Nice Kitty...

The following game is another visit with a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) defense / refutation that has sharp teeth and claws – at least in theory. When entering this jungle, I always feel a mixture of excitement and dread as I wonder what will happen this time? See "Closer... But not there yet" and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XVI".

perrypawnpusher  - JTIV
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7

My opponent played the Jerome Gambit successfully 3 days before our game: 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 h6 7.c3 dxc3 8.Qb3+ Ke8 9.Nxc3 d6 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.0-0 b6 12.Re1+ Kd8 13.Qf7 Qf6 14.Re8, checkmate, JTIV - NyteFork, FICS, 2010.

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+

Whenever I see this move, I suspect that someone has been reading this blog... (Not that that's a bad thing.)

9.g3 Nf3+

And this move almost confirms it...

Interestingly enough, the updated New Year's Database has 25 games (other than the current one) with this position, with White scoring 58%. My own experience with the line is scoring 78% in 9 games.

10.Kf1

This is my current choice, although it is not clear why. The updated New Year's Database has 4 games (other than the current one) with this move, with White scoring 50%.  I've scored 33% in 3 games (until now).

The Database has 15 games with the alternative, 10.Kd1, with White scoring 73%. That's in part to me scoring 100% in 6 of those games; but 3 of those wins are identical 11-movers with the "Buyer's Regret Variation".

10.Kf1 Nxh2+

This is an okay followup, although the "magic move" is 10...Ne7. Black has had success with two other moves, as well:

10...Qf6 11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.Qxc5+ Kd8 13.Kg2 d6 14.Qd5 Ne7 15.Qd3 Nd4 16.e5 dxe5 17.c3 Bf5 18.fxe5 Qc6+ White resigned, perrypawnpusher-james042665/Chess.com 2008 ;

10...Qh6 11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.Qxc5+ Qd6 13.Qxd6+ cxd6 14.c3 g5 15.Kf2 g4 16.h3 d5 17.hxg4 dxe4 18.d3 d5 19.g5 h6 20.dxe4 dxe4 21.Nd2 Nxd2 22.Bxd2 Bg4 23.Be3 Ke6 24.Rh4 Kf5 25.Bd4 Rh7 26.Rah1 h5 27.Ke3 Ne7 28.R4h2 Nd5+ 29.Kd2 b6 30.Re1 Re8 31.Be3 Rd8 32.Kc2 Rc7 33.a3 Rcd7 34.Bd4 b5 35.Be5 Rc8 36.Kb1 a5 37.g6 b4 38.axb4 axb4 39.g7 b3 40.Bd4 Kg6 41.Kc1 Kf5 42.Rhh1 Nb4 43.Kd2 Rxd4+ White resigned, perrypawnpusher - Temmo, JG3 thematic, ChessWorld, 2008.

11.Kg2 Qh6

Best is the tricky 11...Qg4 and Black holds onto his advantage.

Worst is 11...Qe7 12.Qd5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - intssed, blitz, FICS, 2010.

12.Rxh2

This move allows Black the chance to slip out of his difficulties. The straight-forward 12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5+ Qd6 14.Qxd6+ Kxd6 15.Rxh2 gives White the edge.

12...g6

Necessary was 12...Qe6. The text move turns the game over to White.

13.Qe5+

White's Queen escapes attack with check. Even stronger was 13.Rxh6, since the Black g-pawn would then be pinned.

13...Kc6 14.Rxh6 Nxh6 15.Qxh8

15...Ng4 16.d4 Be7 17.d5+ Kd6 18.Qd4 c6 19.e5+ Kc7 20.d6+

20...Bxd6 21.exd6+ Kb8 22.Nc3 b6 23.a4 Ba6 24.a5 b5 25.b4 Kb7

26.Ne4 Re8 27.Nc5+ Kc8 28.Kf3 Nh2+ 29.Kg2 Re2+ 30.Kh3 h5 31.Qh8+ Re8 32.Qxe8 checkmate

Shaky

I suppose I should take a break from playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), calm myself, do some more analysis of the opening and study to improve my game, especially tactics – but I can't stay away. If I give my favorite opening my best play, it usually returns the full point to me...

perrypawnpusher  - apinheiro
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+ g6

Without ...h6 and 0-0, this would be the beginning of either the Blackburne or Whistler defense. As it is, stronger than the text would be 7...Ke6.

8.Qxe5

Black's responses to this capture have been reviewed in the recent "Zombie Chess" and older "I think I have a win, but it will take time..."

8...Bd6

A couple of days before this game I faced the same (not-so-good) Bishop move in a regular Jerome Gambit (without ...h6 and 0-0) against Sirenus. The updated New Year's Database does not have an example of 8...Bd6 in the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit – until now.

