Jerome Gambit: Merry Christmas!

Here is my latest letter from Cliff Hardy - a Jerome Gambit game (time limit: bullet, one minute, no increment - in this game, about a second per move.) with a timely Christmas motif! I have added some diagrams, but the commentary is all his - Rick

Merry Christmas, Rick!

This game intrigued me as Black was unusual in being able to find the excellent 11...Kc6! move in this variation. Unfortunately, he was forced soon after that to become really generous this Christmas, as the presents began to be handed out...

Cliff Hardy (2286) - NN (2532)

1 0, Lichess, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ 

If you expect to receive presents, you should give some first!

5...Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qf3 Nf6 

11.d3 Kc6!

Very rare for someone to find this risky-looking but pugnacious move - and in bullet too!

12.Nc3

I'm never quite sure in this variation whether to play c3 or Nc3.

12...d5 13.Bf4 dxe4 14.dxe4 Qe6??

Black gives a Christmas present! 14...Qh5! -++, intending 15.e5+ Qxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5, would have been very strong for him.

15.0-0-0?? =

It's Christmas time and White proves to be very charitable! I didn't realise that 15.e5+ Nd5 ++- doesn't really hang in for Black e.g. 16.0-0-0 Rd8 17.Nxd5 Rxd5 18.c4, when the pinned Black rook will require wrapping paper and a gift tag.

15...a6?? ++- 

You know that moment at Christmas when you graciously refuse a Christmas present but the giver continually thrusts it upon you? A complex game would have arisen after 15...Qg4! 16.Qf1! (threatening checkmate in one with 17.Qb5#) 16...b6 =, when Black's exposed king compensates for White's sacrificed bishop.

16. e5+ Kb6 17. exf6 Qxf6??

Another present for me? Why, thank you! Stockfish rated the position before this move as lost for Black anyway, due to his exposed king, but I admit it all looked very unclear to me! Now though, it was fairly easy to take out the win and the rest of the game was uneventful.

18.Nd5+ Ka7 19.Nxf6 gxf6 20.Qc3 Bb6 

21.Be3 Bg4 22.Bxb6+ cxb6 23.Rd6 Bf5 24.Qxf6 Rhf8 25.Qd4 Rac8 26.Qxb6+ Ka8 27.c3 Be4 28.Rhd1 Bxg2 29.Rd8 Kb8 30.Rxf8 Rxf8 31.Rd8+ Rxd8 32.Qxd8+ Ka7 

33.Qd4+ Kb8 34.Qg7 Bc6 35.Qxh7 Ka7 36.Qh8 a5 37.h4 Kb6 38.Qd4+ Kb5 39.h5 a4 40.h6 a3 41.b3 Ka6 42.c4 Be4 43.h7 Bxh7 44.Qd5 Ka7 45.Qb5 Bg8 46.Qa5+ Kb8 47.Qd8+ Ka7 48.Qxg8 Kb6 

49.c5+ Kxc5 50.Qc4+ Kb6 51.Qa4 Kc5 52.Qxa3+ Kd4 53.Qa4+ Kc5 54.Qc4+ Kb6 55.b4 Ka7 56.Qc5+ Kb8 57.Qb5 Ka7 58.a4 b6 59.a5 Kb7 60.Qxb6+ Kc8 61.a6 Kd7 62.Qb7+ Ke8 63.a7 Kd8 64.a8=Q checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Themes

The following game is chock full of Jerome Gambit moves and themes. It is an enjoyable argument for adding that "refuted" opening to your repertoire, if only for light entertainment.

Wall, Bill - Guest2047860
PlayChess.com, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

What to do about the pawn fork? The simplest idea is 6...Bxd4, giving back a piece for a pawn. Black opts for something a bit more complicated.

6...Bb4+ 7.c3

Now, what?

Well, The Database suggests 7...Qh4!?, which has 13 wins for Black, against 2 losses, although it is fair to point out that those 2 wins for White were by Bill Wall.

Or, the Knight can retreat with either 7...Nb6 or 7...Nc6, giving up the Bishop.

Or the Bishop can retreat with 7...Be7, giving up the Knight.

With an imaginary smile on its face, Stockfish 10 suggests that even 7...Bc5 leads to Black's advantage.

