Jerome Gambit: On the Way to Victory

Here is another fine win from the top player in the recent RedHotPawn.com Jerome Gambit tournament.

SeinfeldFan91 - junnujannu
Jerome Gambit Tournament, RedHotPawn.com, 2016

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

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

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.O-O Qe7 

11.Nc3 c6 12.d4

Also seen in this position:

12.d3 Ng4 13.Qe2 Qh4 14.h3 N4e5 15.f4 Nf7 16.Bd2 Qe7 17.Rae1 Kd8 18.Qh5 Qh4 19.Qa5+ b6 20.Qb4 Kc7 21.d4 a5 22.Qc4 Qe7 23.Nd5+ Kd7 24.Nxe7 Kxe7 25.Qxc6 Bd7 26.Qxb6 Rab8 27.Qxa5 Rxb2 28.f5 Nh4 29.e5 dxe5 30.Qc5+ Kf6 31.dxe5+ Black resigned, shugart - volki, FICS, 2013; and

12.f4 Kd8 13.d4 Kc7 14.f5 Nf8 15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Ng4 17.Qd4 Nh6 18.f6 gxf6 19.Bf4 Black resigned, Wall,B - HeHe, Chess.com, 2010.

12...Be6

Development (with a subtle flaw).

Black has also attacked the Queen, as a prelude to a push on the Kingside: 12...Ng4 13.Qg3 h5 14.h3 h4 15.Qd3 Nh6 16.f4 Kd8 17.Bd2 Bd7 18.Rae1 Kc7 19.f5 Nf8 20.Qc4 Kb8 21.Bf4 b5 22.Qc5 Nf7 23.a4 Kb7 24.Qa3 a5 25.axb5 cxb5 26.Nd5 Qd8 27.Bxd6 b4 28.Bxb4 axb4 29.Qxb4+ Kc8 30.Nb6+ Kc7 31.Nxa8+ Qxa8 32.Rf3 Rh6 33.Rc3+ Rc6 34.Rxc6+ Bxc6 35.Qe7+ Nd7 36.Qxf7 Qa5 37.c3 Qa2 38.Qxg7 Qxb2 39.d5 Qxc3 Black resigned, mrjoker - Mandragora, Internet Chess Club, 2009.

13.b3

To deny c4 to the Black Bishop. Also possible was 10.f4. 

13...b6 14.f4 Nf8 

Black has to do something about the threatened fork of his two pieces. Probably he should return the piece with 14...Bf5 15.exf5 Qxe3+ 16. Bxe3 Ne7 getting the Queens off of the board.

15.Qg3

White's threat is e4-e5, and he should probably enforce it directly with 15.Ba3!? and 16.Rae1. He eventually does this, but first he has to address Black harassing his Queen.

15...Nh5 16.Qf3 Nf6 17.e5 Nd5 18.Ba3

The text is okay, although White could have worked to blow things up right away with 18.f5!? Again, he finds the move later.

18...Nxc3 19.Qxc6+ Qd7 20.Qxa8+ Kf7 

White has 3 pawns and a Rook for 2 pieces (one of which he will recover immediately) - as well as an attack on the enemy King. 

21.f5 Ne2+ 22.Kh1 Bxf5 23.Qe4 Ng3+

One of the pieces has to go. Black returns the Knight with a spite check.

24. hxg3 Kg6 25.Qa8

Black resigned

Black's position is a mess, and the closer you look, the worse it appears. The Knight is pinned to the Rook, for example, and the Bishop is pinned to the Knight. The Queen's best move is 25...Qc8, to exchange Queens and get some air, but 26.Qxc8 Bxc8 27.Bxd6 has all the appeal of a root canal.

Jerome Gambit: Today, Hard Work

Chess games have been compared to a work of art created collaboratively by two people. That can especially be said about Jerome Gambit games where, with a little bit of "help" by Black, something spectacular can be created.

On the other hand, without that kind of "cooperation" White can find himself in for some hard work - like in the game below, from chessfriend Vlastimil Fejfar.

Readers are encouraged to play through the game, and see if they can build on Vlasta's efforts. 

Vlastous - irinat 
ChessManiac.com, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6

Ah, man, the "annoying defense" again. By returning the piece Black takes a lot of excitment out of the game - kind of like an over-boiled piece of meat. Computers love the line, as it gives Black an advantage; and computers are less likely to make the kind of "human" mistakes that work toward creating an exciting work of art. In this game, Black does a good job impersonating a computer.

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Kf7 11.Qxe5 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qe7 13.Qxe7+ Nxe7

White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece, but the "Jerome pawns" are a long way from becoming a dynamic, attacking force.

