Jerome Gambit: Bullet

Bullet games amaze me. I am amazed that people can think that fast. By comparison, I am sure that my first and last bullet game would go something like this: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Bc5 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Bxf7+ White loses on time.

The following game by longtime Jerome Gambiteer angelcamina has a good bit of lightness imbedded in it, so it is essential to keep in mind that it is one of those 1-minute, no increment games that rewards aggressive play, even if the attack is not always the most efficient one.

angelcamina - Dr_Hik

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2021

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Nf7 

Interesting. This solid move - returning material but leaving Black with an edge - is not often played, but it appeared in a game just a few posts ago, as well.

8.Qf5+ 

Which piece to protect? Black chooses to hang onto the Bishop, but this kind of decision making takes time - a rare comodity in a 1-minute bullet game.

8...Kd6 9.Qd5+ 

Pretty funny. White could have simply grabbed the Knight with 9.Qxf7.

9...Ke7 10.Qxc5+ d6 11.Qe3 Nf6 

12.O-O Re8 13.d4 Kf8 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd5 

16.Qe4 c6 

A slip. Dropping a pawn in bullet is not immediately lethal, but it can cause a distraction.

17.Qxh7 Qe7 

Wow. I was not expecting that.

Neither was White.

18.b3 Be6 

Okay, this is getting silly.

19.Ba3 

The second deadliest move on the board.

19...Nb4

Yes, but... 

20.c3 Nc2 

Okay.

21.Bxe7+ Kxe7 

The checkmate threat has disappeared, at the cost of a Queen.

White now finishes his development, and has enough of a material edge to end the game with a strong attack.

22.Nd2 

I know, but losing the exchange is not longer a big deal.

11...Nxa1 23.Rxa1 Rg8 24.Rf1 Bd5 25.c4 Be6 26.Ne4 g6 27.Nd6 c5 28.Nxf7 Bxf7 29.Rxf7+ Black resigned

The Story of the Jerome Gambit

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is a school for tactics. Ideally, the players discover all of the moves during the game, but often they have to be uncovered and appreciated afterward.

If you are a tactical wizard, there is room for the Jerome Gambit in your opening repertoire. If you are becoming a tactical wizard, the story is the same.

The following game has tactics galore. White had his chances, as did Black, and both, as Maxwell Smart used to say, "Missed by that much."

With all the notes, I mean no disrespect to either player. There is much to learn from this game. It is a fact of blitz that there was little time to find everything.

lksharma - garciadeveas

3 0 blitz, FICS, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d4 

White is willing to offer more material to open another line of attack. In a 3-minute game, this is more playable - lksharma has played it 40 times before this game.

5...Nxd4 

I suppose that Black avoided 5...Bxd4 to avoid 6.Nxd4 (winning Bishop for Knight) or 6.c3 (kicking the Bishop with tempo) but it was the better move. The text unprotects the pawn at e5.

6.Nxe5+ Kf8 7.Qh5 

Simply going for checkmate.

7...g6 

This is the story of Jerome Gambit: Black has a defense, but he has to find it. With 7...Qe7 he could have secured his position.

8.Nxg6+ hxg6 9.Qxh8 

The Rook capture looked attractive, but White could have simplied things - to his advantage - with 9.Qxc5+ d6 10.Qxd4, cleaning up the counter-attackers.

It is possible that White chose his move based on the belief that the upcoming Black Knight fork would be unsuccessful.

9...Nxc2+ 10.Kf1 

The King seeks shelter, but he was needed to help on the Queenside: 10.Kd1 Nxa1 11.Bh6+ Kf7 12.Qg7+ Ke6 13.Qxg6+ Nf6 14.Bg7 d6 15.Nc3 When White is better, even if he is down a couple of pieces!

10...Qf6 11.Bh6+ 

Development with check. This is an idea to remember.

11...Kf7

Black returns the favor with a King's misstep of his own. The proper move was 11...Ke7. What difference does it make? It means that when White checks with his Queen, Black's Queen can interpose. An exchange of Queens would squash White's attack, and Black's King would no longer be in danger - while the material advantage would make Black better.  

