Jerome Gambit Ascendant

1. World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen has revealed that if his upcoming match with Sergey Karjakin goes to rapid tie-break games, he will consider playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7!?).

2. President Trump


Up until November 8, 2016, I would have expected #1 to be more likely.

Now it looks like the United States is going to get a whole lot of #2.

Jerome Gambit: Battle of Wits

I have received another game from recent Jerome Gambit convert "Cliff Hardy" (see "Jerome Gambit: You Gotta Believe"), playing incognito at InstantChess. Starting with move 2, and escalating with move 5, his opponent engages in a bit of chess psychology which reminds me of the "battle of wits" in the movie "The Princess Bride" - and his efforts are equally unsuccessful.

The notes to the game are by "Cliff". I have added a couple of comments in blue.

gfdgfd - leleos
InstantChess.com, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Bc5 3.Bc4

3.Nxe5? Bxf2+! 4.Kxf2 would give me a winning advantage theoretically but I lose the valuable psychological advantage! 

3...Nc6 4.Bxf7+! 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8? 6.Qh5+?

I am astonished! This move looked obvious but it is poor!
The text is thematic, but 6.Nxc6 is += (Stockfish), intending 6...d/bxc6 7.Qh5 and 8.Qxc5.

[Welcome to the bizarre world of the Jerome Gambit, "Cliff"! Black does not want the second piece, and it seems logical to go after him right away with 6.Qh5+, except that 6.Nxc6 is a better move, as you note. Wilder, still, is that Black can answer 6.Nxc6 with 6...Qh4!? and White needs to be prepared for this shock. 7.d4!? seems to be the best response, allowing 7...Qxe4+ 8.Be3 Qxg2 - although it might be better for those with a heart condition to opt for 8.Qe2. Anyhow, the game becomes a wonderful mess after 9.Qh5+ Kf8 10.Ne5!? and Stockfish 7 continues with 10...Bb4+ 11.c3 Qxh1+ 12.Kd2 g6 13.Nxg6+ hxg6 14.Qxh8 g5 15.cxb4 d6 16.Qh5 Bf5 17.Qd1 Qxd1+ 18.Kxd1 Ne7 19.Nc3 and White has an edge. Uh, sure, right... No surprise that I haven't found any game examples with 6...Qh4!? - Rick]

6...g6 7.Nxg6 hxg6

Haha! The best move for black, according to Stockfish, is the Jeromesque 7...Bxf2! 8.Kxf2 Nf6 9.Qh4 Rg8! =+. This game is a good example of the principle: the first to get in the Jerome wins!

8.Qxh8 Kf7

9.Qh7+ Kf8 10.Qxg6 Qe7 11.Nc3 Qf7 12.Qg3 Bd6 13.Qe3 Qf4 14.d4 Nf6 15.Qxf4 Bxf4 16.Bxf4 Nxd4 17.O-O-O Black resigned

[White has handled Black's ploys, has gained material (the exchange and three pawns) and has moved the game into a safe (for himself) Queenless middle game. There is not much for the defender to look forward to. - Rick] 

Jerome Gambit: You Gotta Believe

I recently received an email from someone just starting with the Jerome Gambit. He passed along the following 3-minute FICS blitz game which was eye-opening for me: White never gives up! He uses all the weapons available to him, including the clock, and triumphs in the end.

He has asked me to disguise his identity, as he is considering playing the Jerome Gambit in over-the-board games. I decided on naming him "Cliff Hardy" (look it up). I also sent him a link to some of Pete Banks' OTB Jerome Gambits.

Play through the game. Do not become anxious over White's fate, however dire things look. He will prevail.   

"Cliff Hardy" - NN
3 0 blitz, FICS, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6

8.d4

"Cliff" wrote that "Maybe the Tonetti gambit is not the best way to play this..." referring to the game Tonetti - Ruggieri, Rome, 1863 (1-0, 23).

8...Bxd4 9.f4 Nh6 10.fxe5+ Bxe5 11.Qf3 Rf8 12.Qa3+ c5 13.Be3 Qh4+ 14.Kd1 b6 15.Nd2 Ng4 16.Kc1 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Rf2 18.Rd1 Kc7 

19.Nf3 Bf4 20.Nxh4 Bxe3+ 21.Kb1 Bb7 22.Nf5 Bh6 23.Nd6 Rd8 24.a4 

Yes - the Jerome Gambit is all about attack.

24...Bc6 25.a5 Bd2 26.axb6+ Kxd6 27.bxa7 Bxe4 28.Ra4 Ke5 29.g4 Bb4 30.Ka2 Bxc2 31.Rxb4 cxb4 

"With Crafty now assessing the position as -32749.00, it is apparent my position could do with some improvement" wrote "Cliff".

32. Rxd7 Be4 33. Rxd8 Rxh2 34. Re8+ Kf4 35. Rxe4+ Kxe4 36. a8=Q+ Kf4 37. Qb8+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Why Did He Do That?

