Jerome Gambit: Another Snipe Hunt

 

I have a tendency to wander the internet, sometimes finding interesting - but incomplete - tidbits of Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) information that tend to drive me to distraction looking for something that often doesn't exist.

For example, at a Reddit chess site the other day I ran into a very innocent question

Just curious but has the Vienna been played in world championship matches in recent years?

A response

In a world championship - only in the FIDE knockout era. There was also a Vienna transposing to some kind of reverse Jerome Gambit in the Bishop's in a blitz tie-break in 2004.

Other than that, highest up in the WC cycle was 1994 Candidates bracket match between Adams and Anand (one game), and Short played in relentlessly against Speelman in 1991 Candidates bracket match. 

In a World Championship proper, only 3 games: Alekhine-Euwe 1935, game 27, Chigorin-Steinitz 1892, game 21 and Steinitz-Zukertort, game 20.

Did you catch that? "[S]ome kind of reverse Jerome Gambit in the Bishop's in a blitz tie-break in 2004"?

Looking at ChessBase's Big Database 2016 I could not find a Bishop's Opening (C23 - C24) from 2004 that featured ...Bxf2+.

I did find a couple dozen Vienna / Three Knights games that started 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Nxe5 Bxf2+ - shades of  Kennedy - Chesbrough, Columbus, 1985 (1-0, 44) - but nothing from a FIDE knockout tournament in 2004.

Of course, I posted a request to see the game, but I have no idea if that will be successful.

Jerome Gambit: Why Would He Play That?

Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) players are familiar with the puzzlement our opening sometimes creates in the minds of defenders - Why did he play that?

Often, that is a good question to ask ourselves, as well. If we can understand Why? someone played a move we can better evaluate and deal with that move.

The following game shows what I mean.

rohanazad - Amarnath_Mishra

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. d4 

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 

Black places his Queen on f6 in a number of different variations in the Jerome Gambit.

Alonzo Wheeler Jerome faced this move in two of his games, Jerome - Norton, correspondence, 1876 (unfinished) and Jerome - Jaeger, correspondence, 1878 (1-0, 35). Both times he responded with 8.Qd1.

Stockfish 14.1 and Komodo 12.1.1 agree with AWJ.

Why?

(About a decade ago I posted a similar precaution in "Something To Watch Out For".)

8.O-O Nf3+ 9.gxf3 Qxd4 White resigned

Of course, 8.Be3, 8.Qe3, 8.Qd5+ and 8.Qc3 (as well as other prudent moves) work, too.

Jerome Gambit: Wandering Through The Database

 

When I wander through The Database my eyes are often caught by long Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games that end in a draw. There is often a story to go along with the final position. 

Here are a few recent examples.

dontcallmelab - Lemmi_win, bullet, lichess.org, 2021

After 52 moves, White has recovered his sacrificed material and gained some more, but at this point it no longer matters, as his "Jerome pawns" have disappeared; in fact, all of his pawns are gone - he does not have checkmating material, so the game is drawn.

morgado76 - VladimirSlies, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

Here Black has battled for 53 moves and can be pleased that he is ahead in material, but it is not enough - again, he does not have checkmating material, so the game is drawn.

MinusCarlsberg - Antarebal, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

Black has reason to be optimistic with this position, as he has the "right" Bishop (i.e. it controls the Queening square) to go with his h-pawn and he has a prospective checkmate-in-10 moves. What he doesn't have, however, is any time left on his clock (time is often the attacker's secret weapon in the Jerome Gambit) - still, Whites does not have checkmating material, so the best he can do is claim a draw.

Fragmentation_chess - Jordavco, bullet, lichess.org, 2021

Black has an overwhelming advantage in material, and a pending checkmate in 3, but he is again undone by flag fall. Oh, that tricky Jerome Gambit! Again, White does not have checkmating material, so although he has not reached a win on time, he can still grab the half point.

sharpswords - clbishop, 20 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

Finally, it has to be admitted that Jerome Gambit players have a lot of luck. In this game between two 1900+ rated players, the defender may have been a bit too casual in punishing the attacker - his "reward" is a draw by stalemate.

