Jerome Countergambit

The following game could just as easily be called "Buttons, buttons, who's got the buttons?" because White wins in the end simply because he has more buttons - er, pawns.

An interesting question of Jerome Gambit nomenclature comes up, however, hence the title of today's post (and the graphic of the counter-puncher).

Wall, Bill - Guest545050

PlayChess.com, 2013

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

Bill Wall suggests that this variation be called the Jerome Countergambit. I think that name is appropriate, as, in the Jerome Gambit, Black executes the same Bishop sacrifice that White played earlier. However, I would like to expand the name to the whole strategy of Black's counter-sacrifice.

Interestingly, in The Database I found only 8 other examples of 7...Bxf2+ as in the current game.

After a different defensive line, however, that of 6...g6 (instead of 6...Kf8) 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+, I found 84 examples.

While readers may not be surprised that after 6.d3 (instead of 6.Qh5+ as in the game) I found only 1 example of the countergambit 6...Bxf2+, it might be shocking to discover that in the "modern" Jerome Gambit line 5.d3 (instead of 5.Nxe5+) there are 842 examples of 5...Bxf2+.

Over the years there have been a number of comments about the ideas behind the Jerome Countergambit, from the thoughts of Brian Wall to today's game by Bill Wall. As for me, I've written a memo: More to explore!

8.Kxf2

Wouldn't you know, one Jerome Gambiteer, the venerable DREWBEAR 63, tried the counter-psych, 8.Ke2!?, and won in 43 moves, in DREWBEAR 63 - Crusader Rabbit, Jerome Gambit Tourney 4, ChessWorld 2009.

8...Qf6+

The alternative, 8... Qh4+, in true Jerome Gambit style, showed up in perrypawnpusher - superlopez, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 71), which apparently, somehow, was never posted here. (I'll remedy that in a few days.)

9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 

As I've mentioned elsewhere, recently, in a similar situation, "Black has an even game. However, given that he had a won game at move 4, this is not actually progress". Actually, things are worse in this particular case, as Black's exchange of Queens has left him a pawn down.

10.Nc3 g6 

Or 10... d6, as in perrypawnpusher - Lindal, blitz, FICS, 2007, (1-0, 45) 

11.d4 d6 12.Bg5 Kg7 

Moving too quickly. (For a recent, similar example, see "By the Numbers".)

As I've said before: as "bad" as the Jerome Gambit is, it still demands the defender's full attention.

13.Bxf6+ Kxf6 14.Nd5+ Kg7 15.Nxc7 Rb8 16.Nb5 Rf8+ 17.Ke2 Bg4+ 18.Ke3 Rbd8 19.Nxa7 Rde8 

20.Nb5 d5 21.e5 Bf5 22.Nd6 Ra8 23. Nxf5+ Rxf5 24.g4 Rf7 25.h4 Raf8 

26.Rh3 Rf4 27.g5 b5 28.a4 bxa4 29.Rxa4 Rf2 30.Ra7+ Kg8 31.Rc7 Black resigned

Black has nothing against the Queenside buttons.

Flash

Depending upon your view of lightning chess, the Jerome Gambit may a very good - or very bad - fit for such hectic play.

In the following game, Black's quick-play strategy is to move his pieces, not his pawns. This falls right into White's hands, however.

KingDeath - FoxTerrier
lightning, FICS, 2013

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

Transposing to a "modern" variation of the Jerome Gambit - 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qc4+ Kf8

10.Bg5 Qe7 11.Nc3 Qe5 12.f4 Qe8 13.e5 Ng8

14.Nd5 Qf7 15.Qc5+ 

Black forfeited on time.

A good exercise is to see how many times a pawn move would have suited Black better than the move he chose. (My guess is at least on moves 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15.)

Pwned!

In this last look at 6.c3 line in the 5...Ke7 defense to the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (see "Variation on A Theme" and "Long Lines: Seeing Unclearly") we see a game which is mostly about pawns.

As if that were not enough. 

Kuskus - omarrafi
blitz, FICS, 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. 

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7

6.c3 d6 7.cxd4 dxe5 8.dxe5 Qd3

An alternative mentioned in the previous game.

9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 

It is not likely that Black was thinking of this position when he played 3...Nd4.

10...Be6 11.d4 c6 12.f4 Rd8 13.Ke3 Ke8 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.f5 Bc4

So far, White's position has largely been playing itself, but now, in the next few moves, Black contributes to the pawns' mobility.

16.Bd2 c5 17.d5 Nh6 18.Kf4 g5+ 

Apparently not expecting White's next move.

19.Kxg5 Nf7+ 20.Kf4 Bxd5

Giving a piece back for a couple of pawns, but it is not enough.

21.exd5 Bxc3 22.Bxc3 Rxd5 23.e6

This is what Black overlooked 

23...Rf8 24.exf7+ Rxf7 25.Rhe1+ Kd7 26.g4 h5 27.h3 Rd3 28.Rad1 

Black resigned

White has the extra piece and the extra pawn.

Long Lines: Seeing Unclearly

Continuing to look at the 6.c3 line in the 5...Ke7 defense to the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (see "Variation on A Theme"), here is a game that quickly becomes wildly complicated. 

