Keep Up - Or Get Trampled

The Jerome Gambit lends itself nicely to blitz chess, especially 5-minute games. Black can keep up - or get trampled.

Philidor1792 - guest128
5+0 www.bereg.ru, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.d4 

This move, less well known than 8.f4, is as old as Jerome - Norton, correspondence, 1877 (0-1, 41), as notorious as Tonetti - Ruggieri, Rome, 1863 (1-0, 23), and a favorite of Philidor1792, who has, by my count, 9 wins, 2 draws, and 0 losses with it.

White asks, "what's another pawn among frenemies?"

8...Bxd4 9.c3

Philidor1792 has also looked at 9.Na3. For coverage, see "An Intriguing Letter" Parts 1, 2 & 3; "Some History of the Jerome Gambit" Parts 1, 2 & 3; "Jerome Gambit: Early Opening Tomes" Parts 1, 2 & Addendum; and "Full Circle" Parts 1 & 2 

9...Bb6 10.f4 

10...Nd3+

Black no doubt feels good about being able to play a forward-going move, but this is not his strongest option.

11.Kd2 Nxf4

Black suddenly realizes that his intended 11...Nxc1 falls to 12.Qe5+ Kc6 13.Qd5 checkmate. Still, it is not time for despair.

12.Qxf4+ Kc6 13.e5 

13...d5 

"Luft!" Black imagines. 

14.Qa4+ Kc5 15.b4+ Kc4 16.b5+ Kc5 17.Qb4 checkmate

Chess.com Italian Game Tournament (Round 3)

The third round of the Chess.com Italian Game Tournament has begun, with seven players still in competition. In my 4-player group I am facing JoseSoza (2040), with an over-all record of 8-1-3, tops among players still active in the tournament;  wuolong (1749), with an over-all record of 7-3, fourth best among active players;  and Svarga (1287), with an over-all record of 5-5-0, sixth best among active players.
At 1823, with an over-all record of 8-3-1, I have the second best record among active players in the tournament. Of course, two of my three losses so far in the tournament have been with the Jerome Gambit, against JoseSoza, so nobody should be surprised how our next game (I have White in all three games to start this round) went - except me, of course: It started 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 (angling for an Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit) Be7. Oh, dear, no Jerome Gambit... Further bad luck, my game vs Svarga has concluded 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Black lost on time. That's another way to avoid the Jerome Gambit! However, wuolong has picked up the gauntlet, and allowed me an Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit!1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+.

Received Wisdom?

While it is interesting to look over the Jerome Gambit lines selected by the ChessBase "Opening Report" (the last three posts) based upon the games in The Database, it is important to remember that the collected "wisdom" presented is drawn from mostly amateur play - what is popular may not be what is "best".

History can be misleading.

For example, the main line of play, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 has always seemed to me to be easier for White to play (if subjectively less scary for Black to endure) than the lines after 6...Ke6.

Furthermore, do not be impressed by the "100%" score for White that shows up for the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.f4. After 6...Qh4+ 7.g3 Qg4 8.Qxg4 Nxg4 White will have a hard time whipping up any kind of attack with Queens off of the board and only two pawns in return for his two sacrificed pieces.

Finally, the recommendation for Black after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.0-0 - 6...Nc6 - Allows 7.Qh5+, winning the defender's dark-squared Bishop. Better is 6...Qf6, as 7.d4 is no threat, easily answered by 7...Bxd4! since 8.Qxd4 would lose to 8...Nf3+. 

The Wisdom of The Database (Part 4)

We continue (see the earlier "Opening Report" parts 1, 2, and 3) to uses ChessBase's Opening Report function to take a look at the games in The Database. 

As a reminder, the Report gathers what lines are being played, and what lines are being used by the top players in the database. It gives a good "real life" view of the play of the Jerome Gambit, even if it does not always identify the objectively best move or line. 