9.Qxh8 Qf6 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6

White is the exchange and a couple of pawns ahead. I should win – once I get past feeling shaky. (See "Crushed" and "A Severe Challenge" not to mention that my only win since was when my opponent resigned in a better position, "Worth the time?".)

11.d3 Be5 12.Bxh6

What is this? I'd like to pretend that it is a fancy sacrifice of the exchange, but it's simply a mistake – or it would have been, if my opponent had noticed, or if he hadn't been suspicious of my intent.

12...Ng4

Forcing me to fix my mistake at the cost of returning a pawn. Instead, Black had 12...Bxb2 13.Nd2 Bxa1 14.Rxa1 d5, when he would have recovered the exchange. He would still be worse, but not as desperate.

13.Bc1 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Be5 15.f4 Bd4 16.c3 Be3 17.Bxe3 Nxe3

The annoying Bishop has been replaced by an annoying Knight. Lucky for me, I only have to face one at a time.

18.Rf2 d6 19.Na3 Bd7 20.Re1 Rh8+

Welcome to the club, annoying Rook.

21.Kg1 Ng4 22.Rf3 Nh2 23.Rg3 Ng4 24.Nc2 Nf6

Slowly I'm getting untangled. Soon, the extra material should tell.

25.Ne3 Nh5 26.Rf3 Nf6 27.e5

27...dxe5

Instead, the over-worked Knight needed to go back to h5. Now it is lost.

28.fxe5 Bc6 29.Rxf6+ Kg7 30.Ref1

Time to put the game away.

30...Rh5 31.d4 Bb5 32.Rf7+ Kh6 33.R1f3 Be2 34.Rh3 Rxh3 35.gxh3 Black resigned

Worth the time?

Question: Someone plays the Jerome Gambit against you. Is it even worth continuing the game? Should you encourage such foolishness?

perrypawnpusher - DavidKevin
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. Probably a surprise to my opponent.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke6

A very interesting idea.

7.Nxc6

Natural, but probably not best. yorgos had the right idea in his 2009 FICS game against masif: 7.Nf3 Ng4 (7...d5 8.d4 Bb4 was simpler)  8.d4 Nxd4 9.Ng5+ Qxg5 10.Bxg5 Ne5 11.0-0 h6 12.Bf4 Nc4 13.Nd5 Nxb2 14.Qb1 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Bd4 16.Nxc7+ Ke7 17.Nxa8 Nxf4 18.Nc7 Nc4 19.Qb4+ Nd6 20.Qxd4 Rf8 21.e5 Nf5 22.Qxf4 Nd6 23.Nd5+ Kd8 24.Qxf8+, Black resigned, yorgos - masif, FICS, 2009

7...dxc6

Preventing d2-d4, unlike 7...bxc6 8.0-0 Re8 9.d4 Bb4 10.Bg5 Be7 11.e5 Nd5 12.Qg4+ Kf7 13.f4 Bxg5 14.fxg5+ Kg8 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.g6 h6 17.Qf3 c6 18.c4 (missing 18.Qf7+ Kh8 19.Rf5 with the idea of 20.Rh5) Rf8 19.Qd3 Ba6 20.Rfe1 Bxc4 21.Qc3 a5 22.b3 Ba6 23.Qxa5 Qxa5 White resigned, jfhumphrey - kenom, FICS, 2010

8.d3 Rf8 9.0-0 Kf7 10.Bg5 Kg8

Black's King has parachuted to safety and the second player is better. He has to keep an eye on the "Jerome pawns" but he has open lines and an extra piece.

11.e5 Black resigned

My opponent did not make any comments after the game, so I do not know why he resigned. Typical Jerome Gambit "shock and awe"? Dissatisfaction at losing a piece? Not wanting to waste any more time on a goofy opening?

He should have stayed.

For starters, Black has an extra piece to give back, so things can't be too bad – but that is also completely unnecessary, as he can simply counter-attack with 11...h6.

After 12.exf6 hxg5 13.fxg7 Kxg7 Black has a piece for two pawns and his two Bishops will tame White's "Jerome pawns".

If White answers 11...h6 with 12.Ne4, instead, Black has both the prosaic 12...hxg5 and the shocking 12...Nxe4!?, as 13.Bxd8 Nxf2 14.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 15.Kh1 Rxd8 gives Black a Rook and two Bishops for his Queen. In that second line again Black would have to be watchful of the "Jerome pawns" but should be okay.

You don't tug on Superman's cape,

You don't spit into the wind,

You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger,

And you don't mess around with Slim.

                                  -- "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" by Jim Croce

If Bill Wall does you the favor of giving you "Jerome Gambit odds," do yourself a favor and try not to match tactics with him. It can only turn out one way...

billwall - mukak
Chess.com, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.0-0

One of the "modern" Jerome Gambit variations. White decides to offer only one piece, and then see what he can do with what Black eventually gives him.

