Theory on Non-Theory

Even in the non-main-line lines of the non-main-line Jerome Gambit, there is theory, and practice, as Philidor1792 demonstrates in the game below.

Philidor1792 - jenskun
Russia Central Federal District vs Phil, 
Chess.com, 2015

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

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke7 

Infrequently played, but not bad.

8. Qxc5+

The experimental 8.Qg5+ was tried in Wall,B - CKFM, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 44). 

8... d6 9. Qe3 

The Database has three games with 9.Qg5+: fehim - Schiele, FICS, 2006, (0-1, 59); stampyshortlegs - calchess10, JGTourney4, ChessWorld 2009 (1-0, 31); and Wall,B - Vassilev,R, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 32).

9... Be6

Instead, 9... Nf6 was seen in three MrJoker games:  MrJoker - Yuvi, ICC, 2011 (1-0, 16); MrJoker - Cleanbishop, ICC, 2012 (1-0, 46); and MrJoker - taz, ICC, 2013 (1-0, 43).

The Bishop move seems to invite f2-f4 by White, gaining a tempo.

10.O-O Nf6 11.f4 Bf7 12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Nc6 14.e5 dxe5 15.dxe5 Nd5 16.Qg3 Kf8 

The extra tempo for White, the "Jerome pawns" and Black's uneasy King have lead to an equal game. As we have frequently seen in Jerome Gambit lore, when White has equalized, he has the advantage.

17.Bg5 Qc8 18.e6 Bh5 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.Qxc3 Rg8 21.f6 gxf6 22.Qxf6+ Ke8 23.Rad1 Qd8 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.b4 b5 26.a4 a6 27.axb5 Black resigned

Do I Share Everything? No.

I have shared the good and the bad about the Jerome Gambit on this blog - winning games and losing games, helpful analysis and scary analysis.

But I haven't shared everything.

Here is an example from last year, drawn from the post "Jerome pawns -Clowning Around" where I was discussing preparations for my first-round game against djdave28 in the current Chess.com Italian Game tournament

After my discouraging loss with the Jerome Gambit in my previous Chess.comItalian Game tournament (perrypawnpusher - Buddy_Thompson), I knew that I had to cook up something new, or risk facing a future opponent who just "looked the refutation up" (and not even on this blog, mind you, but in my recent games on Chess.com).
I was happy that I did do the research, too, because in my third Jerome Gambit in my current tourney, my opponent went straight for the same line (leaving out the superfluous Queen check).

I won that encounter, and two rounds later I found myself facing the same opponent. Would he repeat the line - even though I had been victorious? Of course he would!

perrypawnpusher - djdave28
Italian Game tournament, Round 3
Chess.com, 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+

Here is a relevant computer game: 7.f4 Qf6 8.Qxe5+ Qxe5 9.fxe5 Kxe5 10.b4 Bd4 11.c3 Bb6 12.d3 d5 13.Rf1 dxe4 14.Bf4+ Ke6 15.dxe4 Nf6 16.Nd2 Bd7 17.a4 a5 18.b5 Rhf8 19.O-O-O Rac8 20.h4 Bc5 21.Nb3 Bb6 22.c4 Nh5 23.g3 Nxf4 24.Rxf4 Ke7 25.Rxf8 Rxf8 26.Rd3 c5 27.e5 Rf1+ 28.Kb2 Re1 29.Rd6 Bc7 30.Nxc5 Bc8 31.Rd5 Rxe5 32.h5 b6 33.Na6 Rxd5 34.Nxc7 Rxh5 35.Nd5+ Kd6 36.Nxb6 Be6 37.Kc3 Kc5 38.Na8 Rh3 39.Nc7 Rxg3+ 40.Kd2 Bxc4 41.Na6+ Kd6 42.Nb8 Ra3 43.Nc6 Rxa4 44.Nd4 Kc5 45.Nf3 Kd5 46.b6 Ra3 47.Nh4 Ke4 48.b7 Rb3 49.Ng2 Rxb7 50.Ne3 Bd3 51.Nd1 Kd4 52.Ke1 a4 53.Kf2 a3 54.Kg3 Be2 White resigned,  Matacz CCT7 - Imp 0.74b, CCT7, 2005.

7...Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qxe5+ Kxe5 11.b4 Bd4

Previously, my opponent had backed up his Bishop, before making this strike: 11... Bb6 12.Bb2+ Bd4 (12...Kxe4? 13.Bxg7 Black resigned, axykk - bromby, FICS, 2011) 13.c3 Bb6 14.d4+ Kxe4 15.O-O Nf6 16.Nd2+ Kd3 17.Nf3 d6 18.Rad1+ Kc4 19.Nd2+ Kb5 20.a4+ Kxa4 21.c4 Kxb4 22.Rf3 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - djdave28, Chess.com Italian Game Tournament, Round 1, 2014. 