Opening Report

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4


Alternative: 6...Bxd4

ubluk (1884) - billwall (2488)
Play The Jerome Gambit Quad, Chess.com, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Qd5+ Kf8 9.Qb3 Qh4 10.Nc3 Ng4 11.g3 Qh5 12.Nd5 N8f6 13.f3 Nxh2 14.Bf4 Nxf3+ 15.Kf2 Nxe4+ 16.Kg2 Qf5 17.Raf1 Be6 18.Bxd6+ Ke8 19.Nxc7+ Kd7 20.Nxe6 Ned2 21.Nxg7 Nh4+ 22.Kh2 Nxf1+ 23.Kg1 Nf3+ 24.Kf2 Nd4+ 25.Nxf5 Nxb3 26.axb3 Rac8 27.Rxf1 Rxc2+ 28.Ke3 Rxb2 29.b4 Rg8 30.Kf4 b6 31.Rd1 Ke6 32.Re1+ Kd5 33.g4 Rg6 34.Bf8 1/2-1/2


savage13 (1791) - AAlekhine (1783)
thematic, ChessWorld.net, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.0-0? Ne7 9.f4? N5c6 10.Qc4+ d5 11.exd5 Na5  12.Qxc7 Qd4+ 13.Kh1 Qxd5 14.Nc3 Qc4 15.Re1 Qxc7 0-1



jutabar (1653) - vladx (2192)
rated standard, FICS, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.0-0 Nf6 9.Nc3 c5 10.Qd1 Qb6 11.Na4 Qc6 12.f4 Bg4 13.Qd2 Nc4 14.Qc3 Qxa4 15.b3 Nxe4 16.Qd3 Qc6 17.bxc4 Rhf8 18.Bb2 Kg8 19.Rfe1 Rxf4 20.Rxe4 Qxe4 21.Qc3 Rf7 22.h3 Be2 23.Qg3 Qxc2 24.Ba3 Re8 25.Qxd6 Qc3 26.Qxc5 Qxa1+ 27.Kh2 Bf3 28.gxf3 Re2+ 29.Kg3 Qe1+ 30.Kg4 Rf4+ 31.Kxf4 Qh4+ 32.Kf5 g6# White checkmated 0-1

ChessIcon (1761) - adrotrico (1924)
rated standard, FICS, 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Bf4 Nc6 9.Qd5+ Be6 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qf3 Qf6 12.h4 Ne5 13.Qg3 h6 14.Nc3 Ne7 15.0-0-0 Raf8 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Ke8 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Qb3 Rxf2 20.Qa4+ Kd8 21.Qxa7 Qe2 22.Qa4 b5 23.Qb3 Qc4 24.Qxc4 bxc4 25.Rhg1 Rhf8 26.Rde1 R8f5 27.g4 Rxd5 28.Rg3 Rdd2 29.Rc3 Rde2 30.Rg1 d5 31.a4 Nc6 32.g5 h5 33.b4 Nxb4 34.a5 Na2+ 35.Kb2 Nxc3 36.Kxc3 Rxc2+ 37.Kb4 Kd7 38.Kc5 c6 39.Kb6 Rb2+ 40.Ka7 Rf7 41.a6 Kd6+ 42.Ka8 Re2 43.Rb1 Re8+ 44.Rb8 Rxb8+ 45.Kxb8 c3 46.a7 Rxa7 White resigns 0-1

Sullyman (1758) - Hisaw (1911)
rated standard, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.f4 Nc6 9.Qd3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Re8 11.0-0 Kg8 12.Be3 Qe7 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5+ Be6 15.Qb5 Bc8 16.Qd5+ Qe6 17.Qxe6+ Rxe6 18.f5 Rxe4 19.Bg5 Bd7 20.f6 Rf8 21.fxg7 Rxf1+ 22.Rxf1 Kxg7 23.Bf6+ Kg6 24.h4 h5 25.Bg5 Bf5 26.c3 Ne5 27.Bd8 c6 28.Bc7 d5 29.Bd8 Ng4 30.g3 Re2 0-1

vokrri (1612) - blackknight21 (1982)
GameKnot.com, 2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.0-0 Nf6 9.f4 c5 10.Qe3 Nc6 11.e5 Ng4 12.Qe2 Nd4 13.Qd3 Bf5 14.Qc4+ d5 15.Qxc5 Qh4 16.h3 Ne2+ 17.Kh1 Qxh3+ 18.gxh3 Be4+ 0-1


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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.f4

2 games, 2011-2012, Ø=2012
White scores excellently (100%).
Elo-Ø: 1261, 2 games. Performance = Elo 2109
played by: Petasluk, 1421, 1/1; Darthnik, 1101, 1/1