While it is frequently a good idea to have a plan to direct a chess game, it is always a good idea to have a questioning attitude - constantly asking yourself about your opponent's move, "Why did he do that?" In the following game, Bill Wall's task becomes a bit lighter when his opponent neglects to ask himself about a totally reasonable move.

Wall, Bill - NN
lichess.org, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6

8.Nc3 Be6 9.b3

This is a reasonable move, and, surprisingly, according to The Database, a novelty.

9...Nf6 10.O-O Rf8 11.f4 Nc6 12.Qd3 Kg8 13.Bb2 Bg4 

Black has done well: he has castled-by-hand and developed his pieces. Although this move appears a bit odd, he remains with the advantage.

14.Rae1 Kh8 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bf5 

The old temptation, to attack the Queen (and the pawn behind it). Better was to rescue the Knight at c6.

17.Qg3 Qd7 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Qg5 

Material is even, White's pawn structure is slightly better, and the question Black has to ask himself is about the move of the Queen to g5.

19...Bxc2

Missed it.

20.Re7 Black resigned

The attack on g7 means that Black will have to give up his Queen.

Jerome Gambit: Heavy, Heavy, Heavy

The following 3-minute game is packed with excitement. White's attack crashes through, and Black's "safe" King is the victim.

I will keep my notes light, but the players keep the mood heavy - a battle to the bitter end.

joniko - Rolandia
lichess.org, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+

The "nudge", suggesting that White is familiar with the Jerome Gambit, and, perhaps, this blog.

7...Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qc4

Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875 (1-0, 28) continued 9.Qc3.

9...Nf6 10.O-O Qe7 11.f4  Nd7 12.d3 Nb6 13.Qb3 Rf8 14.Nc3 Be6 15.Qb4 Kd7 

16.f5 Bxf5

An interesting idea, returning material, but probably 16...Bg8 was better. Black clearly intends to move his King to the Queenside and attack on the Kingside. As this plan develops, White avoids f5-f6, not wanting to open things up against his own King.

17.exf5 Ne5 18.Ne4 Rae8 19.Qd4 Kc8 20.Bg5 Qd7 21.a4 Kb8 22.a5 Na8

 23. a6 b6 24.Qd5 c6 25.Qb3 

25.Qxd6+ was possible, e.g. 25...Nc7 (if 25...Qxd6 then 26.Nxd6 and Black's Rooks are uncomfortable) 26.d4. 

25...Nc7 26.d4 Nf7 27.Nc5

Flashy, but with time disappearing on both clocks, very tempting.

27...dxc5 28.dxc5 b5 

Instead, 28...Qd4+ 29.Kh1 Nxg5 30.cxb6 Qxb6 defends. 

29.Bf4 g5 30.Rad1 Qc8 31.Bd6 Nxd6 32.cxd6 Nd5 

Black's last chance was 32...Rxf5 33.dxc7+ Kxc7 with about an equal game.

33.Rxd5 cxd5 

Now White has a forced checkmate.

34.Qxb5+ Ka8 35.d7 Qb8 36.Qxd5+ Qb7 37.Qxb7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Light, Light, Light

?

I was looking in The Database for something light to share with Readers, and came across the following game. I am not quite sure what to make of it, except it is another example of the error of "if you sacrifice a piece on f7, I will sacrifice one on f2" thinking in the Jerome Gambit.

Technically, the game isn't even a Jerome Gambit... I need to expand upon my musings in the note to move 4.

Wall, Bill - Rube
PlayChess.com, 2013

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Na6 

Already I am not sure what to say. Is Bill's opponent a chess-playing program?

3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

Why not? The "Jerome Solution" is often a fun way to deal with surprises.

4...Kf8

With a Knight on c6 (instead of a6) The Database shows White scoring 55% against this declination, which I find very odd, especially in light of the fact that The Database statistic for the Jerome Gambit offered - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ - is White scoring 45%. This suggests that when White moves from offering a piece (or two) for a pawn (or two) to accepting a pawn, he only improves his scoring chances 10%.

5.Bc4 Bxf2+ 

Returning the psychological "shock" - but, here, White takes the piece.

6.Kxf2 c6 7.Nxe5 d6 8.Nf7 Qf6+ 9.Qf3 Qxf3+ 10.gxf3 Nc5 11.Nxh8

Black resigned

'Tis a puzzlement.

Jerome Gambit: Little Surprises

!?!?

