Jerome Gambit: Entering the Maze (Part 1)

The following Jerome Gambit game was quite a challenge, pushing me beyond my experience and preparation, and forcing me to work out tactics in positions that I did not fully understand.

When I sought understanding from Stockfish 11 in "blunder check" mode, after the game, I got a lot of criticism and alternative lines of play that were quite incomprehensible. Bleh.

(By the way, Stockfish didn't actually criticize me, it just provided annotations. Somewhere in my desk, however, I do have a copy of an earlier version of the chess engine Fritz - a "talking Fritz" that has a whole CD of comments and insults to go with its analysis. You call that a chess move?? I think I  played a couple of games against it and put it away - but perhaps I should give it another chance...) 

 

perrypawnpusher - DaniyarManat

"Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ 

Cue the violin music.

9.g3 Nf3+ 

As I wrote in an earlier post

An interesting line that I refer to as the "Nibs' Defense," which made its first appearance in the American Chess Magazine of June 1899 in a comical article lampooning a new pastime, chess by phone.  

In a constructed game the author, "R.F.," overcame continued line noises and interruptions to use the Jerome Gambit to defeat "Nibs" in a dozen moves -- erroneously claiming checkmate, by the way. 

And, in "Jerome Gambit: Don't Confuse Yourself"

Both players need to know what they are doing to come out okay.

About 13 years ago, I received a letter - one of those old fashioned things written on paper, and mailed with a stamp - from my chess friend "Mad Dog". He was playing a Jerome Gambit game (online) and was excited that he had just won his opponent's Queen. He was expecting to wrap up the win after dealing with a few complications.

His opponent won. It turns out that the Queen had not been "lost", it had been sacrificed. It was a deep sacrifice that, back then, required some serious thinking time by a computer chess program to work out. (I think it required a search depth of 20 ply. I know, today Stockfish 11 does that in an eye blink.) I was always suspicious, but "Mad Dog" was okay with the outcome. Good game and all that.

Anyhow, the current game was the 20th time that I had faced this line, and although I had scored 16 - 3 up until this game, I was always worried that my opponent would find his way through the complications.

10.Kf1 

The first big decision: does the King go to d1 or f1? For another discussion, see "Jerome Gambit: Very Complicated and Dangerous"

10...Ne7

This is the move I had worried about, but had not yet faced. It appears to be effective against both 10.Kd1 and 10.Kf1. The Database shows 10 earlier games, where White scored 4 - 5 - 1 (45%). Again, that may more reflect the experience and pluck of the Jerome Gambit players, rather than the "strength" of the line for the attacker.

Some time ago, my chess friend Philidor1792 played some games against a chess computer program, testing the strength of 11...Ne7. I posted about them in "Sailing Off of the Edge of the World" and "Sailing Off Again", with a focus on 10.Kd1. 

Most relevant to my game was "Sometimes", where Philidor1792 played 10.Kf1 and met 10...Ne7 with 11.e5+ Kc6 12.Qe4+ d5 13.exd6+ Nd5 14.gxh4, although after 14...Bh3+ "White's King can find no peace."

More recently, my chess friend Boris had played the 11.e5+ line successfully against 10...Ne7, but he pointed out that 13.exd6+ seemed to have unnerved his opponent. (Boris also had played 10.Kd1; instead of 14...Bh3+, 14...Bg4 would have been effective.) 

My question in the game, therefore, was "Do I play 11.e5+, etc and hope that DaniyarManat doesn't know the line - or do I play the move that I had been holding in reserve for a dozen years?"

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: More Short, Entertaining, Educational Videos

 

A while back I passed along a link (see "Jerome Gambit: Don't Take Everything Blindly") to a short, entertaining and educational YouTube video on 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+. I just noticed that the author, Vijay Joshi, has added three more videos, each showcasing a short Jerome Gambit:

Giuoco Piano, Jerome Gambit #2, 

Giuoco Piano, Jerome Gambit #3, and

Giuoco Piano, Jerome Gambit #4.

Jerome Gambit: Mixed Feelings (Part 2)

 

[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - Bossferreira

"Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

17.Rae1 Qc8 

I don't fully understand this move. Perhaps it was to move the Queen out of the pin on the Knight? In any event, it triggered my attack. 