You should play: 6...Nc6

Petasluk (1421) - Jirayu (1412)
blitz, FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.f4 Nc6 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.Qxc5 d6 10.Qe3 Nf6 11.0-0 Qe7 12.d3 Bd7 13.Bd2 Rf8 14.Nc3 Kf7 15.Rae1 Kg8 16.e5 Nh5 17.e6 Be8 18.d4 Ng7 19.d5 Nd8 20.g4 c6 21.Qg3 b5 22.a3 a5 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 Qa7+ 25.Be3 Qe7 26.Bd4 Ra3 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.f5 gxf5 29.gxf5+ Kh8 30.Kh1 Rg8 31.Qe3 Qf6 32.Ne4 Rxe3 33.Nxf6 Rxe1 34.Rxe1 Rf8 35.e7 1-0

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d) 6.0-0

5 games, 2004-2011, 
White scores miserably (20%).
Elo-Ø: 1307, 4 games. Performance = Elo 1475
played by: Odizzel, 1508, 1/1; Chid, 1462, 0/1; Helal, 1166, 0/1; sTpny, 1094, 0/1

You should play: 6...Nf6

Odizzel (1508) - samshaunak (1740)
rated lightning, FICS, 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d4 d6 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.f4 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Neg4 11.h3 Nh6 12.g4 Nxe4 13.g5 Nf5 14.Re1 Re8 15.Nd2 Nxd2 16.Bxd2 Bd7 17.Rxe8 Rxe8 18.Bc3 Nd4 19.Bxd4 cxd4 20.Rd1 c5 21.c3 dxc3 22.Rxd7+ Re7 23.Rxe7+ Kxe7 24.bxc3 Kd6 25.Kf2 Kd5 26.Ke3 Kc4 27.Ke4 Kxc3 28.Kf5 c4 29.g6 Kb2 30.gxh7 c3 31.Kg6 c2 32.h8Q c1Q 33.Qxg7+ Qc3 34.Qxc3+ Kxc3 35.f5 b5 36.f6 a5 37.f7 b4 38.f8Q a4 39.Qc8+ Kb2 40.h4 b3 41.axb3 a3 42.Qh8+ Kxb3 43.Qe5 a2 44.Qe1 Kb2 45.h5 a1Q 46.Qxa1+ Kxa1 47.h6 1-0


AsceticKingK9 - Haroldlee123
ChessWorld JG6, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Nc3 c5 10.Qd1 Qd7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.f4 Nc4 14.Qe2 Nxb2 15.Rab1 Na4 16.Qc4+ d5 17.Qxa4 Qxa4 18.Nxa4 dxe4 19.Nxc5 e3 20.Nxb7 Ke7 21.Na5 Kf7 22.Rfe1 Re8 23.Nc4 Kg6 24.Rxe3 Rd8 25.Rg3+ Kf7 26.Ne3 Ba6 27.Nf5 h5 28.Re1 Kf8 29.Rg6 Rd2 30.Rxf6+ Kg8 31.Re7 Rd1+ 32.Kf2 Bc4 Black won on time 0-1

The Wisdom of The Database (Part 3)

We continue (see the earlier "Opening Report" parts 1, 2, and 3) to use ChessBase's Opening Report function to take a look at the games in The Database. 

As a reminder, the Report gathers what lines are being played, and what lines are being used by the top players in the database. It gives a good "real life" view of the play of the Jerome Gambit, even if it does not always identify the objectively best move or line. 

Opening Report

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5


b) 6.d4

932 games, 1876-2012
White scores below average (49%).
Elo-Ø: 1328, 768 games. Performance = Elo 1360
played by: GazzaT, 2423, 2/2; Wall, 2144, 6/6; Gamin, 2106, 0/1; hundirector, 2063, 1/1; Sheikki, 2020, 0/1

You should play: 6...Qh4 

GazzaT (2403) - Yigor (1708)
Chess.com, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 7.0-0 Qxe4 8.dxc5 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qb4 10.Be3 d6 11.Bd4 Re8 12.a3 Qc4 13.cxd6 cxd6 14.f4 Nc6 15.Bxf6 Qc5+ 16.Rf2 1-0