12.c3 Bb6 13.d4+ Kxe4 14.O-O 

Here is another interesting computer game: 14.Nd2+ Kf5 15.O-O+ Ke6 16.a4 a5 17.b5 Nf6 18.Ba3 Re8 19.Rae1+ Kf7 20.Rxe8 Kxe8 21.Re1+ Kf7 22.Nc4 Nd5 23.Rf1+ Ke6 24.Re1+ Kf6 25.Rf1+ Kg5 26.Bc1+ Kh4 27.Rf5 Nxc3 28. Be3 Bxd4 29.Bxd4 Ne2+ 30.Kf2 Nxd4 31.Rf4+ Kg5 32.Rxd4 b6 33.Ne3 Ra7 34.Rc4 Kf6 35.Nd5+ Ke5 36.Nxb6 cxb6 37.Rxc8 d5 38.Rh8 h6 39.Rb8 Rf7+ 40.Ke3 Rf6 41.h3 h5 42.Rh8 Rh6 43.Re8+ Re6 44.Rc8 Kd6+ 45.Kd3 h4 46.Rc2 Re4 47.Rc6+ Ke5 48.Rxb6 Rxa4 49.Ra6 Ra2 50.b6 Rxg2 51.Rxa5 Rb2 52.Ra6 g5 53.Kc3 Rb5 54.Kc2 g4 55.hxg4 Kf4 56.Ra4+ Kg5 57.Rd4 h3 58.Rd2 Rxb6 59.Rxd5+ Kh4 60.Rd2 Rf6 61.g5 Kxg5 62.Rd5+Kg4 63.Rd1 h2 64.Kb3 Rf4 65.Ka2 Rf3 66.Rc1 Kh3 67.Rc8 Kg2 68.Rg8+ Rg3 69.Rh8 h1=Q 70.Rxh1 Kxh1 71.Kb2 Kg2 72.Kc2 Kf1 73.Kd2 Rh3 74.Kc1 Ke2 75.Kc2 Rd3 White resigned, Spike1.2 - Fritz 6.0, USA, 2006. 

14...Kd5 15.Rf8 

This move is the result of research into my previous game with my opponent. You won't find it in my notes to that match, however.

What does it do? Not very much. It has some stifling effect on Black's development, but it conjures up something a Bizarro Nimzovich might have commented upon: It's strong because it is so weak! It does so much by doing so little!

It actually emboldens Black's King to stay around the center of action, and return a piece for a couple of pawns.

15...a5 16.b5 Kc4 17.Na3+ Kxc3 18.Rf3+ Kxd4 
19.Bb2+ Kd5+ 20.Kf1 Bd4 21.Rd1 Nf6

Black has two extra pawns, but his King looks pretty shaky.

Does White have an attack, or is he reduced to pawn-grabbing?

22.Bxd4 Ke6 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24.Re1+ Kf7 25.Rc3

This definitely looks like prospecting for pawns, and perhaps Black should let White have his way with 25...Kg6 26.Rxc7 d5. The theme of "Black's light-squared Bishop staying at home, undeveloped and blocking his Rook" would slowly be addressed by the defender.

25...c6 26.Nc4 

Headed toward the "hole" at d6.

26...d5 27.Nd6+ Kg6 28.Rg3+

Suddenly the idea of invading the 7th rank suggests itself to White, along with taking advantage of the unfortunate Bishop at c8 and the pawn it defends at b7..

28....Kh5 29.b6 

Another "do nothing" move. There was no way that I was going to exchange this pawn off and open lines for Black's Bishop. If my opponent's connected and passed c- and d-pawns were going to be the death of me - then, so be it.

29...Rb8 30.Re7 Bg4 31.h3 Bc8 32.Rgg7 

Black resigned

It might seem a bit early for the second player to give up the ghost, but his position certainly is tied up.

It's Complicated

Bill Wall scores over 95% with the Jerome Gambit, which is fantastic given that the opening has several "refutations." He keeps trying different ideas, and continues to be successful with them, although I don't always know how. 

It's complicated.

Here's an example, with sidelines - many games starring members of the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde.

Wall,B - Guest6399506 
PlayChess.com, 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 6.d4

Bill skips the "normal" 6.Nxc6, deciding to sac another pawn. If I were to guess, it would be that he wanted another open line against the nervous Black King...

6...Nxd4 

Already a small payoff, as 6...Bxd4 was best: 7.Nxc6 dxc6 (7...Bxf2+ 8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Kg1 Qxc6 10.Qf3+ Qf6 11.Qe3 d6 12.Nc3 Ne7 13.Bd2 c6 14.Rf1 Bf5 15.exf5 Ke8 16.Ne4 Qxb2 17.Nxd6+ Kd7 18.Qe6+ Kd8 19.Nf7+ Ke8 Black resigned, soulman - ChessOpenings, FICS, 2010; or 7...bxc6 8.Qxd4 d6 9.0-0 Qf6 10.Qa4 Bd7 11.Nc3 Ne7 12.Be3 Kf7 13.f4 Rhf8 14.e5 Qf5 15.exd6 cxd6 16.Rae1 Kg8 17.Bd4 c5 18.Qb3+ Be6 19.Rxe6 Black resigned, Petasluk - macabi, FICS, 2009) 8.Be3 (8.Qf3+ Bf6 9.e5 Qe7 10.0-0 Qxe5 11.Bf4 Qf5 12.Nc3 Be6 13.Rae1 Ne7 14.Ne4 Kf7 15.Nxf6 Qxf6 16.Rxe6 Qxe6 17.Bxc7+ Qf5 18.Qb3+ Qe6 19.Qxb7 Rhe8 20.f4 Kg8 21.Be5 Ng6 22.Qxg7 checkmate, stretto - Frankee, FICS, 2007) 8...c5 9.c3 Bf6 10.Bxc5+ Kf7;