18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Nd5 Kf7 20.Qh3 

20...Rh8 

For better or for worse, Black needed to protect the h-pawn with his King, i.e. 20...Kg7 A major difference with this defense, as I found out later, was that most of White's effective continuations would then require sacrificing a Knight - and this game showed, my basic tactical engine was sputtering.  

21.Qh5+ Kf8 22.Qh6+ Ke8 23.Qg7 Rf8 

24.Nxf6+ 

I could see that I was winning the exchange here, and had plans to grab the h-pawn as well, but the know-it-all computer pointed out a checkmate in nine: 24.e5 dxe5 25.dxe5 Bxf5 26.e6 Ra7 (What else?) 27.Rxf5 Qd8 28.e7 Rf7 29.exd8=Q+ Kxd8 30.Qxf7 Ne5 31.Qxc7+ Ke8 32.Qe7# 

24...Rxf6 25.Qxf6 Qd8  26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qxh7+ 

According to plan. There was also 27.Qg7+ Ke8 28.Qg8+ Ke7 29.f6 checkmate. Keep that pattern in mind. 

27...Ke8 28.f6 

This is okay, but so is 28.Qg8+ Ke7 29.f6 checkmate 

28...Nxd4 29.f7+ 

Or 29.Qg8 checkmate [insert face palm emoji here]

29...Kf8 

30. Qh6+ Ke7 31.f8=Q+ Qxf8 32.Rxf8 Rxf8 33.Qg7+ Black resigned

White will pick up the Knight, and that is too much of a material advantage.

Jerome Gambit: Mixed Feelings (Part 1)

I have mixed feelings regarding the following game, recently completed. I won. My attack finished things. But I was so focused on particular lines that I foolishly overlooked others - including checkmates, even a mate in one.

So, there is the answer to the question, Why did my opponent continue to play on? : because, at the end, I was missing so much, there was always room for hope...

perrypawnpusher - Bossferreira

"Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 

According to The Database, this move is about half as popular as 7...Ke8 - the computer rates the two moves about 1/5 of a pawn different from each other - but the lines transpose once the King moves to f7.

8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.O-O Kf7 

Black prepares to castle-by-hand, but never quite gets there. Give some credit to the "Jerome pawns".

11.f4 Re8 12.f5

I have mentioned the alternative 12.Qb3+, recommended by Stockfish 11, before. See "Jerome Gambit: Say 'Hello' to My Little Friends (Part 1)". The move wasn't part of my preparations for this tournament, but perhaps it should have been.

12...Ne7

The Database claims to not have seen this move before. The Knight is headed toward c6 - its usual path is via e4. 

13.d4 Nc6 

14.Nc3 Bd7 

For once Stockfish 11 showed a bit of a feel for the Jerome Gambit. After the game it showed off a bit, with 14...a5 (Huh? Why not 14...Kg8) it recommends 15.g4!? Nxg4 16.Qh3 Nf6 17.Bg5 Kg8 18.Nd5 Rf8 when it preferred that Black give up the exchange to keep his small advantage: 19.Bxf6 Rxf6 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.c3 Bd7.

14...a6 instead of the text move, would have led to perrypawnpusher - apurv83, "Giuoco Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2015 (1/2-1/2, 29).

I have also seen 14...Kg8 15.Qd3 Kh8 16.Bg5 Qd7 17.Bxf6 in  perrypawnpusher - Heler, Giuoco Piano tournament, Chess.com, 2015 (1-0, 33) and the alternative, 17.Rae1, in perrypawnpusher - Hywel2, Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2015 (0-1, 44). Stockfish now 11 recommends the interesting 17.a3 or 17.Rf4.

15.Qd3 Kf8 16.Bg5 a6 

It can be risky to spend a tempo to play such a "safety" move (keeping a piece off of b5).

After the game, Stockfish 11 recommended a full tussle, ending with White sacrificing to achieve a draw by repetition: 16...Qe7 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Rf3 Nb4 19.Qd2 Kg7 20.a3 Nc6 21.Nd5 Qxe4 22.Rg3+ Kh8 23.Qh6 Qxd4+ 24.Kh1 Rg8 25.Nxf6 Bxf5 26.c3 Qe5 27.Re3 Qc5 28.Nxg8 Kxg8 29.Rg3+ Bg6 30.Rxg6+ hxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kh8 32.Qh6+  etc. I have to admit, there are a lot of Jerome-ish ideas in that line.