I have used Houdini 3 to try to give some guidance, but the long lines of play it suggests sometimes seem to lead from "unclear" to "unclear". Or, as the old children's song used to go, "Some kind of  help is the kind of help we all can do without."

(Still, it is worth playing over the computer's lines, for its cold-blooded, dynamic play.)

paoloumali -manicwild
standard, 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+ Ke7

An overlooked line recently reviewed in "Bypassed in Time".

6.c3 d6 7.cxd4

White decides not to withdraw his Knight.

7...dxe5 8.dxe5 Qd4 

Black's alternative, 8...Qd3, may be a tiny bit better.

9.Nc3 Ke8 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qg5 Bc5 

The reason behind Black's King's retreat.

Houdini 3 prefers to see the Bishop on the long diagonal: 11...Bg7
12.Qh4 Bxe5 13.O-O h6 14.d3 Qd8 15.Qxd8+ Kxd8 16.d4 Bg7 17.Be3 Ne7 18.d5 Bd7 19.f4 Rf8 20.Rac1 b6 21.h3 Rc8 22.Kh2 a6 23.Rc2 

analysis diagram

with a small advantage to Black. 

However, White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece and Black's King is still trapped in the  middle of his first rank, so the position should not be painful for a hardy Jerome Gambiteer.

12.O-O Ne7 

Black is developing reasonably, but Houdini 3 again takes issue, saying that this gives White a small advantage, and suggesting 12...Qd3 13.Nd5 Bb6 14.Re1 c6 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.Re3 Qd4 17.d3 Be6 18.a3 Kd7 19.Re2 Kc7 20.Be3 Qd8 21.Qg3 Kb8 22.Rc1 Ra4 23.Rd2 Ne7 24.Qh4 Nc8 25.Qf6 Bb3 

analysis position

with an even game.

Um, okay.

13.Nb5

Of course, this play is too straight-forward for Houdini 3, which recommends 13.d3 h6 14.Qg3 Qd7 15.Be3 Bb4 16.e6 Qxe6 17.Nb5 Bd6 18.Nxc7+ Bxc7 19.Qxc7 Rh7 20.Rfe1 Rf7 21.d4 Qf6 22.Qc2 g5 23.d5 Kf8 24.Rad1 Kg8 25.Bd4 Qd6 26.Rc1 b6 27.Qc7 

analysis diagram

with an advantage to White. 

Black has castled-by-hand, but his Queenside development (note the typical Bishop on c8 blocking in the Rook on a8) still lags.

13... Qd7 14.a4 b6 

A blunder, although it may not be easy to see.

Once again, Houdini 3 comes to the "rescue": 14...Bb6 15.e6 Qxe6 16.a5 h6 17.axb6 hxg5 18.Nxc7+ Kf7 19.Nxe6 Bxe6 20.d4 Bc4
21.Re1 axb6 22.Bxg5 Rhc8 23.d5 Ke8 24.f3 Kd7 25.Rec1 b5 26.Kf2 Ra4 27.Kg3 Ng8 28.Be3 Nf6 29.Rxa4 bxa4 30.Kf4 

analysis diagram

White's three extra pawns balance Black's extra piece, and perhaps offer a whisper of an advantage.

15.e6

Taking advantage of the unfortunate placement of Black's Royal Family.

15...Qc6

Safer was 15...Qd3 although you've probably had enough of Houdini 3's ideas for the moment.

16.Qf6

This looks strong to me, but Houdini 3 has a conniption fit, preferring, instead 16.d4 Bxe6 17.Qe5 Bd6 18.Qxh8+ Kd7 19.Qxh7 Qxe4 20.Bg5 Re8 21.Rfe1 Qf5 22.Qh4 Nd5 23.Rac1 Qf8 24.Qh7+
Qf7 25.Qxf7+ Bxf7 26.Rxe8 Bxe8 27.Nxa7 Bf7 28.Nc6 Nb4 29.Ne5+ Bxe5 30.dxe5 Bb3 31.Bd2 Nc6 

analysis diagram

when White is up the exchange and a few pawns.

16...Rf8 17.Qe5 

17...Kd8 

Missing the defense 17...Bd6 18.Nxd6+ cxd6 19.Qd4 Qc5 20.Qd3 Nc6 21.Ra3 Bxe6 22.Rc3 Nb4 23.Qe2 Qh5 24.Qxh5 gxh5 25.b3 Kd7 26.Ba3 Na6 27.d4 Rac8 28.Rfc1 Rxc3 29.Rxc3 Rg8 30.d5 Bf7 31.Rf3 Be8 

analysis diagram

with Black for choice, according to Houdini 3 (although I like White's pawns). 

18.d4 Bd6 19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.Qg7 Re8 21.d5 

Here Black forfeited by disconnection.

In the final diagram, the defender's position is horribly congested, and White is about to add Bg5 to the painful cramp. Among other things, White threatens to win Black's Kingside pawns and advance his 5-0 (!) majority; while the c-file will also beckon to one of his Rooks. Returning a piece with ...Bxe6 will not solve much for Black.