12.Qh7+ Ke6 13.Qxg8+ 

Now Black has two reasonable choices.

He can interpose his Queen, and after 13...Qf7 14.Qxf7+ Kxf7 15.Ke2 Nxe1 16.Rc1 b6 17.Nc3 Bb7 18.Rxa1 White would be a pawn up, but Black would have the two Bishops.

Of course, if a draw is okay for Black, he can simply play 13...Ke7, when White's best choice is probably 14.Qh7+ Ke8 15.Qg8+ etc. with a draw by repetition. A messier draw - or a prettier one, depending on how you look at it - would be 14.Ke1 Nxa1 15.Nc3 Qxf2+ 16.Kd1 Qc2+ 17.Ke1 Qf2+ etc.

Instead, Black looks at all that he has going on - the capture of the Rook at a1 and the Queen check at f2 - and steps into danger. 

13...Kd6

Missing the fact that White now has the same kind of clean up move mentioned in the note to move 9.

14.f4 

Very much a Jerome Gambit move. The threatened pawn fork of the enemy King and Queen is attractive.

Still, it was okay to go for a simpler win with 14.Qd5+ Ke7 15.Qxc5+ Ke8 16.Qxc2  or the related 14.Bf8+ Kc6 15.Qd5+ Kb6 16.Bxc5+ Ka6 17.Qd3+ b5 18.Qxc2.

14...Ne3+ 

Black has one last attacking idea. He has to keep checking to keep things going.

15.Ke2 Qxb2+ 16.Kf3 

Tragic. With 16.Nd2 there was safety. 

16...Qxg2 checkmate 

Wow.

Jerome Gambit: Always Educational

I ran across a video the other day featuring FM Noam Aviv Vitenberg playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). It is a fun game and a fun video. (Be sure to check it out!)  His comments reflect the thinking of a higher level player, which is always educational.

FUTUREWCC - Abject_Pawn

7 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

It was tantalizing to hear the master say, as a casual aside, that he had played a game that went 6...g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7 7.Qxh8 Qxe4, but that was all he shared. I will try to track that one down.

7.Qd5+ 

The FM's comment here is interesting, "Maybe this check doesn't do anything good. I don't know."

Many Jerome Gambit players play the Queen "nudge" here - about 40%, according to The Database - as opposed to the direct capture of the Bishop. But why?

With 7.Qd5+ White takes a move to chase the Black King back to the back rank, where it can interfere with the development of his Rook at h8. If Black wants his Rook to go to e8, or if he wants to castle-by-hand, he will have to return the tempo at some point by playing ...Kf7.

Does this really matter? Probably not to a computer. But not all club players defending against the Jerome realize the value of getting the King out of the way. This shows up in The Database, where 7.Qxc5 scores 46%, while 7.Qd5+ scores 70%.

It is possible that 7.Qd5+ is played more often those more familiar or comfortable with the Jerome Gambit. There may be more to it than that, though. 

The ChessBase statistics function, when applied to The Database, indicates that the average rating of those that play 7.Qxc5 is about even with those who defend against the move, so a score near 50% is to be expected. Maybe the 46% shows a little underperforming by White. 

However, the function (again looking at The Database) shows that those who play 7.Qxc5+ are on the average about 55 points higher than those they face, predicting that they would score 58%. As we have seen, though, they overperform, scoring 70%.

Interesting... Remember, as ever, YMMV.

7...Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.d4 Kf7 

As predicted in the note above.

11.O-O Re8 12.Nc3 Kg8 13.f4 

"Very risky move". He pointed out that his opponent now had 13...Nxe4 14.Nxe4 d5, although the move played "is also a decent move." We are talking about a casual game, streamed, with a lot of converstation between moves, so it's not a big deal, as we shall see.

13...Bf5 14.e5 Ng4

"I don't understand, to be honest. Ah, 15.Qg3, I guess my opponent has the idea of going 15...Qh4 in that case, insuring that I trade off Queens." Giving his opponent the benefit of the doubt; some defenders just like attacking the Queen.