5...Nf6 6.d3 h6 7.Be3 Be7 8.c4

Locking down the square d5. Often the watchwords of the "modern" variations are: no hurry, no error.

Also seen: 8.Nc3 a6 9.a3 Rf8 10.d4 exd4 11.e5 dxe3 12.exf6 exf2+ 13.Kxf2 Bxf6 14.Kg1 Kg8 15.Qd5+ Kh8 16.Ne4 Bxb2 17.Rae1 d6 18.Qh5 Black resigned, drewbear - Piratepaul, JG4 thematic, Chessworld, 2008.

8...d6 9.Nc3

Or, in an exhibition of computer play: 9.h3 Rf8 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Qb3 Na5 12.Qa4 c5 13.b4 cxb4 14.Qxb4 Kg8 15.Qa4 b6 16.Rab1 Rc8 17.Rfe1 Rf7 18.Nb5 Bd7 19.Qd1 a6 20.Nc3 Rb8 21.Re2 b5 22.cxb5 axb5 23.Reb2 b4 24.Rxb4 Rxb4 25.Rxb4 Qa8 26.Rb2 Rf8 27.Nb5 Qc8 28.a4 Nc6 29.Bb6 d5 30.Bc7 Be6 31.exd5 Bxd5 32.Nxe5 Nxe5 33.Bxe5 Nd7 34.Rc2 Qd8 35.Bc7 Qe8 36.Qg4 Bc5 37.d4 Nf6 38.Qe2 Bb4 39.Qxe8 Rxe8 40.Be5 Ra8 41.Bxf6 gxf6 42.Nc7 Be4 43.Re2 Rxa4 44.Rxe4 Bd6 45.g3 Bxc7 46.Rg4+ Kh7 47.Kg2 f5 48.Rh4 Bd6 49.Kf3 Ra3+ 50.Ke2 Kg7 51.Rh5 Kg6 52.g4 f4 53.Rd5 f3+ 54.Kd1 Bb4 55.Kc2 Be1 56.Rd6+ Kg7 57.Rd7+ Kf8 58.Kb2 Ra5 59.Rd6 Kg7 60.Rd7+ Kf6 61.Rd6+ Kg5 62.Rd7 Bxf2 63.Kc3 Be1+ 64.Kd3 Ra3+ 65.Ke4 f2 66.Rd5+ Kh4 67.Rh5+ Kg3 68.Rf5 Kg2 69.g5 hxg5 70.Rxg5+ Rg3 71.Rf5 Bd2 72.Rf8 Re3+ 73.Kd5 Rf3 White resigned, Hiarcs 9 - Junior 7, The Jeroen Experience, 2003.

9...Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6

12.Nh4 Rf8 13.Qb3

13...Nxg4

Uncovering an attack on White's Knight on h4. White has an uncovered attack of his own, although for now Black is okay.

14.c5+ Kf6

Suddenly Black is much worse.

Rybka suggests a roughly equal game after 14...d5 15.exd5 Na5 16.Qa4 Bxh4 17.Qxg4 Qf6 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4.

analysis diagram







15.Nd5+ Kf7 16.Nxe7+ Kxe7 17.Nxg6+ Kd7 18.Nxf8+ Qxf8

19.hxg4

A nice touch: finally capturing the Knight puts White a Rook ahead.

19...Rb8 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.f4 exf4 22.Rxf4 Qd8 23.Rf7+ Kc8 24.Qe6+ Black resigned

It is mate next move.

A Severe Challenge

My chess-play has been poor lately (for example see "Crushed") – a severe challenge to my pledge, as an advocate of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), to share all of my games, not just the "good" ones.

So, take what you can from the rather sad effort that follows. I'll quickly see if I can find a Bill Wall game...

perrypawnpusher - hklett

blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4

7...Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Re8 9.0-0

An alternative, with the plan of castling Queenside, was 9.Bg5 Kg8 10.0-0-0 b6 11.f4 Nc6 12.Qc4+ Kh8 13.e5 Na5 14.Qd3 c5 15.Nd5 c4 16.Qf3 Bb7 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Qc3 Qb8 19.Bxf6+ Kg8 20.Qg3+ Kf7 21.Qg7+ Ke6 22.Nc7+ Qxc7 23.Rhe1+ Kf5 24.Qg5 checkmate, Wall - PLMW, FICS, 2010.

9...Kg8 10.Bg5 d6 11.f4 c5

Black has been defending well, and White has been developing his forces and looking for his chances.