Sir Osis of the Liver (1715) - perrypawnpusher (1993)
JG3 thematic, ChessWorld.net, 2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 7.0-0 Ng4 8.h3 Bb6 9.Qf3+ N4f6 10.e5 Bxd4 11.exf6 Nxf6 12.c3 Bb6 13.Nd2 Rf8 14.Ne4 Qxe4 15.Qd1 d5 16.Re1 Qf5 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Rxe3 Bd7 19.Rf3 Qe5 20.Qd2 Rae8 21.Re3 Qd6 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.b3 Qe5 24.Rf1 Bc6 25.Kh1 Qe2 26.Qc1 d4 27.cxd4 Qe4 28.d5 Qxd5 29.f3 Kg8 30.Rd1 Qe6 31.Qf4 Nd5 32.Qd4 Ne3 33.Rc1 Bxf3 34.Kg1 Nxg2 35.Rxc7 Qe3+ 36.Qxe3 Nxe3 37.Kf2 Bc6 38.b4 Nd5 0-1


wolfpack123 (1485) - blackscorpion (2156)
GameKnot.com, 2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 7.0-0 Qxe4 8.dxc5 Nf6 9.Re1 Qf5 10.Qd4 Re8 11.Kh1 Qxc2 12.Na3 Nf3 13.Qxf6+ gxf6 14.Nxc2 Nxe1 15.Nxe1 Rxe1# 0-1


Wall,B (2145) - felineMMXI (1720)
unrated blitz, FICS, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 7.0-0 Qxe4 8.dxc5 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qc6 10.Qd4 Ng6 11.f3 Re8 12.Be3 b6 13.b4 bxc5 14.bxc5 Nf8 15.a4 Ne6 16.Qc4 d6 17.Rfd1 dxc5 18.Bg5 Black forfeited by disconnection 1-0

soulman (1565) - Thermodynamics (1770)
rated standard, FICS, 2010
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 7.dxc5 Qxe4+ 8.Be3 Qxg2 9.Qh5+ Ng6 10.Rf1 Nf6 11.Qe2 Ng4 12.f3 Nxe3 13.Qxg2 Nxg2+ 14.Kf2 N2f4 0-1
     

Proudfoot (1652) - JLeee (1642)
rated standard, FICS, 2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qh4 7.0-0 Qxe4 8.dxc5 Nf6 9.Re1 Qf5 10.f4 Nc6 11.Be3 Re8 12.Nc3 b6 13.Nb5 Nd5 14.Qd2 a6 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Rxe1+ 17.Rxe1 bxc5 18.Bxc5 d6 19.c4 Nxf4 20.Bxd6 cxd6 21.Rf1 g5 22.g3 Qc5+ 23.Kh1 Bb7+ 0-1


Main line:

7.0-0 Nf6 8.dxc5 Qxe4 9.Nc3 Qb4 10.Nd5 Qxc5 11.Nxf6 Kxf6 100%,  39 games
7.0-0 Nf6 8.dxe5 Ng4  100%,  22 games
7.0-0 Ng4 8.h3  68%, 1638 25 games
7.dxc5 Qxe4+ 8.Be3 Qxg2  20%, 1145 23 games

Critical line:
7.0-0 Ng4 8.h3 Bb6 9.hxg4 d6 50 % Black. 

Plans White:

0-0/d4xc5/Nb1-c3/Nc3-d5/ ..(Qb4xc5)/Nd5xf6/Bc1-e3/Be3-d4 (39) 
0-0/Qd1-f3/Bc1-f4/ ..(Rh8-f8)/Bf4-g3/ ..(Rf8xf3)/Bg3xh4/ ..(Rf3-f7)/Bh4-g3/Nb1-c3/Nc3-b5/Nb5xc7 (21) 
Nb1-c3/Bc1-e3/Nc3-b5/Be3-f4/ ..(Nc4xd6)/Bf4xd6/Rf1-e1/f2-f3 (13) 
0-0/d4xc5/Nb1-c3/Bc1-e3/c5xd6/Nc3-b5/Be3-f4/ ..(Nc4xd6)/Bf4xd6/Rf1-e1/f2-f3 (13) 
Bc1-e3/Be3-d4/Bd4xe5/Qd1-f3 (28) 
Nb1-c3/Bc1-e3/ ..(Qb4xd6)/Qd1xd6/Nc3-b5 (20) 

Plans Black:

Ng8-f6/Qh4xe4/Qe4-b4/Qb4xc5/Kf7xf6 (39) 
Ng8-f6/Qh4xe4/Qe4-b4/Qb4xc5 (39) 
Ng8-f6/Qh4xe4/Qe4-b4/d7-d6/Qb4xd6/c7xd6/Ne5-c4/Bc8-d7/Nc4xd6/Rh8-e8 (19) 
Ng8-f6/Nf6-g4/Kf7-e8/Rh8-f8/Rf8xf3/Rf3-f7/Bc5-d4/Ke8-f8 (21) 
Qh4xe4/Qe4-b4/Qb4xc5/Kf7xf6 (39)
Ng8-f6/Qh4xe4/Qe4-b4/Qb4xc5/Qc5-c4/c7-c5/d7-d5/h7-h5/Bc8-g4/Qc4xc2 (18)

The Wisdom of The Database (Part 2)

We continue (see the earlier "Opening Report" parts 1, 2, and 3) to uses ChessBase's Opening Report function to take a look at the games in The Database. 