Not as good is 6...Nxe5: 7.dxe5 Qh4 8.0-0 Qxe4 9.Nc3 Qxe5 10.Be3 (10.Re1 Qd4 11.Qf3+ Qf6 12.Qe2 Qe6 13.Ne4 d6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Qf3+ Qf7 16.Bf4 Nf6 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Rad1 Bg4 19.Qxb7 Re8 20.Rxe8+ Nxe8 21.Re1 Qxf4 22.Qxa7 Kf7 23.Qxc5 Qd6 24.Qc4+ Be6 25.Qe4 Nf6 26.Qf3 Re8 27.h3 Bd5 28.Qf5 Rxe1 checkmate, Petasluk - robertj, FICS, 2005) 10...Bxe3 11.fxe3+ Nf6 12.Qe2 d6 13.Rad1 Kg8 14.Qc4+ d5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Rxd5 Qxe3+ 17.Kh1 Be6 18.h3 Rf8 19.Rxf8+ Kxf8 20.Qb4+ Ke8 21.Rd2 Rf8 22.Qd4 Rf1+ 23.Kh2 Qf4+ 24.Qxf4 Rxf4 25.Kg3 Rf6 26.Re2 Kd7 27.Rd2+ Kc8 28.Kh2 Bxa2 29.b3 Bb1 30.Kg3 Rc6 31.c4 Be4 32.Re2 Rg6+ 33.Kh2 Bd3 34.Rf2 Kd7 35.g4 a5 36.Rd2 Rd6 37.c5 Rd5 38.Kg3 Kc6 39.Kf4 Kxc5 40.Ke3 Bg6 41.Rxd5+ Kxd5 42.Kd2 Kc5 43.Kc3 b5 44.Kb2 a4 45.h4 axb3 46.Kxb3 b4 47.h5 Be4 48.Kb2 Kb5 49.g5 c5 50.h6 gxh6 51.gxh6 c4 52.Kc1 c3 53.Kd1 b3 54.Ke2 Kc4 55.Ke3 b2 56.Kxe4 b1Q+ 57.Ke5 Qe1+ 58.Kf6 Kd5 59.Kg7 Ke6 60.Kxh7 Qg1 61.Kh8 Kf6 62.Kh7 Qg6+ 63.Kh8 Qxh6+ 64.Kg8 Qg7 checkmate, frizerkaHR - CavallFort, FICS, 2012;

Or 6...Bb4+ 7.c3 Nxe5 8.dxe5 Bc5 9.0-0 Qh4 10.Be3 d6 11.Bxc5 dxc5 12.Qd5 Qe7 13.f4 Be6 14.Qxb7 Rd8 15.Qa6 Ke8 16.f5 Bxf5 17.exf5 Qxe5 18.Na3 Qe3+ 19.Kh1 Kf8 20.Rae1 Qd3 21.Qxa7 Nf6 22.Qxc7 Qd6 23.Qa5 h5 24.Nc4 Qd5 25.Ne5 Kg8 26.Ng6 Rh6 27.Ne7+ Kf7 28.Nxd5 Rxd5 29.Qc7+ Kg8 30.Re7 Ng4 31.Rxg7+ Kh8 32.Rxg4 hxg4 33.f6 Rxf6 34.Re1 Rdf5 35.h3 g3 36.Qxg3 Black resigned, jfhumphrey - mateushfa, FICS, 2011;

Or 6...Bd6 7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.e5 Be7 9.Qf3+ Ke8 10.Nc3 Bb4 11.Bd2 Be6 12.Ne4 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 Qxd4 14.0-0-0 Bxa2 15.Ne4 Bd5 16.Rxd4 a5 17.Rxd5 cxd5 18.Nc5 a4 19.Nxb7 Ra7 20.Qxd5 Ne7 21.Qd8+ Kf7 22.Qxh8 Rxb7 23.Qxh7 a3 24.bxa3 Ra7 25.Re1 Rxa3 26.e6+ Kf6 27.Qh4+ Kg6 28.Qg4+ Kh7 29.Qh4+ Kg6 30.Qxe7 Ra1+ 31.Kd2 Ra6 32.Qxc7 Kh7 33.e7 Ra8 34.Qd7 Black forfeited on time, stretto - eclipze, FICS, 2008. 

