The move ...Qd8-h4+ can be played in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) with great effect.
Sometimes.
Wall,B - Edaison
FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
7.f4 Nf7
8.Qxc5
The capture has also come with preliminaries: 8.Qd5+ Ke7 9.Qxc5+ Ke8 10.0-0 d6 11.Qe3 Qe7 12.Nc3 Bd7 13.d4 Bb5 14.Nxb5 Kd7 15.Qh3+ Kd8 16.Nc3 Black resigned, mrjoker-Dabo, ICC 2008; and
8.Qf5+ Kd6 9.Qd5+ Ke7 10.Qxc5+ d6 11.Qd4 Nf6 12.Nc3 Re8 13.d3 Kf8 14.0-0 c5 15.Qf2 b6 16.Bd2 Bb7 17.Rae1 d5 18.e5 Nd7 19.e6 Re7 20.exf7 Rxf7 21.Re6 Nf6 22.Rfe1 d4 23.Ne4 Nxe4 24.dxe4 Bc8 25.Re5 Qd6 26.Rd5 Qh6 27.Qg3 Bb7 28.f5 Bxd5 29.Bxh6 gxh6 30.exd5 Rf6 31.Re6 Rxf5 32.Rxh6 Rf7 33.Qd6+ Kg8 34.Qe6 Raf8 35.Rf6 Kg7 36.Rxf7+ Rxf7 37.d6 Kf8 38.d7 Re7 39.Qf6+ Rf7 40.Qxf7+ Kxf7 41.d8Q Ke6 Black resigned, Superpippo - Sulu, FICS, 2002.
8...Qh4+
Or 8...d6 9.Qc3 Nf6 10.0-0 Kd7 11.e5 Nd5 12.e6+ Ke7 13.Qxg7 Bxe6 14.f5 Qg8 15.Qxg8 Raxg8 16.fxe6 Kxe6 17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.dxc3 Rg6 19.Be3 b6 20.Rae1 Ne5 21.Bd4 Rhg8 22.Re2 c5 23.Bxe5 dxe5 24.Rfe1 Rg5 25.h4 Rf5 26.Re4 h5 27.c4 Rgf8 28.c3 Rf4 29.Rxe5+ Kd6 30.Rd5+ Kc6 31.Re6+ Kb7 32.Rxh5 Rxc4 33.Rh7+ Ka6 34.Ree7 Ra8 35.g3 Black resigned, tomvandermeer - keeswillern, GameKnot, 2006.
9.g3 Qe7
The Queen check did not prove very helpful, but the retreat will prove disastrous. The Queen needed to return to d8.
10.Qd5+
Curiously, in an earlier game White missed the checkmate-in-two, and later lost: 10.f5+ Kf6 11.Qd4+ Ne5 12.d3 c5 13.Qc3 Kf7 14.Bf4 Nf3+ 15.Kf2 Nd4 16.Nd2 Nf6 17.e5 Ng4+ 18.Kg2 Rd8 19.e6+ dxe6 20.fxe6+ Nxe6 21.Rhe1 Nxf4+ 22.gxf4 Qh4 23.Nf3 Qf2+ 24.Kh1 Qxf3+ 25.Kg1 Qf2+ 26.Kh1 Qf3+ 27.Kg1 Qf2+ 28.Kh1 Qxh2 checkmate, Nesseerd - MYCAT, FICS, 2007.
10...Kf6 11.Qf5 checkmate
Again disaster arrives down the e-file. Even if you are playing against a refuted opening like the Jerome Gambit, it is not a good idea to keep your King and Queen too long on an open file.
perrypawnpusher - OverwiseMan
blitz, FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6
An earlier game with my opponent continued: 6...Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qe8 9.fxe5+ Kc6 10.c3 Ne7 11.Qg5 g6 12.d4 h6 13.Qg3 Bb6 14.d5+ Kb5 15.Na3+ Ka6 16.Qd3+ Ka5 17.Qb5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - OverwiseMan, blitz, FICS, 2010.