I was now full ready to push the attack against the enemy King.  

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Deadly Breakthrough

The following game from the "Piano Piano" tournament at Chess.com is an example of giving "Jerome Gambit odds" to a lower rated player. My commitment was to play the Jerome in every game that I was able to - 9 times in the first round - and that meant all challengers, strong and not as strong. 

perrypawnpusher - frogonatwig

"Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke7 

"Infrequently played but not bad" as I noted in the game Philidor1792 - jenskun, Russia Central Federal District vs Phil, Chess.com, 2015 (1-0, 27). The most recent example is CasualGames4ever - lankesh1941, 10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 51).

8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Be6 

After the routine alternative 9...Nf6, Stockfish 11 has recommended the novelty 10.h4!?, which I have previously expressed a distaste for.

10.O-O 

The placement of Black's King makes a small difference. Stockfish 11's move choice is the novelty (not so if the King is on e8) 10.f4 after which 10...Kd7 11.O-O transposes to perrypawnpusher - magza, blitz, FICS, 2011  (0-1, 40).

10...Nf6 11.f4 Kf7 

This looks like a mouse slip for 11...Bf7, but the time control for the game was not blitz, it was 3 days per move. On the other hand, at least once I have gone Click! Click! Enter! Ooops! and sent off the wrong move, so, who knows?

In any event, White goes up a pawn, with the much safer King.

12.f5 Bc4 

Perhaps Black figured that he had time to move the Bishop with a threat, then the Knight and save them both, but my capture comes with check.

13.fxg6+ hxg6 14.d3 Bb5 

15.c4 Bc6 16.Nc3

I think I have only played this setup  - pawns at c4, d3 and e4, Knight at c3 - once before in the Jerome -  perrypawnpusher - avgur, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 43) - but I know that the computer has recommended it several times in past annotations. Here I just wanted to prevent ...d6-d5 and provide an outpost for my Knight.

16...Re8 17.Qf3 

Target f6.

17...Qd7 18.Bg5 Qe6 19.Nd5 

19...Bxd5 20.cxd5 

Years ago, in his "Chess to Enjoy" column in Chess Life, Grandmaster Andy Soltis humorously wrote about the art of annotation. One suggestion was that if there were a position where one player could choose one Rook or the other Rook to move to a square, whichever move he makes should bear the comment "Wrong Rook".

That was my feeling about my choice, capture with the c-pawn or capture with the e-pawn? Komodo 11 doesn't see much of a difference, but I chose to capture with the c-pawn so that I retained the option of d3-d4 and e4-e5, developing a passed pawn, if it became plausible.

20...Qe5 21.h4 Qxb2 

I was not troubled by the loss of the pawn.

22.Rab1 Qd4+ 23.Rf2 Re5 

Allowing a deadly breakthrough and the game is lost.

24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Qxf6+ Ke8 26.Qh8+ Kd7 27.Qxa8 

27...Qxd3 28.Qxb7 Rxe4 29.Qc6+ Kc8 30.Rf8+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Say "Hello" to My Little Friends (Part 2)

 

[continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - sincondrosis

3 d/move "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

Play becomes tactical, and illustrates my need to work on that part of my game.

19.e5 dxe5 20.dxe5 Nd5 

This looks like an ordinary move, but it is a mistake, starting with the fact that it overlooks the pin on White's e-pawn. After the game Stockfish 11 had this to suggest: 20...Kh8 21.Rf2 (If Black's Queen comes to d4, it won't be with check) 21...Bb7 22.Re1 Re7 23.Qxh6 (Time to take the pawn ) Qf8 (Offering to exchange and relieve the attack) 24.Qh4 Bd5 (To aid in the blockade?) 25.c4 Bb7 26.g4 Nd7 27.Qg3 h6 28.f6 (At last) Re6 29.Rf5 Qc5+ 30.Kh2 Rg8 31.Qf4 Rg6 32.Kg3 Qf8 33.Re3 Qf7 34.b4 Kh7 35.Nf3 Bxf3 36.Rxf3 

analysis diagram

Here the computer sees White as less than a pawn and a half ahead. I can not imagine ever reaching this position, and I share it only because it illustrates how a complications can become even more complicated.