7.Be3

Or 7.0-0 d6 (7...Qf6 8.Nd3 Bb6 9.e5 Qg6 10.Nc3 Nh6 11.Nf4 Qc6 12.Qh5 Ndf5 13.g4 g6 14.Qg5 Nf7 15.Qf6 Qxf6 16.exf6 Ng5 17.gxf5 gxf5 18.Nh5 Rg8 19.Bxg5 Rxg5+ 20.Ng3 f4 21.Nce4 Rg8 22.Rae1 fxg3 23.hxg3 d5 24.Nc3 Bh3 25.Re7 Bxf1 26.Kxf1 h5 27.Ne2 h4 28.Kg2 hxg3 29.fxg3 c5 30.c3 Re8 31.Rxe8+ Kxe8 32.Nf4 d4 33.cxd4 cxd4 34.Nd3 Bd8 35.Kf3 Bxf6 36.g4 b5 37.Kf4 Rf8 38.Ke4 Bg5 39.Ne5 Rf4+ 40.Kd3 Bh6 41.Nc6 a6 42.Nxd4 Rxg4 43.Nb3 Rg3+ 44.Kc2 Rg2+ 45.Kc3 Bg7+ 46.Kb4 Rxb2 47.a3 a5+ 48.Kxb5 Rxb3+ 49.Kxa5 Rxa3+ 50.Kb4 Ra1 51.Kb5 Kd7 52.Kb4 Kc6 53.Kb3 Bd4 54.Kb4 Ra6 55.Kc4 Be5 56.Kb4 Bd6+ 57.Kc4 Ra4+ 58.Kd3 Kd5 59.Ke3 Bc5+ 60.Kd3 Rd4+ 61.Kc3 Rh4 62.Kd3 Bb4 63.Ke3 Kc4 64.Kf3 Kd3 65.Kg3 Be7 66.Kf3 Kd4 67.Kg3 Ke4 68.Kf2 Rh3 69.Kg2 Rf3 70.Kh2 Ke3 71.Kg2 Bd6 72.Kg1 Ke2 73.Kg2 Rg3+ 74.Kh2 Rf3+ 75.Kg2 Rg3+ 76.Kh2 Kf3 77.Kh1 Rh3+ 78.Kg1 Bc5+ White resigned, Petasluk - lefthookrightcross, FICS, 2006) 8.Nd3 Bb6 9.Be3 Ne6 10.Bxb6 axb6 11.Nc3 Ne7 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Nc5 14.Nf4 Qf6 15.Qd2 Kf7 16.Rae1 Rf8 17.Nh5 Qg6 18.Nf4 Qg5 19.Qe2 Qxf4 20.Qe7+ Kg8 21.g3 Qf7 22.Qh4 Qf6 23.Qb4 Bh3 24.Re6 Bxe6 25.dxe6 Qxe6 26.Re1 Qf6 27.Qc4+ Kh8 28.Qd5 Qxf2+ White resigned, stretto - psychotic, FICS, 2008;

Or 7.Qh5 Qf6 8.0-0 Ne7 9.Ng4 Qg6 10.Qxg6 Nxg6 11.e5 Ne2+ 12.Kh1 Nxc1 13.Rxc1 d6 14.h3 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Re1 Bd4 17.c3 Bxf2 18.Rxe5 h6 19.Re4 Kg8 20.Nd2 Bf5 21.Rf4 Be3 22.Rxf5 Bxd2 23.Rd1 Bg5 White resigned, stretto - Cochonouchka, FICS, 2007. 