15.Qe2 dxe5 16.dxe5 Qd4+ 17.Kh1 

17...N6xe5 

"Very interesting move here by my opponent here, going for the kill." The FM thinks it through, though, and finds a line where he thinks he might be "surviving".

18.fxe5 Rxe5 19.Qf3 Rf8 20.Bf4 

White has reached a position that is about even, a reasonable result from playing a "refuted" opening. Things are still complicated, however, and when Black decides to attack the Queen another way - well, there is a reason that masters are masters, starting with tactical ability. 

20... Be4 

Simplest would have been the retreat 20...Ree8. Now simplification will show Black the error of his ways.

21.Bxe5 Nf2+ 22.Rxf2 Qxf2 23.Qxf2 Rxf2 24.Nxe4 Re2 25.Bxc7 Rxe4 26.c3 Black resigned

White is up a piece and a pawn.

Jerome Gambit: Ad Hoc Defense

When Black faces the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) he has to come up with some kind of plan. If he is familiar with the attack, he might remember something handy. Often, though, the Jerome comes as a surprise, and his defense is whatever comes to mind at the time. 

Guest8407642325 - Guest7600400036

10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7  5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Nf7

The Knight retreat is an interesting idea. It has not often been seen - there are only 17 examples in The Database - but several Jerome Gambit regulars have faced it: angelcamina, blackburne, MrJoker, Petasluk, shugart, Superpippo and Wall.

8.Qxc5 Qh4+ 9.g3 Qe7 

As I wrote on this blog a decade ago,

The Queen check did not prove very helpful, but the retreat will prove disastrous.

 10.Qd5+ Black resigned

It is checkmate next move. Nicely done.

Jerome Gambit: Just Like That

In the following game, Black has an unusual way to return the sacrificed material that he had collected. Unfortunately, White responds well, and, with the help of a wild "Jerome pawn", wins the game quickly.

Ftmean - Saleem

10 0 blitz, 2021

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Nf3+ 

Black has to return one of the sacrificed pieces. He chooses to do so in a creative way. It is possible that he expected White to reply 7.gxf3, breaking up his Kingside, since to capture with the Queen would leave White's d-pawn unprotected.

White captures on f3 with check, however.

7.Qxf3+ Nf6 8.dxc5 Re8 9.O-O Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand, but is down a couple of pawns.

10.Re1 d5 11.e5 

Also possible was 11.cxd6 e.p.

Now White's e-pawn causes havoc among the enemy pieces.

11...Nd7 12.e6 Nxc5 13.Qf7+ Kh8 14.e7 Qd7 15.Qf8+ Rxf8 16.exf8=Q checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Test

The following Jerome Gambit game starts off with an odd opening line, but quickly shows that the defender has the advantage, due to accepting the sacrificed material. It looks like the attacker is failing the test.

Suddenly, White sacrifices once more, and it becomes obvious that Black will not be able to escape a draw by repetition. 

Very interesting. 

Stockfish 12 NNUE 1 sec - Lc0 1 sec

Testing Jerome Gambit, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.f4

This is a rather strange move - there are only 2 other games in The Database with it (both losses by White). Expected was 7.Qxe5.

7...Nf6 8.Qxe5 d6 9.Qg5 h6 10.Qh4 Qe8 

Black tries to restrain White's e-pawn, but it advances anyhow.

11.e5 dxe5 12.f5 Bxf5 13.Rf1 Bxc2 14.Qc4 Qg6 

Attacking both sides of the board.

White now recovers the sacrificed piece while Black castles-by-hand.

15.Qxc5+ Kg8 16.Qc4+ 

Occasionally annotators will describe a move as "computer-like", especially when it is, in fact, played by a computer. However, this is a very "human-like" move, as is Black's response - and that changes the whole nature of the game.

16...Kh7  

Based upon material, development and King safety, Black should be better.

However, White can play actively and draw, as Stockfish immediately shows

17.Rxf6 gxf6 18.Qxc7+ Kg8 

Possible was 18...Qg7, but after 19.Qxc2+ White would have 2 pieces for a Rook, a material advantage that a computer would not choose.

Black's King now goes on a journey.

