Jerome Gambit: Even More Risk

Playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) - a refuted opening - involves some risk, although, against the right opponent, with the right time control, under the right conditions, this risk can be reduced.

However, the following game - White, the stronger player, gives "Jerome Gambit odds" - has a very luxurious time control, which would seem to negate the clock advantage of blitz or bullet for White.

Furthermore, White enters a line that is even riskier than usual.

All is well, in the end, however. These refuted openings can prove to be tricky. Plus, Jerome Gambiteers are a special kind of chess player. 

Anonymous - Anonymous

1 move / 3 days, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Qf6 8.fxe5 

Courting serious danger. "Book" is 8.Rf1.

8...Qf2+ 9.Kd1 Qxg2 10.Re1 

In a recent much quicker time control game, White made a weaker move, but achieved an acceptable result: 10.Qe8+ Be7 (10...Ne7 would be decisive) 11.Re1 Qg4+ 12.Re2 Qg1+ (12...b6 and 13...Bb7 would win the White Queen) 13.Re1 Qg4+ 14.Re2 Qg1+ 15.Re1 Qg4+ draw, AntiquatedTechniques - giorgosentropy, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020 

10...g6 11.Qe2 Qxe2+ 12.Kxe2 Kxe5

As Ollie said to Stan, in "Double Whoopie" (1929), "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."

13.c3 Nf6 14.d4+ Bxd4 

Black returns material. Komodo 11's suggestion, 14...Kxe4 is not to everyone's taste.

15.cxd4+ Ke6 

White's pawn center provides compensation for his pawn minus.

16.Nc3 c6 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxf6 Kxf6 19.Rf1+ 

White goes after the f-file.

19...Kg7 20.e5 b5 

Gerald Abrahams wrote in The Chess Mind (1951) that the smallest piece of a chess game was not a move, but an idea. Here, White's e-pawn restrains Black's d-pawn, which blocks in his Bishop, which restrains his Rook. So, Black finds a way to develop his Bishop.

21.Rf6 b4 22.Raf1 

A serious oversight. Simpler and better was 22.Ne4.

22...Ba6+ 23.Ke3 Bxf1 24.Ne4 

Pushing ahead, White will have to work with what he has.

24...Bc4 25.b3 Bg8 26. h4 g5 27.h5 Bf7 28.Ng3 Be6 

Under normal circumstances, White might be inclined to resign, being a Rook down. But - the Jerome Gambit is anything but normal. Things happen.

29.Rg6+ Kh7 30.Ne4 Bf5 31.Nf6 checkmate

See?

Jerome Gambit: Counter-Attack, But Not In Time

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) bullet game has attack, counter-attack, and time pressure. In the end, the clock wins.

DwieTwarze2000 - bata67

1 0 bullet, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Ng6 

Black saves a piece, while offering to return another. His King remains at risk.

8.Qf5+ 

Of course, White could just grab the Bishop.

A recent game had a tempting, but not quite as strong, continuation: 8.f5+ Ke5 9.fxg6+ Kxe4 10.Qxc5 d6 11.Qe3+ Kf5 12.O-O+ Kxg6 13.Qg3+ Kh6 14.d4+ Kh5 15.Qf3+ Bg4 16.Qf7+ g6 17.Qd5+ Kh4 18.g3+ Kh3 19.Qg2 checkmate, vrajeshpadiyar - caliako1, 5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020.

8...Ke7 9.Qxc5+ d6 10.Qe3 

White is a move ahead of the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 6.Qd5+ Ke7 7.Qxc5+ d6 8.Qe3.

10...Bg4 

I am not sure what this move is about. However, this is a bullet game.

11.f5 Ne5 12.Nc3 

It was also possible to put the "Jerome pawns" to work with 12.d4 Nf7 13.h3 Bh5 14.g4 Kd7, although White's kingside would be over-extended.

12...Nf6 13.d4 Nc6 14.d5 Ne5 15.O-O Re8 

Black prepares to castle-by-hand. White's pawns march.

16.h3 Bh5 17.g4 Bf7 18.g5 Nh5 19.h4 Kf8 

White presses the attack.

20.g6 hxg6 21.fxg6 Re7 

It was also possible to play 21...Nxg6.

22.gxf7 Rxf7 23.Rxf7+ Nxf7 

24.Bd2 Qxh4 25.Kf1 

A tactical slip, which may be due to a shortage of time. However, Black is also feeling time pressure.

