Jerome Gambit: Gambit Duel (Part 3)

 

[continued from the previous post]

wgraif (2525) - EricRosen (2591)

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

If you give this position a minute's thought here - you would lose on time. Both players were under 60 seconds on the clock.

On the board, White's "Jerome pawn" wins back sacrificed material.

21...Bxe6 22.Nxe6 Kf7 23.Rde1 Re8 24.Nxd8+ Qxd8 

25.Rxe8

Remove the pieces from the board, and White's pawns would win the game (provided the first player moves quickly enough). That is the reasoning behind Stockfish's suggestion for play: 25.Re5 Qd6 26.Rfe1 a5 27.c3 a4 28.h3 c5 29.Bxf6 Qxf6 30.Qxf6+ gxf6 31.Rxe8 Rxe8.

The humans follow the same general path.

25...Rxe8  26.Bxf6 Qxf6  27.Qxh5+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Kf7 29.Qh5+ Kf8 30.Qg4    

White decides not to repeat the position, instead still going for the win. He is clearly better on the board, but time is flying!

30...a5 31.c3 a4 32.a3 Kf7 33.Qh5+ Qg6 34.Qxg6+ Kxg6 

At this point, the pieces were flying.

35.Kg1 Re2  36.Rb1

Still gamely going for the win. Instead, 36.Rf2 Re1+ 37.Rf1 Re2 38.Rf2 etc would have split the point.

36...Kf5 

Good Rook + pawn endgame players might point out that 36...Kg5 would keep White's h-pawn better under control, but I do not know if it would matter in the long run.   

37.Kf1 Rc2 38.Re1

Hungry Rooks. Stockfish 15 says "even game".

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Gambit Duel (Part 2)

 

[continued from the previous post]

wgraif (2525) - EricRosen (2591)

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

The Jerome Gambit game fits in well in the "Gambit Duel" between National Master William Graif and International Master Eric Rosen.

12.Bg5    

This is a standard idea in the Jerome: pressure on the Knight at f6. There will be risks in making the capture, however, as the game proceeds.

12...Kf7 13.Rad1

White wants to be able to play d2-d4 to block out the enemy Bishop, in order to be able to play f2-f4. This idea is complicated by the fact that once the d-pawn moves, the e-pawn will be unprotected, so that pawn, in turn, will need protection.

In retrospect, White might have looked at Ka1, at some point, unpinning his f-pawn, instead.

13...Bd4 14.Ne2 Bb6  

14...Bxb2 was probably playable, but it would have been a distraction from the plan Black was putting together, and the time spent on working through the complications - 15.Rb1 h4!? (15...Ba3 16.Nf4!?) 16.Bxh4 Nh5 17.Qe3 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Rxb7 Rxh2!? 20.Rfb1 was not necessary at this point.

15.Qh4

Protecting the e-pawn (with additional pressure on f6), according to plan.

15...Rag8 16.d4 d5 17.f3 c6 

White has played d3-d4, and reinforced his e-pawn with the modest f2-f3. He has pressure on the Knight at f6, and Black would love to see the Bishop exchanged so that he could recapture with the pawn and open the g-file for his Rook.

18.Kh1  Ke8

Nothing sharp, for the moment.

The computer suggests 18...Nh7, with the idea 19.Nf4 Nxg5 20.Qxg5 g6 21.Nd3 when White intends to plant his Knight on e5. Still, Black would be better.

19.Nf4 Bf7

NM Rosen would like to keep White's Knight off of g6.

It is interesting that Stockfish 15 is not concerned about the possible loss of the exchange: it sees 19...Bc7 20.Ng6 Nh7 21.Nxh8 Rxh8 22.Qxh5+ Qf7 as equal.

"Equal" would not be bad for White at this point, although after the text move the computer evaluates White as being more than a Rook better.

Can you see what White has after the text move?

20.e5 Bd8 21.e6 

NM Graif was happy to play this move. I think I would have gone for the more pedestriant 21.exf6 - although, of course, I would never have reached this position against an International Master.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Gambit Duel (Part 1)

 

I recently learned (thank you, Dan) of a 3-minute Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game played at lichess.org between wgraif (2525) and EricRosen (2591).

Although the game was ultimately won by Black on move 84, the play was complicated and very interesting; and White certainly had his chances.

By the way, International Master Eric Rosen is known for his interest in unusual chess openings, especially the Stafford Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6). His videos can be found on YouTube, and he streams on Twitch.

National Master William Graif also streams on Twitch, where you can find a few videos highlighting his "Gambit Duel" with IM Rosen. The two players are clearly having fun - starting with the use of a "gambit wheel" which spins to choose the opening to be played.

