Jerome Gambit: Tactical Magic

The following game features a creative Queen sacrifice - not to break down the walls of the enemy's fortress, but to gain a tempo. It is quite a thing to watch, and finish of the game is equally entertaining.

Tactical magic.

Wall, Bill - Anonymous

internet, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 8.Nd2 Ne7 9.O-O Re8 10.Qc3 N7c6 

11.f4 Ng6 12.e5 Qf5 13.Qb3+ 

White wishes to interrupt Black's plan to castle-by-hand.

13...Kf8 14.Nf3 d6 15.Ng5 Nh8 16.h3 h6 

Skirmishes on the Kingside do not change the balance. Black is still better, with a piece for a pawn.

17.Bd2 Nd4 18.Qd5 Ne6 19.Ne4 Nf7 

Black's pieces shuffle themselves, the better to protect their King.

Once again, as White, Bill has slowly managed to bring about an exchange of roles. Black should be attacking.

20.g4 Qh7 21.f5 c6

It is interesting that Stockfish 13 suggests the return of the sacrificed material, with 21...Neg5 22.e6 Nxe6 23.fxe6 Bxe6. Things can then get tactically messy if White goes for one more pawn, i.e. 24.Qxb7 Rab8 25.Qc6 Bxg4 26.Qxc7 Bf5 27.Ng3 Qg6 28.Kh2 Be6 29.Ne2 Rbc8 30.Nf4 Rxc7 31.Nxg6+ Kg8 32.c3 Kh7 33.Nf4 Bc4 34.Rf2 Ng5 and Black would still have an edge.

22.Qc4 

Stockfish 13, which frequently sees White as worse in any Jerome Gambit - and, therefore, often suggests long lines ending in a draw by repetition - of course preferred 22.Qa5 Neg5 23.Nxd6 Nxd6 24.exd6 b6 25.Qc3 Bd7 26.Rae1 Ne4 27.Qd3 Nf6 28.Re7 Rxe7 29.dxe7+ Kxe7 30.Bc3 Kf8 31.Qd6+ Kg8 32.Re1 Re8 33.Rxe8+ Bxe8 34.Qd8 Kf7 35.Qc7+ Kg8 36.Qb8 etc. Cute.

When you get to the end of this game, I hope you appreciate the fact that White was played by a human. Especially since Black now believes he has caught White in a blunder.

22...d5 

Forking Queen and Knight.

23.fxe6 

Wonderful! White has a draw in hand, and more if Black becomes too excited.

23...dxc4 24.Bb4+ Re7 

If the King moves instead, White has a checkmate in 10 moves.

25.Rxf7+ Kg8 

Because 25...Ke8 will result in checkmate.

26.Nf6+ gxf6 

Again, forced to avoid a short checkmate.

27.Bxe7 

White is down a Queen for a Rook. Can he keep things going?

27...Qxf7  

I think that this move was deeply thought out - just not deeply enough. Black imagines reducing the position to an ending of Bishops-of-opposite-colors (despite the Rooks being on the board) where he can take refuge in a draw.

He has the right idea, with best play the game is drawn, but he would have been closer to that goal with 27...Qe4, when his King would be trapped in a sort of "windmill" that would have produced a repetion of position: 28.Rf8+ Kh7 29.Rf7+ Kg6 30.Rxf6+ Kh7 (not 30...Kg5, as 31.Raf1 will produce situations where Black will lose his Queen to a discovered check) 31.Rf7+, etc.

28.exf7+ Kxf7 29.Bxf6 Be6 

30.Rf1 Kg6 31.Be7 Bd5 32.Rf6+ Kg7 33.Rd6 Re8 34.Bf6+ Kg8 

35.Rd7

This move should have given Black pause. The "correct" way to pursue a draw is 35.Rd8, exchanging Rooks.

 35...Rb8 36.Kf2 

The King will lend an extra hand.

36...Bf7 37.Ke3 c5 38.Ke4 Kf8 39.Kf5 a5 40.e6 Bg8 41.Rd8+ 

Instead of celebrating here, Black resigned.

The sad truth is that even after 41...Rxd8 42.Bxd8, White's King is well-placed to capture the pawn on h6, and that will leave him with too many pawns for the opposite color Bishop ending.