As a reminder, the Report gathers what lines are being played, and what lines are being used by the top players in the database. It gives a good "real life" view of the play of the Jerome Gambit, even if it does not always identify the objectively best move or line. 

Opening Report

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+

Alternative: 6...Ke6

RevvedUp (2038) - Shredder 8 (3374)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Kf7 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qxe5 Bd4 12.Qf4+ Nf6 13.c3 Re8 14.cxd4 Rxe4+ 0-1


RevvedUp (2039) - Yace Paderborn (3124)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qe2 Nf6 10.Qc4+ Kd6 11.Qd3+ Kc6 12.Qf3 Bg4 13.Qb3 Qd4 14.Rf1 Qxe4+ 0-1


RevvedUp (2037) - Hiarcs 8 (3074)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Rf1 Nf6 10.Qe2 Ke7 11.d3 Bg4 12.Qd2 Qd4 13.c3 Qd6 14.b4 Bb6 15.a4 Rhf8 16.Qc2 Nxe4 17.dxe4 Rxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Rf8+ 19.Ke1 Bf2+ 20.Kf1 Bh4+ 21.Kg1 Qb6+ 22.Kh1 Rf1# 0-1

RevvedUp (2037) - Fritz 8 (3074)
blitz 2 12 2, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qh4+ Nf6 11.d3 Kf7 12.Nc3 Ng4 13.Rf1+ Kg6 14.Qg3 Be7 15.Ke2 Bh4 16.Qf3 Be6 17.h3 Nh2 18.Qe3 Nxf1 19.Kxf1 Rf8+ 20.Ke2 Qf6 21.Nd5 Qf1+ 22.Kd2 Bxd5 23.exd5 Bg5 0-1

RevvedUp (2036) - Crafty 19.19 (3024)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf8+ Kc6 11.Qf3 Nf6 12.d3 d5 13.Nc3 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Re8 15.Bf4 Qxb2 16.Kd2 Nxe4+ 17.dxe4 Qd4+ 18.Qd3 Bb4+ 19.Ke2 Rxe4+ 20.Kf3 Rxf4+ 0-1


Shredder 8 (3374) - RevvedUp (2038)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qe2 Nf6 10.Qc4+ Kd6 11.b4 Bb6 12.Nc3 Be6 13.Qe2 c6 14.Na4 Qe7 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.0-0 Rhf8 17.a3 Kc7 18.Bb2 Bg4 19.Qe3 h6 20.d4 exd4 21.Qg3+ Kd7 22.e5 Be2 23.exf6 Rxf6 24.Rfe1 Raf8 25.Bxd4 1-0

The Wisdom of The Database (Part 1)

It's time again (see the earlier "Opening Report" parts 1, 2, and 3) to use ChessBase's Opening Report function to take a look at the games in The Database. 

The Report gathers what lines are being played, and what lines are being used by the top players in the database. It gives a good "real life" view of the play of the Jerome Gambit, even if it does not always identify the objectively best move or line. (That would require a process called backsolving, which is not available in my ChessBase8.)


The Opening Report again also highlights a number of games from an interesting 2008 30-game human vs computers match (starting with "Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (1)"

This post starts an extended series (which may be interrupted from time-to-time for news, games or analysis) wherein the intrepid "RevvedUp" (a good chess player) and his trusted companions Hiarcs 8, Shredder 8, Yace Paderborn, Crafty 19.19 and Fritz 8 explore the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) by taking turns playing the White and Black pieces. 

The human moves first, and takes notice of the defense the computer plays. In the next game, where he moves second, the human plays that defense against a new computer – and sees how it attacks. In the third game, the human plays the recent attack against his new computer foe. Collectively, the players drill deeper and deeper into the Jerome Gambit.