25...Qh1+ 26.Ke2 Qxa1 27.Kd3 Ne5+ 28.Ke2 Black lost on time

Jerome Gambit: Concrete

It can be fun experimenting with different lines in the Jerome Gambit, but it is helpful to know about some common mistakes that Black might make and how to respond to them in a concrete manner.

emmanuelcardoso - Maia127

3 0 blitz, Chess.com

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6 

7.Qf5+ 

Recently successful, although not as strong, was 7.d4: 7...Bb4+ 8.c3 Nd3+ 9.Kd2 Nxc1 10.f4 g6 11.Qg5+ Kf7 12.Qxd8 Ne7 13.Qxh8 b6 14.cxb4 Bb7 15.Qxh7+ Black resigned, Anonymous - Anonymous, 5 2 blitz, lichess.org. 2020.

7...Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5+ d6 10.Qe3 Nf6 

11.Nc3 h6 12.d3 Kg8 13.O-O Kh7 

14.b3 Re8 15.Bb2 d5 

16.Rae1 dxe4  17.Nxe4 Bf5 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Qxe8 

Giving back some material to reach a quiet, pawns-up endgame.

19...Qxe8 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Bxf6 

21...Re2 22.Rc1 Kg6 23.Bd4 Be6 

This cuts off the Rook's possible retreat.

24.f3  h5 25.Kf1 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: More Complicated Than It Appears

It is a good idea to play over the various YouTube videos covering the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), especially those that feature a strong player handling the White pieces - even at blitz time control. See "Jerome Gambit: Recent Videos" and "Jerome Gambit: More Recent Videos", as well as "Jerome Gambit: Coach" and "Jerome Gambit: The Jerome Gambit is Over Powered Actually" for examples.

It is not only helpful to see the Jerome Gambit played well - it is also helpful to hear some of the thinking that goes into making the moves that the players produce in their games. A plain game score may look masterful, while a video of the game in progress may show the thoughts, evaluations, worries and self-criticisms that underlie it all. 

A successful game is often more complicated than it appears. The following game by two club level players is a good example. Do not get so caught up in the notes that you miss appreciating the play.

surasmen - kumroha87

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6  

I am a bit surprised that the computer analysis at lichess.org - Stockfish 11, although I do not know the depth of its search (18 ply?) - gives this move a "??". It prefers 6...Ke6, which is fine; but the text is a reliable defense, as well.

7.Qxc5  d6  8.Qc4+ 

8...Kf8

The stronger 8...Be6 was recently seen: 9.Qc3 (9.Qb4 b6 10.d4 Nf6 11.d5 Bd7 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Nc3 Ne5 14.O-O-O Qc8 15.Rde1 a5 16.Qd4 h6 17.Bh4 g5 18.Bg3 Nh5 19.Rhf1 Kg8 20.f4 Nxg3 21.hxg3 Ng6 22.fxg5 hxg5 23.Qf6 Ne5 24.Qxg5+ Kh7 25.Rh1+ Black resigned, zzbaobao - givemeabreak, blitz, FICS, 2020) 9...Qg510.h4 Qxg2 11.Rf1 Nf4 12.d3 Nh3 13.Nd2 Nf6 14.f4 Nxf4 15.Rxf4 Qg3+ 16.Rf2 Qxh4 17.Nf3 Qh1+ 18.Rf1 Qxf3 19.Rxf3 Bg4 20.Qc4+ Kg6 21.Rg3 Rhe8 22.Be3 d5 23.Qxc7 dxe4 24.Qd6 exd3 25.Rxg4+ Kh5 26.Rg3 Rad8 27.Qc5+ Kh4 28.Qg5 checkmate, Skye816 - SextThang101, 10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020) 

9.O-O Nf6 10.Nc3 d5 11.exd5 c6 

An interesting idea, and Black has extra material he can return.

12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Qxc6 

Although White has 4 pawns for his sacrificed piece, Stockfish 11 (30 ply) sees the position as even. Perhaps Black can make use of the open lines. I would prefer to play White. 

13...Bd7 14.Qc5+ Kg8 

15.Re1 Rc8 16.Qd4 Ne8 

Black's last move is difficult to figure out. Perhaps a mouse slip? The computer recommends the subtle 16...h6 17.Qxa7 Kh7, with a slight edge to the second player.

17.d3 

With the plan of developing his Bishop. A little deeper was 17.Qd5+ Kf8 18.b3, which also allows his Bishop to get into the game - from a3. For example, 18...Ne7 19.Ba3 and the pin on the Knight will lead to a gain of material.

Black misses the threat, as does his opponent (again) 

17...Rc6 18.Ne4 Nd6 

I think the clock was becoming a factor.

19.Bg5 Qc7 20.Nxd6 Rxd6 21.Qc4+ Kf8

Ooops.

