An Inoffensive Defense

Wall,B - Guest1443273
playchess.com, 2012

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

I have referred to this as a "calming variation" in the "Nothing Happened" post a couple of years ago. Although it is similar in a way to the "anti-Bill Wall gambit," I don't think that Bill has seen this particular move in any of his games, but remember - he has The Database, and there are 70 examples there.

8.Kxf2 Qh4+ 9.Kf1 TN 9...Qf6+ 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 

The wild, madcap attack from the Jerome Gambit has been cancelled. Black, however, is simply a pawn down, and he is still a long way from the possible drawing chances of a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame.

11.Nc3 c6 12.e5 Nh5 13.Ne4 Ke6 14.Ng5+ Ke7 15.d4 Rf8+ 16.Ke1 h6 17.Ne4 g5 

Not only does White's Knight eye d6 and f6, we can see the foreboding (for Black) situation of the light-squared Bishop on c8 blocking the Rook at a8, a common behind-in-development feature in "reduced" Jerome Gambits.

18.Bd2 b6 19.Bb4+ c5 20.Nxc5!? bxc5 21.Bxc5+ Ke8 22.Bxf8 Kxf8 

White has three pawns and a Rook against a Knight and Bishop. The pesky "Jerome pawns" quickly go to work.

23.h4 g4 24.Rf1+ Kg7 25.c4 Ba6 26.b3 Rd8 27.d5 Re8 28.e6 

At first glance this looks like White is simply tossing a pawn, but he has a different idea.

28...dxe6 29.d6 Rd8 30.Rd1 Ng3 31.Rf4 h5 32.c5 Nf5? 

Black needed to get the Bishop on the defensive a4-e8 diagonal with 32...Bb5.

33.Ra4 Bb7?  

Allowing a nice finish.

34.Rxa7 Rd7 35.Rxb7! Rxb7 36.c6 Black resigned

More Wall

The latest, from Bill Wall.

Wall,B - Guest497592
Playchess.com, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8

The interesting 7...Ke7 8.Qg5+ appeared in Wall,B - CKFM, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 44).

8.Qxc5 Qe7 9.Qe3 d5 

Or 9...Nf6 10.Nc3 d6 11.0-0 Be6 (11...Ng4 12.Qg3 Qe5 13.Nd5 Qxg3 14.fxg3 Kd7 15.Rf7+ Wall,B - CKSP, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 15)) 12.f4 Ng4 13.Qg3 Qh4 14.Qxh4 Nxh4 15.g3 Nf5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Re1+ Kd7 18.d3 Rae8 19.Bd2 c6 20.h3 Wall,B -Hirami,Z, Chess.com, 2011 (1-0, 20). 

10.Nc3 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nf6 12.d3 Ne5 13.0-0 Nfg4 

"When at a loss for a move, you can always threaten White's Queen." NOT.

14.Qe2 Bf5 15.Bg5 Qd7?

Better 15...Nf6.

16.h3 h6 17.Nc5 Qc6 18.hxg4 hxg5 

This grants White a large advantage.

19.Qxe5+ Be6 20.Nxe6 Kd7

Mate follows. "Best" is the miserable 20...Qd6 21.Nxc7+

21.Qxg7+ Kxe6 22.Rfe1+ Kd5 23.Qe5 checkmate

Chances

What "chances" White has in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) come from a myriad of sources, not the least of which is opponent loss of focus or intensity. Too many games have ended up "1-0" because the defender did not see the necessity of putting all of his skill to use against a foolish, refuted opening.

perrypawnpusher  - spydersweb
blitz, FICS, 2012

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Ng6 

Since one of the time-proven strategies to defuse the Jerome Gambit has been returning a piece, this defense can not technically be considered "bad". 

Yet, after 11 moves (see diagram below) the players reach a position in which White has an extra move (f2-f4) in comparison to the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke7 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3. So, if Black wants to give up his King's Bishop and post his Knight at g6, the alternative might be a better choice.

9.Qd5+ Ke7 10.Qxc5+ d6 

10...Ke8 is an alternative, as in perrypawnpusher - parlance, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 22). 

