Jerome Gambit: Today's Lesson

In chess, sometimes you give a lesson, sometimes you learn a lesson. This seems especially true in the Jerome Gambit.

Here is one of Bill Wall's recent games. As often happens, he is the teacher.

Wall, Bill - Guest7925523
PlayChess.com, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Ng6

I noticed that The Database has games of Jerome Gambit regulars HauntedKnight, jfhumphrey, ndrwgn, stretto and yorgos facing this move, so it is worth being prepared for it.

7.dxc5 Nf6 

Or 7...d6 8.Qd5+ Be6 9.Qxb7 N8e7 10.f4 Bc4 11.Nd2 Rb8 12.Qxa7 Bb5 13.cxd6 cxd6 14.a4 Bd7 15.O-O Qb6+ 16.Qxb6 Rxb6 17.Nc4 Rc6 18.b3 Be6 19.f5 Bxc4 20.fxg6+ Kxg6 21.bxc4 Rxc4 22.Ra3 Rxe4 23.Rg3+ Kh5 24.Rg5+ Kh4 25.g3+ Kh3 26.Rh5+ Kg4 27.Rh4 checkmate, Wall,B - TenAndOnly10, lichess.org, 2016. 

8.Be3 

Bill has also played 8.Nc3, e.g. 8...Re8 (8...Qe7 9.Qd4 Re8 10.O-O Kg8 11.Bg5 Qe5 12.Qc4+ d5 13.cxd6+ Be6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qb4 cxd6 16.Rad1 Red8 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Qxe4 19.Qxe4 Black resigned, Wall,B - Silveira,J, lichess.org, 2016) 9.O-O Kg8 10.Re1 d6 11.cxd6 Qxd6 12.Qf3 Bg4 13.Qe3 Nd7 14.h3 Be6 15.Rd1 Qe7 16.f4 Bf7 17.b3 Nf6 18.e5 c6 19.Qf2 Nd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.c4 Bf7 22.Bb2 Nf8 23.f5 Rad8 24.Qxa7 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rd8 26.Rxd8 Qxd8 27.Bd4 g6 28.e6 Bxe6 29.fxe6 Nxe6 30.Be5 Qc8 31.Qb8 Qxb8 32.Bxb8 Kf7 33.Kf2 Ng5 34.Bf4 Ne4+ 35.Ke3 Nc3 36.a4 Ke6 37.Bh6 Nd1+ 38.Ke2 Nc3+ 39.Kd3 Nd1 40.Bd2 h5 41.Ke2 Nb2 42.Bc1 Nxa4 43.bxa4 Kd6 44.a5 Kc5 45.Kd3 b5 46.Ba3+ b4 47.Bxb4+ Kxb4 48.a6 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest688630, PlayChess.com, 2017. 

8...Re8 9.Nc3 

Black has done well. He has a piece for two pawns, and his King is almost safe. But, now he becomes careless, instead of asking himself: Is that pawn on e4 actually available? (Perhaps we are dealing with a negative "halo effect" as well.)

9...Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Rxe4 

11.Qf3+ 

I guess not. Now Black's game falls apart.

11...Qf6 12.Qxe4 d5 13.Qxd5+ Be6 14.Qxb7 Black resigned

White is ahead an exchange and three pawns.

Jerome Gambit Secrets #4

One of my favorite Jerome Gambit "secrets" has actually been solved, but the story is always a good one to tell. And tell again.

Let's look at a line.

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8

About 4 1/2 years ago I posted about this move

As early as his first article with analysis (Dubuque Chess Journal 4/1874), Alonzo Wheeler Jerome considered the possibility that Black might refuse to capture the second piece, and play for King safety instead with 5...Kf8.  

This was, in fact, the defense that Jerome, himself, credited to G. J. Dougherty, ("a strong amateur, against whom I first played the opening") of Mineola, New York, in a yet unfound game; that O.A. Brownson, editor of the Dubuque Chess Journal, played against Jerome in an 1875 game (Dubuque Chess Journal3/1875); that magazine editor William Hallock used against D.P. Norton in an 1876 correspondence game played “by special request” to test the gambit (American Chess Journal 2/1877); that William Carrington tried in his 1876 match vs Mexican Champion Andres Clemente Vazquez (Algunas Partidas de Ajedrez Jugadas en Mexico, 1879); and which Lt. Soren Anton Sorensen recommended as “more solid and easier to manage” in his seminal Jerome Gambit essay (Nordisk Skaktidende 5/1877). 

It is interesting that early in Jerome's Gambit's life, there were players willing to accept one "gift" but who were skeptical of accepting two "gifts".

