What's with all the whining these days about the Jerome Gambit being a "refuted opening"?
The following game is White's first attempt at the line, at least as far as The Database can determine.
Yet he wraps up a checkmate against an opponent rated over 150 points higher, in under 10 moves.
Can your chess opening do that ??
joaoe - Barta
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
5...Kxf7 6.Ng5+ Ke8 7.d3 h6 8.Qh5+ Kf8 9.Qf7 checkmate
Take that!
Around 2003, Brazilian chess master Hindemburg Melão, Jr., wrote an article for the online chess site, SuperAjedrez, featuring Joseph Henry Blackburne's famous defeat of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).
Today I can only trace the essay as far as an essay which is no longer available, which is unfortunate, as it contained some very interesting analytical and historical information, including [Note: my translation - RK]
...Some sources indicate year of the game as 1868, others indicate 1888, and others indicate 1880. Some sources affirm that it was played in Manchester, others in London. Normally the name of the adversary is not given, having only "NN" or "Amateur", but in at least one source "Millner" is indicated as the name. Also it is not known if it was an individual game or part of a simultaneous display... [T]he game deserves to be cited as one of most beautiful pearls of blindfold Chess...
Although it is in conflict with the information given in Mr. Blackburne's Games at Chess (1899) – that the game in question was played "around 1880" – my preferred source for information on Amateur - Blackburne, London (see "Flaws" 1 & 2) – the August 15, 1885 issue of the Brooklyn Chess Chronicle, edited by J.B. and E.M. Munoz – gives the year as 1885.
I would love to ask Senhor Melao about his sources, as he clearly has access to materials that I do not. (That would not be at all unexpected: Lt. S.A. Sorensen's seminal work on the Jerome Gambit, in the May 1877 issue of Nordisk Skaktidende, was subsequenly translated and reprinted around the chess world.)
For example, I have never seen the Blackburne game dated as having been played in 1868 – six years before Alonzo Wheeler Jerome published analysis of "his" opening in the Dubuque Chess Journal. Nor have I seen it reported as played in 1888 – the Brooklyn Chess Chronicle reported that it had been played "some months ago in London", highly suggestive of the year 1885.
As for the references to the game being played in Manchester and the naming of the Amateur as "Millner" – both were news to me as well. And: was it a blindfold game?
Is any reader familiar with the SuperAjedrez article?
Does anyone have acces to the Brazilian chess master, to pass on my questions?
What a mystery!
The ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament is underway, all 15 competitors and all 210 games!
We are already seeing results (8 completed games so far, 6 wins by White) from AsceticKingK9, mckenna215, Rikiki00, braken, blackburne, DREWBEAR 63, Knight32, Magni, pixifrufru, shm19cs, klonka59, Baron wd von Blanc heart pirate, martind1991, Luke Warm and Haroldlee123.
Many games are in their early stages, others are racing along.
There are a number of examples of the Jerome Gambit Declined (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kf8/Ke7) – a relatively rare beast making up only about 9/10th-of-a-percent of the games in The Database – those certainly will expand our understanding of that line.
At least 29% of the games are "classical" Jerome Gambits, with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7+ followed by 5.Nxe5+, which is the highest percentage that I have seen in a recent Jerome Gambit thematic tournament. Some "well established" theory is likely to be stood on its head by the time those games are done!
With about 7 out of 10 games following "modern" (non-5.Nxe5+ lines) there will be plenty of practice to round out the theory of this more tempered approach as well.
Next Sunday I will give further information on the progress of the tournament. When all games have developed far enough for me not to influence their play, I will begin presenting some with annotations.
(By the way, I predict that the tournament winner will score 24 out of 28 points.)
Sometimes, when you are busy doing something, you really do not need to stop and interrupt your efforts to do something else. Chances are, you will wind up being unsuccessful in both tasks. Then following game is a brutal example of this dilemma.
jsinc - VisionaryZS
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Na5
This variation does not seem to have a name, while it does have a simple response, 4.Nxe5. Still, it can be fun to apply the Jerome treatment every once-in-a-while.
4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8
Better is 5...Ke7.