7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 N8e7
More often seen is 9...Nf6. The text move can be a prelude to play along the f-file.
10.0-0
Or 10.f4 Rf8 11.0-0 Nc6 12.f5 Nge5 13.d4 Ng4 14.Qg3 h5 15.Be3 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Qf6 17.c3 g6 18.Nd2 g5 19.e5 dxe5 20.dxe5 Qxe5 21.Qxe5+ Nxe5 22.Rae1 Kf7 23.Rxe5 Kf6 24.Re2 Bd7 25.Ne4+ Kg7 26.f6+ Kg6 27.Rfe1 h4 28.c4 g4 29.Rf2 Rae8 30.Rfe2 Bc6 31.Nd2 Rd8 32.Ne4 h3 33.gxh3 gxh3 34.Kf2 Rde8 35.Kg3 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - taman, blitz, FICS, 2010.
10...d5
A good idea.
Earlier I saw 10...Be6 11.f4 d5 12.f5 d4 13.Qg3 Bc4 14.d3 Bxd3 15.cxd3 Nf8 16.Qxg7 Rg8 17.Qe5 c5 18.f6 Nfg6 19.f7+ Kf8 20.Bh6+ Rg7 21.Qxg7 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - perama, blitz, FICS; and
10...Rf8 11.f4 c6 12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Ng4 14.Qg3 Nf6 15.Qxg7 Rg8 16.Qxf6 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - Kovrad, blitz, FICS, 2010.
11.exd5
After the game Rybka preferred 11.d3 followed by f2-f4.
11...Qxd5 12.Nc3 Qe5
The first confrontation on the e-file. I wasn't happy with the idea of exchanging Queens, but I couldn't think of anything better.
13.d4 Qe6
Puzzling: I thought he would have been happy with 13...Qxe3. Maybe he was thinking, If White wants to exchange Queens, then I don't want to.
14.Qg3 c6
15.Bg5 Nf5 16.Qd3 h6
Mistakenly assuming that White will move his Bishop. But, instead, there is the eeeeeeee-file!
17.Rae1 Ne5
Bad things are happening on the e-file, and this doesn't help. "Best" was 17...Kf7.
18.Rxe5 hxg5 19.Rxe6+
Sufficient, but 19.Qxf5 was stronger.
19...Bxe6 20.Re1 Rd8
And White finishes up.
21.Rxe6+ Kf7 22.Qxf5+ Kg8 23.Qxg5 Rxd4 24.Re8+ Kf7 25.Rxh8 Ke6 26.Re8+ Kd6 27.Qe7 checkmate
The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) hits f7, the weakest one in Black's fortress as it is only protected by the King. White has a "King Bishop Two" square though, and my oppponent decided to give it attention.
perrypawnpusher - salla
blitz, FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8
A defense mentioned by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in a three-part analysis of his gambit in 1874. Jerome later used the line successfully in two correspondence games against Jaeger (who played the Jerome Gambit).
7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6
9.d3 Ng4
Attacking my King's Bishop Two square. Continuing to castle-by-hand with 9...Kf7 seems more prudent.
10.0-0 Ke8
As if to say This won't take long, no need to castle...
Also seen: 10...Qf6 11.Nc3 c6 12.Be3 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Bf5 14.Rxf5 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - marianomocoroa, blitz, 2010
11.h3 Nf6 12.Bg5
Capturing a pawn with 12.Qxg7 didn't seem worth it after 12...Rg8. After the game Rybka suggested 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.fxe3 Qe7 which didn't appeal, either.
12...h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Nc3 Rf8
More pressure on f2. I admit that here I kind of wished that I had played 12.Be3.
15.Nd5 Qd8
My opponent might have been having second thoughts about his strategy; otherwise he could have played 15...Qf7.
Now is the time to grab a pawn (and threaten another).
16.Qxg7 Be6
Planning on chasing away or exchanging off the annoying Knight, but overlooking something in the position. Essential was 16...Rf7.
17.Nxc7+ Qxc7 18.Qxc7 Black resigned
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
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
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.