14.c3 

Previously Vlasta played another difficult game with the interesting 14.h3, Fejfar,V - Chvojka, corr, Czech Republic, 2016, (0-1, 32). 

14...Bh3 15.d4 Bb6 16.Nd2 c5 17.Nf3 h6 18.Be3 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Nc6 20.O-O-O

20...Bg2 21.Rhg1 Bxf3 22.Rgf1 Nxd4 23.cxd4 Rhc8+ 24.Kb1 Kg6 25.Rxf3 Rc4 26.b3 Rxd4 27.Rxd4 Bxd4

The occupants of d4 and e4 suggest the rest of the story.

28.Kc2 Rc8+ 29.Kd2 Bf6 30.Rf2 Rd8+ 31.Ke2 Kf7 32.Rf5 Rc8 33.Kd2 Ke6 34.Kd1 Bg5 35.h4 Rc1+ 36.Ke2 Bf6 37.Rb5 b6 38.a4 Rc3 White resigned

A valiant effort by White, but now his pawns are under too much pressure, and soon some will fall.

Jerome Gambit: Miles to Go Before I Sleep

Although SeinfeldFan91 topped the recent Jerome Gambit thematic tournament at RedHotPawn.com without losing (or drawing) a game, it wasn't always easy. The following game shows that, at least once, he had miles to go before he could sleep...

SeinfeldFan91- kristjan
Giuoco Piano Jerome Gambit Tournament
redhotpawn.com 2016

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

4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

White starts off with a "modern" Jerome Gambit line (i.e. lacking 5.Nxe5+) but quickly transposes.

5...Nf6 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 d6

9.Nc3 Be6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qa4

According to The Database this is a novelty. More often seen are 11.Qd3 and 11.Qe3.

11...Re8 12.f5 Bd7 13.Qc4+ Kf8 14.Bg5 Qe7 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Rad1 Rac8

White has only a pawn for his sacrificed piece, so he needs to be alert to his opportunities, and keep things complicated.

17.Rf4 Ne5 18.Qd4 Kg8

Completing castling-by-hand.

19.Qxa7

A risky snack, but White's situation, in general, is risky.

19...b6 20.Nd5 Qg5 21.f6 Kh8 22.fxg7+ Kxg7 23.Rdf1 Kh8

Equality comes closer. On little cat feet.

24.Kh1 Nc6 25.Qb7

Risky, but providing a distraction.

25...Na5 26.Qa6 Bc6

27.Rf5 Qh4

Just the break that White was looking for. Much more to the point was 27...Qd2, keeping the game even.

Now White's Knight and Rook target Black's weak h7.

28.Nf6 Bxe4 29.Rh5 Bxg2+ 30.Kxg2 Rg8+ 31.Kh1 Black resigned

Black will have to give up his Queen to avoid mate.

Up-To-Date Blackburne Shilling Gambit

Concerning the Blackburne Shilling Gambit (see the previous post), 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4, it is clear that there are several good responses, including 4.0-0, 4.Nxd4, 4.c3 and 4.d3. Of course, if you are a Jerome Gambit fan, or if you want to try something that might be a surprise to the defender, there is always 4.Bxf7+...

The following game - another 3-minute blitz - is an up-to-date example. 

marciprevi - nchak
3 0 blitz, FICS, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.c3 Kxe5 7.cxd4+ Ke6

8.d5+

Possibly White's best response to Black's prudent King retreat. (7...Kxe4 is unnecessarily risky for the defender.)

8...Ke7 

It could be that 8...Kf7 is a tiny bit better. 

9.d4 d6 10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.e5 h6 

Black should probably have simply allowed the return of the piece with 11...dxe5 12.dxe5 Kf7 13.exf6 

12.exf6+ gxf6 13.Bh4 Bg7 

14.Qe2+ Kf8 15.O-O Bf5 16.Nc3 a6 17.Qf3 Bg6 

18.Ne4 

The trip to e2 and then f4 for the Knight, hitting the Bishop at g6 and eying the square e6, looked a bit better.

18...Kf7 19.Rae1 Re8 20.Ng3 Qd7 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Ne2 Be4

23.Qh5+ Bg6 24.Qf3 Be4 25.Qh5+ Bg6 26.Qf3 Be4 27.Qb3

Wanting more than the draw.

27...Bxg2 28.Re1 

A slip. 28.Kxg2 Rxe2 29.Qxb7 was the way to keep the game in balance.

28...Bf3

Returning the favor. Remember: this was a 3-minute blitz game.

