Jerome Gambit: Back to the Drawing Board

 

Recently I decided to be creative in a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) line that I was relatively unfamiliar with. In a word, I was crushed by my opponent.

It is not unusual to meet a refutation in this opening, but it does mean that I have some work to do before I try this line again.

Follow the game and learn along with me.

perrypawnpusher - TheNatureBoy

3 days / move, Chess.com, 2021

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

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

I have only played this line twice before, perrypawnpusher - NN, Giuoco Piano thematic, Chess.com, 2016 (1-0, 15 ) and perrypawnpusher - Nivaethan2000, Giuoco Piano thematic, Chess.com, 2016 (1-0, 17), generally preferring to play 7.Qf5+ (eighty three times) before the pawn move.

7...d6 

The silicon or annoying defense - because it is the favorite of computer chess programs, and because it is annoying. Black simply gives back a piece, and despite the fact that his King is somewhat uneasily placed, the game becomes rather static.

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Ke7 10.Qg3 Kf7 11.Qxe5 

White has gained 2 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but Black's dark square Bishop will prevent castling. The database has 25 games with this position, with White scoring 48%.

11...Bd4

As if the Bishop wasn't annoying enough.

12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qe2 

My plan was to weaken the f6 square, where Black's Knight would probably appear, and then attack it with Rf1 and Bg5. It turns out that there is not enough time to do that.

The Database notes that Bill Wall has played 13.Qf3+ instead in Wall - Alibak, Chess-db, 2015 (1-0, 70) and Wall - Harshini, A, Chess-db, 2015 (1-0, 49).

13...Nf6 14.c3 Re8 15.d3 Bg4 16.Qc2 Bb6 

Black's lead in development is a bit alarming. Still, I hoped to activate my pieces and castle Queenside.

17.Nd2 

After the game I looked at the thematic alternative 17.Bg5 and was shocked to see that 17...Nxe4! was completely winning, for example 18.Bxd8 Ng3+. 

17...Kg7 

I don't really understand this move, but The Database indicates that it was the computer's move in WB Nimzo 2000b - Zarkov 4.70, Torneo tematico GaJero00-A, 2009, (1/2 - 1/2, 89).

18.Nf3 Nxe4 

The decisive breakthrough. White's King is a goner.

19.dxe4 Qd5 

Equally devastating would have been 19...Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qh4+

20.Bd2 

I was not ready to resign, but there really was nothing left.

20...Rxe4+ 21.Kd1 Rf8 22.Kc1 Bxf3 23.gxf3 Rxf3 24.Rd1

Qf5 White resigned

Wow.

Very nicely done, TheNatureBoy.

Back to the drawing board before I try 7.f4 or face the annoying defense again.

Ow.

BSJG: Swift

angelcamina enjoys bullet chess, where he can dispatch his opponents quickly. In the following Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game, he out-does himself, swiftly coming to a conclusion.

angelcamina - deep140

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 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 6.Qh5+ Ke7 

It was necessary to block the check with 6...g6 and go into the complications 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Qxh8 Nxc2+ 9.Kd1 Nxa1 10.Qxg8 Qg5 where Black would have an edge, and where The Database says he has done quite well.

On the other hand...

7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Nc4+ Kc6 9.Qd5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Hardly Worth the Search

 

A few months ago I made reference - see "Jerome Gambit: Uneven (Part 1)" - to a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game that I had played, perrypawnpusher - Papst, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2017 (1-0, 61). 

I was surprised that I could not find the game posted on this blog, especially since it was a win for me.

I looked the game up in The Database, and all was revealed.

Black, to play, lost on time in the following position:

Not one of my finer moments.

How does that old saying go? Good luck is better than a license to steal. In this case, one point.

BSJG: Remembering

Analyzing a recent Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit game, I suddenly realized that the play - and the notes, and The Database -  rewrote my evaluation of a particular line of defense.

Actually, it reminded me of earlier - stronger - recommendations that I had made and then forgotten.

Fortunately, the player of the White pieces in the following game was able to procede to a successful finish anyway. (Warning: Stockfish's suggestions are quite bizarre.)

I think it is worth sharing, in case it appears on your chess board one of these days. 

maraeka - Lizano

5 10 blitz, FICS, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

Of course, White can also play 4.Nxe4 or 4.d3 or 4.c3 or 4.0-0. He should avoid the complications of 4.Nxe5 Qg5!?, however.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.c3 Qg5 

Black plays his signature move. Stronger was 6...Nc6 7.d4.

