Jerome Gambit: Yet Again

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It can be a challenge to surprise an experienced Jerome Gambit player. Even if you go into the game with a plan for an unusual line, you might find that your opponent has "been there" already!

In the following game, the "Jerome pawns" and a Rook on the f-file play starring roles.

Wall, Bill - NN
lichess.org, 2016

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4+

Interesting. See "Further Exploration of An Odd Line".

7.c3 Bxc3+

This was Black's idea. He could also have tried 7...Be7 8.dxe5 Nh6 9.Qf3+ Ke6 10.Bxh6 gxh6 11.Qf5 checkmate, Wall,B - ChrSav, FICS, 2010.

8.Nxc3 Ng6

The Knight becomes a target here. It could also go the other way, although Bill has some experience with that plan as well: 8...Nc6 9.d5 (9.O-O Qf6 10.e5 Qg6 11.Qf3+ Ke8 12.Nb5 Kd8 13.Qf8+ Qe8 14.Qxe8+ Kxe8 15.Nxc7+ Ke7 16.Nxa8 Nxd4 17.Bg5+ Ke6 18.Nc7+ Kxe5 19.Rae1+ Kd6 20.Bf4+ Kc6 21.Rc1+ Kb6 22.Nd5+ Kb5 23.Rxc8 Ne6 24.a4+ Kxa4 25.Ra1+ Kb3 26.Be5 Black resigned, Wall,B-Caynaboos, FICS. 2011) 9...Ne5 10.f4 Ng6 11.h4 Nxh4 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qxh4 Qxh4+ 14.Rxh4 Nf6 15.e5 Ne8 16.Be3 c6 17.O-O-O d6 18.e6+ Ke7 19.g4 Nf6 20.f5 gxf5 21.gxf5 cxd5 22.Bg5 a6 23.Nxd5+ Kf8 24.Bxf6 Rg8 25.Rxh7 b5 26.Be7+ Ke8 27.Nf6 checkmate, Wall,B - ChessFlower, PlayChess.com, 2012.

9.O-O N8e7

Or 9...Nf6 10.e5 Ne8 11.f4 (11.Qf3+ Kg8 12.Qd5+ Kf8 13.Be3 a6 14.Rae1 c6 15.Qb3 d5 16.f4 Kg8 17.f5 Nh4 18.Qc2 g6 19.f6 Be6 20.Bg5 Qb6 21.Bxh4 Qxd4+ 22.Bf2 Qf4 23.Ne2 Qc4 24.Qd2 Qxa2 25.Nd4 Bf5 26.Nxf5 gxf5 27.Qg5+ Kf7 28.e6+ Kf8 29.Bc5+ Nd6 30.Bxd6+ Ke8 31.f7 checkmate,  Wall,B - Boris,sparkchess.com, 2012) 11...Rf8 12.f5 Ne7 13.Qb3+ d5 14.exd6+ Black resigned, Wall,B - FJBS, FICS, 2015

10.f4 Rf8 11.f5 Nh8 12.Bg5 Kg8 

Black has withdrawn his threatened Knight and castled-by-hand. Although he is a bit cramped, he seems to have solved his problems. He has not.

13.Qb3+ Nf7 14.f6 gxf6 15.Bxf6 d5 16.Nxd5 Re8 17.Qg3+ Kf8 18.Qg7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Out-Think A Thinker (Not)

Facing Bill Wall and his well-honed Jerome Gambit, the defender has to realize that a) Bill is a pretty good player and b) Bill has a lot of experience with the opening. Trying to out-think him over-the-(key)-board can be a risky proposition.

Wall, Bill - NN
lichess.org, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bd6 

Black adopts a strategy reminiscent of the "fork trick". The move, itself, is okay, but the followup is troublesome. Playing-by-analogy has its risks.

7.dxe5 Bxe5

For example, here Black continues his "fork trick" idea, when he would do best, instead, to play 7...Be7 or the bright 7...Bb4+ 8.c3 Be7.

8.Qd5+ Kf6 

It stands to reason, thinks Black, that I am facing a poor opening, so there must be a hole in it - somewhere. Surely I can't be losing a piece. I will just protect it.

(Actually, White scores about 75% after the Queen check, in games in The Database.)

Bill has some experience with opponents who have abandoned the piece: 8...Kf8 9.Qxe5 d6 (9...Qe7 10.Qf4+ Nf6 11.Nc3 d6 12.O-O Qe5 13.Qxe5 dxe5 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne8 16.Bd6+ Kg8 17.Rf8 checkmate, Wall,B - Guest539122, PlayChess.com, 2015) 10.Qd4 (10.Qb5 Nf6 11.Nc3 c6 12.Qd3 Be6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.Bg3 Ke7 16.O-O-O Ne8 17.f4 g4 18.Bh4+ Nf6 19.e5 dxe5 20.Qg6 Qf8 21.fxe5 Black resigned, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016) 10...Nf6 11.O-O c5 12.Qd3 Bd7 13.Bf4 a6 14.Bxd6+ Kf7 15.e5 Bb5 16.c4 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest5856753, PlayChess.com, 2016 

9.f4 Bd6 

The poor Bishop. Troubled, troubled, troubled, At least it will not be lost. 