While the Jerome Gambit might, on the surface, appear to be a "simple" chess opening - so brutal as to be completely transparent - it can have its little surprises, which is part of what makes it attractive. Take the following game...

procyk - deriver69
Jerome Gambit Tournament, RedHotPawn.com, 2016

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

4...Kxf7 5.c3 Nf6 6.O-O d6 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Qb3+ Ke7 

It is interesting that Stockfish 7 prefers 9...d5 here, while a couple of other computers in game situations preferred 9...Kf8, e.g. 10.Qd3 (10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Nc3 Ng4 13.h3 Bxf2+ 14.Rxf2+ Nxf2 15.Kxf2 Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Qg3 17.Nb5 Qxb3 18.axb3 c6 19.Nc7 Rb8 20.Be3 Bd7 21.Bxa7 Rd8 22.Rf1+ Kg8 23.Bc5 cxd5 24.exd5 h6 25.Re1 Rc8 26.d6 Rh7 27.b4 g6 28.Nd5 Rf8 29.Rxe5 Rhf7 30.Re1 Re8 31.Ne7+ Kh7 32.Ra1 Ref8 33.b3 Rf4 34.Ra7 Rb8 35.Bb6 Rf7 36.Bc7 Rbf8 37.Rxb7 Bxh3 38.Bb6 Bc8 39.Ra7 Be6 40.d7 Rf1+ 41.Kh2 Rd1 42.d8=Q Rdxd8 43.Bxd8 Rxd8 44.b5 Rd3 45.Nc6+ Kg8 46.b6 Rxb3 47.b7 Bc4 48.b8=Q+ Rxb8 49.Nxb8 Be6 50.Nc6 h5 51.Kg3 Kf8 52.Kf4 Bd5 53.Ne5 Bxg2 54.Nxg6+ Ke8 55.Kg5 Bf3 56.Nf4 Kd8 57.Nxh5 Kc8 58.Rg7 Be4 59.Kf4 Bc6 60.Ke5 Bf3 61.Nf4 Bc6 62.Ne6 Kb8 63.Kd6 Be4 64.Nd4 Kc8 65.Rc7+ Kb8 Black resigned, Rybka 2.3.2a - DrunkenMaster 1.2, 2009) 10...Qe7 11.Nc3 Bg4 12.Be3 Nb4 13.Qd2 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Kg8 15.Na4 Nc6 16.Rac1 Qf7 17.b4 Qg6+ 18.Kh1 Qh5 19.Qd1 Rc8 20.Nxb6 axb6 21.Rg1 Nxb4 22.Qb3+ Kf8 23.Qxb4 Qxf3+ 24.Rg2 Qxe4 25.Bg5 Qd5 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Qd2 h5 28.Qf4 f5 29.f3 Rh7 30.Rg6 Ra8 31.Rf6+ Ke8 32.Rxf5 Qg8 33.Qe4+ Kd8 34.Qxb7 Rc8 35.Rf6 Ke7 36.Rf4 Kd8 37.Re4 Qf7 38.f4 Rg7 39.Rce1 Rg8 40.Qc6 Qd7 41.Qd5 Qg4 42.Re7 Qg6 43.Qc6 Qg1+ 44.Rxg1 Rxg1+ 45.Kxg1 Kxe7 46.f5 Kf6 47.Qg2 Re8 48.Qg6+ Ke7 49.Qg7+ Kd8 50.f6 Kc8 51.f7 Black resigned, SOS 5.1 - DrunkenMaster, 2009.

In any event, Black appears to be doing well, having an extra piece for the cost of a pawn. True, his King has not found safety, but isn't that a trivial thing?

7.Bg5

White pins the Knight, setting up a hit on it with the e-pawn. It turns out that he can make the advance right away: 7.e5 dxe5 8.dxe5 Ne4 9.Ng5!? Here's a shocker; White recovers his piece. Stockfish 7 recommends 9...Qg8 10.Qxg8 Rxg8 11.Nxe4 h6 and White has a small edge.

7...Bg4 8.e5 dxe5 

9.Nxe5 

Deviating from the foretold 9.dxe5. Maybe he can still get a pawn to e5?

9...Nxe5 

Black believes he has an antidote to all the mischief regarding the e5 pawn's attack on the pinned Knight at f6, but he should have played it - 9...Be6 - right away, as after 10.Nxc6+ bxc6 11.Re1 Qd6 he would be doing fine.

10.dxe5 Be6 11.exf6+ gxf6 12.Qa3+ Kf7 

White has recovered his piece, and Black's King remains slightly exposed. If the first player can safeguard his Bishop, he should be able to keep the game level.

13.Bh4 

This looks fine, but Stockfish 7 recommends the pin, 13.Qf3, instead, i.e. 13...Qd4 14.Nd2 Bg4 15.Qb3+ Be6 16.Qf3 and an invitation to draw by repetition. Existential anxiety?

13...Rg8

This proves to be the winning idea, but the computer prefers 13...Qd4 14.Bg3 h5 15.Qc3 h4 16.Qxd4 Bxd4 17.Bxc7 Bxb2 18.Nd2 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 Bd5 when Black is clearly better.

14.Nc3 Bd4 15.Ne2 Qd5 16.Rad1 

Suddenly realizing that he had overlooked something, here White resigned