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The Jerome Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc3 Bc5 4.Bxf7+.
You might be asking yourself: But is this stuff playable??
Luckily, I have already addressed this - many places on the blog - but especially in the posts "But is this stuff playable??" parts 1 and 2.
Visit the library or bookstore and you will find many helpful introductory books in the "...For Dummies" series. They are very popular.
So - why not a "Jerome Gambit for Dummies" book?
That was my inspiration for a series of posts - "Jerome Gambit for Dummies" 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Later I offered "The Return of Jerome Gambit for Dummies" 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Wondering how others play the Jerome Gambit? I have collected over 55,000 Jerome Gambit and related games in "The Database".
What if a strong human player and a team of computers decided to take on the Jerome Gambit? What if, after their first game, the human played another game (changing colors) against another computer, using the line played by the first player? What if this "consultation", getting deeper into the heart of the opening, continued for 30 games?
This is what is chronicled in the posts "Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down" from part 1 to part 30. Definitely worth checking out.
There are plenty of Jerome Gambit games played by (or against) computers mentioned on this blog, but let me point out a couple of classic collections - "Ionman vs the Bots" and"Jerome Gambit and the Perfesser" parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
You might prefer the "Bots on Our Side" series 1, 2 and 3.
Of course, I would be remiss if I left out one of the funniest blog post, thanks to Geoff Chandler's wicked imagination. Please enjoy "Mars Attacks!"
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Jerome Gambit Explosion
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last month, July 2016, saw an explosion of visits to this site - over 2 1/2 as many Readers as those who stop by on an average month.
Some of this was due to a large increase in Readers from Russia. Добро пожаловат!
While the second largest group of visitors in July was from the USA, I was astonished to see that the third largest group was from - the Republic of Mauritius! Bienvenue and welcome!
There are over 2,250 posts on this blog, and many more are planned. A brief suggested introduction:
It all starts with "Welcome!", a look at the earliest published analysis "In The Beginning...", and the most notorious Jerome Gambit game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) - "Nobody expects the Jerome Gambit!",
About Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, the "inventor" of the Jerome Gambit, see "The Man, The Myth, The Legend..."
For early players and analyists see "The Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (early)". For a more recent list, see "The Jerome Gambit Gemeinde (modern)". (The latter certainly bears updating.)
What are the most important Jerome Gambit games? The list is changing, but take a peek at "The Classics I (a first look)" and "The Classics II (a first look)" for a start.
After that, you can search for a favorite move or line, or track down a favorite player (try: Blackburne, Philidor1792 and Wall for starters; or check out my modest games - perrypawnputher) - or just wander around.
Be sure to know that if you have Jerome Gambit games that you have played, I would love to see them and share them with other readers.
-Rick
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit - Even the Young Are Playing It
It is not unusual to find a young player using the trappy Blackburne Shilling Gambit, but - was he surprised by 4.Bxf7+ ?
Black countered well and won; he finished 4.5/5 for second place in the tournament. White pushed on valiantly in a not-so-concrete position, but lost; he finished 3/5, for 9th place (tiebreak).
My notes will be light, in case either player (or a Reader!) would like to venture into this opening again.
Yuen, Lok - Zheng, Richard
Youth Championship semi-quick, Quebec, 2016
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Ke6
Both players follow the "best" line. Black maintains a slight edge if he brings his King back to safety. White has a strong pawn center and much latitude as to how to play.
8.d3
A couple of alternatives to consider: 8.Nc3 Kf7 9.Qb3+ (9.O-O) 9...Ke8 10.d3 c6 11.O-O d6 12.Bf4 Qf6 13.Ne2 Qe6 14.d5 cxd5 15.Nd4 Qf6 16.Qb5+ Kf7 17.Qxd5+ Kg6 18.e5 Qxf4 19.Ne6 Bxe6 20.Qxe6+ Kh5 21.Rae1 Black forfeited on time, papernoose - nuum, FICS, 2004; and
8.O-O d6 9.f4 Kf7 10.Qb3+ Ke8 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Qxd4+ 13.Kh1 Qxe5 14.Qf7+ Kd8 15.Qxf8+ Qe8 16.Qxg7 Ne7 17.d3 Bf5 18.Bg5 Kd7 19.Rxf5 Qh5 20.Qxe7+ Kc6 Black resigned, topsoul - moisesserraramos, lichess.org, 2016.