6.Qh5

This move shows up in 38 games in The Database, with White scoring 49%.

As I noted

White also has the option of playing 6.Qh5, the Banks Variation, as in Banks - Rees, Halesowen, 2003, when Black can transpose with 6…Nxe5  as recommended by the American Chess Journal, (3/1877) - "The continuation adopted by Jerome, Qh5 looks promising." 

Pete Banks ("blackburne" online), a stalwart member of the Jerome GambitGemeinde (and still the strongest player I know who has played the Jerome regularly over-the-board in rated contests), brought international attention to Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's invention by writing to International Master Gary Lane, who commented at length on the opening, and on a couple of Banks' games, in his March ("The Good Old Days") and April ("Chess Made Easy") 2008 "Opening Lanes" columns at ChessCafe.com. IM Lane also mentioned one of Banks' games in his The Greatest Ever chess tricks and traps (2008), which reprised some of the earlier material. 

It is humorous to note that in his "Opening Lanes" column Lane wrote, after 5.Nxe5+, "I think anyone with good manners playing Black would now kindly ask their opponent if they wanted to take their move back" while in his book he changed this to "I think anyone with good manners playing Black would now go to another room to carry on laughing." 

Apropos the Banks Variation itself (i.e. playing 6.Qh5 in response to 5...Kf8), IM Lane noted in "The Good Old Days" that "6...Qe7 is a good alternative [to 6...Qf6 of Banks - Rees], because it stops the checkmate and protects the bishop on c5." 

A few months later, 6...Qe7 was tested successfully in a GameKnot.com game, splott - mika76, 2008: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 6.Qh5 Qe7 7.Ng6+ hxg6 8.Qxh8 Qxe4+ 9.Kf1 Qd4 10.Ke1 Qxf2+ 11.Kd1 d6 12.h3 Qxg2 13.Re1 Qf3+ 14.Re2 Bf2 15.d3 Nd4 16.Nc3 Qh1+ 17.Kd2 Nf3 checkmate. Clearly White, the very-slightly-higher rated player, was taken aback by the move. I asked mika76 if he had been influenced by IM Lane's recommendation, but he said he had come up with the move himself.

Jerome Gambit Secrets #3

As mentioned in the first "Jerome Gambit Secrets" post

If you play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) you know that the best source of information on the opening is this blog. 

If you face the Jerome Gambit, however, the best source of information on defending against the opening is - this blog.
Across the 10 years that I have shared history, games and analysis, I have done my best to give the lines that give White the greatest opportunities to snatch victory from the jaws of this defeated - er, "refuted" - opening. 

I have also not shied away from presenting the various refutations, as well. 

Sometimes players have used my suggestions. Sometimes they have not. The "Jerome Gambit Secrets" posts will re-visit suggestions that appear to remain unplayed.

 Take for example, the play based on the following game. 

Blackstone, John - Dommeyer, Carl
skittles game, Campbell, California, 1960

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7

5.Nxe5+ Ke8 

Black decides to mix things up - some psychological warfare, perhaps - although the move is not "best". This is the first game example that I have in The Database (56,000+ Jerome and Jerome-ish games), but the position ultimately appears in 71 games; White scores 66%.

6.Qh5+

The Database gives this move in 34 games, and White scores 79%.

With that kind of success, it is not surprising that the improvement, 6.Nxc6, has not received as much play. The problem with the improvement it that it, too, faces an improvement.

The move 6.Nxc6 appears in 15 games in The Database, with White scoring 70%. That is a very reasonable outcome for the first player, but comparatively less successful than the text move, 6.Qh5+.

Why, then, choose this "better" move, especially since it can be met by 6...Qh4!? first mentioned in "You, too, can add to Jerome Gambit theory!" - and still having no examples in The Database? After all, Stockfish 9 recommends the messy 7.d4 Qxe4+ 8.Be3 bxc6 9.dxc5 Qxg2 10.Kd2 Qd5+ 11.Kc1 Ne7 12.Nc3 Qxd1+ 13.Rxd1 and White has an edge due to his bind on the Queenside, but it is not something to get too excited about.

analysis diagram





How is this better than the play in the game? Let's see.

6...g6 7.Nxg6 Bxf2+

Another psychological ploy for the defender in the Jerome Gambit is the "If you can sacrifice a Bishop, so can I!" maneuver. While not often useful, it is the best move in this position, as Black gets a pawn for the piece, instead of letting it hang. 