Opening Report

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5

3618 games in 'TheDatabase'

1. History

Earliest game:

Jerome,A - Shinkman,W, Iowa, 1874
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 Nf6 11.d3 Ke7 12.Nc3 g5 13.Rf1 c6 14.g3 d5 15.Bd2 Bg4 16.Qg2 Rhf8 17.h3 Nxe4 18.Bf4 gxf4 19.gxf4 Rxf4 20.Nxe4 Rxf1+ 21.Kxf1 and Mr. Shinkman announced loss of the Queen or mate in six moves. 0-1

Latest grandmaster game:

Hiarcs 8 (3074) - RevvedUp (2037)
blitz 2 12 2, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Kd6 11.Qd3+ Ke7 12.Qg3 Ke6 13.Qh3+ Kf7 14.Qh5+ Ke6 15.Qh3+ 1/2-1/2

Latest game:

Wall,B - Filipmihov
FICS, 2012
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 9.d3 Ng4 10.0-0 Qf6 11.c3 Bxf2+ 12.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 13.Qxf2+ Nxf2 14.Kxf2 Be6 15.Nd2 Ke7 16.Nf3 Rhf8 17.h3 Rf7 18.Bg5+ Kd7 19.Kg3 h6 20.Bd2 g5 21.Rf1 Raf8 22.c4 c6 23.b4 b6 24.c5 g4?! 25.hxg4 Rg8 26.g5 hxg5 27.Rh1 g4 28.Ng5 Re7 29.cxd6 Kxd6 30.Rh6 Kd7 31.a4 Bf7 32.a5 b5?! 33.Bf4 Rg6?? 34.Nxf7 Rxh6 35.Nxh6 c5 36.bxc5 Kc6 37.Nf5 Re8 38.Bd6 Rd8 39.Nd4+ 1-0

2. Players

a) Strong grandmasters who used this line as Black:
Fritz 8     Result=6/9 2003-2006 
Hiarcs 8     Result=5/6 2002-2006 
Shredder 8     Result=3/3 2006 
Crafty 19.19     Result=3/3 2006 
Yace Paderborn     Result=2.5/3 2006  
YOUCANWIN     Result=2/2 2009 
birdcostello     Result=1/1 2009 

b) Other notable players:
thhZ     Result=10/11 2005-2010 
Knight Stalker     Result=8/11 1993 
pavlo     Result=7.5/11 2007-2011
polite     Result=7/11 2003-2010


3. Statistics

Black scores above average (47%).
Black performs Elo 1364 against an opposition of Elo 1385 (-21).
White performs Elo 1403 against an opposition of Elo 1382 (+21).
White wins: 1845 (=51%), Draws: 150 (=4%), Black wins: 1611 (=45%)
The drawing quote is very low. 

White wins are shorter than average (33).
Black wins are shorter than average (33).
Draws are long (51).


4. Moves and Plans

a) 6.Qh5+

2660 games, 1874-2012, 
White scores averagely (55%).
Elo-Ø: 1404, 2203 games. Performance = Elo 1416
played by: Shredder 8, 3376, 3/3; Yace Paderborn, 3126, 2.5/3; Hiarcs 8, 3076, 2.5/6; Fritz 8, 3076, 6/10; Crafty 19.19, 3025, 2.5/3

You should play: 6...Ng6

RevvedUp (2034) - Shredder 8 (3377)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Qh4 10.0-0 Nf6 11.d3 Kf7 12.Qg5 Qxg5 13.Bxg5 Bd7 14.Nc3 Rhf8 15.h3 Nh5 16.Rae1 Nhf4 17.Kh2 h6 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.Ne2 Ke7 20.Nxf4 Rxf4 21.f3 Raf8 22.Rf2 Ke6 23.Ree2 h5 24.Kg1 h4 25.Kf1 Ke5 26.Kg1 Ke6 27.Kf1 Ke5 28.Kg1 Be6 29.a3 Re8 30.Kf1 Ref8 31.Ke1 Bd7 32.Kd2 c5 33.c3 Ke6 34.Ke3 Bb5 35.Kd2 a5 36.Kc2 b6 37.Kd2 Ba4 38.Kc1 b5 39.Kd2 Bb3 40.Ke3 R8f6 41.Rd2 Rf8 42.Ke2 R8f7 43.Ke3 a4 44.Rfe2 R4f6 45.Rf2 Rf4 46.Rfe2 Rf8 47.Rf2 d5 48.Rfe2 dxe4 49.dxe4 Ke7 50.Re1 Ke6 51.Rf1 Ke7 52.Re1 Ke6 53.Rf1 Ke5 54.Re1 R4f7 55.Ree2 Be6 56.Rf2 Rf4 57.Rde2 Bd7 58.Rd2 Bc6 59.Rde2 R4f7 60.Rd2 Bb7 61.Rde2 Rd7 62.Rd2 Rfd8 63.Rxd7 Rxd7 64.Rd2 Rxd2 65.Kxd2 Kf4 66.Ke2 Bc8 67.Kf2 Be6 68.Kf1 Kg3 69.Kg1 Bc4 70.Kh1 Bf1 71.Kg1 Bxg2 0-1