8...Kf7 9.Qf3+
Perhaps stronger was 9.O-O. However, we have also seen that strong players like Wall and Philidor1792 are quite willing to exchange Queens and play with the pawns against the extra piece, in quick time controls.
9...Qf6 10.Qxf6+
Again, it was possible to look at 10.Bf4 and 10.Qe3.
10...Nxf6
White has to find a way to use his "Jerome pawns".
11.Bf4 Bb4+ 12.Nc3 c6 13.Bc7 d5 14.e5
Perhaps 14.f3. Now the Bishop's life becomes complicated.
14...Ne8
15.Bd8 Bf5 16.Bh4 Bxd3 17.Kd2 Bf5 18.Rhe1 Nc7 19.Bg3 Ne6 20.f3 Nxd4
It looks like time is short. Black is clearly better.
21.Rac1 Nb5 22.a3 Bxc3+ 23.bxc3 Nxa3 24.Re3 Nc4+ 25.Ke2 Nxe3 26.Kxe3 a5 27.Kf4 Ke6 28.Rd1 a4 29.c4 a3 30.cxd5+ cxd5 31.Rb1 Bxb1 White resigned
Friday, July 29, 2016
Jerome Gambit Thematic: More Fighting Chess to Come
The first round of the Jerome Gambit thematic tournament at RedHotPawn.com is almost complete. One game remains in motion, an endgame where Black has B+N+5p and White has 5p. Assuming that Black is able to convert his advantage to a win, the following players will advance to the second round;
SeinfeldFan91 won all 6 of his games, and will advance from Group 1.
procyk and rigidwith fear each won 5 of their games, and both will advance from Group 2.
kristjan, with 5 wins, will advance from Group 3.
junnujannu, with 5 wins, will advance from Group 4.
It is pleasant to note that all players (except one who forfeited all games) in the first round were able to score at least 1 point.
Expect more fighting chess in Round Two!
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Jerome Gambit: Short Game, Longer Notes
If you are aware of your opponent's plan, it is always a temptation to refuse to go along with it. The following game is an example, however, where this ploy fails - fairly quickly.
Wall, Bill - Guest2877685
PlayChess.com, 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Ke7
The Jerome Gambit Declined.
The Database has 42 games with this position, with White scoring 72%.
The more popular way of declining the piece is 4...Kf8. The Database has 271 games with this line, with White scoring a more modest 55%.
Still, it is important to point out that The Database has 12,603 games with the capture 4...Kxf7 with White scoring 44%.
Black, take the Bishop.
We are looking at a Bill Wall game, however, so it is relevant to note that he has scored 91% with White in the Jerome Gambit accepted lines, as opposed to 100% with White against the Jerome Gambit declined 4...Ke7 and 4...Kf8.
5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.d4 Black resigned
White threatens Black's Bishop on c5, as well as the skewer 7.Bg5+ threatening to win the enemy Queen.
Instead of ending at this point, drewbear - AAlekhine, Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament ChessWorld.net, 2007 continued: 6...h6 7.dxc5 d6 8.cxd6+ cxd6 9.h3 Kd7 10.a3 Kc7 11.b4 Rf8 12.b5 Na5 13.Qd2 Kb8 14.Bb2 Nc4 15.Qc3 Nxb2 16.Qxb2 Qa5+ 17.Nc3 Bd7 18.O-O a6 19.bxa6 Rxa6 20.Rab1 b6 21.Nd5 Bb5 22. Rfc1 Ka7 23. Nc7 g5 24.Nxb5+ Kb8 25.Nxd6 Qc5 26.Qxe5 Qxe5 27.Nxe5 Rh8 28.Ndc4 b5 29.Rxb5+ Kc7 30.Rd1 h5 31.Rd7+ Kc8 32.Nb6+ Kb8 33.Nc6 checkmate
That game was from an interesting Jerome Gambit thematic tournament. See "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (5)" for a study that I made of the effect of playing the Jerome Gambit.
After that, you might want to read the earlier "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (4)"! That post refers to a study of the effect of one player's knowledge of a particular line of play - suggesting that a study of the Jerome Gambit (or any particular opening) could give additional benefits to the attacking player.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Jerome Gambit: White Sees Further
Wall, Bill - Guest3992982
PlayChess.com, 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Qe7
This is a very reasonable defense, and apparently a modern one, as the earliest example that I have in The Database comes from an internet game in 2002.
