A Cold Day in December...

On a cold day in December, a Jerome Gambiteer, thmavz, and his opponent, Donster, played a couple of blitz games at FICS, each winning one when the other forfeited on time. Checking out the following diagram, which shows one of the final positions, I have to guess that our Gemeinde member was experiencing a surplus of luck.

Then, again, as I have often said, "Good luck is better than a license to steal!"

thmavz - Donster, FICS, 2011

Every European School Girl Knows...

As IM Gary Lane mentions in his current "Opening Lanes" column
at ChessCafe.com, I had a difficult time choosing the "best" or "most important" modern Jerome Gambit games to pass along to him.

Silly me, I fogot about the following classic. While it may be true that there is a lot of chess that "every Russian school boy knows," it seems that "every European school girl knows" that when it comes time for a pre-arranged draw, the Jerome Gambit is a great choice.

Brescak,Y - Hefti,S
EU-ch U10 Girls, 1998

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

In Pawns We Trust

In a number of lines in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) White gets as partial compensation for his sacrificed piece, a couple of pawns. As we have seen in many games, these pawns can advance and cramp Black's pieces, spearhead an attack, or exchange themselves for a piece.

In the following game White still has his 8 pawns after a couple dozen moves. His "extra" ones disappear in winning back a piece, but the process itself seems to disorient Black, who soon returns the exchange as well.

Wall,B - Guest340293
10 0 blitz, PlayChess.com, 2012

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

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

A solid, time-tested defense.

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qf4+ Qf6 9.Qg3 d6 10.c3 Ne7

This is a new move; 10...Qg6 shows up in The Database. 

11.d4 Bb6 12.Bg5 Qg6 13.Nd2 Be6 14.f4 Qh5 15.Bxe7+ Kxe7 16.Qxg7+

This pawn grab gives White three, to accompany his Knight in the fight against the "two Bishops".

16...Qf7 17.Qg5+ Qf6 18.Qxf6+ Kxf6 19.f5 Bd7 20.g4 Rhg8 21.h3 Rae8 22.0-0-0 Bc6

I suspect that masters would give the edge to Black, but in club play, as well as online blitz, White certainly has his chances. As we have seen, time and again, "having chances" is worth at least 3/4 of a point to Bill Wall.

23.Rde1 h5 24.Rhg1 Rg7 25.b4 hxg4 26.Rxg4 Rxg4 27.hxg4 Kg5

28.c4 a5 29.c5 Ba7 30.a3 Kxg4 31.f6 Kg5 32.e5 dxe5 33.f7 Rf8 34.d5

34...Bxd5

Black gives back a piece for two annoying pawns, but then gets troubled by White's 37th move, which threatens the a-pawn, as well as...

35.Rxe5+ Kg6 36.Rxd5 Rxf7 37.Nc4

37...axb4? 38.Ne5+ Kf6 39.Nxf7 Kxf7 40.axb4 Ke6 41.Rd8 Black resigned

Not So Much With A Bang As With A Whimper

I've been enjoying sharing some games by aymmd, who plays online at FICS and whose games began to show up in The Database in the fall of 2010. Until recently, he has only been represented on this blog by one unfortunate loss (see "Challenges"). Today's game does not end in devastation (see "Delayed Devastation" and "More Devastation") but in the quiet acceptance of defeat by Black.

aymmd - rtglass
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Bxf7+

A Delayed Jerome Gambit, although, after 5...Kxf7, the game will have transposed into a "modern" variation, i.e. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6.

5...Kf8

Black does not want to give his opponent the opportunity to play his prepared lines.

6.Nxe5

Temporarily complicating things. Instead, there is the straight-forward 6.Bb3 d5 as in HauntedKnight - bozidaranas, blitz, FICS 2010 (1-0, 13); or  6.Bb3 Ng4 as in jfhumphrey - Dpouchy, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49).

Note that if Black responds to 6.Bb3 with 6...Nxe4 then White has 7.Nc3!? with a kind of Boden Kieseritzky Gambit!

6...Nxe5 7.Bb3

Despite Black's extra piece (for two pawns), White is better.

7...d6 8.d4 Nxe4

Black chooses to return the sacrificed piece, but, in this case 8...Bxd4 was the right move, even thought it would still leave White better.

9.dxc5

Either piece was available for capture. 9.dxe5 might have been a bit stronger.

9...Qh4

Black looks at his lead in development, White's undeveloped Queenside and unprotected Kingside, and thinks: attack.

His move seems to be an all-around attacking strike, but it worsens his situation. Rybka suggest that Black settle down with 9...Nxc5, followed perhaps by 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.Bf4 Qe7 (or 11...Nxb3 12.axb3) 12.Bxe5 dxe5 13.Nd5 Qd7 14.Bc4 c6 15.Ne3 Qxd1 when White's advantage is not too large.

