Deus ex Chess Clock

When I play through Jerome Gambit games by Bill Wall or Philidor 1792, I imagine a hero emerging, unscathed, from the center of whirling, churning chaos...

When I play the Jerome Gambit, though, it is a lot more like riding in a car that is careening out of control, heading for a cliff - and, if I am lucky, I can jump out in time...

Something like the following game.

perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar
blitz, FICS, 2014

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

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ 

My opponent has faced this opening a few times earlier, and may not have been impressed:

6.0-0 Rf8 7.Nd5 Kg8 8.d3 h6 9.Nh4 Nxd5 10.Nf5 Nde7 11.Nxh6+ gxh6 12.Bxh6 Rf6 13.Bg5 Rg6 14.Qh5 Qf8 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Qxe5 Bd6 17.Qb5 Qh6 18.h3 b6 19.Rae1 Qg5 20.g3 Qxb5 White resigned, maharishi - OudeKwakkelaar, FICS, 2006; and
6.Ng5+ Ke8 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 Rf8 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.exd5 Nd4 11.c3 Nf5 12.Nxh7 Rh8 13.Qh5+ Ke7 14.Bg5+ Kd7 15.Bxd8 Rxd8 16.Qf7+ Black resigned, BurtForFun - OudeKwakkelaar, FICS, 2012.

6...Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4

This is a slight improvement over our earlier game, which continued with 7...d6, in perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, blitz, FICS, 2011 (½-½ , 62).

8.Qxd4 Qe7 9.0-0 

This is a little bit better than 9.f4 as in perrypawnpusher - HGBoone, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 27); but 9.Bg5, which I played next move, is probably best. 

9...Re8 10.Bg5 Qd6 

The prudent 10...Kg8 was seen in perrypawnpusher - BigKalamar, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49).

11.Qe3

I just knew that after the game Houdini was going to scold me for not playing 11.Qxd6 and it did, suggesting 11...cxd6 12.Nb5 and Black has an edge, which he keeps, of course, after 12...Rg8 13.f4 Nc4 14.b3 Nd2 15.Nxd6+ Ke6 16.Rfe1 Kxd6 17.Rad1 h6 18.Rxd2+ Ke7 19.Bh4 g5 20.fxg5 hxg5 21.Bg3 b6. 

Now my game is headed for a cliff...


11...Neg4 12.Qh3 h6 13.Bh4 Qc5 14.Qd3 Qh5

Black would have done better with 14...d6, but Houdini still says that White has very little for his sacrificed piece. 

15.Bg3 d6 16.f4 

Here, however, Black forfeited on time.


Once again, White is saved by the Jerome Gambit's "secret weapon".

Jerome's Double Gamble

Today's post's title plays on an early name for our opening, once referred to as "Jerome's Double Gambit."

As far back as the post "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter IV" I mentioned that Unorthodox Openings Newsletter editor Gary K. Gifford had rightly classified our opening - "Jerome Gambit, or Jerome Gamble?" (UON #17).

Even earlier, in "But - is this stuff playable?" Part I and Part II, I had given an unqualified "no" and a qualified "yes" as answers to my question.

Maybe a more useful question would be -- "Under what conditions might the Jerome Gambit be playable?" ...[A]t the right time (and time control), with the right opponent, playing in the right mood – perhaps the Jerome Gambit is a bit playable...

In the following game, Bill Wall gives it his best shot, but seems to be facing the wrong opponent at the wrong time...

Bill has included a few suggestions.

Wall,B - Guest874250
PlayChess.com, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3

Instead, 8.Qf4+ would be met by 8...Qf6. 

8...Nf6 

Possibly a bit stronger than the alternatives, 8...d5, which was seen in Wall,B - GoldCoinCollector, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 17); Wall,B - Thieveyen, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 61); Wall,B - GuestZCLK, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); and Wall,B - bfcace, Chess.com, 2012 (1-0, 25); and 8...Qe7 from Banks,P - Dunne,D, Worcestershire v Derbyshire, 2010 (1-0, 35).