RevvedUp (2034) - Yace Paderborn (3127)
blitz 2 12 2 12 (2.9), 28.06.2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Qh4 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Nc3 Ng4 12.Qg3 Qxg3 13.hxg3 Be6 14.f4 Bf7 15.d3 Kd7 16.Bd2 Ne7 17.Rae1 Rhf8 18.a3 Rae8 19.Nd1 Bh5 20.Ne3 Kc8 21.Nxg4 Bxg4 22.Kf2 Nc6 23.Bc3 Rf7 24.Rh1 h6 25.Rh4 h5 26.Rhh1 Ne7 27.Rc1 Kb8 28.b3 Nc6 29.Bb2 g5 30.Ke3 d5 31.Rhf1 dxe4 32.dxe4 Rfe7 33.e5 Rf7 34.c4 Rd8 35.Rc2 Rfd7 36.Rff2 gxf4+ 37.gxf4 Ne7 38.Bc3 Rd3+ 39.Ke4 Bf5# 0-1


RevvedUp (2033) - Fritz 8 (3077)
blitz 2 12 2, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qxc5 Nf4 8.0-0 d6 9.Qe3 Qg5 10.g3 Nh3+ 11.Kg2 Qxe3 12.dxe3 Ng5 13.f3 Bh3+ 0-1


RevvedUp (2033) - Hiarcs 8 (3077)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Be6 10.f4 N6e7 11.0-0 d5 12.d3 dxe4 13.dxe4 Nf6 14.Nc3 Ng4 15.Qd3 Qxd3 16.cxd3 Rd8 17.Rd1 c5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Be3 b6 20.g4 Nc6 21.Rac1 Ke7 22.a3 Bb3 23.Rd2 Rhf8 24.Kf2 Rd7 25.e5 Nxe5 26.fxe5 Ne4+ 27.Ke2 Ng3+ 28.Ke1 Rf1# 0-1


RevvedUp (2032) - Crafty 19.19 (3027)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qxc5 Nf6 8.Nc3 d6 9.Qe3 d5 10.Qf3 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Re8 12.d3 Bg4 13.Qe3 Rxe4 14.dxe4 Qd1# 0-1

Shredder 8 (3377) - RevvedUp (2034)
blitz 2 12, 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Qh4 10.Nc3 c6 11.d3 Nf6 12.Qd4 Ke7 13.h3 Qh5 14.0-0 Qc5 15.Qa4 Re8 16.Be3 Qe5 17.f4 Qe6 18.f5 Qf7 19.fxg6 Qxg6 20.Rf3 h6 21.Raf1 Be6 22.Qb4 b6 23.e5 Nd5 24.Qxd6# 1-0


Main line:


7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qe3 Nf6  46%, 1337 285 games
7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3  71%, 1501 170 games

Critical line:
7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qc3 Nf6 43 % Black. 

Plans White:

..(Ne5-g6)/Qh5xc5/Qc5-e3/0-0/Nb1-c3/d2-d4/f2-f4 (17) 
d2-d3/0-0 (433) 
..(Ne5-g6)/Qh5xc5/Qc5-d5/ ..(Bc8-e6)/Qd5xb7/0-0 (29) 
..(Ne5-g6)/Qh5-d5/Qd5xc5/Qc5-e3/0-0 (224) 
0-0/f2-f4/h2-h3 (77) 

Plans Black:

d7-d6/Ng8-f6/Rh8-e8/Kf7-g8/d6-d5 (49)
d7-d6/Ng8-f6/Nf6-g4/Qd8-h4 (18) 
d7-d6/d6-d5/d5xe4 (113) 
d7-d6/Bc8-e6 (259) 
Ng8-f6/Rh8-f8 (179) 
d7-d6/Ng8-e7/Rh8-f8 (69)