10.Nc3 Nxc3

This is not "settling down" (even if it does compromise the pawns on White's Queenside).

11.bxc3 Qf6 12.cxd6 cxd6 13.Ba3 Nf7 14.c4 Be6 Black resigned

At first Black's decision may come as a surprise, as he is not being crushed. Yet, after 15.Bxd6+ Nxd6 16.Qxd6+ he will be down a couple of pawns; and a sharper move like 15.c5!?, while not winning a pawn for White, might be even more troublesome (note the Rook trapped at h8).

More Devastation

Here is another recent game by aymmd, featuring a variation in an opening line that looks good, but turns out to be significantly different than the original, much to Black's dismay. More devastation.

aymmd - LochChessMonster
blitz, FICS, 2011

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

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

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

7...Nxe4

Black is up two pieces, and he finds a creative way to return one of them; but, as addressed in "Delayed Devastation", the strongest move here is 7...Bd6 (not 7...Bxd4). 

8.Nxe4 Bb4+

Other ideas: 8...d5 in HauntedKnight - astalaveesta, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 29); 8...Be7 in perrypawnpusher - sdockray, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 28); 8...Qh4 in perrypawnpusher - kfollstad, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 24); 8...Bb6 in perrypawnpusher - BallsOfFire, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); while 8...Bxd4 seems best as in yorgos - josephjorkens, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 45).

9.c3 Qh4

Black plays va banque... This position is oddly like the one in "Beyond Gloom and Doom" only White has a Knight, not a pawn. at e4. The difference favors White.

Previously seen was 9...d5 in perrypawnpusher - richiehill, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 19); but 9...Re8 or 9...Nc6 are probably better choices.

10.Ng5+ Kg6

I suppose this move was inspired by Black's wish to keep the 8th rank open so that he could place his Rook aggressively. However, he would have done better to try 10...Ke8, e.g. 11.cxb4 h6 12.g3 Qg4 13.dxe5 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 hxg5 15.Bxg5 and White has a lesser advantage. 

11.dxe5 Be7

Black saves his Bishop and attacks White's Knight a third time – but the house falls in on him.

12.Qc2+ Kh6 13.Nf3+ Kh5 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.Qf5+ g5 16.g4+ Kh6 17.Qf6 checkmate

Delayed Devastation

The following game is one of several where White, aymmd, has played a delayed Jerome Gambit. The slight difference in move order seems to have caught his opponent off-guard, allowing him to choose a second-best defense that, in other circumstances, would have been the best... The misunderstanding grows, and then suddenly: devastation.

aymmd - Gremar
standard, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7

This "delayed Jerome Gambit" can also be reached by the "modern" path of 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6

6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6

The best reaction to White's pawn fork here is 7...Bxd4, keeping Black's advantage.

In contrast, in lines where White already has a Knight on c3 (see "Quick Reaction" and "Even is Only Half-Way There"), the text is the best reaction.

Black's mixing of the two lines allows White to equalize.

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4

If Black now gives back a second piece with 9...Bd6, the game is even, e.g. 10.e5 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 and either the Black Knight or the Black Bishop will fall to White's Queen.

Instead, Black fashions a defense that on the surface looks sufficient, and gives him play against White's soon-to-be-isolated e-pawn.

9...Re8 10.fxe5 Rxe5

Black's idea is to doubly attack the pawn at e4, after he has castled-by-hand to remove the pin on his Knight.

11.Nc3 Kg8 12.Bf4

White maintains the initiative, however, and it is remarkable how fast Black's situation deteriorates.

12...Re8 13.e5 Rf8

Sadly, the second player must give up a third piece.

14.exf6 Rxf6 15.Nd5

Black is not allowed time to catch his breath.

15...Rf7 16.Bxc7 Rxf1+

This gives White his choice of checkmates, but there was no easy (or difficult) way out.

17.Qxf1 Qg5

18.Qc4 Kh8 19.Rf1 h5 20.Rf8+ Kh7 21.Qe4+ g6 22.Bd8 Qc1+ 23.Rf1 Qxb2 24.Nf6+ Kg7 25.Qe7+ Kh6 26.Ng8 checkmate

Beyond Gloom and Doom

Imagination and sheer force of will help the Jerome Gambiteer take a "bad" or "lost" position and make something out of it. In the following game, White finds himself in deep trouble (definition: playing White in the Jerome Gambit); and focusing only on his subsequent loss would blind observers to the actual chances that he created for himself.  

HauntedKnight - Makaroni
blitz, FICS, 2011


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

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

This line has advantages and disadvantages over 6.Qh5+, and, at one time, was Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's preference.

4...Bb4+ 7.c3 Qh4

At first glance it looks like Black is in a panic, throwing pieces around and leaving some en prise. As I pointed out in "Gloom and Doom", however, this is a strong counter-attack for Black.

