BSJG: A Riot of A 3-Minute Battle

I recently received a couple of games from shugart, who plays online at the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS). He has about 150 games in The Database, and they tend to be like the following, "a riot of a 3-minute battle" (see "Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit: Risk vs Experience").

Please do not hurry to run to the nearest computer engine, just relax and enjoy the full-out conflict.

shugart - Tseatsy

3 0 blitz, FICS, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit. A tricky opening that probably works best in fast time control games like this one.

4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

According to The Database, Tseatsy has encountered this move at least 28 times, scoring 61%. A fine opponent for shugart!

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Qh5 

Like White's 4th, this is a signature move of the Jerome Gambit and its relatives. At a slower time control, 6.c3 might be the move of choice, but here White is commanding: Think fast!

Checking The Database, I note that Tseatsy had not faced this move before this day.

6...Nf6 7.Qf7+ 

More sacrifice. At some point Black's King will catch his breath and count up his riches - if White gives him a chance.  

7...Kxe5 8.f4+ Kxf4 9.O-O+ Ke5 

Black is ahead a couple of pieces, but, oh, that King!

10.d3 Ne2+ 11.Kh1 Nxc1 12.Rf5+ 

White is not going to win the match on points, he is going for the knockout.

12...Kd6 13.e5+ Kc6 14.Qc4+ Bc5 15.Nc3 d6 16.Qb5 checkmate

Very nice!

(By the way, this was the second time that day that Tseatsy faced the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit at the hands of shugart. This game lasted a move longer than the earlier one - as we shall see next post.)

Jerome Gambit: In the Meantime

White waiting for the second round to begin in the "Italian Battleground" tournament at Chess.com, (1 game to go now in Group 3, although it will determine the final player to advance to the second round), I decided to join the "Let's Play The Italian Game" tournament on that site, as well: 15 players, split into 5 groups of 3, the winner of each trio advances. I have played 3 games so far - one of them a Jerome Gambit (yay!). (I won a game with Black, and another game with White that I was unable to transform a Two Knights into an Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.) 

I also wandered over online to FICS, and was able to snag a blitz game - against an opponent who was probably having a bad day. Still, the game had a bright moment for me - because I remembered the recent post here, "Jerome Gambit Secrets #5"!

perrypawnpusher - juliebabe
6 12 blitz, FICS, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Ne7

Black hits back against the White Queen - in this situation, it is not enough.

In "Jerome Gambit Secrets #5" I noted

When I posted the game on this blog, back then, I recommended, instead [of 8...Ne7], 8...Qh4!?, which  had been played a number of times before - as early as a supposed 1899 telephone game - and which continued to be played, year after year. (So: 8...Qh4 isn't much of a "secret".)

The odd thing is, when I was reviewing the current game I had Stockfish 9 do a "blunder check", and it recommended that Black's King simply walk away with 8...Kc6!?, allowing 9.Qxe5, but giving Black a won game. The Database has 3 games with this suggestion, all wins for Black. (I can't decide if keeping the 8...Kc6 secret from the "Secret" was intentional or sloppiness.)

9.Qxe5+ Kc6 10.Qc3

It would be hard to forget this move after playing over Hardy, C. - NN, 10 0 blindfold, lichess.org, 2018 (1-0, 13) - " 10.Qc3!, intending 11.b4 or 11.d4, with a strong attack".

10...d6

Nine years ago I played a game that continued 10...Qf8 11.d4 Qf6 12.Qxc5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - nicolasalk, blitz, FICS, 2009, but it had slipped my mind. 

11.d4 Kd7 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.O-O b6

The distractions of the Jerome Gambit are too much. It does not help that the computer considers as best even more King wandering, i.e. 13...Kc6 14. Qf3 Kb6 although Black would still be lost.

14.Rd1+ Ke8 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 Black resigned

LAPOC revisited

I stopped back at the LAPOC (Learn And Play Online Chess) website that I visited earlier this year (see "LAPOC") and noticed that the "Build Rapid Attacks in the Jerome Gambit" article - found under "Gambit Your Way Through the KPG" - has been joined by a look at the Abrahams Jerome Gambit called "Put It All on Black with the Jerome Gambit", found in "Gambit through Bishops Opening Chess"

Why Play the Jerome Gambit?