10.Qg5+ Kf7 11.Qxd8

Perhaps there was something to White's opening choice after all.

Jerome Gambit: Unfinished Symphony (Part 2)

perrypawnpusher - Nivaethan2000
Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament, Chess.com 2016

In the previous post I suggested that White's last move, 10.Nc3, might not be best, as compared to the direct 10.fxe5, as it allows Black a move to prepare for the capture. Black cannot withdraw his Knight from e5, because of the threat Nd5+, forking King and Queen, but he can either counter-attack on White's Queen, or withdraw his King.

The following illustrative games (there are a lot, but they are worth playing over for a better understanding of the position) primarily feature two players well-known to the Jerome Gambit Gemeinde - MrJoker and Bill Wall - and a player who worked with a series of computers that I introduced years ago in "Jerome Gambit: Drilling Down (27)"

In 2006 I heard from Jeroen_61 of the Netherlands, who emailed me 

Some time ago when Hiarcs 8 was released after receiving my copy I ran some small tournaments to see how things would go with Hiarcs. Other participants were Junior 7, Shredder Paderdorn (6.02) and Fritz 7. One of the tournaments I conducted with - the Jerome gambit as opening. They are games 40/40' + 40/40' + 40' (round robin two rounds, so 12 games in all). Only two were won by the white side.

...All were posted at a website that Jeroen_61 gave, although an attempt to use the url today got me the message De pagina is niet gevonden, which probably means just what it looks like.

Black uncovers an attack on White's Queen with 10...d6, and White's best is the counter-stroke 11.Nd5+, leading to the following: 11...Kd8 Best (11...Kf7 12.Qb3 (or 12.Qg3 Qd8 13.fxe5+ Ke6 14.Qg4+ Kxe5 15.d4+ Kxd4 16.Qd1+ Kxe4 17.Qf3+ Ke5 18.Bf4+ Ke6 19.O-O-O Kd7 20.Qg4+ Kc6 21.Qf3 Be6 22.Nf6+ Kb6 23.Nd5+ Bxd5 24.Qxd5 Ne7 25.Qb3+ Kc6 26.Qa4+ b5 27.Qe4+ Kb6 28.b4 Bxb4 29.Qxb4 Nd5 30.Qd4+ Kc6 31.Qxd5+ Kb6 Black resigned, MrJoker - AshNazg, Internet Chess Club, 2011) 12...Qh4+  (or 12...Qd8 13.fxe5+ Kg7 14.Nb6 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qxe4+ 16.Kd1 Bg4+ 17.Rf3 Bxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 19.Ke1 Qf2+ 20.Kd1 Qf1 checkmate, MrJoker - goesoef, Internet Chess Club 2011) 13.g3 Qg4 14.fxe5+ Kg7 15.d3 dxe5 16.Nxc7 Rb8 17.Ne8 checkmate, Wall,B - Guest5541035, PlayChess.com, 2014) 12.Qg3 Best (or 12.Qc3 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qxh2 14.fxe5 Bg4 15.Qd3 Ne7 16.Nf4 Nc6 17.Ne6+ Bxe6 18.exd6 Ne5 19.Qe2 Qxg3+ White resigned, Fritz 8 - Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 12...Nd3+ Best (or 12...Qe6 13.fxe5 dxe5 (or 13...Ne7 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Bg5 Re8 16.O-O-O Bxe5 17.Qh4 c6 18.Nxe7 Rxe7 19.Qxh7 Bd7 20.Rf8+ Be8 21.Rdf1 Kd7 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.R1f7 Bxf7 24.Rxf7 Re8 25.Qxg6 Kc7 26.Qe6 Kd8 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Qg8+ Kc7 29.g3 Rg7 30.Qf8 a5 31.c3 a4 32.Kc2 a3 33.bxa3 Rh7 34.Qf2 c5 35.a4 Kc6 36.Qe2 Kc7 37.a5 Rh6 38.a4 Rh7 39.Kb3 Rh8 40.Kc4 Ra8 41.Qg4 Rxa5 42.Kb3 c4+ 43.Kb4 Ra6 44.h4 Rb6+ 45.Kxc4 Rc6+ 46.Kd5 Rxc3 47.h5 Rxg3 48.Qf5 Rd3+ 49.Ke6 Kc6 50.h6 Rd2 51.h7 Rh2 52.Qf7 b6 53.Qd7+ Kc5 54.Qb5+ Kd4 55.Qxb6+ Kxe4 56.Qb7+ Kd4 57.a5 Rh6+ 58.Kf5 Rf6+ 59.Kg5 Rf8 60.a6 Black resigned, mrjoker - igort, Internet Chess Club, 2010) 14.d4 Ne7 15.dxc5 Nxd5 16.Bg5+ Ke8 17.exd5 Qxd5 18.Rf2 Be6 19.Rd2 Qxc5 20.O-O-O Rf8 21.Qh4 h5 22.Bh6 Rf5 23.Rd8+ Rxd8 24.Rxd8+ Kf7 25.Rf8+ Qxf8 26.Bxf8 Kxf8 27.Qd8+ Kg7 28.Qxc7+ Kh6 29.h4 Rf1+ 30.Kd2 Rf2+ 31.Ke3 Rf5 32.Qd8 a6 33.Qh8 checkmate, Wall, B - Aburasian, Chess.com, 2010) 13.Qxd3 Best (or 13.cxd3 Qf7 14.Qg5+ White resigned, cliang - parrot, FICS, 2009) 13...Qg7 14.c3 Ne7 15.b4 Bb6 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Qc2 Qh6 18.h3 Qh4+ 19.Rf2 Be6 20.d3 Rf8 21.a4 Qg3 22.Kf1 Qh2 23.Rf3 Qh1+ 24.Kf2 Bd7 25.b5 Be6 26.c4 Kd7 27.Qc3 Rg8 28.Bd2 Qh2 29.d4 Bf7 30.e5 Nf5 31.d5 Rge8 32.Re1 Nh4 33.e6+ Kc8 34.Rg3 Bxe6 35.dxe6 Rxa4 36.Qb3 Ra8 37.Qb2 Kb8 38.e7 Nf5 39.Rg5 d5 40.Rxf5 gxf5 41.cxd5 Ra4 42.Qe5 Ra2 43.Qd4 h5 44.d6 cxd6 45.Qxd6+ Ka8 46.Re6 Rc2 47.Qd8+ Rc8 48.Qxb6 Rg8 49.Rg6 Rxg6 50.Qxg6 h4 51.e8=Q Black resigned, Wall,B - BBchess engine, Lahore, 2015} 

