A Nice Jerome-Type Game

The following game was sent by a Reader who wishes to remain anonymous. I am tempted to create a pseudonym, like I did with "Cliff Hardy", but for now I will pass - I would love to call him the "Nameless Detective", but Bill Pronzini has already written a great series with that character.

Anyhow, instead of risking an aggressive attack after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 with 3...Nxe4 4.Qh5!? or 4.Nc3!?, Black essays a sort of reversed Ruy Lopez against White's Vienna Game (which becomes a Three Knights) - only to be, of course, Jeromed...

The comments are by Mr. A, the diagrams are by me.

 

Anonymous - Anonymous

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4

4.Nf3 Bxc3 5.Bxf7+ 

5...Kxf7 6.Ng5+ Ke8 

A very safe move, although Stockfish 11 finds even a better one: 7...Kg8 (and 7...Kf8, which is only slightly better then 7...Ke8 [on depth 32], but this is a "less human" move). 

In case of a "more adventurous" 6...Kg6, I found that I don't have to rush with taking the bishop: 7.h4 is very strong and Black is forced to play h5 (almost) immediately, because trying to save the bishop loses the game: 7...Bd4 8.h5+ Nxh5 9.Qxh5+ Kf6 10.Qf7+ Kxg5 11.Qf5# or 7...Bd4 8.h5+ Kxg5 9.d3+ Be3 10.Bxe3#, and 7.h4 Bb4/Ba5 is a mate in 15 moves (of course during the game I didn't see that it's even close to mate, but 8.Qf3 is very strong for obvious reasons). 

I said "almost", because there is a nice in-between move 7...Bxd2+ 8.Bxd2 (Black gives the bishop for the pawn, instead of giving it for free with dxc3).

7.dxc3 h6 8.Nf3 Rg8 

Black could have defended the pawn with 8...d6 (Stockfish's second favourite move, first one is 8...Nc6), but my opponent had a different idea: give up e5 pawn for capturing on e4. 

9.Nxe5 d6 10.Ng6 Nxe4 11.O-O c6 

12.Re1 Bf5 13.Qh5 Qf6 14.Nh4+ g6 15.Qxh6 Rh8

Here I could go 16.Qg5 or 16.Qg4, but 16.Nxf5 leads to a nice sac: a queen for a bishop, knight and a rook. Also, for Black's remaining rook and knight being out of the game for a long time. Definitely a worthy sacrifice. And it turned out that Stockfish agrees with me, 16.Nxf5 is the best possible move in this position.

16.Nxf5 Rxh6 17.Rxe4+ Kd7 18.Nxh6 b5 

According to Stockfish, this is a very weak move, but my reply also wasn't one of the strongest moves.

However, it was more relevant that I had a simple plan: just to activate all pieces, while for my opponent doing the same was probably even not possible.

19.a4 bxa4 20.Raxa4 Qh8 21.Bg5 Kc7 22.Bf4 

Stockfish sees 5 moves better then my 22.Bf4, but even this one is evaluated about +7, White is clearly winning!

22...Qf8 23.Re6 Nd7 

My opponent finally managed to move the knight, 8 moves after the sac. But it is too late (moreover the knight is poorly placed). And the rook is still out of the game.

24.Rd4 Qc8 

Because of the threat of Bxd6+ winning the queen. 

25.Rdxd6 Kb6 26.Rxg6 Qb7 27.Rg7 Rd8 

A total despair: the rook enters the game only to get attacked...

28.Bg5 Qa6 

The last Black's hope is 29...Qa1+ with a terrible mate in 3, but one

simple move vaporizes the threat.

29.h4 Black resigned 

Stockfish at depth 42 evaluates this position as +60.15.

Jerome Gambit: Piano Piano Update

 

The end of Round 1 for Group 6 is approaching in the Chess.com "Piano Piano" tournament.

Currently, I am leading the group with 14.5 points, with one game left to complete.

Right behind me is PasayDefence, with 13 points and one game left to complete.

Also with 13 points and one game left is ZlikoM.

The third player with 13 points and one game left to complete is Bossferreira.

Three of us will advance to the next round. 

The Jerome Gambit has been good to me, scoring 5 - 1 -1. (Technically, it scored 2 more wins, as one game was won on time after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ and another was won on time after 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5.)