22.Qxc7 Black resigned

JG: The New (Part 2)

 JG: The New in Its Opening Theory, in Its Psychology (Part 2)

(by Yury V. Bukayev)

Of course, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qh3+ Kf7 8.Qh5+! Black can play not only 8…Ke6, but also 8…Kf8 as the main alternative, but a player’s psychology can prevent to do it here. Why? Firstly, your too cautious opponent sees that you are an inventive player, so your other possible theoretical novelties can wait him in all variations: the drawn game is a good alternative to it. Secondly, the defence 8…Ke6 9.Qf5+ or 9.f4 (= 6…Ke6 7.Qf5+ or 7.f4) permits him to get the material advantage “one Black’s extra minor piece vs. one White’s extra pawn” and to keep Black’s valuable dark-squared Bishop alive. And the defence 8…Kf8 (= 6…Kf8) permits him to get the material advantage “one Black’s extra minor piece vs. two White’s extra pawns” only.

Moreover, after 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ the way 7…Ke7 (it is much more simple for calculating than 7…Kd6) creates some White’s possibilities including the following one:

8.Qc3!?

A) 8…d6 9.d4 Bxd4 [9…Bb6?! 10.dxe5] 10.Qxd4,

B) 8…Bd6 9.f4! Ng6 [9…c6?! 10.fxe5] 10.e5,

C) 8…Bxf2! 9.Kxf2, and Black can’t increase the material advantage by attacking: 9…Qf8+ 10.Ke2!? Qf4 11.d3 Qg4+ 12.Kf2 Qh4+ [12…Nc6 13.Rf1!?] 13.Ke2 Qh5+ [13…d6?! 14.Qxc7+ Ke8 (14…Bd7 15.Nc3) 15.Be3] 14.Ke1 [14.Kf2!?].

Everywhere Black can’t keep the valuable dark-squared Bishop alive, or/and Black’s material advantage is “one Black’s extra minor piece vs. two White’s extra pawns”. That is why this possible mental calculation of 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ Ke7 8.Qc3 creates such player’s psychology as in the above case of 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ Kf7 8.Qh5+ Kf8: both cases seem to be less attractive for Black than 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ Kf7 8.Qh5+! Ke6 9.Qf5+ (9.f4). So the way 6…Ke6 7.Qh3+ Kf7 8.Qh5+! Ke6 is your opponent’s hope on your more risky (and known to him) way (9.Qf5+ or 9.f4) too. But you’ll play 9.Qh3+ Kf7 10.Qh5+! ½ - ½ , as the part 1 of this my research on Jerome Gambit (JG) theory and psychology fixed.

JG: The New (Part 1)

 JG: The New in Its Opening Theory, in Its Psychology (Part 1)

(by Yury V. Bukayev)

           Dear lover of the Jerome Gambit (JG)! If you are playing JG as White against a too cautious opponent who knows the modern opening theory of JG well, then is it possible to get a drawn game by a simple way? I suggest you my following invented way to try to get it in a practical game after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6, if you want it: it is to play 7.Qh3+. Thus, your opponent will understand here that it’s probably a theoretical novelty, which can lead to different (and unknown for him) possibilities for White after both 7…Ke7 and 7…Kd6. Being a too cautious player, he probably will prefer a drawn game (instead of his possible mistake): 7…Kf7 8.Qh5+! Ke6 9.Qh3+! Kf7 10.Qh5+! ½ - ½. Both you and he will have a satisfaction in this situation.

Jerome Gambit: Too Many Worries

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can bring too many worries for the defender who has never seen it before, or who has not prepared a strategy against it. 

The following game is a good example. White does not have to be overly creative, he just has to develop in Jerome manner and accept the concessions that Black makes.

Until the end. White's snap finish is very nice.

Wall, Bill - NN

lichess.org, 2020

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 Qf6 

10.d4 N8e7 11.O-O Kf7 

Black has the right idea, to castle-by-hand and protect his King.

12.f4 Kg8

Suddenly, the defender fears the enemy Rook on the same file with his his King and Queen. In general, this is of concern, but not in this particular case. The threat of e4-e5 and an exchange of pawns makes the defending King jump. But - there was time to play 12...Rf8 or 12...Re8.

13.Nc3 Qf7 

More nerves. Black's timid responses allow White to continue to make progress.

14.Bd2 Nc6 15.Nd5 Be6

Whenever the Bishop is on e6 and a Knight is on g6, the risk of f4-f5 has to be addressed.

16.f5 Bxd5 17.fxg6 

The better capture.

17...Qxg6

Costing more material. Better was 17...Qe6, since 18.exd5 Qxe3+ 19.Bxe3 Nb4 20.Bd2 Nxd5 21.Rae1 hxg6 leaves him down only a pawn, although with an uncomfortable position.

18.exd5 Nd8 19.Rae1 Nf7 

Allowing a pleasant finish.

20.Qe8+ Rxe8 21.Rxe8 checkmate