7...Nxc2+ 

Going in for complications, but he would have done better to try 7...Ne6! 8.Qh5!? a)8.Qf3+ Qf6 (a)8...Nf6 9.Bxc5+ Nxc5 10.Ng4 Ncxe4 11.0-0 d5 12.Nxf6 Qxf6 13.Qa3+ Kf7 14.f3 Nd6 15.Nc3 c6 16.Rae1 Bd7 17.Re2 Rhe8 18.Rfe1 Rxe2 19.Rxe2 Nc4 20.Qb4 b6 21.Na4 Qd4+ 22.Kf1 Qd1+ 23.Re1 Qxc2 24.Qe7+ Kg6 25.Nc3 Re8 White forfeited on time, nyny - ferdyclemens, FICS, 2011) 9.Bxc5+ Nxc5 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 11.f3 d6 12.Nd3 Ne6 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Nb4 Re8 15.Nc3 c6 16.Rad1 Ke7 17.e5 dxe5 18.Rfe1 a5 19.Nd3 Nd4 20.Rxe5+ Kf7 21.Rxa5 Nxc2 22.Ne5+ Kf8 23.Nxd7+ Nxd7 24.Rxd7 Ne3 25.Ne4 Nd1 26.Ra7 Re7 27.Ra8+ Kf7 28.Rxe7+ Kxe7 29.Rxh8 Nxb2 30.Rxh7 Kf7 31.Rh8 Nd3 32.Rb8 Black resigned, lebro - scain, FICS, 2014; b)8.Bxc5+ Nxc5 9.Qd5 (b)9.b4 Qf6 10.f4 Ne6 11.Ng4 Qxa1 12.0-0 Qd4+ 13.Kh1 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Nxf4 15.Rf1 g5 16.h4 d6 17.hxg5 Bxg4 18.Rxf4+ Ke7 19.Rxg4 h5 20.gxh6 Rxh6+ 21.Kg1 Nf6 22.Rg7+ Ke6 23.Rxc7 Nxe4 24.Rxb7 Rah8 25.Kf1 Rh1+ 26.Ke2 Rxb1 27.Kd3 Ke5 28.Rxa7 Rh2 29.Re7+ Kd5 30.Rxe4 Rxg2 31.c4+ Kc6 32.b5+ Kc5 33.a4 Rb3 checkmate, drumme - VegasKnight, FICS, 2010) 9...Qe7 (b)9...Ne6 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.Qb3 d6 12.Nf3 Ke7 13.e5 dxe5 14.0-0 Re8 15.Nxe5 Kf8 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Rde1 Nd4 18.Qc4 Ne6 19.Qb3 Kg8 20.Nf3 Qf7 21.Ng5 Nxg5 22.Rxe8+ Nxe8 23.Nd5 Be6 24.Qxb7 Bxd5 25.Qb4 Nd6 26.Qh4 Qg6 27.f3 Nxf3+ 28.Rxf3 Bxf3 29.Qg3 Qxg3 30.hxg3 Bc6 31.Kf2 Rb8 32.Ke3 Rxb2 33.Kd4 Rxc2 34.a4 Black forfeited on time, drumme - Hortonheat, FICS, 2012) 10.0-0 d6 11.Nc4 Qxe4 12.Qg5 Qxc4 13.Qd8+ Kf7 14.Qxc7+ Ne7 15.Nd2 Qxc2 16.Nf3 h6 17.Qxd6 Re8 18.Rac1 Qxb2 19.Qxc5 Be6 20.Ne5+ Kg8 21.Qd6 Qxa2 22.Ra1 Qd5 23.Qc7 Rac8 24.Qc3 Rxc3 25.Rad1 Qxe5 White resigned, drumme - Bicchi, FICS, 2013; c)8.0-0 Nf6 9.Ng4 Nxe4 10.Qd5 Nf6 11.Nxf6 Qxf6 12.Bxc5+ d6 13.Bxd6+ cxd6 14.Qxd6+ Kg8 15.Nc3 b6 16.Qc6 Rb8 17.Qd6 Rb7 18.Nd5 Qf8 19.Qc6 Rf7 20.Rae1 Nd4 21.Qa4 Ba6 22.Re8 Bxf1 23.Rxf8+ Rxf8 24.Kxf1 g6 25.Ne7+ Kg7 26.Qxd4+ Black forfeited on time, DragonTail - framontb, FICS, 2007; 8...Qe7 a)8...Qf6 9.Nxd7+ (a)9.Bxc5+ d6 (a)9...Nxc5 10.Nc3 Ne6 11.Nd5 Nf4 12.Qf3 Qxe5 13.Nxf4 Qxb2 14.Ne6+ Ke7 15.Qf8+ Kxe6 16.0-0 Qf6 17.Qe8+ Qe7 18.Qh5 Nf6 19.Qf5+ Kf7 20.e5 Rf8 21.exf6 Qxf6 22.Qxh7 d6 23.Rae1 Bf5 24.Qh5+ g6 25.Qh7+ Qg7 26.Qh4 Qf6 27.Qc4+ Kg7 28.Qxc7+ Rf7 29.Qc4 Rh8 30.Re3 b6 31.Rg3 Be6 32.Qe2 Re7 33.Qd3 Bf5 34.Qb3 Rc8 35.Rc3 Rxc3 White forfeited on time, sTpny - Straineryou, FICS, 2008) 10.Ba3 g6 11.Qf3 Qxf3 12.Nxf3 Kg7 13.Nc3 Nf6 14.0-0-0 Ng4 15.Rd2 Nf4 16.h3 Nf6 17.e5 dxe5 18.Nxe5 Be6 19.Be7 Rhe8 20.Bxf6+ Kxf6 21.Re1 Nxg2 22.Re3 Nxe3 23.fxe3 Kxe5 24.h4 Rad8 25.Rg2 Rf8 26.Rg5+ Rf5 27.b3 Rxg5 28.hxg5 Kf5 29.Nb5 c6 30.Nc7 Bf7 White resigned, Etto - ydkor, FICS, 2008; 9...Bxd7 10.Bxc5+ Ne7 11.Nc3 Nxc5 12.Qxc5 Qb6;
b)8...g6? 9.Nxg6+; 9.Nc3 c6 10.Ng6+ hxg6 11.Qxh8 Bxe3 12.fxe3 Ng5 13.Rf1+ Nf7 14.h4 Qe5 15.0-0-0 Qh5?! 16.Rxf7+ Kxf7 17.Rf1+ Nf6 18.Qxh5 gxh5 19.e5 d5 20.exf6 gxf6 21.e4 d4 22.Ne2 c5 23.e5 f5 24.Nf4 Be6 25.Nxh5 Rh8 26.g4 Kg6 27.Nf4+ Kf7 28.gxf5 Bxf5 29.h5 Re8 30.Nd3 Ke6 31.Nxc5+ Kd5 32.Rxf5 Kxc5 33.Rf7 Rxe5 34.h6 Rh5 35.h7 Kc6 36.Kd2 Rh3 37.Ke2 a5 38.Kf2 b5 39.Kg2 Rh5 40.Kg3 b4 41.Kg4 Rh2 42.Kg5 Black resigned, Wall, B. - Guest757851, PlayChess.com, 2014;
7...d6 8.Nd3 (8.Bxd4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Qg5 (9...Be6 10.Nf3 Qf6 11.Qb4 b6 12.Nc3 c5 13.Qa4 Ne7 14.Rd1 Bg4 15.e5 Qe6 16.Rxd6 Qf5 17.Rd3 g5 18.0-0 Kg7 19.h3 Bxh3 20.gxh3 Rhd8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Qxa7 Rd7 23.Qa4 Qxf3 24.Qxd7 Black resigns. 1-0 papernoose-RESULTS/Internet Chess Server: freech 2004 (24)) 10.Nf3 Qc1+ 11.Qd1 Qxd1+ 12.Kxd1 Nf6 13.Nc3 Bg4 14.Ke2 Re8 15.Kd3 Kf7 16.Ng5+ Kg6 17.f4 h6 18.Nf3 Re7 19.e5 dxe5 20.Nxe5+ Kh7 21.Nxg4 Nxg4 22.Nd5 Nf2+ 23.Kc3 Re2 24.Rhe1 Rhe8 25.Rxe2 Rxe2 26.Nxc7 Ne4+ 27.Kd3 Rxg2 28.Kxe4 Rxc2 29.Nb5 a6 30.Nc3 Rxb2 31.Rb1 Rxh2 32.Rxb7 Kg6 33.f5+ Kf6 34.Nd5+ Kg5 35.Rxg7+ Kh4 36.f6 Re2+ 37.Kf5 Re8 38.f7 Rf8 39.Nf4 a5 40.Rg4 checkmate, papernoose - ornito, FICS, 2004; 8...Qf6 9.Bxd4 Bxd4 10.c3 Bc5 11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.0-0 Qg5 13.Qf3+ Nf6 14.h4 Qxh4 15.e5 Bg4 16.Qf4 Ke7 17.exf6+ gxf6 18.Qxc7+ Bd7 19.Re1+ Kf8 20.Qxd7 f5 21.Qxf5+ Kg7 22.Re7+ Qxe7 23.Nd2 Raf8 24.Qg4+ Kf6 25.Ne4+ Ke5 26.Re1 Kd5 27.c4+ Kc6 28.b4 Rhg8 29.b5+ Kb6 30.Qd1 Qg7 31.Qd6+ Ka5 32.Qd2+ Kb6 33.Ng3 a6 34.Re6+ Ka7 35.Qd5 Qa1+ 36.Kh2 axb5 37.Qxc5+ Kb8 38.Qxb5 Qxa2 39.Re7 Kc8 40.Qxb7+ Kd8 41.Qd7 checkmate, bartab - umbeebmu, FICS, 2011;