Jerome Gambit: Odds

I plan on playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) in every game with the White pieces in the ongoing "Giuoco Piano" tournament at Chess.com, regardless of the strength of my opponent.

The following game is my second win, and it probably should be considered giving "Jerome Gambit" odds, as I outrated my opponent by quite a bit.

 

perrypawnpusher - Ben_is_not10

3 d/move, "Giuoco Piano" Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe8 

This is an interesting idea, not fully realized. Black is willing to sacrifice his Rook - see "Jerome Gambit: What About the Rook?" - counting on a strong counter-attack starting with ...Qxe4+.

This is similar to Whistler's defense, where Black plays 7...Qe7, which is more prudent, as it protects his Bishop.

8.Qxc5 

Challenging the defense. Capturing the Rook, instead, would be a mistake that would allow a transposition to Whistler's line - not something that I would recommend, although players have done so and survived:

8.Qxh8?Qxe4+ 

The best move, but others have been played - 

8...Nf6? 9.Qxe8+ Kxe8 10.Nc3 Bd4 11.d3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Ng4 13.O-O d5 14.e5 c6 15.h3 c5 16.hxg4 Bxg4 17.f3 d4 18.fxg4 dxc3 19.e6 c4 20.Rf7 cxd3 21.cxd3 c2 22.Bg5 h6 23.Bxh6 g5 24.Rf8+ Ke7 25.Rxa8 c1=Q+ 26.Rxc1 Kd6 27.Rxa7 Kxe6 28.Bxg5 Ke5 29.Rxb7 Kd4 30.Rb4+ Kxd3 31.Rd1+ Kc3 32.Rdd4 Kc2 33.Rdc4+ Kd1 34.Rb2 Ke1 35.Rc1 checkmate, mwafakalhaswa - jcatinis, lichess.org, 2019;

8...Kf8? Black resigned, Littleplayerparis Adyant501021, lichess.org, 2021; and

8...Bd6? 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.O-O Be5 11.d3 d6 12.Bh6+ Nxh6 13.Qxh6+ Kf7 14.Qh7+ Kf6 15.Nd2 Bxb2 16.Rae1 Be5 17.Nf3 Bg4 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Qh4+ g5 20.Qxg4 Qh8 21.Qf5+ Ke7 22.Qxe5+ Kd7 23.Qxg5 Qh7 24.Qg4+ Kc6 25.Qh3 Qg7 26.Qg3 Qh7 27.Qh3 Qg7 28.Qe6+ Kc5 29.Qd5+ Kb6 30.Qc4 Rg8 31.g3 Qh7 32.Rb1+ Ka5 33.Qb3 b5 34.Qa3+ Kb6 35.Qb4 Rh8 36.Qxb5 checkmate, Tiny25 - eflatun99, lichess.org, 2021 

9.Kd1 Nf6 10.d3 Qxg2 11.Re1 Bxf2 12.Bh6 Qf3+ 13.Re2 Nh5 14.Qf8 checkmate,  Littleplayerparis - lizardgeck0, lichess.org, 2020 

8...Nf6 

Stockfish 14.1 still recommends the Whistler-like 8...Qxe4+, and gives a line which leaves White with an edge: 9.Kf1 b6 10.Qxc7 Nf6 11.d3 Ba6 12.Nd2 Qd5 13.Qg3 Rhe8 14.h4 Kg8 15.c4 Qe6 16.Kg1 Bb7 17.Ne4 Bxe4 18.dxe4 Qxe4 19.Be3 Ng4 20.Rh3 Nxe3 21.Qxe3 Qxc4 22.Qf3 Qe6. Apparently the computer puts its faith in h4-h5 with the idea of opening the h-file for White's Rook.

The text move leaves allows White to protect his e-pawn, stifle Black's play, and remain up a few pawns.

9.d3 d6 10.Qxc7+ Kf8 

The relatively better move was 10...Qd7 - can you see why? 

11.Qxd6+ 

This move is fine, but it is lazy, as it misses 11.Bh6+ Kg8 12.Qg7 checkmate.

White now exchanges and exchanges.

11...Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6+ Kxf6 

Being careful should bring home the full point.

15.f4 Re8 16.Nc3 Bd7 17.Nd5+ Kg7 

A slip.

