Watching a good player who is skilled in playing the Jerome Gambit often inspires the question How did that happen?
Starting from a theoretically "lost" position for White at move 4, the following game moves forward until, 10 moves later, White has the attack and the advantage. Black has clearly missed some drawing lines, but still - How did that happen?
Wall, Bill - Guest2614882
PlayChess.com, 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Nc3 c5
A typical kind of position for Bill in his preferred 6.d4 variation. Sometimes the pawn move to kick the Queen helps, sometimes not.
9.Qd5+ Ke7
It is always interesting to see, in this kind of position, if the defender will choose development over material, and elect for 9...Be6, allowing 10.Qxb7+. This is not a terribly complex issue - Black can make the offer, and White risks sidelining his Queen if he accepts - but often the cost on seeing this through is time off Black's clock.
By the way, Bill has also faced 9...Kf6, which did not turn out well: 10.f4 Be6 11.fxe5+ Ke7 12.Qxb7+ Black resigned, Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016.
10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.f4 Neg4
What do we have here? Things are getting messy...
Stockfish 8 prefers 11...Nc6 and gives a line will all sorts of contortions - before ending in a draw by repetion.
For now, it's time for White to open attacking lines.
12.e5 h6
A standard idea: counter an attack with an attack. However, here Black, possibly thinking that he is striving for advantage, misses an opportunity to keep the game level: 12...dxe5 13.fxe5 Qxd5 14.Nxd5+ Kd7 15.exf6 Re8+ 16.Kd2 Re5 17.f7!? Rxd5+ 18.Kc3 Rf5 19.Rhf1 Nf2 20.Bh4 Rxf7 21.Rxf2 Rxf2 22.Bxf2 with an even endgame.
13.exf6+ gxf6 14.Bh4
There was no need to explore the further sacrifice 14.O-O!?, as the text is fine - although I will warn Readers not to reach this position in the future against Bill without exploring that move.
14...Re8 15.O-O-O Kf8
Black has castled-by-hand, but his King remains at risk, especially with White's lead in development.
16.Qh5 Kg7
The brave King defends his pawns - proving, again, how frustratingly backwards the Jerome Gambit can be sometimes for the defender. His best plan involved the alternative 16...Qd7, that is, a move that commits the classic error of blocking his light-squared Bishop, which in turn blocks his Queenside Rook...
17.Nd5 Be6
18.f5
Attacking the Bishop and un-protecting the Knight (which is protecting the Kingside).
Black is worried about the two minor pieces attacking his pawn at f6 and the subsequent possible fork of his King and Queen, so he figures it is time to eliminate the white Knight - alas, that will not work.
18...Bxd5 19.Qxg4+ Kh8 20.Qg6
Black resigned
White's Bishop will come to f6 with check, and either win the enemy Queen or force checkmate.
Sometimes you get to play - and I get to share - a light-hearted Jerome Gambit (yes, there are other kinds) that seems to skip along from beginning to end. The following game is an example from Bill Wall.
Wall, Bill - Guest2467942
PlayChess.com, 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4
d6 8.Nd2
According to The Database (which, admittedly, needs some updating), this is a novelty.
8...Nf6 9.O-O Rf8 10.Re1 Be6 11.f4 Nc6 12.Qc3 Kg8
Black has wisely castled-by-hand and even leads in development. The question for him, of course, is what to do next.
13.Nf3 Bg4 14.Qb3+ Kh8 15.Ng5
Threatening a fork at f7, which would win the exchange. This can be dealt with, but the hits keep on coming.
15...Qd7 16.f5 h6 17.Ne6 Rfe8
18.Qxb7 Na5 19.Qxc7 Nc6 20.Bf4 Ne5 21.Qxd7 Nfxd7 22.Nc7 Black resigned
After winning the exchange, White will have a Rook and three pawns for a couple of Knights. While this is not an overwhelming advantage - the position is more of a Queenless middlegame (where the pieces tend to hold sway) than an endgame (where the pawns preside) - it is certainly enough to produce a win for White over time. Likely Black shrugged his shoulders, whispered You win some, you lose some, and decided to move on.
One guiding principle in choosing a Jerome Gambit game to share is when it contains a dash of strangeness. The game below again shows the computer's interest in draws-by-repetition - and Bill Wall's interest in wins-by-checkmate.
Wall, Bill - Guest2616286
PlayChess.com, 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb6
We have recently seen examples of this reasonable line.
7.dxe5 Qh4
7...Qe7 was seen in Wall,B - NN, lichess.org, 2016 (1-0, 35).
8.Qf3+ Ke8
Better than 8...Ke7 as seen in Wall,B - Guest2293428, PlayChess.com, 2017 (1-0, 12) and Wall,B - Guest6766281, PlayChess.com, 2017 (1-0, 14).