Instead, 10...Kd8 allows White to capture the Knight at e5 after all, and the game is roughly balanced: 11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.d4 (or 12.d3 Bb4 13.Qh4+ Ne7 14.Bd2 d5 15.O-O-O d4 16.Bf4 Qe6 17.Nd5 Bd6 18.Bxd6 cxd6 19.Rf6 Qe5 20.Nxe7 g5 21.Qh6 Qxe7 22.Rxd6+ Bd7 23.Rxd4 Kc7 24.Rc4+ Bc6 25.Qh3 b5 26.Rc3 Kb7 27.d4 Bxe4 28.Re1 Rad8 29.Qd3 Rhe8 30.Qxb5+ Ka8 31.Rce3 Qd6 32.Rxe4 Rxe4 33.Rxe4 Qxh2 34.Qf1 h5 35.c3 g4 36.Qe2 Rc8 37.Re8 Rxe8 38.Qxe8+ Kb7 39.Qe4+ Kb6 40.c4 Qg1+ 41.Kd2 Qf2+ 42.Kc3 Qg3+ 43.Kb4 Qf2 44.Qe6+ Kc7 45.Qe7+ Kc8 46.Kc5 Qxb2 47.Qe8+ Kc7 48.Qc6+ Kb8 49.a4 Qb6+ 50.Qxb6+ axb6+ 51.Kd5 h4 52.Ke4 Kc7 53.Kf4 h3 54.gxh3 gxh3 55.Kg3 h2 56.Kxh2 Kd7 57.Kg3 Kc7 58.Kf4 Kc6 59.Ke5 Kc7 60.Ke6 Kb7 61.d5 Kc8 62.Ke7 Kc7 63.d6+ Black resigned, Fritz 5.32 - Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 12...Qxd4 (or 12...Bxd4 13.Rf8+ Ke7 14.Qf3 Qc5 (or 14...g5 15.Rf5 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qg7 17.Rxg5 Qf6 18.Bf4 d6 19.e5 dxe5 20.Qe3 h6 21.Bxe5 Qxg5 22.Bf4+ Kf7 23.Bxg5 hxg5 24.Qxg5 Nf6 25.O-O-O Rh5 26.Qf4 Rc5 27.Rf1 Rf5 28.Qxc7+ Kg6 29.Re1 b6 30.h4 Rc5 31.Qg3+ Kf7 32.Qd6 Bg4 33.Re7+ Kg6 34.Qd3+ Rf5 35.c4 Rh8 36.Qg3 Rc5 37.Re6 Kg7 38.Rxf6 Kxf6 39.Qxg4 Rhc8 40.Qd4+ Ke6 41.Qe4+ Kf6 42.Qf3+ Ke6 43.g4 Rxc4 44.Qf5+ Ke7 45.g5 R4c5 46.Qe4+ Kd6 47.Kb2 b5 48.g6 Rc4 49.Qf5 R4c5 50.Qf6+ Kd7 51.g7 Rxc2+ 52.Kb3 R2c4 53.g8=R Rxg8 54.Qf7+ Kd6 55.Qxg8 a6 56.Qxc4 bxc4+ 57.Kxc4 Ke5 58.Kb4 Kf4 59.a4 Kg4 60.Ka5 Kxh4 61.Kxa6 Kg3 62.Kb5 Kf4 63.a5 Ke5 64.a6 Kd6 65.a7 Ke5 66.Kc5 Ke4 67.a8=Q+ Ke3 68.Qd5 Ke2 69.Kd4 Kf2 70.Qe4 Kf1 71.Ke3 Kg1 72.Kf3 Kh1 73.Qc2 Kg1 74.Qg2 checkmate, Junior 7-Hiarcs 9, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 15.Nd5+ Kd6 16.c3 Bg7 17.Be3 Qc4 18.e5+ Bxe5 19.Rd1 Bg7 20.Nb6+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Abrok chess engine, Palm Bay, FL, 2015) 13.Bg5+ Ke8 14.Qf3 Qg7 15.Nd5 Bd6 16.O-O-O c6 17.e5 Bb8 18.e6 d6 19.Qf7+ Qxf7 20.exf7+ Kf8 21.fxg8=Q+ Kxg8 22.Rde1 cxd5 23.Re8+ Kg7 24.Re7+ Kg8 25.Bh6 Black resigned, Wall,B - Amyan engine, Palm Bay, FL, 2015. 