The most recent blog post on this line was "Jerome Gambit + blitz chess = exciting play". Some history can be found in "Meeting A Surprise With a Surprise".

7.cxd4 Qxg2 

Although this looks scary, The Database shows that White has scored 68% in this position.

Most recently, I have recommended the logical 8.Qf3, protecting the Rook and offering to exchange Queens, with White having a material advantage.

8.Qf3 

The thing is - see "Finishing It Off Smartly" and "Mate is Mate, Mate" for examples - 8.Qb3+ instead would now lead to checkmate, refuting Black's whole counter-attacking idea.

8...Qxf3 9.Nxf3 Nf6 

I do not think that Black's well-developed King compensates for the lost pawn.

10.d5+ Kd6

The King wishes to demonstrate his courage, but 10...Kf7 was wiser. 

11.e5+ Kxd5 12.Nc3+ Kc4 13.exf6 gxf6 

It makes sense to advance your King in an endgame, the better to help control play. However, this is more of a Queenless middlegame, and Black's King is in grave danger.

14.b3+ Kd3 15.Bb2 

Logical and strong.

One indication that the end is almost near is the quirky line offered by  Stockfish 13: 15.Kd1 Rg8 16.Re1 Rg1 17.Rxg1 d6 18.Re1 Bh6 19.Re4 Bxd2 20.Bxd2 b6 21.Rd4 checkmate. Not the kind of thing you would discover in a blitz game. 

15...Bc5 16.O-O-O Bxf2 

17.Rhg1 

Creative. A deflection sacrifice.

Again, an un-human line would have been 17.Rde1 Rg8 18.Nd1 Bc5 19.Bc3 Ba3+ 20.Kb1 f5 21.Re3 checkmate

17...Bxg1 18.Rxg1 

This works well.

A humorous alternative was 18.Re1 Bf2 19.Re7 Re8 20.Rxe8 d6 21.Nd1 Be6 22.Rxe6 Re8 23.Nxf2 checkmate.

18...d6 

White's lead in development is crushing.

19.Re1 Bf5 20.Re3 checkmate

A fine creation!

Jerome Gambit: Gentlemen, the Queen

In the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), White's Queen plays a leading role. Sometimes her activity leads to trouble, sometimes it leads to checkmate. 

In the following game, Her Majesty's journies seem to mischief, but she returns to the action in time to participate in a winning attack. 

Wall, Bill - WSM

PlayOk.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 

8.O-O c5 9.Qd1 Bg4 10.Qd5+  Be6 11.Qxb7+ Ne7 

Black has harassed the White Queen, then distracted it with a pawn. Can he take advantage of the situation?

12.f4 N5c6 13.Qa6 Nb4 14.Qe2 g6 

Black takes steps against the pawn advance f4-f5. Bill suggests, instead, 14...Bc8, perhaps followed by castling-by-hand. 

15.Nc3 Rf8 16.f5 gxf5 17.Bh6 Rg8 

White now has the attack - with his Queen participating.

18.Qh5+ Rg6 19.Bg5 Kg7 

Stepping out of the pin of his Rook, and protecting the h-pawn, but allowing a fork of his Bishop and rook.

20. exf5 Bc4 21. fxg6 hxg6 22.Bf6+ Black resigned

Checkmate will soon follow.

Jerome Gambit: Return of the Face Palm Variation

I realize that you can get away with just about anything in club chess play - even, say, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) - if the time control is fast enough, but there is one line play that I have cautioned againse, more than once.  

weenar - soopaman

3 0 blitz, FICS, 2021

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

4...Kxf7 5.Ng5+ 

This is what I have called the "face palm" variation. It has a definite tactical idea behind it, but the whole concoction is dangerous for White.

The Database has 578 games with this move, and White scores 23%. In addition, in the 423 games where Black captured the Knight (why play anything else?) White scored only 16%.

5...Qxg5 6.d4 

This is the idea. White advances a center pawn and attacks the Bishop while uncovering an attack on the enemy Queen.

6...Qxg2 

This is Black's best move. Stockfish 13 assesses him as 3 pieces better.

7.Rf1 Nxd4 8.Nd2 d6 

9.c3 Bg4 10.Qa4 b5 11.Qa6 Nc2  checkmate 

Ouch.

Jerome Gambit; Can Hardly Believe It

 

In a new YouTube video, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura shares wih International Master Levy Rozman his wins with the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) against Grandmaster Dmitrij Kollars (see "Jerome Gambit: GM vs GM!?" and "Jerome Gambit: Oops He Did It Again?!"). Rozman can hardly believe it.

Great fun.

Check it out.