11.Qe3 

Notable is 11.Qf2 Nf6 12.d3 Rf8 13.0-0 Kf7 14.Nc3 Kg8 15.f5 Ne5 16.Bg5 Nf7 17.Bh4 c6 18.Ne2 Ne5 19.h3 Bd7 20.g4 h6 21.Nf4 a6 22.Rae1 Qe7 23.d4 Nf7 24.Ng6 Qd8 25.Nxf8 Qxf8 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.h4 Kg7 28.Kh2 Qe7 29.Qf4 Re8 30.Rg1 Kh7 31.c3 Rg8 32.Re3 Rg7 33.Reg3 Bc8 34.g5 fxg5 35.hxg5 Nxg5 36.f6 Qf7 37.Qh4 Qxf6 38.Qh5 Qf4 39.e5 dxe5 40.dxe5 Qxe5 41.Kh1 Be6 42.Qd1 Bd5+ 43.Kh2 Nf3+ 44.Kh3 Nxg1+ 45.Rxg1 Qe3+ 46.Kh2 Qf2+ 47.Kh3 Rxg1 White reigned, guest725 - guest114, Internet Chess Club, 2002.

11...Nf6

Alternatives:
11...Kf8, perrypawnpusher - Valseg, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 39); 
11...Be6 12.f5 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - MrNatewood, blitz, FICS, 2010; 
11...Bd7 perrypawnpusher - GabrielChime, blitz, FICS,2009 (1-0, 29).

12.0-0

It is probably better to tuck away the King first than create a broad center with 12.d4, as in perrypawnpusher - thinan, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 31).

Also seen was 12.Nc3 as in mrjoker - PhlebasP, Internet Chess Club, 2008 (0-1, 34).

12...Re8 13.f5 Ne5 14.d4 Neg4 

It's always fun to harass the Queen, but 14...Nc6 was the right idea, as White then does not get much with 15.e5 Kf8 16.e6. Instead, I had planned on 15.Qd3 Kf8 16.Bg5. 

15.Qd3 Kf8 16.Bg5

A bit better might have been the thematic 16.h3 Nh6 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Nd2

16...h6 17.Bxf6 

This capture is not actually necessary as 17.Bh4 g5 18.fxg6 leads to an advantage for White. Best for Black after 17.Bh4 would be 17...h5, giving Black's advanced Knight a retreat square. Still, the second player's Kingside looks weakened, and White would probably not be worse.

17...Qxf6 

The Queen is poorly placed only because the Knight is poorly placed. Better was 17...Nxf6 18.Nc3 with an edge to Black. 

18.h3 Ne5

Played perhaps a bit too automatically. Play looks relatively equal after 18...d5 19.hxg4 Rxe4 20.c3 Rxg4 21.Nd2 c6 22.Rae1 Bd7. 

19.dxe5 Qxe5 20.Nc3 

How many times has White's advantage in the Jerome come down to better development, while Black's Queen Bishop sits at home, cutting off his Queen's Bishop?

20...c6 21.Rad1 d5 

A miscalculation. 

22.exd5 c5 

Better, but not saving, was 22...Qe3+ 23.Qxe3 Rxe3 24.dxc6 bxc6. 

23.f6 g5 24.Qg6 Black resigned

Old and Feeble

I have gone through difficult stretches with the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) before, but the current one has been making me feel old and feeble.

Take a look.

perrypawnpusher - ojot
blitz, FICS, 2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Kf8

I faced a similar error in a Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit against acwizard last year (1-0, 18) and against tensecterror earlier this year (1-0, 39). I was surprised to find today's Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit to be the only example in The Database, with my opponent's move.

8.Ng6+ Kg8 9.Nxh8 Kxh8

White has a Rook and two pawns for two pieces. Black's King is safe and he has better development. The game seems about equal.

This may well be part of Black's plan: no advantage, but no surprises, either.

10.d3 d6 11.Be3 Bb4 12.f4 

A thematic move, but the first indication of trouble: I was un-protecting my Bishop without giving thought to how to re-protect it. More enlightened was 12.Nd5.

12...Ng4 13.Qf3

Horrible. Of course, 13.Nd5 was the right idea, with still an even game.

13...Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Bc5 15.d4 Bxd4 White resigned

(Later on in the evening, I went back online at FICS, and again challenged my opponent with White. He decided to avoid the Jerome Gambit, and instead played the Philidor Defense. I won, but it wasn't any fun.)

We must know what we're doing...

Did you look over the games from Thursday's post?