Or 7...Qf6 8.Bxd4 Bxd4 Black resigned, SCARNEY - LordByron, FICS, 2005.

Does Bill have all of those games in his copy of The Database? Of course he does. How many do you think he has played over?

8.Qxc2 Bxe3 9.fxe3 

Not 9.Qe2?, although White eventually got the point: 9...Bd4 10.Qf3+ Nf6 11.Qa3+ c5 12.Nc3 Bxe5 13.Qxc5+ d6 14.Qe3 Qa5 15.0-0 Be6 16.Rad1 Rd8 17.Qf3 Kf7 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Rhe8 20.g4 Kg8 21.g5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Rf8 23.Qe4 Qxa2 24.g6 h6 25.Rb5 b6 26.Qd5+ Kh8 27.Qxa2 Rf6 28.Rd1 Rxg6+ 29.Kf1 Bxh2 30.Ke2 Re8+ 31.Kd2 Rc8 32.Rf5 a5 33.Qb1 Rd8 34.Rf8+ Rxf8 35.Qxg6 Bf4+ 36.Kc2 Be5 37.Kb3 Rf3+ 38.Ka4 Rxf2 39.Qe8+ Kh7 40.Rb1 Bxb2 41.Qe4+ Kh8 42.Qa8+ Kh7 43.Re1 Be5 44.Rxe5 dxe5 45.Qe4+ Kg8 46.Qxe5 Ra2+ 47.Kb5 Rb2+ 48.Ka6 Rb3 49.Qe6+ Kh7 50.Qxb3 h5 51.Qh3 Kh6 52.Kxb6 g5 53.Qe6+ Kg7 54.Qe5+ Kh6 55.Qf6+ Kh7 56.Qxg5 a4 57.Qxh5+ Kg7 58.Qa5 a3 59.Qxa3 Kg6 60.Kc6 Kg5 61.Kd6 Kf5 62.Qc5+ Ke4 63.Qe5+ Kd3 64.Kd5 Kd2 65.Kd4 Kc2 66.Qe2+ Kb3 67.Qc4+ Ka3 Black resigned,  Athenee - dorigprg, FICS, 2006. 

9...Nf6

Bill mentioned Black could have tried 9...Qh4+ 10.g3 Qe7. 

10.0-0 d6 11.Nd3 g6

White's development, and Black's iffy King, are more important than White's doubled and isolated pawns. Now Black allows a small combination.

12.Nc3 Kg7 13.Nb5 c6 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.e5 Qd7 16.exf6+ Kh6

 Bill notes: 16...Kf7? 17.Ne5+; or 16...Kf8 17.Qc5+; or 16...Kg8 17.f7+ Kf8 18.Qc3. 

17.Ne5 Qd5 18.Qc3 Re8 19.f7 Rf8 20.Rf4 Qd8 

Or, per Bill, 20...Kh5 21.g4+ Bxg4 22.e4 Qd8 23.Rxg4 Kh6 24.Nf3 Rxf7 25.Rh4+.