8.Kxf2

It seems fair to mention that 8.Kf1?! was played in jecree - lhoffman, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 24), although the improvement 8...Nf6!? (which I mentioned 2 1/2 years ago in "A Long Day In the Life of the Jerome", and which has not yet appeared in The Database) would have likely reversed the outcome of the game. 

8...Qf6+ 

This move was played in all 5 games in The Database to reach this position, with White scoring 80%.

I am not sure of the attraction of the Queen move (except that it delivers check), but much better is 8...Nf6!?, mentioned here a decade ago, and still, as far as I know, unplayed. After Stockfish 9's 9.Qh4 Rg8 10.Rf1 Rxg6 11.Kg1 Qe7 12.d3 Black has a piece for two pawns and a more comfortable King than he often has in the Jerome Gambit, with better development - an advantage.

That is one argument in favor of the alternative 6.Nxc6.

After 9.Nf4+ Kd8 10.d3 Blackstone consolidated his game, had the advantage, and won in 13 moves. White took risks, and won - a very fine outcome for the Jerome Gambit.

Jerome Gambit Secrets #2

As mentioned in the first "Jerome Gambit Secrets"

If you play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) you know that the best source of information on the opening is this blog. 

If you face the Jerome Gambit, however, the best source of information on defending against the opening is - this blog.
Across the 10 years that I have shared history, games and analysis, I have done my best to give the lines that give White the greatest opportunities to snatch victory from the jaws of this defeated - er, "refuted" - opening. 

I have also not shied away from presenting the various refutations, as well. 

Sometimes players have used my suggestions. Sometimes they have not. The "Jerome Gambit Secrets" posts will re-visit suggestions that appear to remain unplayed.

 Take for example, the following line of play. 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

The Semi-Italian opening. Black is being careful, but the possible waste of a move and the possible weakening of the Kingside can get White thinking Jerome Gambit thoughts.

4.0-0

This is different than the 4.Nc3 seen in MIG - jfer, 3 0 blitz, FICS, 2001 (1-0, 11), the subject of Jerome Gambit Secrets #1. But - is it a difference that makes a difference?

4...Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxe5 

Here we have a position from perrypawnpusher - islanderchess, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2008 (1-0, 46). In fact, there are 10 games with this position in The Database - all played by me - and White has won every time.

However, if you play this line with White, it is important that you not become overconfident. As far back as December 2, 2008 on this blog, I recommended that Black play the retrograde 8...Bf8!?, as then the Rook in the corner is off limits: 9.Qxh8? Bg7 10.Qh7 Nf6 and the White Queen is lost.

If The Database is any indication, 8...Bf8 has not yet been tried in this position in any game.

For the record, Stockfish 9 recommends the line 8...Bf8 9.Nc3 d6 10.Qg3 Ne7 11.d4 Bg7 12.Ne2 (it also considers 12.d5, 12.Qd3 and 12.Be3) with Black having the traditional advantage of a piece for two pawns, and White having play with his central "Jerome pawns" against Black's somewhat exposed King.

Analysis diagram

Jerome Gambit Secrets #1

If you play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) you know that the best source of information on the opening is this blog.

If you face the Jerome Gambit, however, the best source of information on defending against the opening is - this blog.

Across the 10 years that I have shared history, games and analysis, I have done my best to give the lines that give White the greatest opportunities to snatch victory from the jaws of this defeated - er, "refuted" - opening.

I have also not shied away from presenting the various refutations, as well.

Sometimes players have used my suggestions. Sometimes they have not. The "Jerome Gambit Secrets" posts will re-visit suggestions that appear to remain unplayed. Occasionally, they will introduce new suggestions. Take for example, the following game. 

MIG - jfer
3 0 blitz, FICS, 2001

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

The Semi-Italian opening. Black is careful to prevent Ng5 by White.

4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxe5 Bd6

Perhaps Black remembered ...g6 from the Blackburne defense, and felt comfortable giving up the Rook on h8. If so, this game is not the best example of analysis by analogy. Maybe the 3-minute blitz game was going so fast...

9.Qxh8 Nf6 10.Qxd8 Be7 11.Qxc7 Black resigned

Okay, no disrespect to the players, but the game did not show either at the top of their skill level. Again, perhaps the time control was a major factor.

Still, Black could have offered the Rook with a different 8th move: 8...Bf8!?. White would take his Queen's life in his hands if he continued 9.Qxh8? Bg7 10.Qh7 Nf6 and Her Majesty is a goner.

The Database has a half-dozen games with the same position after 8.Qxe5 - all wins for White. In none of the games did Black find the dangerous Bishop retreat. (The Database needs some updating, but, when it is, I am confident that 8...Bf8 will not show up there.)