Jerome Gambit: I'll Take Your Word For It

When you are playing a bullet game of chess, it helps to be able to rapidly calculate variations and choose your move quickly - over and over again.With one or two minutes to work with, however, it is sometimes helpful to "cut analytical corners" and believe in the reliability of a particular move, because it fits into your opening, or because your opponent wouldn't have played it unless it fit into his defense: I'll take your word for it.

That is a useful lens through which to view the following game.

linganno - reimannhalf

2 1 bullet, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 d6 8.Qh5 

One feature of the Jerome Gambit is early activity of the Queen. In fact, that is why Joseph Henry Blackburne referred to the opening as "the Kentucky Opening" in his book Mr. Blackburne's Games at Chess (1899) - there was at the time a line of play, 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 which was called the Kentucky Opening.

In this game, White shows that he believes in the Jerome Gambit.

8...Nf6 

Skepticism.

9.Qf3 Re8 10.O-O Kg8

Black has castled-by-hand. I don't know how much experience he had with the Jerome, but with this move he takes White's word that it is tricky to deal with - otherwise he would have grabbed a pawn with 10...Rxe4.

11.Re1 Ne5 

Ah, yes, disbelief - which often shows up in If I can't think of anything to do, I will attack the Queen. Black overlooks 11...d5. 

12.Qg3 Nh5 

Nothing to this silly gambit.

13.Qc3 Bd7 

Still, maybe I need more development. I will put my extra piece to good use. Black overlooks the very strong 13...Qh4.

14.d4 Nf7 15.Qf3 Nf6 16. Bg5 h6 

All of a sudden Black is willing to take White's word for it, pulling his forces back, and even overlooking the possible 16...Nxg5. 

17.Bh4 Qe7 18.Nc3 Qe6 19.h3 Ng5 20.Bxg5 hxg5 21.e5

 The typical Jerome Gambit pawn break. You gotta believe.

21...dxe5

This move is okay, and many defenders feel required to make the pawn exchange, although in this case there was also the consistent 21...Bc6. 

22.dxe5 Nd5 

Black is fully under the sway of the Jerome Gambit: White is kicking my pieces around!

23.Qxd5 Black resigned

White is up two pawns, and his opponent takes his word that he can take it from there...

Jerome Gambit: A Complicated Affair (Part 3)

 [continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - PasayDefence

"Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

What to do? What to do?

The forward f-pawn is going to fall. After some Rook moves, I decided to exchange my beloved "Jerome pawns" for my opponent's Queenside pawns.

32.Rc1  Kf8 33.Rc8+ Re8 34.Rc4 

I did not want to exchange Rooks, as I wanted a piece to help out on both sides of the board.

After the game, Stockfish 12 preferred 34.Rc3, but I am not sure why. Perhaps it was to anticipate the need to protect my h-pawn.

34...Ke7 35.b3 Kf6 36.Kf3 Kxf5 

37.Re4 Kf6 38.Rh4 h6 39.Rg4 g5 40.Re4 Ke7 41.Ra4 a6 42.Rc4 Bb8 

43.Rb4  Kd6 44.Rxb7 Kxd5 45.Rb6 a5 46.Rb5 Kxe6 47.Rxa5 Kd7 

Well, I had my connected passed pawns, but I could not see how to advance them safely, while protecting my Kingside.

48.Rb5 Kc6 49.Rf5 Re6 50.Ra5 Kb6 51.Rd5 Bd6 

It looked like my opponent was seeing a balanced game, too.

52.Rf5 Be7 53.Rd5 Bc5 54.Rf5 Bd6 55.Rd5 

After the game I asked Stockfish 12 if I could run my pawns. It said, Not Really: 55.a4 Be7 56.Kg2 Rd6 57.Rb5+ Ka6 58.Re5 Bd8 59.Re4 Ka5 60.f4 gxf4 61.Rxf4 Rd2+ 62.Rf2 Rd3 63.Rf5+ Kb4 64.Rb5+ Kc3 65.a5 Rd6 66.Kf3 Ra6 67.b4 Ra7 68.Rb8 Bg5 69.Rb6 Kc4 70.a6 h5 71.b5 Be7 72.Rb7 Rxb7 73.axb7 Bd6 74.Ke4 Kxb5 75.Kf5 Kb6 76.Kg5 Kxb7 77.Kxh5 and Black's Bishop will cover the Queening square for my remaining pawn. Draw.