19.Qc4+ Kg7 20.Qc7+ Kf8 21.Qc5+ Ke8 22.Qb5+ Kd8 23.Qd5+ Kc8 24.Qe6+ Kb8 

25.Qd6+ Kc8 26.Qe6+ Kd8 27.Qd5+ Ke8 28.Qb5+ Kf8 29.Qc5+ Kf7

Back again - but no refuge. Neither will there be one in the center.

30.Qc4+ Ke7 31.Qc5+ Ke6 32.Qc4+ Kd6 33.Qb4+ Kd5 34.Qxb7+ Ke6 Draw

The human running the test realized that there was no escaping the draw.

Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit: Strange Positions

Jerome Gambit and Jerome-related openings have a tendancy to produce strange positions. For someone who regularly plays those attacks, however, the strangeness is somehow familiar, so, once again, the defender is trying to figure things out move-by-move.

drumme - teterilla

4 0 blitz, FICS, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 

This is a surprisingly complicated position. White has the option of playing the slow 6.c3 Ne6 7.d4 with a full pawn center, or sending his Queen on attack immediately with 6.Qh5+, risking Black's possible counter-attack ...Nxc2, etc.

drumme, who has almost 650 games in The Database, wants direct action.

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 

Here we have another decision point. Stockfish 13 prefers that White now capture the Rook with 8.Qxh8, but that exposes him to losing his Rook as well, after 8...Nxc2+ with a messy position.

8.Qxg6+ 

The capture with check gives White more say in what will happen next. Remember, this is a 4-minute game, and such decisions are important.

8...Ke7 9.O-O 

Playing a dangerous game. White could pick up the wayward Knight with 9.Qg5+ Nf6 10.Qc5+ d6 11.Qxd4 although the computer is skeptical that White's 4 extra pawns would match up well with Black's extra piece. In club blitz play, maybe they would. 

9...Ne2+ 

This is better than an earlier drumme game which saw 9...Nxc2. The Knight was scooped up similar to the above note 10.Qg5+ Nf6 11.Qc5+ d6 12.Qxc2, although the game ended with a win for Black in drumme - talyprossoneri, FICS, 2013 (0-1, 50).

Stockfish has a suggestion for White: 9...Nxc2 10.d4 opening the diagonal for White's Bishop 10...Bh6 contesting the Bishop immediately 11.Bg5+ anyway 11...Bxg5 12.Qxg5+ Ke8 13.Qe5+ Kf8 14.Qxh8 Nxa1 when White has the Rook lift Rc1-Rc3-Rg3 which is enough to equalize the game.

10.Kh1 Nxc1 

Black's Knight appears to have wandered off. Still, Black has 3 extra pieces, and they outweigh White's 4 extra pawns. The question is: will that matter?

11.Nc3 Nf6 

What could be more natural than developing a piece to protect the King from 12.Nd5 checkmate ?  

12.Nd5+ 

Strangely, "objectively" better was 12.e5 Rh6 13.exf6+ Kd6 when White would have a variety of ways of checking with his Queen to force a draw by repetition.

Clearly drumme was not looking for a draw. 

12...Nxd5 

Consistent, but not correct. The computer prefers 12...Ke6 13.Nf4+ Kd6 14.e5+ Kc6 15.Raxc1 (finally) d5 16.c4 b6 17.exf6 Kb7 18.Nxd5 Rh6 19.Qe4 c6 20.Ne7 Qd6 21.f4 Qxf6 22.Nxc8 Rxc8 when it favors the extra piece over the extra pawns. Again, club level blitz play might produce a different outcome.

13.exd5 

A strange position. Black remains 3 pieces up - and that Knight, what about it?

The point is, however, that there is only one move that will save Black. A truly Jerome-ish situation.

13...Rh6 

This is not the move. Black had to find 13...Bh6, when White's best is probably to pursue a draw by repetition: 14.d6+ Kf8 15.Re1 cxd6 16.Raxc1 Bg7 17.Qxd6+ Kf7 18.Qd5+ Kg6 19.Qd3+ Kf7 etc.

14.Re1+ Ne2 15.Rxe2 checkmate

This is why we play gambits.