8.dxe5

Previous experience (including a couple of earlier games by HauntedKnight) has not been encouraging for White (8.0-0 seems "best"):

8.0-0 Nc6 9.cxb4 (9.Qf3+ Qf6 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qd5+ Qe6 12.Qxe6+ dxe6 13.cxb4 Nxd4 14.Na3 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Nf6 16.Re1 Nxc1 17.Raxc1 c6 18.Nc4 Rd8 19.e5 Nd5 20.Nd6+ Ke7 21.Re4 a5 22.b5 cxb5 23.Rh4 h5 24.Nxb5 Nb4 25.Nd6 Bd7 26.Nxb7 Rdc8 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28.h3 Rc2 29.Nxa5 Rxb2 30.a3 Nd3 31.f4 Ne1 32.Nc4 Rxg2 33.Nb6 Rc2 34.Nd5+ exd5 35.f5 Nf3 White resigned, Gamin - JumpNMustangII, FICS, 2001) 9...Qxe4 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Nc3 Qf5 12.b5 (12.Qb3+ d5 13.Nb5 Ne8 14.Nc3 Be6 15.b5 Ne7 16.Rae1 Nd6 17.Qb4 Rhc8 18.Re2 Ng6 19.Rfe1 Nh4 20.f3 Kg8 21.Bf2 Nxg2 22.Kxg2 Rf8 23.Bg3 Qxf3+ 24.Kg1 Nf5 25.Rxe6 Nxg3 26.hxg3 Qxg3+ 27.Kh1 Qh4+ 28.Kg1 h6 29.R6e2 Qg3+ 30.Rg2 Qxe1+ 31.Kh2 Rf1 32.Rxg7+ Kh8 33.Rh7+ Kxh7 34.Qe7+ Qxe7 35.Kg2 Qf7 36.Kh2 Qf3 37.Nxd5 Rh1 checkmate, Deep Sjeng 1.5 - Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 12...Nb4 13.Rc1 c6 14.a3 Nbd5 15.Qb3 Re8 16.Rce1 b6 17.h3 Bb7 18.g4 Qf3 19.g5 Ne4 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Qd3 Nxg5 White resigned, RevvedUp - Crafty 19.19, blitz 2 12, 2006;

8.cxb4 Qxe4+ 9.Qe2 (9.Be3 Qxg2 10.Rf1 Nf3+ 11.Ke2 d5 12.Nc3 Bg4 13.Qb3 Nxd4+ White resigned, jfhumphrey - hvutrong, FICS, 2010) 9...Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 Nc6 11.Rd1 Nxb4 12.Na3 Nf6 13.Re1 Re8+ 14.Kf1 Rxe1+ 15.Kxe1 d5 16.Be3 Bf5 17.Nb5 c6 18.Nc3 Nc2+ 19.Ke2 Nxa1 White resigned, Teterow - geneve, FICS, 2011;


8.Qe2 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3 Nc6 10.g3 Qe7 11.Qc4+ d5 12.Qxd5+ Be6 13.Qh5+ g6 14.Qf3+ Kg7 15.d5 Ne5 16.Qd1 Bg4 17.Qd4 Nf6 18.Bg5 Nf3+ White resigned, Maza - aqeel, FICS, 2003.

8...Qxe4+ 9.Be3

HauntedKnight has a very creative idea: let Black choke on captured material while White castles Queenside and uses open lines for his pieces.

An earlier 9.Kf1, which might be "objectively" stronger, did not fix things in HauntedKnight - hellg, FICS, 2010.

9...Qxg2 10.Rf1 Be7 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qe2 Ke8

13.Nd2 Qxh2 14.0-0-0 Qxe5

15.Rfe1 Kd8 16.Qc4 Qg7

Black prepares for trouble.

17.Bd4 Nf6 18.Ne4 h6

 

White is down a piece and two pawns, but his Rooks are knocking on Black's front door, While Black's are still in the garage.

19.Bxf6

Rybka suggests preparing for a breakthrough with 19.Be5, as in 19...d6 20.Nxd6 cxd6 21.Rxd6+ Bxd6 22.Qd4 Qd7 23.Bxd6 Rf8 24.Be7+ Ke8 25.Bxf8+ Kf7 26.Re7+ Qxe7 27.Bxe7 Kxe7

analysis diagram





Both Rybka and Houdini see White as having almost equalized in this unbalanced position.

With the text, White clears the lines for his Rooks, but Black's defensive resources prove sufficient to hold off the attack.

19...Bxf6 20.Nxf6 Qxf6 21.f4

21...d6 22.Re4 Bf5 23.Red4 Qe6 24.Qb4 Qxa2 25.Qxb7

White's Queen has finally broken through, but so has Black's.

25...Qb1+ 26.Kd2 Qc2+ 27.Ke3 Re8+ 28.Kf3 Qe2+ 29.Kg3 Re3+ 30.Kh4 Qf2 checkmate

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, the King of Draws