The move can be considered a "tool" from Black's toolbox: when two pieces are attacked, one will be lost, so do not waste time saving one, develop another piece instead.
7.dxc5 Qxc5
Black scores 50% in 25 games with this move in The Database.
8.O-O Nf6 9.Be3 Qb5
Black perceives a possible weakness in White's position - a notion that White encourages, because he sees it as time-wasting pawn-grabbing.
10.Nc3 Qxb2
White gets decent play for this pawn and he recovers material quickly.
11.Bd4 d6 12.Nd5 Qa3 13.Nxc7 Rb8 14.Nb5 Qa6 15.Bxa7
15...Bd7
Fascinating. Instead of giving up his Rook for the Knight with 15...Qxb5 (the correct move, with perhaps still an edge), Black prefers to gain the Bishop for the exchange. But there is more to the position than he realizes.
16.Nxd6+
White does not have to take the Rook right away.
16...Ke6 17.Bxb8 Rxb8
In this complicated position, Black has two pieces for a Rook and 3 pawns, but his insecure King is probably his main concern. White continues to add pressure.
18.Nf5 g6 19.Ne3 Bc6 20.Qd4
Another surprise: White does not have to defend the doubly attacked e-pawn with f2-f3. Why not? Let's see.
20...Bxe4 21.f3 Bc6 22.Rae1
White's development continues to be aimed at the enemy King.
22...Qa3
Leaving His Majesty to take care of himself. Stockfish 7 can only suggest that the King flee, 22...Kf7 leaving to the surrender of another piece whith. 23.Qxe5.
23.Nc4 Black resigned
Black's position has become untenable. He will lose his Queen no matter how he defends.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Taking Risks, Finding the Win
PlayChess.com, 2015
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4
The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
4.Bxf7+
The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8
6.c3
The position calls out for 6.Qh5+ - which Bill has also played - but if you believe Stockfish 7, the text move is a little bit better.
6...Nc6
6...Ne6 was seen in Wall,B - Toyong, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 22) and Wall,B - Klevic, PlayChess.com, 2014 (1-0, 34).
7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.Qh5+ Ke7
A little bit better was 8...g6 in Wall,B - Apple, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 29)
9.Qg5+
Keeping the draw in hand for a moment. Previously Bill had played 9.d4 in Wall,B - Verrsili, Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 19)
9...Kd7 10.Qg4+ Ke8 11.Qe2
Deciding to use the two extra pawns against Black's extra piece.
11...Be6 12.d4 Qe7 13.O-O Kd7 14.c4 Rd8 15.Nc3 Kc8
Black has castled-by-hand on the Queenside. Now he concentrates on developing his pieces.
16.Be3 Nf6 17.d5 cxd5 18.cxd5 Bg4 19.f3
The position looks about dynaically equal. Stockfish 7 suggests that the players should pursue that assessment: 19...Nxe4!? 20.fxg4 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Rxd5 22.Rae1 Qxe3+ 23.Qxe3 Bc5 24.Rf7 g6 25.h4 Re5 26.Qxc5 Rxc5 27.g5 Rxc3 28.Ree7 b6 29.Rxh7 Rd8 30.Re6 Rd2 31.Rxg6 Rg3 32.Rc6 Rgxg2+ 33.Kf1 Rgf2+ draw
19...Bh5 20.Bxa7
Playing with fire, and daring Black to trap the Bishop with ...b7-b6. Black opts to pursue an attack on the enemy King, but the computer suggests that he go for the trap after preparation: 20...Nxd5!? 21.exd5 Qxe2 22.Nxe2 b6, etc.
20...g5
After 20...b6 21.Qa6+ Kd7 22.Qa4+ Kc8 23.Bxb6 Black's King's defenses are crumbling.
21.Rac1 Qe5
Again, 21...b6 will fall to 22.Qa6+ Kd7 23.Qa4+ Kc8 23.Bxb6.
22.Nb5 Rxd5
This attacks a piece and takes advantage of the pinned White e-pawn, but it is all too late.
23.Rxc7+ Kd8 24.Rxb7 Nxe4 25.Qxe4 Black resigned
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