9.Nc3

Likewise, Bill has played 9.d3, as in Wall,B - Badbeat994, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 48); and Wall,B - Milsrilion, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 50).

9...Kf7

Black tried 9...Nh5 in Wall,B - Ahmadi,S, Chess.com, 2010 (0-1, 59), but that move, alone (about equal to the text) was not responsible for the game's outcome.

10.0-0

Or 10.d3.

10...Rf8 11.d3

Another idea was 11.Qh4 Kg8. 

11...Be6 

Or 11...Kg8 as in perrypawnpusher - truuf, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 32).

12.Be3

Possibly 12.Kh1 Kg8 13.f4; or 12.Ne2 Nh5 13.Qf3+ Kg6 14.Nf4+ Nxf4 15.Bxf4 Qf6. 

12...Nh5

If 12...Bxe3 then 13.Qxe3.

13.Qf3+

Or 13.Qg5 Qxg5 14.Bxg5 Kg8.

13...Kg6 14.Qe2

Possibly 14.Qd1 Bxe3 15.fxe3 Qg5. 

14...Nf4 15.Bxf4 

If 15.Qd2, then 15...Qg5; but not 15.Qf3? because of 15...Nh3+. 

15...Rxf4

16.g3

Ideas: 16.Qd2 Qf6; or 16.e5 Bg4; or 16.Na4 Qg5.

16...Rf7 17.e5

Or 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qf6; or 17.h4 Bh3 18.Rfe1? Rxf2.

17...dxe5 18.Qxe5

Attacking both bishops.

18...Qd6 

19.Qe4+

More attractive than trading Queens with either 19.Qxd6 cxd6 20.Kg2 Bd4; or 19.Rae1 Bf5.

19...Bf5

Better for White was either 19...Kh6 20.Rae1 or 19...Kf6 20.Qxb7 

20.Qxb7

Or 20.Qg2 Re8 

20...Re8 21.Qg2

White's choices are becoming limited, e.g. 21.Qb5 Re5 22.Qb7 c6; or 21.g4 Bxg4 22.Qg2 h5; or 21.Na4 Bh3 22.Nxc5 Qxc5. 

21...Bg4 22.Ne4 

Or 22.h3 Bf3 23.Qh2 Bc6. 

22...Qe5 

23.Rae1

Alternatives: 23.Rab1 Qh5 24.Nxc5 Bf3; 23.c3 Qh5; 23.Nxc5 Qxc5 24.c3 Bf3 25.Qh3 Be2. 

23...Bb6 

Or 23...Bf3 24.Qh3 Bb6. 

24.b4

If 24.c3 Qe6 25.d4 Bh3; if 24.b3 Qf5; not 24.Nc3? Qxe1! 25.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 26.Qf1 Rxf2 27.Qxe1 Rxc2+; if 24.c4 h5 25.b4 Bf3 26.Qh3 Bd4.

24...Qe7 25.a3

More solid than 25.h4 Qxb4; or 25.b5 Qd7 26.h4 Bh3; or 25.Rb1 Qd7.

25...Qd7 26.h4 

Instead, 26.Nc5 Bxc5 27.bxc5 Bf3 loses the Queen. 

26...Bh3 27.Qh1 

If 27.Qh2, then 27...Qg4.

27...Ref8

Or 27...Bxf1 28.Kxf1 h6.

28.Rc1

If 28.Re2 then 28...Qg4 29.Rd2 Be3

28...Qg4 29.Qh2 h6 30.c4 Bd4 31.Rcd1 Rf3 32.Rd2 R8f4 White resigned.

Not Quite Jerome-Inspired Games (Part 3)

In the following three minute game, Black contrives a maneuver to strengthen his Kingside and drive away the enemy Queen. Much to his surprise, it allows White to sacrifice Her Majesty and deliver checkmate! 

Philidor 1792 - guest681
3-minutes blitz www.bereg.ru, 20.12.2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bb3 Bc5 5.Nxe5

White bypasses a possible Delayed Jerome Gambit (5.Bxf7+) and sacrifices his Knight without sacrificing the Bishop.