7...Bxc3+ 

Giving up the piece for a pawn, after all, leading to a position where he has an edge.

8.Nxc3 

8...Ng6 9.O-O c6 

Black senses that Winter is coming, and takes early steps to limit White's developing pawn center.

It is interesting to note that The Database has no examples of either 9...d5 or 9...h5, Stockfish 10's recommendations. Maybe, I should give the alternative title of "Jerome Gambit Secrets #11" to today's post?

Jerome Gambit theory continues to expand and evolve. You, too, can add to it. 

10.f4 d6 

White goes through his checklist: pawn center, Rook on f-file, enemy King on f-file, actual enemy piece to kick with a pawn, possible pawn break in the center... 

11.f5 N6e7 12.Bg5 

Another thematic Jerome Gambit move, although it is usually aimed at a Knight at f6, not e7. In fact, Komodo 10 now suggests that Black "remedy" this situation with 12...Nf6, with an even game.

12...h6

It is natural to challenge a pin immediately, but, in this case, this is a mistake - encouraging another thematic Jerome Gambit move.

13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.f6 

The hits just keep on coming.

14...g6 

Leading to a delightful ending, but the stronger defense, 14...Nxf6, falls to 15.Bxf6, and White's heavy pieces will win the day.

15.fxe7+ Ke8 16.exd8=Q checkmate

Jerome Gambit Seesaw

The following Jerome Gambit includes an enjoyable "seesaw" (or "windmill") theme that sets this game apart from other 1-minute, no increment, wins for White. It must have been great fun for angelcamina.

angelcamina - ThiccFantano
1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. The Database shows that angelcamina is 23 - 0 - 1 with this line!

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Ng6 8.dxc5 Re8 9.O-O 

9...Nxe4

Risky, but he gets away with it - this time.

10.Nxe4 Rxe4 11.Qd5+ 

This is White's idea, but it comes in a better form with 11.Qf3+.

11...Re6 12.f4 Kg8 

Stepping off of the hot f-file, but staying on the uncomfortable a2-g8 diagonal. Better was 12...Ne7.

13.f5 Qf6 14.fxe6 Qxe6 15.Qxe6+ dxe6 

White is up the exchange. There is now a temporary lull in the action, as both sides renew their development.

16.Bd2 Bd7 17.Bc3 Bc6 18.Rae1 Re8 19.b3 Nh4 20.Re3 Nxg2 

Highlighting Black's Bishop along the a8-h1 diagonal. It is soon to be upstaged.

21.Rg3 Nh4 22.Rxg7+ Kh8 23.Rxc7+ 

The fun begins.

It seems unfair to point out 23.Rg3+ e5 24.Bxe5+ Rxe5 25.Rf8#.

23...Kg8 24.Rg7+ Kh8 25.Rxb7+ 

The fun continues. See the above note.

25...Kg8 26.Rg7+ Kh8 27.Rxa7+ 

As above.

27...Kg8 28.Rg7+ Kh8 29.Re7+ Kg8 30.Rxe8+ 

Ditto.

30...Bxe8 

White has a comfortable lead in material, and Black is running short of time (which explains some of his following moves).

31.Rf4 Bh5 32.Rxh4 Be2 33.Re4 Bb5 34.Rxe6 Bc6 35.Re7 Bd7 36.Rxd7 Kf8 37.c6 Ke8 38.b4 h5 39.b5 h4 40.b6 h3 41.b7 Black lost on time

Wonderful!

Jerome Gambit: Another Day In The Life Of

Here is another (see "Jerome Gambit: Full-Bodied Defense") Jerome Gambit game which should be routine and boring. Black makes a mistake on move 7, turning his clear advantage into a clear disadvantage. In fact, this had happened twice before in Bill Wall games, and they showed "1-0" in 10 moves or less (in a third game, Black struggled on for 10 more moves).

So, Bill takes his advantage and moves on to the win. Things were not that simple, though. Watch.

Wall, Bill - Anonymous
lichess.org, 2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 g6

It is fun, kicking White's Queen. However, this move gives up the Knight at e5 and the Rook at h8. (If you worry about being greedy, you can substitute capturing the Bishop at c5.)

8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxh8 

Here, Black resigned in Wall, Bill - DGTS, FICS, 2011. 