But White had no intention  of entering that line, planning 41...Rxd8 42.e7+! when checkmate arrives quickly after the promotion, 42...Kf7 43.exd8/Q. 

Very, very nice.

Jerome Gambit: Through A Mirror, Cracked

Every once in a while, while playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) White meets a defender who believes that copying a move or a strategem is the proper way to go. This usually involves a return sacrifice at f2, after White has sacrificed at f7.

The following game raises questions about the wisdom of such a strategy.

Wall, Bill - Guest1915145

Internet, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kf8 

Declining the gambit, a rare move.

5.Bc4 Bxf2+ 

Another example of If you can do it to me, I can do it to you.

White captured a pawn and bumped Black's King; Black now captures a pawn and bumps White's King.

Oh, wait - Black declined to capture the Bishop. That means...

6.Kxf2 

After six moves, White is up a piece, which is something rare in a Jerome Gambit.

6...d6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Rf1 Bg4 9.Kg1 

White castles-by-hand, usually a recommendation for Black in the Jerome Gambit accepted.

9...Na5 10.Be2 Bxf3 11.Rxf3 h6 

Feeling pressure on his Knight along the f-file, Black prevents additional pressure along the d8-h4 diagonal.

12.Nd5 c6 13.Nxf6 gxf6 14.d4 

Don't worry, Bill hasn't missed b2-b4.

14... Rh7 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Qxd8+ Rxd8 17.b4 Black resigned

Like I said...

Black will be down two pieces, and doubling Rooks on the d-file is not sufficient compensation.

Jerome Gambit: The Hurrieder I Go, The Behinder I Get

After the previous, complicated Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, I thought I would share a simple one from the "stranger than truth" file. It is another example of a defender way-too-quickly playing a move that he might have remembered from somewhere, but probably should have thought about a bit longer. 

LionelBlue - kottarakkara

5 0 blitz, FICS, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's defense. Taking the Rook now is complicated, as White risks having his Queen trapped, even as Black also attacks the White King.

8.Qxh8 Nf6

Trapping the Queen?

To be fair to Black, it must be mentioned that there are a dozen examples of this oversight in The Database. (See "Jerome Gambit: Ghosts in the Defense".)

The perils of blitz. 

9.Qxd8 Bg4 

Probably inertia.

10.Qxa8 Nxe4 11.O-O Black resigned

Black's pieces menace the Kingside, but once White's Queen returns to action and White's pieces develop, it is clear that they will not be successful.

Jerome Gambit: Upon Further Examination

We continue the examination of the Blackburne Defense to the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) started in the previous post, as experienced through a blitz game. Once again, the excitement, as well as the danger, is enhanced.

This is hard work, and we get to enjoy the benefits of their labor.

szachy1000 - Trickeryplayer

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5

This is actually where the game started, from a set position.

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

Blackburne's defense, from the famous game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884. Black offers his Rook, with the plan of both attacking White's King and trapping White's Queen.

There is theory involved, the kind best known beforehand as it can be difficult to uncover in a 3-minute game.

8.Qxh8 

This capture is playable, although the resulting positions can be complicated - and Blackburne did destroy his opponent after this move.

8...Qh4 9.O-O 

This move, quite sensible, leads to an even game.

The road to advantage is a tricky one: 9.d4 Bb4+ (9...Qxe4+ 10.Be3 Qxg2 11.Rf1 is uncomfortable, but in many cases White's King will O-O-O to safety) 10.c3 Bh3 11.gxh3 Re8 12.O-O Nf6 13.Qxe8+ Kxe8 14.cxb4 Nxe4 15.Nc3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qxh3 and White's material advantage is decisive.

9...Bh3 

This is one of those must-have-seen-it-in-a-book type moves. In fact, The Database has only one other example of a game like this, Fritz - RevvedUp, 2 12 blitz, 2006 (1- 0, 18). It is out of place, however.