5...Nxe5 6.d4 Qe7

Houdini suggests that after 6...Nxe4 7.0-0 0-0 8.dxe5 Qe7 the game would be even.

7.0-0 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 h6 9.Nc3 d6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 0-0 

12.Bd2 Bg4 13.Rae1 Bh5 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nh7 16.Nd5 Qh4

17.Re3 Bg6 18.Qxg6 fxg6 19.Ne7+ Kh8 20.Nxg6 checkmate

Not Quite Jerome-Inspired Games (Part 2)

Here we have another manic three-minute game showing the three secrets to winning blitz chess: attack, attack, attack.

Philidor 1792 - guest2151
3-minutes blitz www.bereg.ru, 24.12.2013

1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bb3 a5

After offering an Alekhine Defense, but showing no interest in participating in the Krejcik Gambit, Black finds an interesting way to avoid a Delayed Jerome Gambit.

White goes for a Chicago or Halloween Gambit, sacrificing a Knight on e5 (without having sacrificed the Bishop on f7). Of course, 5.Nc3 would have been just fine for White.

5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.d4 Nc6 7.d5 Ne5 8.f4 Ng6 9.e5 Ng8

10.h4 Nxh4 11.d6 cxd6 12.Qh5 

12...Nxg2+ 13.Kf2 g6 14.Qh3 dxe5 15.Qxg2 exf4

16.Qd5 Qb6+ 17.Kf3 d6 18.Qxf7+ Kd8 19.Qxf8+ Kc7 20.Qg7+ Black resigned

Not Quite Jerome-Inspired Games (Part 1)

Our chessfriend Philidor 1792 is on such a tactical roll, it seems a shame to not present three smashing games of his, just because they don't fit the Jerome Gambit template.

Here is the first. It contains a reminder (again) that even in 3-minute games, endgame skill is essential. 

Philidor 1792 - guest3658
3 0 blitz, www.bereg.ru, 27.12.2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bb3 Be7 5.Nxe5
 

White, unable to reach a Delayed Jerome Gambit (i.e. 4...Bc5, 5.Bxf7+) switches to an opening reminiscent of the Chicago or Halloween Gambit.

5...Nxe5 6.d4 Nxe4 

This looks a bit like I know you want me to play 6... Nc6, so I'll play something else... The problem - for Black - is that 6...Nc6 is the correct move, whereas the text leads to an equal game.

As in the Jerome Gambit, returning the sacrificed material for an even game is often the price a defender is willing to pay.

7.dxe5 O-O 8.Qd4 Nc5 9.Nc3 Nxb3 10.axb3 c6 11.Bf4 Bg5 12.O-O-O Bxf4+ 13.Qxf4 

White would like to make something out of Black's backward d-pawn, or White's strong point at d6.

13...f5 14.Rd3 g5 15.Qc4+ Kh8 16.g4 

Sharper was 16.h4.

16...Qe7 17.Re1 fxg4 18.Re2 Rf4 19.Rd4 Qf7 20.Qxf7 Rxf7

White's lead in development clearly compensates for Black's extra, doubled pawn. In turn, Black decides to give two pawns to activate his pieces.

21.Ne4 d5 22.exd6 Bf5 23.Nxg5 Rg7 24.Ne6 Bxe6 25.Rxe6 Rd8

White's advantage lives at d6.

26.Re7 Kg8 27.Rxg7+ Kxg7 28.Rxg4+ Kf6 29.Rh4 Rd7 30.c4 c5 31. b4 b6 32. bxc5 bxc5 33.b4 

33...Rxd6 34. Rh6+ Ke5 35.Rxd6 Kxd6 36.b5 Ke5 37.Kc2 Kd4

Black's King has taken up a strong position, and now only one move keeps the advantage for White. Which one?

38.f4

White needed to find 38.Kb3! when Black's King cannot safely choose either side of the board to play on. White's King clearly wants to advance and capture Black's pawn on a7, followed by promoting his b-pawn. Black cannot stop that, and White's f-pawn at the same time.