10...c6 11.fxe5 Qxe5 12.d3 

White supports his e-pawn, plans to unleash his dark-squared Bishop, and castle Queenside. This slow idea is probably more effective than 12.Qf3, even if the idea is computer-generated, e.g. 12...Nf6 13.Ne2 (13.d3 Bb4 14.Bd2 d6 15.d4 Qe6 16.O-O-O Ng4 17.d5 Qg8 18.Qg3 Ke8 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Nb5 cxb5 21.Bxb4 Ne5 22.Rxd6 Nc4 23.Qg5 Nxd6 24.Qe5+ Qe6 25.Qxh8+ Kd7 26.Rd1 h5 27.Rxd6+ Qxd6 28.Bxd6 Kxd6 29.Qd8+ Black resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, D1N5TWD1, 2008) 13...Rf8 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Bf4 Qc5 16.O-O-O Be5 17.b4 Bxf4+ 18.Qxf4 Qxb4 19.Qe5+ Kd8 20.Rxf6 Re8 21.Re6 Rxe6 22.Qxe6 Qf8 23.Qe5 Qe7 24.Qd4 b6 25.e5 Bb7 26.Nc3 c5 27.Qg4 Bc6 28.Qf4 h5 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 Rc8 31.Qa4 Rc7 32.Qe4 Rc6 33.Qa4 Qe6 34.c4 Rc7 35.Qd1 a6 36.Qe2 Rc6 37.g3 b5 38.h4 bxc4 39.Qxc4 Qf7 40.Qb3 Kc7 41.Qd3 Kc8 42.Rd6 Rxd6 43.Qxd6 Qf1+ 44.Kd2 Qg2+ 45.Kc1 Qc6 46.Qd2 Kc7 47.Qa5+ Kb7 48.Qd2 Qe6 49.Qb2+ Kc6 50.Qg2+ Kb5 51.Qb7+ Ka5 52.Qc7+ Kb4 53.Qb7+ Kc3 54.Qb2+ Kd3 55.Qc2+ Kd4 56.Qb2+ Kd5 57.a3 Qg4 58.Qb7+ Kxe5 59.Qc7+ d6 60.Qe7+ Kd5 61.Qb7+ Ke6 62.Qb3+ Ke5 63.Qb2+ Qd4 64.Qe2+ Kd5 65.Qg2+ Qe4 66.Qd2+ Ke5 67.Qb2+ Kf5 68.Qb8 Qd3 69.Qc8+ Ke5 70.a4 Qc4+ 71.Kd2 Qxa4 72.Qc7 Qd4+ 73.Ke2 Qe4+ 74.Kf2 Qd3 75.Qe7+ Kd5 76.Qe8 Qf5+ 77.Kg1 Kd4 78.Qb8 Ke3 79.Qb3+ Qd3 80.Qf7 Kd2 81.Qa2+ Ke1 82.Qa5+ Qd2 83.Qa1+ Qd1 84.Qc3+ Ke2+ 85.Kh2 Qd4 86.Qa3 Qf2+ White resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, D1N5TWD1, 2008.