9.O-O
Or 9.Nc3 as in Wall,B - Itboss, lichess.org 2016, (1-0, 31)
9...Ne7
10.Nc3 Rf8 11.Qe2 g5
Black sees opportunity on the Kingside. The risk is that old Jerome Gambit story: Black's light-squared Bishop is at home, blocking the development of a Rook.
12.Be3 Ng6 13.Nd5 Kd8 14.Qd2 h6
15.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nxc7
White shows a sense of humor. First he sacrifices a Bishop on f7, then he sacrifices a Knight on c7. Of course, in the latter case, he has a tactic to allow the recovery of the piece.
16...Kxc7 17.Qd6+ Kd8 18.Qxg6 Re8
Before this move, Stockfish 8 was not so comfortable with White's position, recommending as best 18...Ra6 (to provide help along the 6th rank after ...b5) 19.g3 Qh3 20.Rfd1 Re8 21.Qf6+ Kc7 22.Qd6+ Kd8 23.Qf6+ and a draw by repetition. Again, I do not think that dropping a half point was in Bill's plans.
After the text, the issue of extra pawns vs extra piece becomes immaterial.
19.Qxb6+ Ke7 20.Qf6 checkmate
Of course, when it comes to selecting Jerome Gambit games, it is always pleasant to find one that shows a powerful attack. In the following game, Black is quite willing to mix it up with his opponent. White, however, has more sacrifices in store, and the board quickly erupts in flames. Certainly this battle bids for Jerome Gambit game of the year!
Wall, Bill - Bojovic, Dejan
PlayChess.com, 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qe7
Protecting the Knight, while establishing a veiled threat against the e-pawn and the King behind it.
8.O-O Nf6
An improvement over 8...c5 9.Qd5+ Qe6 10.Qxc5 Ne7 11.f4 d6 12.fxe5+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Anonymous, lichess.org, 2016.
9.Nc3 Nc6
Probably better than 9...c6 10.f4 Ng6 11.e5 Ng4 12.h3 Nh6 13.f5 Nh4 14.f6 gxf6 15.exf6 Nf3+ 16.Rxf3 Qe6 17.Bxh6 Rg8 18.Qd3 d5 19.Qxh7+ Ke8 20.f7+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest2327120, PlayChess.com, 2014.
10.Qd3 Nb4 11.Qc4+ Kf8
Black would have done better to complicate things with 11...d5 12.exd5 Nxc2.
12.e5 Nh5
Black's Knights do not impress.
Stockfish 8, which always seems to keep an eye out for the draw, recommends 12...Ne8 13.Qf4+ Kg8 14.Qc4+ Kf8 and repetition. I can't see Bill wanting to wrap things up so quickly - at the cost of surrendering a half point.
13.f4
Protecting the e-pawn and considering possible pawn advances. Also available was the fork of the two Knights, 13.Qg4.
13...Nxc2
The Rook on a1 looks like a good target, but this adventure will not turn out well.
14.Nd5 Qe6 15.Qxc7
It is not easy to see that 15.f5 is playable, as after 15...Qc6 16.Qe4 Black would have 16...Nxa1. However, White would have complex but strong play after either 17.Bg5!? or 17.f6.
White's choice in the game is practical, and still offers the Rook sacrifice. Black would now do better to decline it with 15...Qxd5 16.Qxc2 d6 17.Be3 Qf7 18.Rad1 Bf5 although White would be at least even in a complicated position.
15...Nxa1 16.f5
Bill's idea - offer more material!
16...Qxd5
The only move that avoids checkmate. Wow.
17.Qd8+ Kf7 18.e6+ dxe6 19.fxe6+ Kxe6
20.Re1+ Qe5 21.Rxe5+ Kxe5 22.Qxh8 Nc2 23.Qe8+ Black resigned
For the moment Black has two Knights and a Rook for his Queen, but he is going to drop the piece on h5 right away. The placement of his King, and the agility of the enemy Queen guarantee that another piece, as well as a few pawns, will also disappear soon after.
Of course, given a selection of Jerome Gambit games, it is always fun to find a short win for White. Often the game is a good lesson in "crime and punishment".
Wall, Bill - Guest2614882
PlayChess.com, 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4
d6
8.O-O Ne7 9.f4 N7c6
You attack my Knight, I will attack your Queen.
Sometimes this strategy works, but here things are about to become difficult for Black.
10.fxe5+ Ke7
As will quickly become clear, 10...Ke8 was necessary.
11.exd6+ Ke6
Finding the short way to the end of the game. There was only suffering after 11...Qxd6, e.g. 12.Qxg7+ Ke8 13.Qxh8+ Kd7 14.Be3 b6
15.Nc3 Nd4 16.Bxd4 h6 17.Rf7+ Kc6 18.Rf6 Qxf6 19.Qxf6+ etc.