Houdini gives as best play (30 ply) 38...Ke4 39.Ka4 Ke5 40.b6 axb6 41.Kb5 Kd4 42.f4 h5 43.f5 Ke5 44.Kxb6 Kxf5 45.Kxc5 and White's King will lead his passed pawn to the Queening square.

38...Kxc4 

Black misses his opportunity, as 38...Ke4 would now win, as the tempos now favor him.

Now the game is even.

39.f5 Kd5 40.Kd3 Ke5 41.Kc4 Kxf5 42.Kxc5

42...h5 

The wrong kind of activity. Instead, 42...Ke5 would hold the draw.

43.Kc6 h4 44.Kb7 h3 45.Kxa7 Kf4 46.b6 Kf3 47.b7 Kg2 48.b8=Q Black resigned

More Jerome-Inspired Games (Part 4)

In the following 3-minute game, White only head-fakes toward a Jerome Gambit, but the resulting opening still features a piece-for-a-pawn sacrifice, and some foot soldiers who would not be out of place in Jerome's Double Opening.

Philidor 1792 - guest1132
3 0 blitz, www.bereg.ru, 15.12.2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bb3 Be7 5.Nxe5

This unusual Two Knights Defense, possibly heading for a Delayed Jerome Gambit with 4.Bb3 - had Black played 4...Bc5 - now takes a Chicago Gambit or Halloween Gambit turn with this Knight sacrifice.

5...Nxe5 6.d4 Ng6 7.e5 Ng8 8.Qf3 f6

Instead, Houdini suggests 8...d5 9.exd6 Bf6 10.Qe2+ Kf8 11.dxc7 Qxc7.

9.Qd5 d6

An improvement over 9...Nh6 10.Bxh6 Rf8 11.Bxg7 c6 12.Qc4 d5 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Bxf8 Black resigned, Philidor 1792-guest1063, www.bereg.ru, 2013. 

10.Qf7+ Kd7 11.e6+ 

It is tempting to get after the enemy King, although Houdini prefers letting it go in exchange for winning back a piece and turning the whole board to chaos: 11.exd6 cxd6 12.h4 Nh6 13.Bxh6 gxh6 14.h5 Nf4 15.g3 Rf8 16.Ba4+ Kc7 17.Qc4+ Kb8 18.gxf4 d5.

11...Kc6 12.Nc3 Nh6 13.Be3

Offering the Queen for a mate-in-one.

13...d5 14.Bxh6 gxh6 15.Nxd5

15...a5 16.c4 Qf8 17.h4 a4 18.Bc2 Qxf7 19.exf7 Kd6 20.h5 Nf8 21.0-0-0 Be6 

22.Rhe1 Bd8 23.Nc3 Bxf7 24.c5+ Kd7 25.Bf5+ Kc6 26.Be4+ Kd7 27.Bf5+ Draw

Before This Blog Began...

Before I started this blog (see "Welcome") I had a series of Jerome Gambit-related posts at www.chesshistory.com (under the "Puzzles and Mysteries" section) from 11/24/01 to 9/6/04. A lot of topics were explored, and some paths crossed and re-crossed, as I was finding my way in the world of "Jerome's Double Gambit".

Probably the funniest episode was my mis-guided search for the imaginary book All or Nothing! The Jerome Gambit, by Chiam Schmendrick...

Trips to the White Collection in the Cleveland Public Library helped fill in the gaps of my knowledge, as did the contribution of many chessfriends world-wide. 

Following that "debut", I started to find my "voice" in the ChessPub Forum (www.chesspub.com), a discussion forum for ChessPublishing.com, from 1/19/05 to 12/29/07. What began as a series of posts by me, responding to others, quickly became a series of posts by me, responding to me -- and I was eventually dis-invited to continue.

[Although there was a bit of a fall-off from the previous months, the number of visitors to this blog in February 2014 was the best for a February since I began posting. Welcome, again - and many thanks for visiting! - Rick]