12...d6

Alternately: 12...d5 13.Qh4+ (13.Qf3!?) Ke8 14.Bf4 Qe6 (or 14...Qe7 15.Bg5 Qe6 16.O-O-O d4 17.Ne2 Qg4 18.Nf4 Qxh4 19.Bxh4 Ne7 20.Bf6 Rf8 21.Ne2 Bg4 22.Rd2 Bb4 23.c3 dxc3 24.bxc3 Bxe2 25.Rxe2 Ba3+ 26.Kc2 Kd7 27.Ref2 a5 28.Kb3 Bd6 29.e5 Bc7 30.e6+ Ke8 31.Bg7 Rxf2 32.Rxf2 a4+ 33.Kc2 Nf5 34.Bf6 Bd8 35.Bxd8 Rxd8 36.g4 Ng7 37.Rf7 Nxe6 38.Rxb7 Rd7 39.Rb4 Ra7 40.Rc4 Kd7 41.a3 Kd6 42.h4 Ra5 43.g5 Nc7 44.Rf4 Ne6 45.Rf7 Rf5 46.Rxh7 Rf2+ 47.Kb1 Nf4 48.Ra7 Nxd3 49.Rxa4 Ne5 50.Rd4+ Kc5 51.Re4 Nc4 52.Re6 Nxa3+ 53.Ka1 Rh2 54.Rxg6 Rxh4 55.Rh6 Rg4 56.g6 Rg2 57.Rh5+ Kd6 58.Ra5 Nb5 59.c4 Nd4 60.Ra8 Rxg6 61.Rd8+ Kc5 White resigned, mrjoker - far, Internet Chess Club, 2008) 15.O-O-O d4 16.Qf2 (or 16.Bc7 Be7 17.Qe1 dxc3 18.Qxc3 Nf6 19.Kb1 Rf8 20.h3 b5 21.g4 c5 22.Qd2 Bb7 23.Rde1 c4 24.Qa5 cxd3 25.cxd3 Qd7 26.Rf3 Rc8 27.Bh2 h5 28.gxh5 Nxh5 29.Rxf8+ Bxf8 30.Qd2 Rd8 31.Rd1 Bxe4 32.Qe3 Qe6 33.Ka1 Bf5 34.Qg1 Bb4 35.a3 Qb3 36.Qe3+ Be6 White resigned, sackville - jayking, GameKnot.com, 2007) 16...b5 (or 16...Ne7 17.Bh6 Bb6 18.Na4 c5 19.Nxb6 axb6 20.a3 Bd7 21.Qf8+ Black resigned, mrjoker - tomnoah, Internet Chess Club, 2010) 17.Kb1 Bb6 18.Ne2 c5 19.Bg5 Ne7 20.Nf4 Qf7 21.Qe2 Qg7 22.Nd5 Bd8 23.Nf6+ Black resigned, Topper76 - mrdenetop, Chess.com, 2011 

Or 12...Bd4 13.Ne2 Bxb2 14.Qf3 Nf6 15.d4 Bxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxe4+ 17.Be3 Qxf3 18.Rxf3 Ne4 19.O-O-O a6 20.Rf4 d5 21.c4 Be6 22.cxd5 Bxd5 23.Nf3 Nc3 24.Re1 Nxa2+ 25.Kb2 Kd7 26.Bc5 Rhe8 27.Rd1 Re2+ 28.Rd2 Rxd2+ 29.Nxd2 Re8 White resigned, tapirus - Yigor, Chess.com, 2011. 

Or 12...Bb4 13.Qh4+ (13.Bd2!?) Nf6 14.Bd2 Rf8 15.Nd5+ cxd5 16.Bxb4+ d6 17.O-O-O d4 18.Bd2 Be6 19.Bg5 Bxa2 20.b3 h5 21.Rd2 Rf7 22.Rdf2 Raf8 23.Kb2 Bxb3 24.cxb3 b6 25.Bh6 Rg8 26.Bf4 Qe6 27.Bg5 Rgf8 28.Bh6 Qg4 29.Qxg4 hxg4 30.Bxf8+ Rxf8 31.b4 a6 32.Kb3 Ke6 33.Ra1 Ra8 34.Rfa2 Rc8 35.Rc2 Ra8 36.Rc7 g5 37.Kc4 Ne8 38.Rc6 Ke5 39.Kb3 b5 40.Rcxa6 Rc8 41.Rf1 Ke6 42.Kb2 Rc3 43.Ra3 Rxa3 44.Kxa3 Nf6 45.Rc1 Nd7 46.Kb2 d5 47.Rc6+ Ke5 48.exd5 Kxd5 49.Rg6 Ne5 50.Rxg5 Ke6 51.Kc2 Kd5 52.h4 gxh3 53.gxh3 Ke6 54.Rh5 Kd5 55.h4 Ke6 56.Rh6+ Ke7 57.Rb6 Nf3 58.h5 Ne1+ 59.Kd2 Nf3+ 60.Ke2 Ng1+ 61.Kf2 Nh3+ 62.Kg3 Ng1 63.h6 Kf7 64.Rxb5 Black resigned, Fritz 8 - Fritz 5.32, The Jeroen Experience, 2003 

Or 12...Nf6 13.Qh4 Bd4 14.Bg5 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxc3+ 16.Ke2 Qxc2+ (16...Rf8 17.Rxf6 Rxf6 18.Rf1 Ke8 19.Bxf6 Qxc2+ 20.Ke3 Qc5+ 21.d4 Qa3+ 22.Kf2 Qxa2+ 23.Kg1 Qf7 24.Bg5 Qg7 25.Rf6 d6 26.Qf4 a6 27.Bh6 Qe7 28.Rf8+ Kd7 29.Rf7 c5 30.Rxe7+ Black resigned, Junior 7 - Fritz 5.32, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 17.Bd2 Qb2 18.Rxf6 Qxf6 19.Bg5 Rf8 20.Bxf6+ Rxf6 21.e5 Black resigned, Wall,B - XCCY, FICS, 2011. 

13.Qh4+ 

A little more attention to the dark squares...