6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 Nc6
While experiencing an attack on the Kingside, Black takes a moment to pull back his exposed Queen's Knight.
As a result, his position collapses like a house of cards.
Black can cut down his opponent's advantage by giving up a piece and heading toward a messy position: 7...hxg6 8.Qxg6+ Ke7 9.d4 Bh6 10.Bg5+ Bxg5 11.Qxg5+ Nf6 12.e5 Ke6.
8.Nxh8+
White is facing a candy store of a position, with many attractive choices.
The text wins, but in fairness to all of the tactically alert Readers out there, let me point out that there is also a checkmate pattern similar to one from the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit: 8.Ne5+ Ke7 9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.Nc4+ Kc5 11.Qd5+ Kb4 12.c3+ Ka4 13.b3 checkmate.
Rather than criticize, it is best to sit back and watch the fireworks.
8...Ke7 9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.Qxg8 b6
11.Nf7+ Ke7 12.Nxd8 Nxd8 13.Qh8 Ba6 14.Qxh7+ Nf7 15.d3 Re8 16.0-0
White has gained enough material to win. First he safeguards against any possible blitz surprises or oversights.
16...d5
17.Bg5+ Ke6 18.Qg6+ Kd7 19.Qxf7+ Black resigned
As a follow-up to my "Greed Is Not Good" post from about a half a year ago, I would like to present another game, a Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. The "teacher" of the lesson is the same as last time.
Ghandy - djoaltay
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Qh5
This is one of a number of ways to respond to Black's bold King move. My preference, and it is certainly not for everyone, is 6.c3.
Black can now safely grab White's c-pawn, but he must be careful not to be too greedy: the Rook on a1 is poisoned.
6...Nxc2+ 7.Kd1
Ghandy really "sold" the offer of the poisoned Rook with the weaker-looking (and weaker) 7.Kf1 earlier this year in Ghandy - marlbo, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 9).
7...Nxa1 8.Qf5+
Here's the rub: White had a choice of 39 moves, and 38 of them led to Black's advantage. Alas for djoaltay, the move that Ghandy chose wins.
8...Ke7
This move leads to checkmate, while the alternative, 8...Kd6, "merely" loses the Queen like marlbo did.
9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.Nc4+ Kc5 11.Qd5+ Kb4 12.Qa5+ Kxc4 13.d3+ Kxd3 14.Qd5 checkmate
Very nice!
This is my third Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game with jgknight. The first two were relatively long draws, one last year in 58 moves, and one this year in 49 moves. As they say, "third time is a charm," and I was successful this time. There is even a little bit of "charm" in the game, although if my opponent wanted to preface with the word "lucky" I would not object.
perrypawnpusher - jgknight
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6
Black's King bravely protects the Knight, giving up any thoughts of "castling-by-hand", and challenges White to justify his two piece sacrifice.
7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+
Black is headed for what I've referred to as the "Nibs Defense". See "Repairing A Variation" parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 for some background.
9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kf1
When I posted my game with this line against JTIV last year, I wrote
This is my current choice, although it is not clear why. The updated New Year's Database [now The 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".
Updating: The Database now has 9 games with 10.Kf1, with White scoring 78% (me, 75%). It still has 15 games with 10.Kd1, with White scoring 73% (me 100%).
I am still not sure which 10th move I will play next time, especially since I concluded at one point that 10.Kf1 "is not an improvement" over 10.Kd1.
10...Nxh2+
Tempting, as it is another forward-going, attacking move, but it probably only keeps the game in balance.
11.Kg2 Qg4
I smiled when I saw this move. I've recommended it a couple of times on this blog, when either Black "holds onto his advantage" or the game is "about even". Today I would go with the latter assessment.
The move is not mine, however, but the recommendation of Some Loser, the author of Unorthodox Chess (2005), who has occasionally played the Jerome Gambit. (Really. Read my book review.)
12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5+ Ke8
Black's moves are interesting: he cannot protect his c-pawn with 13...Kd8, as 14.Qf8 checkmate would follow.