12.Qd5+ Kd7 13.Qf5+ Kxd6 14.Qd5+ Ke7 15.Bg5+ Ke8 16.Qf7 checkmate
Working through the latest selection of Bill Wall's Jerome Gambits, I think the next criterion I use for chosing games is when Black invents his own defensive ideas to counter White's attack. I could have chosen "short games" as a criterion, although in the case of the following game, both would apply.
Wall, Bill - Guest2613563
PlayChess.com, 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb6
7.dxe5 Bxf2+
As covered in the previous post, 7...Qh4 was the sharpest response.
Instead, Black decides that if White's sacrifice of his Bishop was strong, then maybe Black should do the same thing.
8.Kxf2 Qh4+ 9.g3 Qxe4
Previously seen was 9...Qe7 10.Rf1 Qxe5 11.Kg1+ Nf6 12.Nc3 d6 13.Nd5 c6 14.Nxf6 gxf6 15.Bf4 Qc5+ 16.Kg2 Be6 17.Qxd6 Qxd6 18.Bxd6 Rad8 19.e5 Bd5+ 20.Kg1 Ke6 21.Rxf6+ Black resigned, HauntedKnight - Wxbas, FICS, 2014.
10.Re1
Instead, 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qf3+ Qxf3+ 12.Kxf3 was okay, although White was eventually out-played: 12...Ne7 13.Rf1 Kg7 14.Bg5 Nf5 15.Bf6+ Kg8 16.Bxh8 Kxh8 17.Nc3 Nd4+ 18.Kg2 Nxc2 19.Rf8+ Kg7 20.Rc1 Ne3+ 21.Kf3 Kxf8 22.Kxe3 d6 23.exd6 cxd6 24.Nd5 Be6 25.Nf6 Kg7 26.Ne4 Bxa2 27.Nxd6 b6 28.Rc7+ Kh6 29.h4 Rd8 30.Nf7+ Bxf7 31.Rxf7 a5 32.Rb7 Rd6 33.g4 g5 34.h5 Re6+ 35.Kf3 Rf6+ 36.Kg3 Rd6 37.Ra7 Rd3+ 38.Kf2 Rd2+ 39.Ke3 Rxb2 40.Ra6 Kg7 41.Ra7+ Kg8 42.h6 Rc2 43.Rg7+ Kh8 44.Rxg5 a4 45.Rf5 Kg8 46.Rb5 Rc6 47.g5 Kf7 48.Rf5+ Kg6 49.Kf4 Rc4+ 50.Ke5 Rc5+ White resigned, HauntedKnight - ravenga, FICS, 2014.
10...Qf5+
This move looks like it accomplishes two things at once, removing Her Majesty from the attack by the Rook, and attacking the endmy King. Still, the open f-file is full of danger, and putting both the Queen and King on it is asking for trouble. Safer was 10...Qc6.
11.Kg2
Or 11.Kg1 Ne7 12.Rf1 Qxf1+ 13.Qxf1+ Ke8 14.Bg5 Rf8 15.Qc4 c6 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 17.Nc3 b5 18.Qc5+ Ke8 19.e6 dxe6 20.Qxc6+ Black resigned, bemillsy - Dubnobase, FICS, 2012.
11...b6
Planning to put the Bishop on the long diagonal and harass the enemy King. Black is caught up in his counter-attack. A little disrespect is involved, as well.
12.Rf1 Bb7+ 13.Kg1 Black resigned
So far, in this and the previous post, we have yet to consider a tense, theoretical battle over the Jerome Gambit - but that is an important point. Black is often so underwhelmed by his opponent's opening that he fails to bring his A Game, or his B Game, or sometimes even his C Game... And White must and can take advantage of that.
I just received 10 new Jerome Gambit games from Bill Wall, certainly one of the strongest players to routinely use the Jerome.
Which games to share? Which one to share first?
Those are funny questions.
I often start with a game that shows a defender who does not give the Jerome Gambit the "proper" amount of respect. Sometimes that shows up in overly casual play - because, as we all know, the Jerome is a refuted opening and therefore is hardly worth any attention at all...
In the following game the defender starts out with gusto, but loses focus before a dozen moves are played. That's okay, right? I mean, a garbage opening can be defeated with half your brain tied behind your back, right?
Wall, Bill - Guest2293428
PlayChess.com, 2017
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+
4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bb6
A reasonable line. This is a good start.
7.dxe5 Qh4
This is properly aggressive, even if Bill has seen it before.
8.Qf3+ Ke7 9.O-O Nh6
Development, that's the key.
10.Nc3 Rf8 11.Nd5+ Kd8
Uh, what was the question...?
12.Qxf8 checkmate
If you play the Jerome Gambit, you have to grab these opportunities when they occur - and they will occur surprisingly often.