29.Qxf3 Kg8 30.Kh1 f5 31.Rg1 Re4 32.Nf4 Qf7 33.Ne6 Rg4 34.Rxg4 fxg4 35.Qxg4 Kh7

36.f3 Bxd4 37.Qe4+ Kg8 38.Qxd4 Qxf3+ 39.Kg1 Black resigned

Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit Investigator

Recently I received a request for The Database from Rodolfo Pardi (librarian, Italian Chess Federation chess instructor and tournament director), the author of a good number of chess books, including A dreadful Chess Trap: Blackburne Shilling. He said he had been frequently meeting the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+), and wanted to know more about it.

Of course, I sent the (compressed) PGN file right away!

As we exchanged emails, and he remained politely skeptical about the BSJG, he shared one of his own games featuring an early Bishop sacrifice.

lapaget - pa_chiro 1720
GameKnot Blitz, 20161.e4 e5 2.Bc4 c6 3.Nf3 b5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Qh5 Nh6 7.d4 

7...g6 8.Qh3+ Ke7 9.Bg5+ Ke8 10.Bxd8 Kxd8 11.Nc3 d6 12.Qh4+ Kc7 13.Nf3 Nf7 14. Qf6
Black resigned

Nicely done!

Jerome Gambit: We Have A Winner!

A quick look at the RedHotPawn.com Jerome Gambit Tournament shows that the second round (and thus the tournament) has been "decided". (One game remains, but it will determine who will be the "line follower" not the "line leader".)

With 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw, SeinfeldFan91 topped the list handily with 24 points, going unbeaten through both rounds. Hat tip to the man!

The rest of the players: procyk 15 points,  kristjan 9 points,  junnujannu 6 points and rigidwithfear 3 points.

(junnujannu and rigidwithfear remain locked in an interesting battle.)

Cliff Hardy Returns

"Cliff Hardy" is back with another hard-fought Jerome Gambit battle that shows that the life of a P.I. is never boring, even if it is at times a bit painful. There are lessons to be learned from the following game.

I still struggle with my 3 days per move games. I have no idea how anyone plays 3 minutes per game! (Guess I'm not hero material.)

Notes are by "Hardy". (Occasional note by me, in red - Rick)

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

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 Bd6

(I was shocked to find 867 games in The Database with this slightly strategically suspect move - the Bishop blocks the d-pawn which blocks the light-squared Bishop which blocks the Rook - but there are tactical reasons for its success, as White scores only 42% against it. - Rick)

8.Qc3 Qe7 9.f3?

Not the best move to defend the e-pawn and Stockfish
prefers 9.Qe3. 9.d3?? Bb4 would have been an absolute disaster, however.

9...c6

9...Qh4 would be even better.

10.O-O Qh4?!

10...Qe5 to swap queens was better.

11.e5 Bc7 12.d4 Ne7 13.g3 Qh3 14.f4?

14.Nd2 was much better and if black had continued, as he did in the
game with 14...h5 15.Ne4 h4?? 16.g4, he would then lose his queen to 17.Ng5

14...h5 15.Nd2 h4 16.Rf3 hxg3 17.Rxg3 Qxh2

(Ah, yes, the femme fatale, weakness of many a private eye. - Rick)

18.Kf1 Nf5 19.Rg2 Qxf4+ 20.Rf2 Ne3+??

(The Jerome Gambit player must hang on against all odds, waiting for an opportunity to strike back. Here it is. - Rick)

21.Ke2??

Whoops, missed 21.Qxe3, as black's queen is now pinned :).

21...Rh2??

21...Qxf2! 22. Kxf2 Nd1. 

22.Qxe3 Rxf2+ 23.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 24.Kxf2 d6

The position is equal now, but I was down to 22 seconds versus 1 minute 26 seconds on the clock for my opponent so I had to start moving instantly. 

25.Nc4 dxe5 26.dxe5 Bf5 27.Bf4 Bxc2 28.Rh1 

28...Kf7?? 29.Ne3??

29.e6! Kxe6 30.Bxc7 

29...Be4

The rest of the game is not really worth going through! (That's "Cliff's" comment, not mine. - Rick)

30.Rh4 Rf8 31.Bg3 Ke6+ 32.Ke2 Bf3+ 33.Kd2 Bxe5 34.Bxe5 Kxe5 35.Rb4 b6 36.Kc3 Bd5 37.Ra4 Rf3 38.Kd2 a5 39.Rh4 g5 40.Rh5 Rg3 41.Ke2 Bxa2 42.Rh8 Bd5 43.Re8+ Kf4 44.Rb8 Rxe3+ 45.Kd2 Re7 46.Rxb6 g4 47.Rb8 g3 48.Rf8+ Rf7 49.Rg8 g2 50.Rg6 Kf3 51.Kc3 Kf2 52.Rg7 Rxg7 White lost on time