13...Ke8

Black's response is fine, although it is not the only one. For example, 13...Kd7 14.Rf7+ Ke8 15.Rf3 (15.Rxh7 Qd4 16.Ne2 Qf2+ 17.Qxf2 Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Rxh7 19.Bf4 Ke7 20.Bg5+ Nf6 21.Rf1 Bd7 22.Ke1 Rf8 23.Nf4 Be8 24.h4 Bf7 25.d4 Kd7 26.Bxf6 Bc4 27.Nd3 Rhf7 28.e5 c5 29.Rf4 Bxd3 30.cxd3 Ke6 31.Rg4 cxd4 32.Rxg6 Kd5 33.g4 dxe5 34.g5 Rc8 35.h5 Rc1+ 36.Ke2 Rc2+ 37.Kf3 Rd2 38.h6 Rxd3+ 39.Kg4 Rc7 40.Rg7 Rc2 41.h7 Ke4 42.Re7 Rg2+ 43.Kh5 Rh3+ 44.Kg6 Rgh2 45.Rxe5+ Kf3 46.Re7 d3 47.Bc3 d2 48.Bxd2 Rxd2 49.Kg7 Rdh2 50.g6 b5 51.Rxa7 b4 52.a4 Ke3 53.Rb7 Rh5 54.Rxb4 Ra5 55.Rb8 Rxa4 56.b4 Ra6 57.h8=Q Rxh8 58.Rxh8 Kf4 59.Kh7 Kg5 60.g7 Rh6+ 61.Kg8 Rc6 62.Kf7 Rf6+ 63.Ke7 Rf3 64.g8=Q+ Kf4 65.Qc4+ Kg3 66.Rg8+ Kf2 67.Qc2+ Ke3 68.Qc3+ Ke2 69.Rg2+ Rf2 70.Qc2+ Kf3 71.Qxf2+ Ke4 72.Ke6 Kd3 73.Rg3+ Kc4 74.Qc5 checkmate, Fritz 8 - Deep Sjeng 1.5, The Jeroen Experience, 2003) 15...Ne7 16.Bg5 Rf8 17.Rxf8+ Kxf8 18.O-O-O Ng8 19.Ne2 Bb6 20.d4 Qe6 21.Qxh7 Qf7 22.Qh8 Bg4 23.Re1 Qxa2 24.d5 Re8 25.Rf1+ Bf5 26.Ng3 Qa1+ 27.Kd2 Ba5+ 28.Ke2 Qa2 29.Kf3 Qc4 30.exf5 gxf5 31.Bh6+ Ke7 32.Qh7+ Kd8 33.Bg5+ Kc8 34.Qxf5+ Kb8 35.Qf7 Rc8 36.Ra1 Bc7 37.Be3 c5 38.c3 Qb3 39.Ne4 Qc2 40.b4 a6 41.bxc5 dxc5 42.d6 Bb6 43.Rc1 Qd3 44.Nf2 Qb5 45.d7 Rd8 46.Bf4+ Ka7 47.Rd1 Qc6+ 48.Ne4 Qa4 49.Rd2 Qc6 50.Rd6 Qc7 51.Kf2 c4+ 52.Ke2 Nh6 53.Bxh6 Bc5 54.Be3 Bxe3 55.Kxe3 a5 56.Qd5 Kb8 57.Nc5 Ka7 58.Ne6 Black resigned, Junior 7 - Deep Sjeng 1.5, The Jeroen Experience, 2003. 

14.Bf4 Qe7 15.Bg5 Qg7 

White has some positional pressure - on the dark squares, along the f-file - and an advantage in development, although not (yet) full compensation for his sacrificed piece. He can finally castle, then plan to double his Rooks.
16.0-0-0 Be6 17.Rf3 Black forfeited on time

Quite a surprise. As my opponent subsequently forfeited on time his game with the White pieces - and forfeited games to other players as well - something in the "outside world" must have intervened.

By the way, after the game, Stockfish 7 suggested that instead of doubling Rooks, I consider 17.d4!? Bxd4 18.Rxd4!? (eliminating the dark square Bishop) with the following possibility 18...Qxd4 19.Qf4 Qg7 20.Qxd6 Bc4 21.Rd1 when Black is still in a bind, although the computer still puts him ahead by only about 3/4 of a pawn. A deep idea, not anything I had considered.

Jerome Gambit: Unfinished Symphony (Part 1)

The following game, my most recent Jerome Gambit from an ongoing Chess.com tournament, was an adventure from start to finish. The adventure was shorter than I expected, however. It is filled out with related games played at a number of different online sites, all from The Database.

perrypawnpusher - Nivaethan2000
Giuoco Piano Thematic Tournament, Chess.com 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

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

This is a popular line, but it is the first time that I have played it. I have preferred 7.Qf5+, and am something like 59 - 10 with the move. That's a score of almost 86% - why take the risk of something new? As I mentioned in a previous post, I need to keep learning about the Jerome Gambit.

White's King is going to be insecure for a while, and if he castles, it will be Queenside.