18.Nc7 Rac8 19.Nxe8+ Rxe8 20.O-O Rf8 

21.Rae1 g5 22.f5 Kf6 23.e5+ Kg7 24.g4 h5 25.h3 hxg4 26.hxg4 Rh8 27.Rf2 Bc6

With the delightful threat: 28.e6? Rh1 checkmate.

28.Rh2 Rg8 29.Rh5 Kf7 30.Kf2 Be8 31. Rh7+ Kf8 32.d4 Bg6 

Another slip, but I suspect the game has lost interest for him.

Now simplest play for White involves advancing the pawns.

33.fxg6 Rxg6 34.e6 Ke8 35.e7 Rg8 36.d5 Rg6 37.Rh8+ Kf7 38.e8=Q+ Kg7 39.Re7+ Kf6 40.Qf7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Peeking Through the Palm

Yesterday's post was skeptical regarding the "Face palm" variation, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+.

A look at The Database, however, shows 622 games with the line, so there has to be something attractive about it.

I think that White may be counting on Black responding very quickly in a bullet or blitz game.

Jerry315 - HEM2808

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+ 

White threatens Black's King. Scary.

5...Qxg5 

Okay... The Database has 455 games with this position, with White scoring 16%/

6.d4 

White attacks both the Bishop and the Queen. What if Black's focus is on the center? Will he deal with the lesser of the two threats? 

Here are some game examples.

6...Nxd4 

Or 6...Bxd4 7.Bxg5 Black resigned, KAVUA - wojowhiskey, standard, FICS, 2013 7...Bxb2 (7...h6 8.Qf3+ Nf6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Qh5+ Kg7 11.Nd2 Bxb2 12.Rb1 Bd4 13.Nf3 Bb6 14.Nh4 d6 15.Qg6+ Kf8 16.Qxf6+ Kg8 17.Ng6 Black resigned, SPOKLECHAT - anzali, FICS, 2020) 8.Qd5+ Kf8 9.O-O Bxa1 10.f4 Nge7 11.fxe5+ Ke8 12.Qf7+ Kd8 13.Qf8+ Rxf8 14.Rxf8 checkmate, drewski02 - dperez22, Chess.com, 2021. 

7.Bxg5 

Here White resigned in Longandsons - criton, standard, FICS, 2010 

7...Bb4+ 

Or 7...Nf6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qh5+ Kg7 10.Qd1 d5 11.exd5 Bf5 12.O-O Nxc2 13.Nc3 Nxa1 14.Qxa1 a6 15.Kh1 Rad8 16.f3 Rd6 17.g4 Bg6 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.fxe4 h5 20.Qd1 hxg4 21.Qxg4+ Kf7 22.a3 Be3 23.Re1 Bf4 24.Re2 Rdd8 25.Qe6+ Kg7 26.Rg2+ Bg5 27.Qe7+ Kg6 28.Rc2 Rc8 29.Rxc7 Rxc7 30.Qxc7 Bf4 31.Qxb7 Rxh2+ 32.Kg1 Re2 33.Qxa6 Rxb2 34.d6 Rd2 35.Qa7 f5 36.exf5+ Kxf5 37.Qf7+ Ke4 38.d7 Ke3 39.Qb3+ Rd3 40.Qb6+ Ke2 41.Qf2+ Kd1 42.Qf1+ Kc2 43.Qe2+ Kc3 44.Qe1+ Kb2 45.Qe2+ Kc3 46.Qe1+ Kc2 47.Qe2+ Kc3 48.Qe1+ Kc2 49.Qe2+ Game drawn by repetition, chesssfire - reali, FICS, 2004;

Or 7...d6 8.c3 Ne6 9.Qf3+ Nf6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qh5+ Ke7 12.b4 Nf4 13.Qd1 Bb6 14.h3 h5 15.Nd2 Nd3+ 16.Kf1 Nxf2 17.Qc2 Nxh1 18.a4 Ng3+ 19.Ke1 a5 20.Nc4 axb4 21.Nxb6 cxb6 22.cxb4 Bd7 23.a5 bxa5 24.Rxa5 Rac8 25.Qf2 Nxe4 26.Qh4 Rc1+ 27.Ke2 Rhc8 28.Qxh5 R8c2+ 29.Ke3 Re1+ 30.Kd3 Rd2+ 31.Kc4 b5+ 32.Kb3 Be6+ 33.Ka3 Re3 checkmate, juuei - ficsserver, FICS, 2013 

8.c3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Black resigned

What do you think? At the right time, against the right opponent, with the right time control - might you give it a try?