Variation on A Theme

Some of White's play in Jerome Gambit-style positions comes from the exposed position of Black's King. Some of it comes from the useful advance of "Jerome pawns". In the following game, both of these themes play a part.

graniglia - jackb
standard, FICS, 2000

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7 

The unusual defense mentioned in "Bypassed in Time". This time White has a stronger response.

6.c3 d6 7.Nc4 Ne6 8.d4 Nf6

White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece, while Black's busy King looks to be in the way of his pieces.

9.O-O Qe8 10.e5 Nd7 

It's a simple thing, but by not interpolating 10...dxe5 11.dxe5 Black goes from an even game to a worse one. The open e-file with the royal couple on it spells disaster.

11.exd6+ cxd6 12.d5 

12...Qg6

Getting the Queen out of the line of fire. Best, calming down the position, seems to be 12...Nf6 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Re1 Kf7 15.Nxd6+ Bxd6 16.Qxd6 Rd8 when Black's King has found cover, leaving him two pawns down.

13.dxe6 Nc5 14.Nxd6 

14...Nd3 15.Nxc8+ Rxc8 16.Be3 Black resigned

Black will capture the pawn at e6 (with ...Rc6 and ...Rxe6) but will remain down material, with an uncomfortable King.

(FYI, this is blog post 1,700)

Bypassed in Time

Some lines in the Jerome Gambit and related openings get a lot of attention on this blog, while others get short shrift. Below, Black uses a rare defense to the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit, White misses the best response, and, after a relatively short tussle, the first player loses.

Clearly I have some educational work to do.

lorecai - ffdallagnol
blitz, FICS, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7 

It is rare that I can give the history of my attention to a particular line in short order, but with "Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (2)", "Please don't do that", "My Turn Again" and "BSG: Later on in theDiscussion" that's about it.

Reflecting how often Bill Wall mines The Database for ideas for play (see "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"), I feel compelled to point out that I did not provide ffdallagnol with the games collection so that he could ambush lorecai with something rare.

6.Qh5

Looks aggressive, but best, leading to only a small edge for Black, is 6.c3, as Houdini 3 lays out: 6...d6 7.Nc4 Ne6 8.d4 Nf6 9.f4 d5 10.Ne5 dxe4 11.f5 Nc5 12.0-0 Nd3 13.Nxd3 exd3 14.Qxd3 Kf7 15.Bg5 Be7 16.Nd2 Re8 17.Rae1 Kg8 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qe4 Qd6 20.Rf3 Kh8 21.Rg3 Bd7 . I'll have to track down some of the relevant games.

6...Qe8 7.Qg5+

Wanting to keep the attack alive, but best play at this point, alas, was exchanging the Queens followed by 8.Kd1.

7...Nf6 8.Na3 d6 9.Nec4 

9...b5 10.Ne3 b4

This pawn charge is fun, but not best.

11.Nd5+

White can stir up more mischief with 11.e5 bxa3 12.exf6+ gxf6 although he still would be worse.

11...Kd7 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Qxf6

Hoping the attack on the Rook on h8 will give him time to save his Knight on a3. In a way, he succeeds.

13...Qxe4+ 14.Kf1 Qe2+ 15.Kg1 Qe1 checkmate

Laugh All You Want...

Here we have another game where Black seems to be unimpressed with White's "funny" opening. 

I mean, come on, White has to be clowning around, right, playing that "joke opening," the Jerome Gambit?


As I've written before, "If you want them to stop laughing..."

Not all clowns are funny, though. Some are killers. Witness the following.

Wall, Bill - Guest3544144
PlayChess.com, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.f3 

White's move appears to be a TN, although the idea of supporting the e4 pawn in this way is not unknown in the Jerome Gambit. 

10...Kf7 11.d4 Re8 12.O-O c5

A pawn is a pawn, right? Black sacrifices one to get the Queens off of the board, ending White's attack, perhaps?

Now that's funny.

13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Qxc5 Qb6 15.Qxb6 axb6

With a piece for three pawns, Black has an even game. However, given that he had a won game at move 4, this is not actually progress.

16.Rd1 Be6 17.Nc3 Red8 18.Be3 Ne5

What's another pawn among friends?

19.Bxb6 Re8 

20.Nb5

Threatening Nc7 and Nd6+

20...Re7 21.a4 Nc4 22.Bc5 Rd7 23.b3 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Na5 

White is in no hurry, but slowly improves his position.

25.Nd6+ Kg6 26.f4 Bc8 27.f5+ Kh5 28.e5 Ng8

The "Jerome pawns", completely supported by their pieces, advance and bring havoc. White's next move adds an additional theme: threat to the enemy King.

29.Rd3 Ne7 30.Rh3+ Kg4

This looks risky, and it is, but the alternative, 30...Kg5, is met with 31.Be3+ Kg4 32.Rg3+ Kh4 33.Bg5+ Kh5 34.Bxe7 g5 35.Rxg5+ Kh4 36.Rg6+ Kh5 37. g4 checkmate. 

31.f6 gxf6 32.exf6 Ng6 33.Be3 h5 34.Rg3+ Kh4 35.Bg5 checkmate