55...Bc5 56.Rf5 Bd6 57.Rd5

draw agreed

A very good game from my opponent, who I outranked by 200 rating points.

Jerome Gambit: A Complicated Affair (Part 2)

 [continued from previous post]

perrypawnpusher - PasayDefence

"Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

18...Ng4 19.h3 Nf6 20.Kg2 Rd7 

Black can double his Rooks on either central file. He also avoids the possible pin of his Knight, if White plays Bg3-h4.

21.d4 Bb6 22.e5 Nd5 23.f5 

The "Jerome pawns" awaken.

23...Kg8 24.Rde1 

Wrong Rook. 24.Rfe1 would leave the d-pawn protected. 

24...Bc7 

This move puts more pressure on the center, but after the game the computer preferred 24...Rf7, as after  25.c4 Ne7 26.Re4 (protecting the d-pawn) the f-pawn falls to 26...Nxf5.

25.c4 Nb4 

His Bishop's retreat had made room at b6, and that is probably where the Knight should have gone.

26.e6 Rde7 27.Bh4 Nd3 

28.Bxe7

Miscalculating, and missing my chance. Stockfish 12's post mortem  was a bit tricky, but would have led to an advantage for White: 28.Rd1 g5 29.Bxg5 Rg7 30.h4 Nf4+ 31.Kf3 Nxe6 32.fxe6 Rxe6 when White would have been up 2 pawns.

28...Nxe1+ 29.Rxe1 Rxe7 30.d5 

Probably premature. Stockfish's take is 30.h4 h5 31.Rg1 Re8 32.Kf3 Bd8 33.d5 Be7 34.Rg5 b5 35.b3 Rd8 36.Ke4 Rd6 37.Ke5 Rd8 when White's King is much more actively placed, and the game would be about even. 

30...cxd5 31.cxd5 Bd6 

The "Jerome pawns" have been placed under lock and key.

I was at a loss for a plan to free them.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: A Complicated Affair (Part 1)

 

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is one of my recent games from the "Piano Piano" tournament at Chess.com. It is a complicated affair, and I have included links to earlier games to provide some perspective.

My opponent played well. It was unclear to me at the end if my connected passed pawns were signs of hope or merely targets, and so I pursued the draw.

perrypawnpusher - PasayDefence

"Piano Piano" tournament, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 

Jerome's defense to the Jerome Gambit. Much of its history was recently presented in the post "Jerome Gambit: A Trip Down Memory Lane".

6.Nxc6 

This is the best continuation. I once delayed it a move: 6.O-O d6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 etc.,  perrypawnpusher - hdig, blitz, FICS, 2007 (1-0, 17)

6...dxc6 

This is the principled capture, as it prevents d2-d4 by White. Otherwise: perrypawnpusher - badhorsey, blitz, FICS, 2011, (1-0, 26)

7.O-O

I have also played 7.d3, which usually was followed by castling

perrypawnpusher - fortytwooz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 29); perrypawnpusher - Jore, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 16); perrypawnpusher - Conspicuous, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 13); perrypawnpusher -Lark, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 12); and perrypawnpusher - pitrisko, blitz, FICS, 2011, (0-1, 30) 

I tried 7.Nc3  in perrypawnpusher - Ykcir, blitz, FICS, 2009, (1/2 - 1/2, 11). 

7...Be6 

Solid, already placing the Bishop in position to blockade White's e-pawn, if need be.

I have also seen 7...Ne7, in perrypawnpusher - smarlny, blitz, FICS, 2011,(1-0, 25), and the aggressive 7...Qh4 in perrypawnpusher - pitrisko, blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 30) and perrypawnpusher - Al-der,"Italian Game Classic", Chess.com, 2019 (1-0, 26) 

8.d3 

After the game Stockfish 12 recommended the novelty 8.Qe2, which I hadn't even considered, i.e. 8...Nf6 9.c3 Kg8 10.d4 Bb6 11.Re1 Qe7 12.Nd2 h6 13.Nf3 to reduce Black's advantage.