7...Qf6 8.Rf1 g6

This pawn kick is understandable, but Knight moves also have been played.

For example, 8... Ne7 was seen in Wall,B - Asterisk engine, Palm Bay, FL, 2015 (1-0, 39).

Also 8...Nh6 9.Nc3 c6 10.fxe5 Qxe5 11.Qh4 Rf8 12.Rxf8 Bxf8 13.d3 Bb4 14.Bd2 Qf6 15.Qh5 d6 16.Qe8+ Qe7 17.Qh8 g5 18.h4 g4 19.Bxh6 Bxc3+ 20.bxc3 Qxh4+ 21.Ke2 Kd7 22.Rf1 Kc7 23.Rf7+ Kb6 24.Qd4+ Ka6 25.Qa4+ Kb6 26.Be3+ c5 27.Qb3+ Kc6 28.Qd5+ Kb5 29.Rxb7+ Black resigned, tapirus - mrdenetop, Chess.com, 2011.

There was the creative 8...Nd3+ as in MrJoker - Melbourne, Internet Chess Club 2011 (1-0, 29). 

9.Qh3+ Ke7

Again, this is not the only move (although it foreshadows the theme of play along the dark squares).

Examples of games with the novel way of returning the piece, 9...Ng4, are mrjoker - jmt, Internet Chess Club, 2008 (1-0, 29);  Wall,B - Guest3164644, PlayChess.com 2013 (1-0, 20); and Wall,B - Betarsolta, PlayChess.com, 2015 (1-0, 12). 

The imprudent 9...Kf7 was seen in Wall,B - Guest1690223, PlayChess.com, 2012 (1-0, 12).

The alternative 9...Kd6 has been met several ways: 

10.fxe5+ Qxe5 11.d3 (11.Nc3!?) Kc6 12.Nc3 d6 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Bf4 Qh5 15.g4 Bxg4 16.Qh1 Bb4 17.e5+ Kb6 18.Qg1+ Ka6 19.Qd4 Bxc3+ 20.bxc3 Nh6 21.Qa4+ Kb6 22.Rb1+ Black disconnected and forfeited, MrJoker - Melbourne, Internet Chess Club, 2011; 

10.Qg3 Nf7 (best is 10...Nd3+) 11.e5+ Nxe5 12.Nc3 Ke6 13.Ne4 Nf3+ 14.Qxf3 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qe7 16.f5+ Kd5 17.Kd1 Qxe4 18.c4+ Ke5 19.Re1 d5 20.Rxe4+ dxe4 21.d4+ Bxd4 22.Qf4+ Kf6 23.fxg6+ Kxg6 24.Qg5+ Kf7 25.Qd5+ Be6 26.Qxd4 Nf6 27.Ke1 Rhf8 28.Qe5 Rac8 29.Bg5 Kg6 30.Bd2 Bf5 31.Qf4 e3 32.Bxe3 Rce8 33.Ke2 Bg4+ 34.Kd3 Rd8+ 35.Kc2 Bf5+ 36.Kb3 Rd3+ 37.Kb4 a5+ 38.Kxa5 b6+ 39.Kb4 c5+ 40.Kb5 Bd7+ 41.Kxb6 Nd5+ 42.cxd5 Rxf4 43.Bxf4 Rxd5 44.Rc1 Be6 45.b3 Kf5 46.Kc6 Kf6 47.Rc2 Rf5 48.Bc1 Bd5+ 49.Kd6 Ba8 50.Bb2+ Kg6 51.Be5 Rf8 52.Rxc5 Rf2 53.a4 Rxh2 54.b4 Ra2 55.a5 Bh1 56.Bc3 Rg2 57.b5 Rxg3 58.b6 Rd3+ 59.Kc7 Re3 60.a6 Re7+ 61.Kd6 Rf7 62.Rc6 Black resigned, Zappa 1.1 - Deep Fritz 8, Blitz:5, 2006.

10.b4!? Nf3+ (if 10...Bxb4 11.Qb3; best is 10...Bd4) 11.Qxf3 Qxa1 12.bxc5+ Ke7 13.Qb3 Nf6 14.Bb2 Qxb1+ 15.Ke2 Qxf1+ 16.Kxf1 Rf8 17.Qg3 Ke8 18.f5 Rf7 19.Qe5+ Kf8 20.Qxc7 Ne8 21.Qe5 gxf5 22.exf5 b6 23.Ba3 d6 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.cxd6+ Kd8 26.g4 Be6 27.Ke1 Bxa2 28.Qa1 Bd5 29.Qd4 Bh1 30.Qc4 Rd7 31.Qg8 a6 32.g5 a5 33.c4 Rg7 34.Qe6 Raa7 35.d7 Raxd7 36.Qxb6+ Kc8 37.f6 Rgf7 38.Qxa5 Nc7 39.Qe5 Bb7 40.d4 Bg2 41.Kf2 Bc6 42.d5 Bxd5 43.cxd5 Rxd5 44.Qf4 Rdd7 45.Bb4 Kb7 46.Qc4 Nd5 47.Qb5+ Kc7 48.Bc5 Kc8 49.Qa6+ Kb8 50.Bd6+ Nc7 51.h3 Rd8 52.Qb5+ Kc8 53.Bxc7 Rxc7 54.Qf5+ Kb7 55.f7 Rcc8 56.Qxh7 Kc6 57.Qe4+ Kd6 58.Qd4+ Kc7 59.Qf4+ Black resigned, Junior 7 - Fritz 7, Utrecht, 2002; 

