Jerome Gambit: Target?

Blitz games often require quick decision making, like - what do I attack? Do I attack the Queen? Do I attack the King? Something else?

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3  Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) blitz game has a bit of that questioning going on for both sides. The answers that the players find help shape - and finish - the game.

Lc0-o_o - urranna

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3  Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

In the Jerome Gambit first and foremost is the attack on the enemy King. This is why the Jerome Gambit declined and the Counter-Jerome Gambit can have some psychological impact on the first player, 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 

Whistler's defense, a strong defense that threatens the exchange of Queens and dares White to capture the Rook on h8, promising an attack on his King in return. See "Jerome Gambit: Boogyman (Parts 1, 2 & 3)".

This is in contrast to Blackburne's defense, 7...d6, where the Rook is still on offer, and White's King may still come under fire, but there is also the ever-present risk that White's Queen may become trapped and/or won.

8.Qxh8 

This is risky, as the complications can favor Black. Indeed, Stockfish 15 rates the second player now as being the equivalent of a Rook and a piece ahead. It is important to note, however, the practical side of the position: The Database has 608 games with this position, with White scoring 63%. YMMV.

8...Qxe4+ 9.Kf1 Bd4 

Black pauses in his attack on the enemy King to attack the enemy Queen.

There are only 5 games in the Database with this position. A measure of the complication here is that while Stockfish 15 sees White as the equivalent of 4 pawns ahead, White has scored only once (our chessfriend angelcamina, in a bullet game!) in the representative games.

In the present game, White has the right idea, until...  

10.Qxh7+ 

Immediately freeing the Queen, by attacking the King.

10...Bg7 11.d3 Qg4 12.Qh3 

The Queen comes back to her side of the board, but it is His Majesty who is at risk now.

12...Qd1 checkmate

Ouch.

Of course, 12.Nc3 would have left White up the exchange and two pawns, with time to retrieve his Queen. 

By minding his Queen, he overlooked the danger to his King.

Jerome Gambit: Roll On

The following 3-minute blitz game is a good example of how a Jerome Gambit can just roll on.

fedronomo - Pankocurek

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Bc5 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ Qe7 9.Qxe7+ N8xe7 

White has 2 pawns in exchange for a piece. His primary actor, the Queen, has been exchanged, so he relies on the "Jerome pawns".

10.d4 Kf7 11.O-O Rf8 12.f4 Kg8 

Black has castled-by-hand.

White's pawns are ready to advance.

13.f5 Nh4

"Aggressive" play, the kind of move more likely in blitz play. Still, withdrawing to h8, and then returning via f7, was a better idea.

14.Bg5 Nxg2  

The right idea, to return a piece for some material. Leading to an even game would have been 14...Nhxf5 15.exf5 Nxf5. 

15.Kxg2 Nc6 16.c3 d6 

17.Nd2 Na5 18.Rae1 c5 19.e5 dxe5 20.dxe5 b5 21.f6 g6 22.e6

22...Bb7+ 23.Kg1 Bd5 24.e7 Rfc8 25.f7+ Bxf7 26.Ne4 Nc6 27.Nd6 Rc7

28.Rxf7 Rxe7 29.Bxe7 Nxe7 30.Rexe7 

The game is won. Black's only hope is the clock.

30...Rd8 31.Rg7+ Kh8 32.Nf7+ Kxg7 33.Nxd8+ Kf6 34.Rxh7 

White starts to clean up the enemy pawns, making finishing the game easier.

34...g5 35.Rxa7 g4 36.Ra5 Kf5 37.Rxb5 Kf4 38.Rxc5 Kf3 39.a4 g3 40.hxg3 Kxg3

41.a5 Kf3 42.a6 Ke2 43.a7 Kd2 44.a8=Q Kc2 45.Qg2+ Kb3 46.c4 Kb4 47.Qc6 Kb3 48.Qb5+ Kc2 49.b4 Kc3 50.Qa4 Kd4 51.Qd7+ Kc3 52.Rf5 Kxb4 53.Qb5+ Kc3 54.Rf3+ Kd4 55.Qf5 Kxc4 56.Rf4+ Kc3 57.Qh3+ Kd2 58.Rf2+ Ke1 59.Qf1 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: A Short Walk Into Danger

I have to admit that one of the reasons that I like the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is that the opening takes me back almost 20 years to a couple of early human vs computer contests in The Database, the Talking LCD Chess handheld (see "Jerome Gambit and The Perfesser" part 1, 2, 3 & 4).