Black had Blackburne's 9...Nf6 (preparing to lock the Queen in) 10.Qd8 (looking to escape; Blackburne's opponent missed this) Bh3 (now, although 10...Bb6, instead, would have forced the Queen to find another escape route, 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qd3) 11.Qxc7+ Kf8 12.Qxb7 Bxg2 (trying to avoid the draw by repetition that White has set up) 13.Qxa8+ Ne8 14.d4 (or 14.Kxg2 Qg4+ 15.Kh1 Qf3+ 16.Kg1 Qg4+ and Black sues for peace) Qg4 15.Bh6+ (just in time) Ke7 16.Qb7+ Kd8 17.Qb8+ Ke7 and White will have his draw after all. 

10.gxh3 

The advice in the face of an ever-ticking clock is Take the material. In this case, however, White would do best to rescue his Queen with 10.Qc3, when Black would rescue his light-square Bishop. White would then be up the exchange and a couple of pawns. 

10...Re8 

Despite the suggestions in the notes to this game, neither player is interested in pursuing a draw. Otherwise Black would have channeled Blackburne and tried 10...Nf6 11.Qxa8 Qxh3 12.Qxb7 Qg4+ 13.Kh1 Qf3+ 14.Kg1 Qg4+ Two pieces down, a draw would be his best bet.

11.Qc3 Re5 

Having sacrificed a Rook, Black seeks checkmate. He is encouraged by White's slow development.

12.Qg3 

Super sensible. He is willing to return material to take the pressure off of his King - and he sees a tiny glitch in his opponent's plan (and misses one in his own).

12...Rg5 13.Kh1 

Unpinning his Queen, but missing the fact that he had to play 13.d4! first. Unbelieveable. Something had to be done about the pin on White's f-pawn, and this both block's the Bishop and attacks the enemy Rook. Now 13...Bxd4 14.Bxg5 and 13...Rxg3 14.fxg3+ work.

Still, before moving now Black should ask himself: What has changed?

13...Rxg3 

Of course, this was the idea behind his previous move. He will win the Queen - and lose the game.

With 13...Qxe4+ 14.Kg1 Rxg3+ 15.hxg3 Qxc2 Black would have a Queen for two Rooks, and the advantage.

14.fxg3+ 

Capturing with check. Black has to return his Queen.

14...Qf6 15.Rxf6+ Nxf6 

Things have calmed down, and White is ahead a Rook and a couple of pawns.

16.b3 Nxe4 17.Bb2 Nf2+ 18.Kg2 Ne4 19.d3 Nd2 

A slip, but the game was largely over. 

15.Nxd2 Black resigned

Whew!

Jerome Gambit: Almost Home

In the following Jerome  Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game White enters a line that neither he nor his opponent is very familiar with. His courage nets him a winning advantage - but a moment's oversight costs him the game.

The moral is as always, for both sides: Do not let your attention flag until your opponent turns down his King.

BahatiTheGrandmaster - weedtea

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

The Blackburne defense, arguably the most notorious one at Black's disposal. It leads to a complicated game that favors White - if he knows how to find his way through.

8.Qxh8 Bxf2+ 

Possibly Black was unaware of the Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884 game; perhaps this was his improvment. In any event, this move has been successfully met by online by blackburne, UNPREDICTABLE, and MrJoker, among others. 

Henry Joseph Blackbure played 8...Qh4 instead, planning to both attack White's King and lock in White's Queen.

9.Kxf2 Qh4+ 

Black will have his attack.

White's resource is now 10.g3 when 10...Qxe4 (what else?) 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Rf1 will allow his King to move to safety at g1, wherupon his advantage in material and attack on the enemy King will prove decisive. 

10.Kg1 Qe1 checkmate

Surprise!

Jerome Gambit: Dancing on the Knife's Edge Again

When playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), I would rather not face Whistler's Defense (7...Qe7) and I particularly would stay away from taking the Rook at h8, as it is definitely poisoned.

However, just as the Jerome is playable under blitz time controls, so too are risky lines that enter complications that the defender is not ready to deal with - even those that involve poisoned Rooks.

Danijel265 - scoopadebop

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Whistler's Defense.

8.Qxh8 

This is usually considered dangerous.

8...Qxe4+ 

This is why.

9.Kf1 Qc4+ 

Black has the right idea, to focus on the enemy King, but there is one task he needed to deal with first - safeguard his own King. One line: 9...Qh4 (attacking f2, while defending h7) 10.g3 Qh3+ 11.Ke1 Qe6+ 12.Kf1 Nf6. Now White's Queen is trapped and vulnerable to ...b6 followed by ...Bb7.