I had played 8.Qf3+ in a long and difficult battle that I eventually lost, perrypawnpusher - CorH, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 74), 

8...Qh4 

Aggressively played.

I decided to move my Knight over to help protect the Kingside.

9.Nd2 Nf6 10.Nf3 Qh5 11.Bf4 Bg4 

Black's extra piece and better development counts more than a pawn that I might grab.

12.Bxc7 Rc8 13.Bg3

Given Black's upcoming plan to capture on f3, the Bishop might remain more relevant after 13.Bf4. 

13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxf3 15.gxf3 Kf7 

16.f4 

Reducing my Bishop to the status of a large pawn. My plan should have been to play f4-f5 as soon as possible, followed by f2-f4 - of course, that second move would have to come after I had been able to enforce d3-d4, or moved my King to unpin the f-pawn.

16...Rhe8 17.c3 Rcd8 18.Rad1 

I was not surprised, after the game, to see that Stockfish 12 rated Black - with the extra piece and powerful development - about 2 pawns better. There was still a lot of work to do.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Stockfish 12 Defeats Magnus Carlsen's Jerome Gambit?!

It has happened before.

Very early in the life of this blog I was taken in by a reference to the book "All or Nothing! The Jerome Gambit" by Chiam Schmendrick. I searched, but of course could not find the text, as neither it nor its author existed. 

Years later, I tried to track down a game that Alexander Alehine supposedly played, defending against the Jerome Gambit. Nothing.

Early last year I was trying to find the truth of the allegation in a newspaper chess column that Wilhelm Steinitz had lost to the Jerome Gambit the first time that he had faced it. Again, nothing.

Of course, I once did find a newspaper report of Emanuel Lasker's simultanous exhibition, where it was reasonably reported that he defeated a club player's Jerome Gambit, even if the game score was absent.

So, I was a bit unsure when I received the following email

Found this game from today before it was deleted off of Carlsen's page. Found it very instructional and interesting that stockfish 12 decided to go with the Jerome Gambit. Was wondering if you could write about it on your blog.

Well...

Let's suspend disbelief for a moment or two, and check out the game. Couldn't hurt, right?

The idea of the computer program being given "Jerome Gambit" odds by the World Champion is quite intriguing. 

Carlsen vs Stockfish 12
Chess.com, 2021

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

 

I am shocked to find the Jerome Gambit in Carlsen's opening repertoire, but he does like to explore unusual openings...

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

Solid and sensible. You don't have to know much about the Jerome to make this choice. It might even be in Stockfish 12's book.

7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Alonzo Wheeler Jerome used this line to win two correspondence games from Daniel Jaeger in 1880. 

8.Qf4+ Nf6 9.d3 

A bit odd. I gave the game to my Stockfish 12, and with a minute per move in "blunder check" mode, it chose 9.Nc3. In fact, when given the position after move 8 and set to "infinite analysis" it immediately chose 9.Nc3 and did not waver.

I don't know what time control the game was played at but it had to be quite fast for Carlsen to "overlook" the best move.

9...Kf7

Practical and cautious. White's best move is not taking the pawn at c7, so this might be another reason for Black's choice.  

10.Qxc7

For the record, according to The Database this is a novelty, if not a particularly good one. Definitely not world class.

10...a6 11.f4 

This is the kind of Jerome-ish move that I would make, but it's a blunder. My version of Stockfish 12 again finds 11.Nc3 instantaneously. Strange. 

Is this the "Play Magnus" software, set to an early age?

11...Ng4 

My skepticism rises. Stockfish 12 overlooks 11...Nxe4!? ?

12.f5 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qe7 14.h3 Nf2 

15.O-O 

Cute - and foolish, what they call "castling into it". Perhaps he could hold on with 15.Rh2.This is beginning to look like a "banter blitz" game where White is wandering off topic to discuss his suggestions for the Fornyings- og administrasjonsdepartementet.

15...Nxd3+ 

Stronger was 15...Nxe4+, but it doesn't matter, as White steps into a forced checkmate.

16.Kg2 Qxe4+ 17.Kh2 Qe2+ 18.Kh1 Qxf1+ 19.Kh2 Qg1 checkmate

I'm always interested in seeing Jerome Gambit games, but I'm still a bit suspicious about the provenance of this one. More evidence, please.