Back to the game.

21.f6+ Kg6 

Brave, but 21...Kg8 was not much better, as the attack would continue.

22.Qd3+ Kf7 23.Qxh7+ Ke6 

24.Rae1 

Solid. Readers with an eye for the attack will not doubt find 24.Qf5+ Kf7 25.e6+ Rxe6 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Qh8+ and White will win the Queen. I had quickly abandoned the line during the game, because of 25...Bxe6, but that was silly, as then 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Qg7#.

24...c5 25.Qf5+ Kf7 26.Qh7+ 

Missing e5-e6+ again, but it does not matter.

26...Ke6 

27.c4 

Upon reflection, a bit strange. The idea was to help build a checkmating net - 24.Rae1 was the same. Of couse, 27.Qf5+ was the way to end things.

27...Nb4 28.f7 

Trying to mix the threat of pawn promotion with the checkmate threats. Guess which move was better? 

28...Rf8 

Instead, 28...Qd4+ would have allowed him to last a little bit longer.

29.Qf5+ 

At last.

29...Ke7 30.Qf6+ Kd7 31.Qd6 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Say "Hello" to My Little Friends (Part 1)

The following Jerome Gambit was my first complete game finished in the ongoing "Piano Piano" tournament at Chess.com. With the help of my "Jerome pawns" I was able to construct an attack which led to checkmate - not without a good bit of stumbling along the way.

I have included a number of links to other games, with more analysis.

perrypawnpusher - sincondrosis

3 d/move "Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

I was comfortable facing this line. The Database shows 132 of my games, with me scoring 80%. For the record, I have 48 games against 6...g6, scoring 89%; 84 games against 6...Ke6, scoring 86%; and 38 games against 6...Kf8, scoring 80%.

As they say, Your mileage may vary.

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

I know that Bill Wall has experimented with placing his Queen at c3 and other locations, but I am most comfortable keeping Her Majesty in touch with my Kingside. That said, I am aware of the dangers that may develop along an e-file which has both a Queen and a King on it, so I am careful to castle quickly.

10.O-O 

After the game, Stockfish 11 suggested the novelty 10.h4!? As far as I am concerned, the move will remain an unplayed novelty until one of our Readers tries it out - the idea is one more example of how the computer doesn't "get" the Jerome Gambit.

10...Kf7 11.f4 Re8 12.f5 

A while back I posted a couple of games with 12.Qb3+ instead, disrupting Black's plans to castle-by-hand - see "Jerome Gambit: Enthusiast". Given how my game goes, I probably should have paid closer attention.

12...Ne5 13.d4 

Joining in the fun, after the game Stockfish 11 suggested 13.Qb3+. I was interested in kicking Black's Knight, instead. I especially wanted to encourage the steed to harass my Queen.

13...Neg4 14.Qb3+ 

Truth be told, I have played this historical move several times before: 

perrypawnpusher - whitepandora, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 64);

perrypawnpusher - BunnyWarrior, "Giuoco Piano" thematic tournament, Chess.com, 2016 (1-0, 20);

perrypawnpusher - TobiasBrunner "Let's Play the Italian Game" tournaent, Chess.com, 2018 (1-0, 32 ); and

perrypawnpusher- warwar, "The Italian Battleground" tournament, Chess.com, 2018 (1-0, 39)

14...Kf8 15.h3 Nh6 

Instead, 15...Rxe4 was seen in the game Vazquez - Carrington, 2nd match, Mexico, 1876. Although the U.S. player was outplayed in both of his matches against the Mexican champion, his move here was probably a bit better than the Knight retreat.

16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.Nd2 

17...b6 

This is an interesting alternative to 17...Nxe4, which I faced previously in the three Chess.com games mentioned above.

18.Qe3

On revient toujours a son premier amour. 

18...Kg7 

The game is in balance. White has two pawns for his sacrificed piece. Black is building pressure with his pieces on the pawn center. White has hopes for a Kingside attack before things get out of hand.

[to be continued]