Stockfish 9 suggests a complicated line that leaves White with 3 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but still gives Black the advantage: 8...Bf8!? 9.Nd5 Nf6 10.Nxc7 d6 11.Qc3 Rb8 12.d3 Bg7 13.Qb3+ Ke7 14.Nb5 a6 15.Nd4 Nxe4 16.Qb4 a5 17.Nc6+ Kf8 18.Nxa5 Nf6 19.0–0 Nd5 20.Qb5 Be6 21.Re1 Bf7 22.c4 Nc7 23.Qb4 Na6 24.Qd2.  I like Black's Bishop pair.

    


Analysis diagram

Jerome Gambit: Naughty Opening

I have a Google Alert set up to notify me about the appearances of the name "Jerome Gambit" on the internet.

This morning it returned a link to a discussion on Reddit.com started by Chessmusings, that leads off

My favorite "naughty opening" is the Jerome Gambit. What's yours?

Cool. I appreciate the mention of my name, and this blog as well.

Jerome Gambit: Jerome Pawns Run Riot

Often White gets "only" 2 pawns for a sacrificed piece in the Jerome Gambit. Yet, if the defender is not careful, those "Jerome pawns" can run riot all over his position.

This latest game from "Cliff Hardy" is a brutal example of such pawns.

By the way, it is also another lightning game - 1 minute to complete the game, no increment. In such situations, a quick appraisal of the position in front of you is essential, and experience in what to look for and value is an advantage. Cliff takes a critical look at his - and his opponent's - moves, but it is all in the service of sharpening his eye for his next Jerome Gambit encounter.

The following notes are his. I have added diagrams. - Rick 

Happy birthday yet again, now you've reached the age of ten! 

I liked the following game as the Jerome pawns were quite successful in it. If only you could force opponents to defend against the Jerome Gambit like you can in a Giuoco Piano themed tournament, like the one in which I played this game, where the first 3 moves for White and Black were obligatory.

I know I am a little critical of the moves sometimes, but when you are looking at the game afterwards with the help of the Stockfish chess engine, it can be easy to be critical 😉. 

Cliff Hardy (2184) - NN (2041), 
1 0 Giuoco Piano tournament, 2018

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 Be6?! =+ 

It appears my opponent is not used to defending against the Jerome Gambit as this bishop is running headlong into the pawn fork f2-f4-f5 - 9...Nf6 instead would have kept a clear advantage for Black.

10.0-0 N8e7?! +=

Surprisingly, this defensive move was a big error that allowed my Jerome pawns a bit too much latitude - 10...Nf6 11.f4 Ne7! would have restrained the white pawns and kept a slight advantage for Black.

11.f4 Bd7 12.d4 Rf8 13.f5 Nh8 

13...Nh4 moves in Jerome Gambit games often run into the pawn move g3, trapping the knight, so my opponent chose to retreat to the corner instead.

14.Nc3 Nf7!

Restraining the Jerome pawns.

15.Qg3 Rg8 16.Bf4?! +=

Even though it could be captured there by a knight, putting the bishop to g5 would have been much more incisive, with a clear advantage for White.

16...Nc6 17.Rad1 Qe7?

Black struggled to find a liberating move under the strain of the Jerome pawns - 17...g5!? would have been an interesting attempt to free himself.

18.Nd5 Qd8 19.c3 Ne7 20.Nxe7?! 

20. Ne3! would have kept Black cramped and left White with a clear advantage. 

 20...Qxe7 

21.e5

The Jerome pawns start going on a rampage.

21...dxe5 22.dxe5?

Too much rampaging! 23.Rde1!, keeping open the options of taking on e5 with either the pawn or bishop, would have kept a clear advantage for White.

22...Bc6?

Black missed a chance here - 22...Bxf5 would have turned the tables and left black with a slight advantage.

23.e6 Nd6 24.Bg5??

I was staggered to find out after the game that this was a big blunder - 24.Bxd6 cxd6 25.f6! ++- (intending fxe7 or f7+) would have been a fitting triumph for the Jerome pawns.

24...Qf8?? ++-

24...Ne4! 25.Bxe7 Nxg3 26.hxg3 Kxe7 -++ would have been much better, when the extra bishop for Black would likely have proven to have been decisive.

25.Qe5 g6

Now the Jerome pawns run riot completely though Black was totally lost anyway - he can hardly move a piece.

26.f6 h6 27.f7+ Nxf7 28.exf7 checkmate

Suitably, a Jerome pawn got to complete the mate.