10.Nc3 (best) Kc6 11.Nd5 d6 12.Qg3 Qe6 13.fxe5 Qxe5 14.Qxe5 dxe5 15.b4 Bd6 16.Bb2 Ne7 17.c4 b6 18.Rc1 Nxd5 19.exd5+ Kd7 20.c5 bxc5 21.bxc5 Be7 22.Bxe5 Rf8 23.c6+ Kd8 24.Rxf8+ Bxf8 25.Rc3 Be7 26.Re3 h5 27.Bxc7+ Kxc7 28.Rxe7+ Kd6 29.Re8 Kxd5 30.Rg8 Bb7 31.Rxg6 Re8+ 32.Kf2 Bxc6 33.Rh6 Re5 34.d4 Rf5+ 35.Ke3 Rg5 36.g3 a5 37.a3 Bb5 38.Rh7 Kc4 39.Rf7 Kb3 40.Kf4 Rd5 41.Ke4 Be8 42.Kxd5 Bxf7+ 43.Ke5 Kxa3 44.d5 a4 45.d6 Be8 46.Kf6 Kb4 47.Ke7 Bb5 48.d7 Bxd7 49.Kxd7 a3 50.Ke6 a2 51.Kf5 a1=Q 52.Kg5 Qe5+ 53.Kh4 White resigned, DrunkenMaster 1.2 - Comet B48, Torneo tematico GaJero00-A, 2009

10.Nc3 

A little bit better might be 10.fxe5 Qxe5 although it did not make a difference in GeniusPawn - jmchess, FICS, 2000 which continued with 11.Nc3, anyway: 11...Nf6 12.d4 Bxd4 13.Bf4 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxe4+ 15.Kd1 d6 16.Qh4 Kf7 17.Kc1 Bf5 18.Qf2 Qc4 19.Rb1 Ne4 20.Qe3 Qxf1+ 21.Kb2 Qxg2 22.Bh6 Qxh2 23.Ka1 Qxc2 24.Rc1 Qa4 25.Qd3 Rae8 26.Qd5+ Be6 27.Rf1+ Ke7 28.Bg5+ Kd7 29.Rf7+ Kc8 White resigned.

The question is, can Black respond to 10.Nc3 by making the White capture of the Knight on e5 more difficult, if not impossible? The answer, as we shall see, is both yes and no

[to be continued]

ГАМБИТ ЖЕРОМА

I just reviewed a nice Russian language Jerome Gambit article with a balanced, not mocking, assessment of the opening (and a kind link to this blog, as well). It has several games that can be played over on the site, including ones by historical figures Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, Andres Clemente Vazquez, Henry Charlick and S.A. Sorensen; as well as modern regular visitors to this blog, Bill Wall and Philidor 1792.

Of interest, the site mentions analysis by A. Zherom, a reference I am not familiar with. (For Jerome Gambit analysis from Opening Traps by GM Ferzbery [Boris Vainstein] see this earlier blog post.)

Tournaments Update

The first round of the RedHotPawn Jerome Gambit thematic tournament is nearing completion - there is one game left, deep in a one-sided endgame - and it looks like SeinfeldFan91 (18 points) will advance from Group 1; procyk and rigidwithfear (each 12 points) will advance from Group 2; kristjan (15 points) will advance from Group 3; and junnujannu (15 points) will advance from Group 4. Good chess to all of you!

In the Chess.com Giuoco Piano thematic tournament, I am (temporarily) in first place, with 12 points out of 16 games. With one game (with the Black pieces) yet to start, I am currently playing a Jerome Gambit - and my record with the Jerome so far is an odd 3 wins, 3 wins on time, and 2 losses. 

The Jerome Gambit: "Somewhat Problematic For Black"

I recently enjoyed watching the short YouTube video by chessthisout on "italian game for black less popular lines" which covers 7 less popular lines in the Giuoco Piano ("for players of ratings up to 1600 in FICS") - including the Jerome Gambit (unnamed in the video), "which can be somewhat problematic for Black if he doesn't play it properly".

The two main Jerome lines covered are 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.0-0 and 5.d4, but not 5.Nxe5+, which means the move might come as quite a surprise for the unprepared defender. For that matter, 5...Bxd4 is the recommended response to 5.d4; the more challenging 5...Qh4 is not mentioned, which means the move might come as quite a surprise for the unprepared attacker.

I was shocked to see that chessthisout covered the alternative 4.Nxe5, and I told myself that certainly there wouldn't be any game examples of that move in The Database. I was wrong, there are 22 games - almost all of them transposing to the main line Jerome Gambit after 4...Nxe5 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7?! (better is 5...Nxf7). Whew!