I have posted on this blog various novelties and critical variations in the Jerome Gambit. I have shared Jerome blindfold games and games that are over after only a few sips of coffee. 

One of my favorite types of Jerome Gambit games is the one that announces, once again, "This is why I play the Jerome".

The following game - the latest from chessfriend Vlasta Fejfar - is a good example. White enters a line that he has played successfully before. Black is just getting comfortable in his defense, when he gets too comfortable - and a tactical shot turns the game into a miniature win by White.

vlastous - hobi

internet, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Qf6 8.Rf1

The Database has 74 games, with this position. White scores 66%.

8...g6 

Vlasta has also faced 8...Nc6 in Fejfar,V - Vins, corr Czech Republic, 2015 (1-0, 23) and 8...Nd3+ in Vlastous - Kombe, internet, 2017, (1-0, 22). 

9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.fxe5 Qxe5 11.Qf3 Nf6 

Or 11...Qf6, as in vlastous - Marwan 86, internet, 2018, (1-0, 20) 

12.Nc3 d5 

Often this move is strong and liberating for Black - but not here, as White has a tactical answer. More prudent was 12...c6, as in Vlastous - Daboa, ChessManiac.com, 2016, (1-0, 42)

13.Qxf6+ Qxf6 14.Nxd5+ Black resigned

After White captures the Queen he will simply be 2 pawns up - 1 of them passed and protected. Black's "two Bishops" is not sufficient compensation, in either the Queenless middle game or the end game.

Jerome Gambit: New Video

I just encountered the chess website of Rajendra Salokhe, who has a number of interesting videos there, including a pleasant one on the Jerome Gambit - he appears to be new to the gambit, and plays through several games, showing appreciation of the risk and excitement of the play.

This video has wins by White. He promises another video, with wins by Black.

Jerome Gambit: Not Taking It Seriously Is Taking A Risk

Vlasta Fejfar sends a Jerome Gambit game that is another reminder to defenders the world over: take the opening seriously enough to get out of it alive, or risk losing a full point.

vlastous -asimgorci
internet, 2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6 

If only the Jerome Gambit were this simple: protect the Knight and stay two pieces ahead. Besides, if White thinks he can x-ray attack Black's King with 7.Qg5+?, winning the Queen, there's simply 7...g5! and all is well. 

On the other hand, The Database shows that White scores 79% in 56 games with 6...Kf6, so White has every reason to be skeptical. 

7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf8 

It is interesting to note the number of Jerome Gambit games
that reached this position - with Black to move. The move order, however, was 6...Kf8 7.Qxe5. In the current game, White simply captures the second piece.

9.Qxc5+ d6 10.Qc3 Nf6 11.d3 g6 

White is ahead 2 pawns. It is not clear what Black intends with this move - although it weakens two dark diagonals. 

12.Bh6+ Kf7 13.O-O Be6 

It looks like Black almost has his game together.

14.Nd2 Ng4

Hoping to chase away White's Bishop, but actually ending the game. 

15.Qg7+ Black resigned

Black will drop his Rook at h8 after 15...Ke8 16.Qxh8+ and a simple exchange of Queens with 16...Kd7 17.Qxh7+ Qe7 18.Qxe7+ Kxe7 19.Bg5+ will leave White up an insurmountable Rook and 3 pawns.

Jerome Gambit: Refutation

A recent visit to the Chess Only site -"This site will improve your Chess. Learn chess openings, chess endgame, chess traps. See best chess games of top chess players."- put me in touch with a post on the "Jerome Gambit Trap".

Included is the Refutation to the Jerome Gambit.

Do yourselves a favor, take advantage of Chess Only's generosity, check out the refutation. If you don't you might fall into the same ignominity that Black did in Banks - Karmmark, 2007, a 10-move checkmate that the site leads off with.