Yet, his best move would have been 13...d6, encouraging White to take the c-pawn, as after 14.Qxc7+ Bd7 15.Rxh2 (what else?) White's King would be defenseless against Black's Queen – and other pieces: 15...Qe2+ 16.Kg1 Qe1+ 17.Kg2 Qxe4+ 18.Kf1 Qf3+ 19.Ke1 Rc8!?. Not only is White's Queen in trouble, Black threatens the deadly 20...Kf8!
Of course, after 13...d6 14.Qf2! White would secure his King and the game would be in balance after 14...Nf6 15.Rxh2 Nxe4 16.Qe3 Qe6.
14.Rxh2
First 14.Qe3 was a bit more prudent.
14...d6 15.Qe3 Nf6
For the most part, the excitement has died down. Both Kings are relatively safe, and White is ahead by a pawn (a reasonable outcome, having faced down a refutation).
16.Nc3 c6
After the game Fritz 10 censured this move. Can you see why?
17.b3
I was looking for development, and decided to put my Bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal.
I totally overlooked 17.f5!? which threatens to trap Black's Queen. Black has a defense, of course, in 17...g5, but it costs a couple of pawns, say, after 18.Rh6 Rf8 19.d3 Rf7 20.Qxg5 and, further, Black's d-pawn is at risk, as well.
17...h5 18.Rh4
I almost always see these things a move too late.
18...Qe6 19.d3 Ng4 20.Qe2 Rh6 21.Bb2 d5
White has been more effective in rushing his troops to back up their footsoldiers.
22.exd5
Personal failing: I am always willing to "let the air out of the position" if I am even the tiniest bit of material ahead.
22...Qxe2+ 23.Nxe2 Ne3+ 24.Kf3 Nxd5
Messier, but stronger, was 24...Nxc2.
So, what is going on here?
White is better developed (including his King), is a pawn ahead, and hopes to pick up one or two more pawns.
It is essential that Black get his pieces out, cause as much disruption as possible, and keep his eyes on the possibility of transitioning to the welcoming arms of the drawish (even when down pawns) Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame. jgknight fights, but the battle is not his today.
25.Bxg7 Bg4+ 26.Kf2 Re6 27.Be5 Bxe2 28.Kxe2 Nc3+ 29.Kf3 Nd5 30.Rxh5 Kd7
31.Rh7+ Re7 32.Rah1 Rxh7 33.Rxh7+ Ke6 34.Rxb7 Rg8 35.Rxa7 Ne7 36.g4 Ng6 37.d4 Nh4+ 38.Ke4 Rxg4 39.Rg7 Rxg7 40.Bxg7
40...Ng6 41.a4 Kf7 42.Be5 Ke7 43.a5 Kd7 44.f5 Ne7 45.c4 Nc8 46.f6 Ke6 47.d5+ cxd5+ 48.cxd5+ Kf7 49.Kf5 Na7 50.b4 Nb5 51.a6 Na7 52.Bd4 Nb5
53.a7 Nxd4+ 54.Ke4 Nb5 55.a8Q Nd6+ 56.Kf3 Kxf6 57.Qc6 Ke5 58.b5 Nf5 59.Qe6+ Kd4 60.Qxf5 Kc5 61.b6 Kxb6 62.Qe6+ Kc7 63.Qc6+ Kd8 64.Ke4 Ke7 65.Kf5 Kd8 66.Qb7 Ke8 67.Ke6 Kf8 68.Qf7 checkmate
More "muddlegame" blues: White has all the makings of an attack on the enemy King – well, almost all – but his efforts look like someone trying to put together a 1,000 piece puzzle when some of the parts are missing. After such a failure, to win the game based on what seems to be an optical illusion makes things even more bizarre.
perrypawnpusher - Fazmeister
blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5
The Italian Four Knights Game.
5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4
7...Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Re8 9.0-0 d6
10.f4
A standard move in this kind of position, but probably 10.Bg5, as in Wall,B - Foman, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 22) was stronger.
10...Nc6 11.Qd3 Kg8 12.Bd2 Kh8
The King's cautious double-move eliminates the risk of a Queen-check-and-fork at c4, should Black move a piece to b4 to attack Her Majesty. Previously I had seen 12...a6 13.Rae1 Kh8 in perrypawnpusher - KaZC, blitz, FICS, 2010 (½-½, 61).