21.Nf3 Be6 22.g4 g5 23.Rf6+ Kg7 24.Rxe6+

Black resigned

It happens.

White faced a tough opponent in the following game, and was not able to score the full point.

It happens.

Philidor 1792 - Arslanov,S
casual blitz game Moscow, 2015

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

10.0-0

A slight improvement over 10.Nc3 c6 11.0-0 Kf7 12.f4 Re8 13.f5 Ne5 14.d4 Nc4 15.Qf3 Kg8 16.b3 Nb6 17.Bg5 Qe7 18.Rae1 Qf7 19.e5 dxe5 20.dxe5 Nfd5 21.e6 Qf8 22.Ne4 Bxe6 23.fxe6 Qxf3 24.Rxf3 Rxe6 25.c4 Rae8 26.cxd5 Rxe4 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.dxc6 bxc6 29.Rc3 Re6 30.Kf2 h6 31.Bh4 Nd5 32.Rc5 g5 33.Bg3 Ne3 34.Bb8 Ng4+ 35.Kf3 Nf6 36.Bxa7 Nd5 37.Rc2 Kf7 38.Bc5 Kg6 39.a4 h5 40.a5 g4+ 41.Kf2 Nf4 42.a6 Nd3+ 43.Kg3 Kg5 44.h4+ gxh3 45.Kxh3 Nxc5 46.Rxc5+ Black resigned, Philidor 1792- guest2498, www.bereg.ru, 2014.

10.d4 is Houdini's choice. 

10...Kf7 11.Nc3 Re8 

Or 1...c6 12.f4 Rf8 13.f5 Ne5 14.d4 Nc4 15.Qd3 Nb6 16.Bg5 Kg8 17.g4 Nbd7 18.Rae1 Qb6 19.Na4 Qb4 20.b3 Nxg4 21.Bd2 Qa3 22.Bc3 b5 23.Bb2 Qb4 24.Bc3 Qa3 25.Bb2 Qb4 26.Bc3 Qa3 27.Bb2 drawn, perrypawnpusher - joejox, FICS, 2009.

12.f4 

Or 12.d3 Kg8 (12...d5 13.Qf3 Bg4 14.Qg3 dxe4 15.dxe4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Rxe4 17.f3 Qd4+ 18.Kh1 Bxf3 19.Qxf3+ Kg8 20.c3 Qe5 21.Qf7+ Kh8 22.Bd2 Rd8 23.Rae1 Rxe1 24.Bxe1 Qe7 25.Qxe7 Nxe7 26.Bh4 Rd7 27.Bxe7 Black resigned, mrjoker - vishal-here, Internet Chess Club, 2008) 13.f4 Bd7 (13...Ng4 14.Qf3 Nf6 15.Bd2 Bg4 16.Qf2 c6 17.h3 Bd7 18.Rae1 Rf8 19.Qd4 Be8 20.g4 Bf7 21.g5 Nd7 22.Qxd6 Nb6 23.Qc5 Nd7 24.Qe3 Re8 25.f5 Nge5 26.Qg3 g6 27.h4 b5 28.Bf4 b4 29.Ne2 c5 30.c3 bxc3 31.bxc3 c4 32.d4 Nd3 33.Rb1 Nxf4 34.Qxf4 Rb8 35.Rbe1 Rf8 36.Ng3 Rb2 37.e5 Bd5 38.Rf2 Rxf2 39.Kxf2 Qb8 40.Re2 Qb1 41.f6 Qd3 42.h5 gxh5 43.Nxh5 Bf7 44.Ng3 Bg6 45.e6 Qxc3 46.f7+ Bxf7 47.exf7+ Rxf7 48.Re8+ Kg7 49.Nf5+ Rxf5 50.Qxf5 Qxd4+ 51.Kg2 Qd2+ 52.Qf2 Qxf2+ 53.Kxf2 Black forfeited on time, Petasluk - bergsteiger, FICS, 2007) 14.Qg3 Kh8 15.b3 a6 16.Bb2 Rg8 17.Rae1 Bb5 18.a4 Bc6 19.e5 Nd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.f5 Nxe5 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Qxe5 Bf7 24.f6 g6 25.Qf4 Re8 26.Qh6 Rg8 27.Re7 Qf8 28.Rfe1 Qxh6 29.Rxf7 Black forfeited on time, shugart - transitman, FICS, 2013. 

12...d5 13.e5 

A last chance to mix it up 13.f5 Ne7 14.e5 Nxf5 15.Qf4 g5 16.Qxg5 Rxe5 17.d4 Re8. 

13...d4 White resigned

Those Who Remember the Past Are Pleased to Repeat It

White has an obligation to punish opening mistakes, again and again. And again.

Wall,B - Guest1305432
PlayChess.com, 2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Nf6 

Oh, yes, this is what we in the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde call "A Gimme". Remember it.

8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 Nxe4 

Better, but not successful, was 9...Qe8: 10.Nc3 Nxe4 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qd5+ Kf8 13.Nxe4 Qe7 14.0-0 c6 15.Qd4 Rg8 16.f5 c5 17.fxg6+ Ke8 18.gxh7 cxd4 19.hxg8Q+ Black resigned, Wall,B - IanJoshua, Chess.com, 2010.