Jerome Gambit: Threats and More Threats

The following game says something about both blitz chess and the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+): Success often comes from making a series of threats, even if they can be defended, one-at-a-time.

It is particularly interesting, given the rating of the two players. Perhaps it was all just in fun. 

KarmaAkabane32 (2772) - Lordermord (2298)

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

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

4...Kxf7 5.Ng5+

As I wrote in "Jerome Gambit: Developing (Part 2)"

I think I betray my skepticism of this move in calling it the "face palm variation". See "Jerome Gambit: The Face Palm Variation" and "Jerome Gambit: Return of the Face Palm Variation".

5...Kf8 

However, Black recoils from the threat. He could easily have captured the Knight with 5...Qxg5, as the "trick" behind White's threat, 6.d4, attacking both the Queen and the Bishop, can be aggressively met with 6...Qxg2 when Black would be much better.

6.Qh5

Threatening checkmate-in-one.

 6...g6 7.Nxh7+ 

I am pretty sure that the old lament is Patzer sees check, patzer gives check, not 2700 sees check, 2700 gives check, but this is a 3-minute game, and it is the Jerome Gambit.

7...Kf7

Again, the threat has its impact. Is the defender anxious, or just underestimating the move? Black would be fine after 7...Kg7, when he will then go on to win the Knight.

8.Ng5+ Kf6 

Not doing himself any favors. Komodo 12 suggests 8...Kg7 9.Qxh8+ Kxh8 10.Nf7+ Kg7 11.Nxd8 Nxd8 when Black would have an edge.

9.Qxh8+

The check makes all the difference.

9...Kxg5 10.d4+ Kg4 11.f3 checkmate

The moral of the story: threaten, threaten, threaten.

Jerome Gambit: A Complicated Position, A Slip

I have completed a game in the current "Giuoco Piano" tournament at Chess.com. As luck would have it, I was playing a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). Even more luck brought me the full point, as my opponent made a slip in a complicated position. That was unfortunate, as he was doing very well - until he wasn't.

Be sure to check out the notes for additional examples of bad luck.

perrypawnpusher - ycarissan

3 d/move "Giuoco Piano" Chess.com, 2021

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+ 9.g3 Nf3+ 

Here we have the wild "Nibs" variation, first seen in

an imaginary game presented in the June 1899 issue of the American Chess Magazine. In an article titled "A CHESS SCRAP" by "R.F." it is supposedly an early example of chess-by-telephone – filled with all of the difficulties that came from using a then new and unproven technology.

The computers like the variation, assessing Black's developed pieces as more important than his exposed King.

10.Kf1 

Before this game I was 11 - 3 with this move, as opposed to 6 - 0 with the alternative 10.Kd1.

It is relevant to mention a third King-move alternative, as 10.Ke2 Nd4+ leads to the loss of White's Queen. The Database has 19 games with this misfortune - or with White resigning first - but my favorite has to be a game that does not follow the script: 11.Kd3 Qe7 12.Qd5 checkmate.

10...Nd4 

Ouch.

Instead, Black could have followed perrypawnpusher - Temmo, Jerome Gambit thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2008 (0-1, 43) with 10...Qh6.

Please notice that the retreat 10...Qe7 would be met by 11.Qd5+ checkmate, as in the recent game Matechess1 - akhend15, 3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2021. The Database has 13 similar mates with White's King on d1, but only one with the King on f1.

As Dan Middlemiss pointed out, Black could also have played 10...Ne7, as in perrypawnpusher - DaniyarManat, Piano Piano tournament, Chess.com, 2020 (1-0, 29).

11.Qd5+ Black resigned

White's Queen has escaped danger, with check, giving time to capture Black's Queen.