An alternate was 11...Nc6 12.Qd3 Nb4 13.Qc4+ Be6 14.Qxb4 b6 15.Rae1 c5 16.Qb5 d5 17.e5 d4 18.exf6 a6 19.Qc6 Bd7 20.Qd5+ Kh8 21.fxg7+ Kxg7 22.Bxd8 Black resigned, Wall - Foman, Chess.com, 2010.

12.Qe3 h6

This is the slip that White has been looking for. Instead, after the game Rybka suggested: 12...Nf7 13.Bh4 Bd7 14.Rfe1 Qe7 and Black remains clearly better. 

13.Bh4

A mistake, of course, although the correct 13.Bxf6 is not as simple as it appears at first glance. If Black replies 13...Qxf6 then 14.Nd5 Qd8 15.fxe5 Rxe8 is even enough, although White has 16.Qb3!? to look for an edge.

However, if Black answers 13.Bxf6 with 13...Ng4!? then after 14.Bxd8 Nxe3 15.Bc7 Nxf1 16.Kxf1 White will have two pawns for the exchange, which may or may not be equivalent.

I did not see any of this, however.

13...Ng6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6

15.Rad1 Bg4 16.Rd2 b5

Another opportunity presents itself (solid was 16...Rad8).

I suspect that my opponent was planning to meet 17.Nxb5 with 17...Rab8 (eyeing the pawn on b2) but 18.Nxd6 would have been a complet answer.

17.h3 Bd7 18.b3

There was a chance to grab a pawn with 18.e5 Qf7 19.Rxd6.

18...Bf5

The Bishop would be stronger placed at Bc6.

19.Nd5

Again overlooking Opportunity's knock: instead, 19.g4 Bd7 20.e5 gets the "Jerome pawns" moving, after either 20...Qf7 21.Rxd6 or 20...dxe5 21.Rxd6 (21.f5 first might be better).

19...Qh4

20.Re1 Rxe4 White resigned

White will lose his Queen.

One Little Pawn

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is one of those attack-or-die kind of openings (which too often becomes an attack-and-die affair). If the attack is countered, White may not have much left for his effort and valor.

perrypawnpusher - irhall
blitz 4 10, 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 Nf6

I've seen this position 20 times, scoring 75% (14-4-2). That's not bad, but it's about 10% below my total Jerome and Jerome-ish score.

10.0-0 Ne5

Transferring the Knight closer to my Kingside, where it will annoy my Queen. It was better to castle-by-hand with 10...Kf7, ...Re8 and ...Kf8.

11.d4

Probably better than 11.f4 as in perrypawnpusher - mikelars, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 26), and perrypawnpusher - Kotimatka, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 19).

11...Neg4 12.Qf3

White had an even game and went on to win with the slightly better 12.Qb3 b6 13.h3 Nh6 14.e5 dxe5 15.dxe5 Nfg8 16.Qf3 Be6 17.Rd1 Qc8 18.Nc3 Ne7 19.Nb5 Rf8 20.Qxa8 Kf7 21.Qxc8 Rxc8 22.Bxh6 gxh6 23.Nxa7 Rg8 24.Kh2 Nf5 25.g4 Ne7 26.Nb5 h5 27.Nxc7 hxg4 28.Rd6 Bf5 29.Rf6+ Kg7 30.hxg4 Bg6 31.Rd1 Bxc2 32.Rd7 Black resigned, Ghandybh - Noel1942, Chess.com, 2009.

12...Bd7

13.h3 Nh6 14.Bxh6 gxh6

The Knight's adventures are at an end.

15.Nc3 Qe7

White has an even game, but no more than that. It was important for Black to get something going before the first player can take advantage of Black's open Kingside. Both 15...Rg8 and 15...Bc6 come to mind. 

16.e5 dxe5 17.dxe5 Bc6

Black protects his Queenside, gives his Bishop better development, and returns the gambit piece.

18.Qxf6 Qxf6 19.exf6 Rg8

It seems that for all his attacking efforts, White has achieved only one little pawn on f6, something that Black can blockade with his King and then capture. He does have a winning endgame advantage on the Kingside, but he faces a coordinated defense from Black's Bishop and Rook.

20.Rfe1+ Kd8

Suddenly, the future looked brighter for me.

After 20...Kf7 21.Ne4 Rae8 22.Ng3 Kxf6 Black can fight on. 

21.g3

It turns out that this defensive move is not necessary: White can play instead 21.Rad1+ Kc8 22.Nd5

21...Rg6

Picking on the poor defenseless little pawn. After the game Rybka suggested, instead, 21...Rf8, although White still has the familiar 22.Rad1+ Kc8 23.Nd5 with advantage.

22.Rad1+ Kc8 23.f7

23...Rf6

Capitulating, but 23...b6  can be met by either 24.Rd8+, 24.Re8+ or 24.f8/Q+.

24.Re8+ Bxe8 25.fxe8Q checkmate