White takes advantage of the moment's opportunity.

10.d3 Qxc2 11.Qxh7+ Kf8 12.Bh6+ 

A nice idea to keep in mind, developing a piece, exchanging off a defender, keeping control of the situation with checks.

12...Nxh6 13.Qxh6+ Ke8 

14.Qxg6+ Ke7 15.Qe4+ Kd6 16.Nc3 

Overlooking something, but, remember, this was a 3-minute game. One more check would have settled things: 16.Qg6 + Ke7 (all others allow mate) 17.Nd2 (the Knight is expendible because 17...Qxd2 18.Re1+ wins the Queen) and Black's King faces great danger.

16...Qxf2 checkmate

Ouch.

Jerome Gambit: What If?

Sometimes a pawn looks suspicious, and defenders decline it on principle. Sometimes they are curious and look into it - and then conclude they should stay away. However, sometimes defenders take the pawn - and that can be a problem.

Consider the following game.

 

simonsah2004 - Hurnking

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 

The game actually started from this set position.

6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qxe5+ Kxe5 

11.b4 Bxb4 

Safer is 11...Bd4, although it does not solve all of Black's problems, as he still has to be careful about his King (in a better position) e.g. 12.c3 Bb6 13.d4+ Ke6 14.Nd2 (14.O-O Nf6 15.Nd2 Re8 16.e5 Nd5 17.Ne4 h6 18.Bd2 d6 19.exd6 cxd6 20.Rae1 Kd7 21.Rf7+ Re7 22.Nf6+ gxf6 23.Rexe7+ Nxe7 24.Bxh6 Ke6 25.Rf8 Ng6 26.Rg8 Kf7 27.Rg7+ Ke8 28.Rxg6 Kf7 29.Rg7+ Ke6 30.Rg8 Kd5 31.h4 Kc4 32.Bd2 Kd3 33.Be1 Bc7 34.h5 b6 35.h6 Bb7 36.Rxa8 Bxa8 37.h7 Black resigned, simonsah2004 - 1c6O-1, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021) 14...d6 15.O-O Bd7 16.Nf3 h6 17.Bd2 Nf6 18.Rae1 Bb5 19.Rf2 Ng4 20.e5 Nxf2 21.exd6+ Kxd6 22.Bf4+ Kd5 23.Re5+ Kc4 24.Kxf2 Rae8 25.Nd2+ Kxc3 26.Rxb5 Rhf8 27.Kg3 Rxf4 28.Kxf4 Kxd2 29.Re5 Rf8+ 30.Ke4 Rf2 31.g3 Rxh2 32.Re6 Re2+ 33.Kd5 Rxe6 34. Kxe6 Bxd4 White resigned, simonsah2004 - GMHikaruOnTwitch, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021.

As Yury Bukayev notes, move 11...Bxb4 creates a position of the bona fide master attack, which later became known to everyone after several GM Nakamura's videos. 

12.Bb2+ Ke6 

Black can grab a pawn, but it doesn't make much a difference and it takes the King further from home: 12...Kxe4 13.Bxg7 Ne7 14.Bxh8 Nd5 (14...d6 15.O-O Kd5 16.a3 Bc5+ 17.d4 Kc6 18.dxc5 Kxc5 19.Nc3 Kc6 20.Rf7 Nd5 21.Nxd5 Kxd5 22.Rf8 b6 23.Re1 Bb7 24.Rxa8 Bxa8 25.Re7 Kc6 26.Rxh7 Bb7 27.Rh4 Kd7 28.Rh7+ Kc6 29.h4 d5 30.h5 Kd6 31.h6 c5 32.Rxb7 Black resigned, GMHikaruOnTwitch - Thechesskid2021, 3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2021) 15.O-O Bc5+ 16.Kh1 d6 17.Rf3 Bg4 18.d3 checkmate, simonsah2004 - Filipistas, Chess.com, 2021) 

13.Bxg7 Kf7 14.Bxh8 Nf6 15.O-O Be7 16.e5 Black resigned

White will soon be a Rook up.