Black's safe King takes a short walk into danger.

Rubivision - hagi90

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 

Here we have a familiar defense. To quote from "Jerome Gambit: For A Moment Not So Annoying"

As I mentioned in "Jerome Gambit Secrets #6"

I have called this the "annoying defense" (because it is) or the "silicon defense" (because of the affinity computer chess programs have for it). It was first seen in D'Aumiller - A.P., 1878 and figured in six of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's games against S.A. Charles in their unfinished 1881 correspondence match.

Years ago, in "An International Master Refutes the Jerome Gambit".International Master Gary Lane, in his The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps (Everyman Chess, 2008) says

I think this is the best way to defend: allowing one of the extra pieces to be taken, and in return obtaining a solid position with extra material.

The fact that Black's King can hang around in the center in apparent safety - is annoying.

8.fxe5 g6 

This appears to be the invention of Talking LCD chess, although it later appears in 10 human vs human games.

There is certainly nothing wrong with simply recapturing 8...exe5.

9.Qf3 

The alternative 9.Qe2 was seen in ThePerfesser - Talking LCD Chess, 2003, (1-0, 23). 

9...Kxe5 

This seems a bit casual and risky, but might have appeared more appealing than Stockfish 14.1's suggestion 9...Qh4+ 10.g3 Qh5 11.Qxh5 gxh5 12.exd6 cxd6 13.d3 Nf6. 

Instead, 9...dxe5 was seen in ThePerfesser -Talking LCD Chess , 2003, (1-0, 20)

10.Qc3+ 

The simple 10.Nc3 looks better, but who can resist checking the advanced enemy King? 

10...Bd4 11.Qa5+ Kxe4

Reminder: this is a blitz game, and not every move receives deep analysis.

12.d3 checkmate

Eyes on the Queen, Black overlooked the pawn.

Jerome Gambit: A Pawn and Its Companions

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game is an example of how a pawn, with help from companions, can become the focus of play - and how the pawn can boost a companion into a winning role.

Portmany - Merlinbm

5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8  

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Qf6 9.O-O Ne7 10.Nc3 c6 11.d3 h6 

Black would like to keep enemy pieces off of the g5 square. This kind of move, however, always contains a possible danger of weakening the Kingside.

It is as if the h6 pawn is calling out to its companion on the other side. 

12.Be3 Bb6 13.Bxb6 axb6 14.d4 Ng6  

I suspect that White would have met 14...Qxd4 with 15.Rad1.

15.Rfe1 Bd7 16.e5 dxe517.dxe5 Qe6 

Black's Queen hurries to blockade White's passed pawn, but Her Majesty turns out to be less effective than anticipated, because the pawn has more dangers than just the threat to advance.

18.Rad1 Rd8 19.Rd6 

Strong outpost.

19...Qf7 20.Rxg6 

The x-ray attack on the Black Queen has won a piece for White.

White's e-pawn remains a threat to advance.

Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: You are ahead, but can you beat me?

Wolfpack1051 has 85 games in The Database, all of them 1-minute bullet Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) games. 

In the following game he faces a new variation of the 6...g6 defense. His challenge: respond correctly to the line while moving quickly, so that the clock does not take him down before he wins the game.

Wolfpack1051 - Yahya_01

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

As pointed out in "Jerome Gambit: What About the Rook?", 6...g6 is usually accompanied by the offer of the piece at h8. The risk to the attacker facing Whistler's defense is a counter-attack against White's King. The risk in Blackburne's defense is that the Queen might get trapped on the 8th rank.

7.Qxe5 Bf8 8.Qxh8 Bg7 9.Qxh7 Nh6 

This is a clever (and new, according to The Database) idea. White's Queen is locked up. True, White is ahead the exchange and 3 pawns, but remember, this is a 1-minute game. Does Black have enough time to attack and win the Queen?

How will White respond?

10.d3 

Wow. Just like that, Wolfpack1051 finds the key to unlock Her Majesty's prison.

10...d6 

If Black could develop his Bishop and his Queen, then he could swing his Rook over to threaten the enemy Queen...

Not enough time.

11.Bxh6 Be6 

A slip.

12.Qxg7+ Ke8 13.Qxg6+ Kd7 14.Nc3 Qe7 15.Bg5 Qf7 16.Qxf7+ Bxf7 

If this were played at a 10-minute (or longer) time control, the situation would be Game Over. But this is bullet, and Black's challenge is: You are ahead, but can you beat me? Can you beat the clock?