9...Qh4+ 10.g3

Here, Black resigned, in Wall, Bill - Guest1681797, PlayChess.com, 2013,

10...Qh3

Or 10...Qf6 11.Qxh7+ Qg7 12.Qxg7+ Kxg7 13.Nc3 d6 14.Nd5 Bb6 15.b3 Bg4 16.Bb2+ Kh7 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Kf2 Re8 19.h3 Be6 20.g4 Black resigned, Wall, Bill - Guest862403, Play.Chess.com 2014.

11.d3 d5 

So, here we go. White is up the exchange and a couple of pawns. His Queen is a bit uncomfortable in the corner, at h8, however, and his King is not altogether safe. What to do?

12.Qe5 

Perfectly reasonable. Anyone who has ever seen Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884 (see "Nobody expects the Jerome Gambit!" and "Jerome Gambit: Dr. Harding Checks In") would not wait for ...Nf6, locking in White's Queen.

Now, White goes on to win in three dozen more moves.

But - wait. Stockfish 10, recommends, instead, 12.f5!?, with a whole lot of crazy tactics -  12...Bxf5 (not 12...gxf5 because of 13.Nd2 dxe4 14.Nxe4!? fxe4 15.Rf1+ and attack) 13.Qe5 and the f-file will be trouble for Black, especially after ...Qg2 is met by Rf1. Just one example of play is 13...dxe4 14.Qxc5 exd3 15.Qxc7+ Kf8 16.Qc5+ Kg7 17.Nc3 Qg2 18.Rf1 dxc2 19.Be3 Re8 20.g4 Qxg4 21.Kd2 - and you can see why Bill simply chose to remove his Queen!

12...c6

Black supports his d-pawn - but Stockfish 10 will have none of it. To keep only about a three-fourths of a pawn behind, Black should try 12...Qg2 13.Rf1 Bg4!? 14.Qxd5+ Kg7 15.Nc3 b6!? when 16.f5 Nf6!? 17.Qc4 (not 17.Qxa8? Bd4! with a forced mate) Qxh2 18.d4 Qxg3+ 19.Rf2 Qg1+ 20.Qf1 Qxf1+ 21.Rxf1 Bxd4 22.fxg6 hxg6 23.Nb5 Be5 24.Bf4 Bxf4 25.Rxf4 g5 26.Rf1 Nxe4 27.Rg1 Nf6 leaves Black with a pawn for the exchange...

So - Black's choice of a move is understandable, too.

13.f5 gxf5 14.Nd2 Nf6 15.Nf3 Qg2 16.Rf1 Qxc2 

It is humorous to point out that Stockfish 10 sees White as being the equivalent of 4 pieces ahead. I am not sure that Bill's King felt that way!

17.Ng5+ Kg7 18.Bd2 Qxd3 19.exf5 

This will support White's Knight when it comes to e6. For sheer madness, take a look at 19.Rf3 Qc4 20.Rf4 

19...h6 20.Ne6+ Bxe6 

21.fxe6

This is fine, altough Stockfish 10 recommends 21.O-O-O!? Qc4+
22.Bc3 Bd4 23.Qxd4 Qxd4 24.Rxd4 Bg8 when White would still be up the exchange.

21... Bd4 22.Qc7+ Kh8 23.O-O-O Qc4+ 24. Kb1 Ne4 25. Bc1 Qb4 

26.e7 

Cold blooded. Others might have returned the exchange with 26.Rxd4 to deal with one threat to b2, or tried 26.Ka1 to avoid the nasty 26...Nc3+ fork. Instead, Bill enlists the "Jerome pawn" in his checkmate threats.

26... Nc3+ 27.Ka1 Nxd1 28.Qd8+ Rxd8 

Abject surrender, although 28...Kh7 29.Rxd1 Bg7 30.Qxa8 Qxe7 would also leave him a Rook down. 

29.exd8=Q+ Kg7 

30.Qd7+ Kh8 31.Qe8+ Kh7 32.Rf7+ Bg7 33.Qd7 Qd4
34.Qf5+ Kg8 35.Re7 Qf6 36.Re8+ Kf7 37.Qh5+ Qg6 38.Re7+ Black resigned

He will soon be down a Queen for a few pawns.