

9.Nc3

Alternatives: 9.d3 d5 (9...Nf6 10.0-0 Qe5 11.Qf3 Bg4 12.Qg3 Qxg3 13.hxg3 Ke7 14.c3 Be2 15.Re1 Bxd3 16.e5 Ng4 17.exd6+ Kxd6 18.Be3 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Ke6 20.Nd2 Rad8 21.Kh2 Rhf8 22.Nf3 Rf6 23.e4 Rh6+ 24.Nh4 g5 25.Rad1 gxh4 26.g4 Bd6+ 27.Kh3 Bb5 28.Rd4 Bg3 29.Red1 Rxd4 30.cxd4 Bd7 31.b3 Rg6 32.e5 h5 White resigned, Petasluk - pawnloss, FICS 2006) 10.0-0 dxe4 11.Re1 Qd6 12.Bf4 Qd4 13.Be5 Qd7 14.Rxe4 Qf5 15.Qxg7+ Ke8 16.Bg3+ Qxe4 17.dxe4 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - frencheng, blitz, FICS, 2010.

9...Nf6 10.d3 Ng4

Here comes the counter-attack on f2 again (see "Frying Pan Minus Perspective Equals Fire").

Two different courses of play: 10...b6 11.Na4 Bb4+ 12.c3 b5 13.cxb4 bxa4 14.Bd2 Qe5 15.Qxe5 dxe5 16.Rc1 Ne8 17.Bc3 Be6 18.a3 Rd8 19.Ke2 Nd6 20.Bxe5 Nb5 21.Bxc7 Nxc7 22.Rxc7 Bd7 23.Rxa7 Ke7 24.Rc1 Rc8 25.Rac7 Rxc7 26.Rxc7 Rc8 27.Rxc8 Bxc8 28.Ke3 h6 29.Kd4 Kd6 30.f4 g6 31.Kc3 Ba6 32.d4 Bf1 33.g3 Bg2 34.e5+ Kd5 35.b5 Ke6 36.Kb4 Kd7 37.Kxa4 Bh3 38.Ka5 Kc7 39.b6+ Kb7 40.d5 Bg2 41.d6 Bh3 42.Kb5 Bd7+ 43.Kc5 Be6 44.a4 h5 45.b4 Black resigned, levigun - dmyze, GameKnot.com, 2004; and

10...h6 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.fxe3 Qe5 13.Qxe5 dxe5 14.Rf1 Ke7 15.Nd5+ Nxd5 16.exd5 Bd7 17.Rf2 Rhf8 18.Rxf8 Rxf8 19.Ke2 Bg4+ 20.Ke1 g5 21.c4 Kd6 22.b4 b6 23.a3 a6 24.Ra2 Bf5 25.Rf2 Ke7 26.e4 Bg4 27.Rxf8 Kxf8 28.Kd2 Ke7 29.d4 exd4 30.Kd3 Kd6 31.Kxd4 c5+ 32.dxc6 Kxc6 33.c5 bxc5+ 34.bxc5 h5 35.g3 h4 36.gxh4 gxh4 37.Ke5 Kxc5 38.Kf4 Bd7 39.h3 Bxh3 40.Kg5 Bg2 41.Kxh4 Bxe4 42.Kg4 a5 43.Kf4 Bc2 44.Ke3 Kc4 45.Kd2 Kb3 46.a4 Kb2 47.Ke1 Bxa4 48.Kd2 Bc2 White resigned, rhoadarmer - partha, Gameknot.com, 2006.

11.0-0 Ke8 12.Nd5 Qf7

Black continues his preparations even though the game has leveled out. 

13.h3

More to the point, as with perrypawnpusher - marianomocoroa, blitz, FICS 1020, was 13.Be3.

13...Nxf2

This is an error that 14.Be3 would have pointed out – just because White's early moves were bad doesn't make all of his other moves, or his position now, bad.

13...Rxf2 Rf8

Consistent, but 13...Bxf2+ 14.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 15.Kxf2 Rf8+ 16.Kg3 Rf7 18.Be3 would have given Black a position with the exchange for a pawn. Now White recovers.

15.Be3 Bxe3 16.Qxe3 Qd7

17.Rxf8+ Kxf8 18.Rf1+ Kg8 19.Qf3

Even stronger was 19.Qg5, when Black will have to give up his Queen (e.g. 19...h6 20.Qg6 Qe6 21.Nf6+ Qxf6 22.Rxf6) to avoid checkmate.

19...Qd8 20.Qf7+ Black resigned