Just watch.

17.Nd5 Rg8 18.h4 Bxd5 19.exd5 c6 20.c4 cxd5 21.cxd5 b5 22.Kd2 a5 23.Rh3 b4 24.Re3 a4 25.Rae1 Kc8 26.Re8+ Rxe8 27.Rxe8+ Kb7 

The  players are banging out their moves.

If the game were over at this point, due to time, the players would have used, on the average, about 2 seconds thinking time per move.

Black plays on, as his challenge remains the same.

28.Re6 Kb6 29.Bf4 Kc5 30.Rxd6 b3 31.axb3 axb3 32.Rd8 Kb4 1 33.Rb8+ Ka4 34.Rxb3 

White eliminates the last of Black's army. He can afford this "sacrifice", and it simplifies his calculations.

34...Kxb3 35.d6 Kxb2 36.d7 Kb3 37.d8=Q Kb4 38.Qd4+ Kb5 39.Qc4+ Kb6 40.d4 Kb7 41.Be3 Kb8 42.Bf4+ Kb7 43.Qd5+ Kb6 44.Qe4 Kb5 45.d5 Kc5 46.d6 Kb6 47.d7 Kc5 48.d8=R 

White could promote to a Queen. Perhaps he wanted to avoid the possibility of a stalemate.

48...Kb6 49.Rd5 Kc6 50.Be3 Kc7 51.Qe6 Kb7 52.Rd7+ Kb8 53.Qe8 checkmate

Not bad, for spending about 1 second per move.

Jerome Gambit: Pushing On

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) declined (see "Jerome Gambit Declined: Stay Aware" and "Jerome Gambit Declined: Different Line, Better Result") is not the only way that the defender can attempt to drain the dynamics out of a wild attack.

Again, White needs to be prepared to push on with a small advantage - often, a pawn - to the win. Sometimes efficiently putting together move-after-move will also prove to be an advantage in a blitz game.

Michail0703 - chess_pagol

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+  

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

As I have pointed out

This is known as the "Counter-Jerome Defense" or the "Counter-Jerome Gambit". It is one part psychology - If you are going to sacrifice a piece to disturb my King, then I am going to sacrifice a piece to disturb your King - and one part side-step from the main lines of the Jerome; for the price of a pawn, Black exchanges Queens and turns White's hopes of a smashing, crashing attack into a tedious task.

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 

10.d3 Ng4+ 

This is a 3-minute game, which means each player needs to find moves quickly. This check does not advance Black's game, and the wandering Knight will become a target and a ready source of moves by White.

11.Kg3 d6 12.Rf1+ Kg7 13.h3 Ne5 14.d4 Nc4 15.b3 

White keeps kicking the Knight.

15...Nb6 16.Bb2 White won on time

Jerome Gambit Declined: Different Line, Better Result

Declining the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) leads to a different kind of game for White - in fact, it is as if Black becomes the gambiteer. Yet, White's advantage, while small, can be useful, especially when it is blended with some additional aggression, as we see in the following blitz game.

chuzzyy - Rexabbas

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kf8 

Jerome Gambit declined. The players' roles are reversed, as if Black were sacrificing material - a pawn - for mostly psychological reasons.

5.Bd5 Nf6 6.d4 

In the previous post we saw a Jerome Gambit declined with a similarity to the Ruy Lopez exchange variation. Here we have one similar to the Scotch Gambit.

6...exd4

It may not be a hard and fast rule, but when Black has a pawn, a Knight and a Bishop focused on the d4 square, he probably does best to capture with 6...Nxd4.  

7.Bg5

Both 7.O-O and 7.c3 also come to mind. The text move prevents Black from playing ...Nxd5, unless he wants to open up his Kingside - which he proceeds to do 

7...h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 

An extravagant move, played in Jerome Gambit style, instead of the expected 9.Bg3. White's aggression is aided by the fact that this is a blitz game.

9...hxg5 10.Bxg5 Qe7 11.Qf3 

More pressure on the Knight at f6, and along the f-file.

11...d3 

I am not sure of the intent of this move. Perhaps Black expected 12.cxd4, when 12...Bd4 would provide more protection of the Knight, and attack White's Queenside as well.

In any event, White now clearly takes control.

12.Bxf6 Bxf2+

This almost looks like a "spite check".

13.Qxf2 d2+ 

Ditto.

14.Nxd2 Qb4 15.Bc3+ Black resigned

Black will lose his Queen or be checkmated - or both.