10.Qd5+ 

Here Black resigned in Wall, Bill - Meinherr, Chess.com, 2010. 

10...Kf8 11.Qxe4 Qh4+

Also seen: 11...d5 12.Qd4 Qe7+ 13.Kf2 Bg4 14.Qxd5 Qe2+ 15.Kg3 h5 16.h4 Re8 17.Nc3 Qa6 18.d3 Qg6 19.Bd2 Be6+ 20.Qg5 Black resigned, Wall,B - Dani, Chess.com, 2010.

12.g3 Qg4 13.b3 c6 14.Ba3+ Kf7 15.Qe7+ Kg6 16.Qd6+ Kf7 17.Nc3 Re8+ 18.Kf2 b5 19.Rae1 Re6 20.Rxe6 Qxe6 21.Qf8+ Kg6 22.g4 Qf6 23.Qe8+ Qf7 24.f5+ Black resigned

April Fever

April 2015 is headed toward a record number of visitors to this blog, jeromegambit.blogspot.com -- over 1,000 more visitors than any month previously!

Did we draw a lot of interest from the recent student tournament?

Many thanks to readers all around the world. We have come a long way since June 10, 2008.

Play Against the Weak King

The Jerome Gambit is more than a tricky opening involving the sacrifice of a piece or two. The goal of all that giving is to get the enemy King, as Philidor 1792 shows in the game below.

Philidor 1792 - guest826
5 0 blitz, www.peshka.me, 2015

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

4...Kxf7 5.0-0 Nf6 6.c3 Nxe4 7.d4

Alternately: 7.b4 Bb6 8.b5 Na5 9.Nxe5+ Kg8 10.d3 Nf6 11.Re1 d6 12.Nf3 Bg4 13.h3 Bh5 14.Nbd2 h6 15.c4 Bd4 16.Rb1 Bc3 17.Qc2 Bxd2 18.Bxd2 b6 19.Nd4 Qd7 20.Bxa5 bxa5 21.Qa4 Kh7 22.Qxa5 Rhe8 23.Nc6 Bg6 24.Qc3 a6 25.a4 axb5 26.axb5 Qf5 27.d4 Ne4 28.Qc2 Rf8 29.f3 Ng3 30.Qf2 Nh5 31.Ne7 Qg5 32.Rbd1 Nf4 33.Kf1 Nd3 White resigned, Philidor 1792- guest826, ww.peshka.me, 2015. 

7...exd4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.d5 Nb8 

Or 9...Na5 10.Qc2 Re8 11.Bg5 Nf6 12.b4 Kg8 13.bxa5 Bxa5 14.Nbd2 b5 15.a4 Bb7 16.axb5 Bb4 17.Qb3 Bd6 18.Rfe1 h6 19.Rxe8+ Qxe8 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Qd3 Qh5 22.Ne4 Kg7 23.Nxd6 cxd6 24.Qd4 Kf7 25.Qe4 Bxd5 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Re1 Qg4 28.Qxh6+ Qg7 29.Qh5 Be6 30.Nd4 Rc8 31.g3 Bg8 32.Qf3 Qf7 33.Qf4 Bh7 34.Qxd6+ Kg8 35.Re7 Qf8 36.Qxd7 Rc1+ 37.Kg2 Bg6 38.Ne6 Be4+ 39.f3 Rc2+ 40.Kg1 Rc1+ 41.Kf2 Bf5 42.Re8 Bxe6 43.Qxe6+ Kg7 44.Qg4+ Kf7 45.Qh5+ Kg7 46.Qg4+ Kf7 47.Qh5+ Kg7 48.Rxf8 Rc2+ 49.Ke3 Kxf8 50.Qh8+ Kf7 51.Qh7+ Ke6 52.Qxc2 Kd7 53.Qh7+ Kd6 54.Qxa7 f5 55.b6 Kd5 56.b7 Ke6 57.b8Q f4+ 58.Kxf4 Kd5 59.Qb5+ Kd6 60.Qad7 checkmate, Deep Shredder 10 UCI - Rybka 2.3.1 32-bit, jeromegambit computer tournament, 2008. 

10.Nbd2 Nf6 

Or 10...Nxd2 11.Bxd2 d6 12.Ng5+ Kg8 13.Qh5 Qf8 14.Rae1 Bd7 15.Re4 h6 16.Rf4 Qe7 17.Re4 Qf8 18.Rf4 Qe7 19.Re4 hxg5 20.Qxh8+ Kxh8 21.Rxe7 Bb5 22.Ra1 Na6 23.a4 Bc4 24.Bc3 Rg8 25.Ra3 Bxd5 26.a5 Bc5 27.b4 Nxb4 28.Bxb4 Bxb4 29.Rh3 checkmate, Philidor 1792 - guest826, www.peshka.me. 2015. 

11.d6 cxd6 12.Nc4 d5 13.Nd6+ Kg8 14.Bg5 Qf8 15.Bxf6 Qxd6 16.Be5 Qe6 17.Re1 Qf7 18.Ng5 Qg6 19.Qxd5+ Kf8 20.Bd6+ Qxd6 21.Qxd6+ Kg8 22.Re8 checkmate