Actually, in my post on the KaZC game, I said I'd try 10.Bg5 "next time", but I forgot to...
13.Nd5
Another "standard move in this kind of position", but with Black's Rook at e8 this should simply lose the e-pawn.
13...Nxd5
A curious example of "playing the player" (or "playing the player's misconceptions") rather than "playing the board." Folie a deux?
14.exd5 Nb4
I don't know what to say. Some people just want to attack my Queen. Now that there is no insidious check-fork (see my comment to Black's 12th move) my opponent goes ahead...
15.Bxb4 a5
White has regained his sacrificed piece and is even a pawn up.
One look at Black's undeveloped Queenside suggests that White should focus an attack on the enemy King, using the a1-h8 diagonal and possibly the g-file as well.
That much, I understood. But I could not put the attack together.
16.Bc3 b6 17.Qd4
This move is adequate, but after the game Houdini suggested the cold-blooded 17.f5 Ba6 18.Qg3 Qd7 19.f6, since 19...Bxf1 is only a temporary material gain for Black, as he quickly has to return the exchange with 20.Rxf1 Re5. After 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Qxe5 Qf7 23.fxg7+ Qxg7 Black has turned back the attack, but he is two pawns down without any compensation at all.
The idea of an attack that does not necessarily end up with checkmate, but which is "expensive" for the opponent to defend against, is part of middlegame play (in my games, "muddlegame play") that I'm still trying to understand.
One of the "missing pieces" in my own construction of the attack was the move f4-f5.
17...Re7
Stronger was 17...Qf6, because the text move makes the Rook a target after f4-f5-f6; but I was oblivious to that.
18.Rae1
Solid, but take a look at 18.f5 Rf7 19.f6 Rxf6 20.Qxf6!? gxf6 21.Bxf6+ Qxf6 22.Rxf6 when White has the exchange and a pawn to comfort him for his "failed" attack on the King.
18...Rf7 19.Re3
Planning to transfer the Rook to the g-file, but without the "can opener" f4-f5 the attack will not be sufficient.
19...Bf5
20.Rg3
With the arrival of Black's Bishop, his Kingside is almost secure.
20...Qd7 21.Rff3 Bxc2 22.f5
The pawn finally takes a step, but it turns out now that the Rook sacrifice at g7, which I try a move later, is the key here: 22.Rxg7 Rxg7 23.Rg3 Bg6 24.f5 Re8 25.fxg6 Re5 26.Qd3 Qa4 27.Qf3 Qe8 28.gxh7 Kxh7 29.Rxg7+ Kxg7 30.Bxe5+ dxe5. White is up a pawn in a Queen + pawns endgame; and at our level of play, in blitz, that's probably what they call "3/4 of a point" (i.e. a draw, with a big sigh).
22...Raf8 23.Rxg7
I was thinking "something like this should work", which is a very bad substitute for analysis. I had also lost my patience, which is a very bad substitute for actually playing chess.
It was better to stay the course, as Houdini showed afterward: 23.Rg5 b5 24.Rfg3 Rg8 25.f6 g6 when White is better, but he will probably have to sacrifice the exchange to break through. The win is a long ways off.
23...Rxg7 24.Rg3
The sad fact is that Black has adequate defensive resources, and White will end up with a pawn for a piece.
24...Rff7 25.Rxg7 Rxg7 26.Qf2 Be4 27.Bxg7+ Qxg7 28.f6 Qf7 29.g4 Bxd5
It is hard to believe that this is the same game that I was playing 4 diagrams back. White is simply busted.
30.g5 Bxa2 31.h4 Bb1 32.h5 c5 33.Qf4 Ba2 34.Qxd6 Qxh5
I think the only explanation for this move is that my opponent has been looking at moves for his pieces along the light squares, while he has been assessing my Queen's movements along the dark squares. Kind of an optical illusion.
Well, that, and maybe a shortness of time on the clock.
35.Qf8+ Bg8
Of course.
36.Qg7 checkmate
Well, that was far better than I expected.
(It looks like I need a serious refresher course on attacking the King, starting with Joel Johnson's Formation Attacks.)