Did you actually play the moves from Bill Wall's games out in your head or on a board?

Did you wind up asking yourself: What was Black thinking??

White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 and before he can even think of sacrificing his Bishop with 4.Bxf7+ he sacrifices his Knight instead with 4.Nxe5.

Does Black say "Yippee! Gimme! Gimme!ThankYouVeryMuch!" and take the piece? No, he does not. He looks the gift horse in the mouth and plays 4...Nh6. 

Really.

Next time around, the Bill's new opponent does take the Knight, but only after he sacrifices a piece of his own with 4...Bxf2+ 5.Kxf2 Nxe5.

What?

If these were over-the-board games, we might be accusing Bill of witchcraft – or would that be warlockcraft ?

Every time I tell Bill that it's risky to play such a refuted opening as the Jerome Gambit, he reminds me that it is only risky if the opponent knows the refutation.

Sometimes, instead, the opponent figures that the Jerome Gambiteer must know what he's doing – why else would someone sacrifice a piece, except if it were strong ? –  and so bails out of the refutation, just in case.

With almost 1600 posts, this blog is many things, but most peculiarly an ongoing study of what must be considered errors in problem-solving.

Never Say "Never"

After introducing the mangled-Jerome-Gambit line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nxe5 from a game by MrJoker in "Why So Serious?", with a caution not to try out White's move (premature in the Jerome), I almost immediately had to post Bill Wall's interest in investigating where angels fear to tread, so to speak (see "Relatively Speaking").

Who could be surprised by the following email I just received?

(I love working on this blog!)

Rick,
 
After Joker recommended not to play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nxe5, I decided 

to take the challenge and play it. I am glad to see that there are 130 games of this variation 

in the ChessBase Big Database 2012. Here are two more to add to the collection.
 
Wall - Guest2075193, www.playchess.com, Nov 10, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nxe5 (instead of Jerome's move with 4.Bxf7!?) 4...Nh6 

(most common and better is 5.Nxe5) 5.Qh5 (may be a new move. Previously played has 

been 5.Ng4) 5...O-O? (doesn't look good. Best seems 5...Qf6, threatening 6...Qxf2+) 

6.Nxc6 Bxf2+ (6...bxc6 7.Qxc5) 7.Kxf2 dxc6 (now Black threatens 8...Qd4+ and 9...Qxc4)8.d3 Bg4 

(perhaps 8...Ng4+) 9.Qc5 Qh4+ 10.Kf1 (or 10.g3) 10...Kh8? 11.Bg5 Qh5 

12.Be7 Rfe8 13.Qxh5 Bxh5 14.Bg5 Ng8 15.Nd2 b5 16.Bb3 h6 17.Bf4 Re7 18.h3 g5 

19.Be3 a5 20.g4 Bg6 21.a4 Kh7 22.h4 and Black resigned 1-0

 
Wall - Guest2095477, www.playchess.com, Nov 10, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nxe5 Bxf2+ 5.Kxf2 Nxe5 6.Be2 Qf6+ (perhaps a 

new move. 6...Qh4+ has been played in the past) 7.Kg1 Ne7 (perhaps 7...c5 or 7...Nc6) 

8.d4 N5g6 9.Nc3 c6? (9...O-O) 10.e5 Qh4?? (White now traps the queen. Perhaps 

10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qxe5. Not 10...Qf5? 11.Bg4. 10...Qe6 11.Ne4 looks good for White) 

11.g3 Qh3 12.Bg4 and Black resigned 1-0
 
Bill
 

Relatively Speaking

No sooner had I posted a game by MrJoker (a player with years of experience with the Jerome Gambit) giving a warning not to follow up 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 with 4.Nxe5, than I received an email from Bill Wall (another very successful Jerome Gambiteer), wondering if the move should be avoided, after all...

It took me a while to understand his point, at which time I cracked up laughing.

There are 33 possible moves that White can play in this Italian Game position. On a blog that has examined and championed the arguably 28th worst* of those choices, I had been skeptical about someone talking a look at the 27th worst move!

A lot of 4th moves for White are "playable" in this position if they are compared against Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's favorite, rather than against the "best" move.

Readers might want to uncover the 5 moves "objectively" worse than 4.Bxf7+.

(*-ratings of moves is by Rybka 3, to the depth of 15 ply)