Their Jerome Gambit game can be seen at about 26:22, where NM Graif opines accurately "A fan favorite. It has to be the most dubious line here."

wgraif (2525) - EricRosen (2591)

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

It is interesting that the lichess.org computer, in its brief analysis, gives Black's move a "?", preferring 6...Ke6. From a silicon point of view, that might be correct, but in human vs human play 6...Kf8 is just fine.

The Database notes that in 1,850 games with 6...Kf8, Black scores 52%; while in 2,775 games with 6...Ke6, Black scores 45%. (All warnings about statistics should be heeded, but the numbers are included here to suggest that the computer's argument is not the only one available.)

7.Qxe5 d6

The computer labels this move an "inaccuracy", suggesting that 7...d5 was best. This is a very good point. The Database has only 4 games with 7...d5, with Black scoring 75%.

I have previously mentioned (see "Jerome Gambit: More Recent Videos") the video "Everything You Should Know About the Jerome Gambit" by GM Cemil Can Ali Marandi. The grandmaster is worth quoting

...[I]n this video I would like to analyze the Jerome Gambit for you guys. You might have heard about the Jerome Gambit and I would like to make sure that everybody understands the ideas behind this gambit and how you should actually proceed. The Jerome Gambit is becoming very popular lately, but you have to kind of understand that this is obviously not the right way to play the game of chess. If you're looking for something which is entertaining, if you're looking for interesting sacrifice right off the bat in the opening this is a gambit for you but it's only for educational and fun purposes. It is really not good for a regular classical game or and over-the-board practice...

The grandmaster's comment on 7...d5 is also educational. After pointing out that "The king is very safe on f8", when he gets to Black's 7th move  

...[T]he best move is 7...d5. The reason is when you're up in development advantage, in this case Black is up in development advantage and he's also a piece up, the idea is to open up as many files as many diagonals as possible toward the enemy King. So White can't really go for the Queen trade. What he can go for is he can take the pawn 8.exd5 but this has its own disadvantage as well because you can realize that White has only played with his Queen and his pawn so far, because he just lost two of his pieces, which he developed earlier, so now Black has to somewhat try to start an attack on this weakened White King...

...and after a move like 7...d5 White obviously doesn't want to trade the Queens because in this position if you trade the Queens, well now Black is simply a piece up and he will be winning the game very easily. Therefore, trading queens when you are attacking, especially down a piece, is generally not a good thing...   

8.Qg3 Nf6 9.Nc3 Be6 10.0–0 Qd7 11.d3 h5    

White has 2 pawns for his sacrificed piece. He is behind in development, and has to deal with the annoying dark square Bishop on c5.

NM Graif makes an interesting comment during the game, that one problem with the Jerome Gambit is that the pawns get in the way of the Rooks. In fact, his next move is designed to physically impede a pawn which will be in front of a Rook that wants to attack White's King...

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: A Top Grandmaster Tweets

Yury V. Bukayev let me know that Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest (currently #65 on the FIDE list) tweeted last fall 

Guys, need your honest opinion here: Is the Jerome playable in blitz? Let me know!

I was pleased to see that the very first response was

Schnulzi Hörbuch

@cappu_mit_hut

·

Oct 17, 2021

Replying to

@jordenvforeest

https://jeromegambit.blogspot.com/?m=1 Here you'll find all the answers you need.

Jerome Gambit: Round Three

The third round of the Giuoco Piano Game tournament at Chess.com has started. I will be facing joro_videv, torrefish, and marvinni. 

joro_videv and torrefish finished first in their group in the second round. marvinni finished second in his group.

I will be offering three Jerome Gambits (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), of course.

Good chess to my opponents!

Jerome Gambit:Beware the f-File

In past posts I have warned defenders of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) to beware of the dangers along the e-file (see "Jerome Gambit: Beware the e-File") but the following game encourages me to issue another warning - beware of the f-file when your King is on it and White has castled Kingside... 

AlfieRyan - nicolaitop

3 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7. Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 N8e7 

The Knight would do a bit better at f6. 

10.f4 Kf7 

The King moves to allow his Rook to come into play.

11.f5 Ne5 12.d4 Ng4 

In a blitz game, aggressive moves like attacking the enemy Queen make sense. In the Jerome gambit, not so much. Retreating to c6 would have been a bit more thematic.

13.Qb3+ 

A sophisitcated and correct move, even more impressive if this is AlfieRyan's first Jerome Gambit.

13...d5 14.O-O Re8 15.h3 Nf6 16.e5 Ne4 

White's "Jerome pawns" look threatening on the 5th rank.

Black's Knight at e4 looks useful, but is actually hampered by the fact that the other Knight keeps his Queen from gliding along the dark squares to h4.

17.Nd2 Kf8 

Breaking the pin on his d-pawn, which supports the Knight. Komodo 13.02 suggests, instead, the unexciting 17...Ng5 18.h4 Nxf5 19.hxg5 Kg8 20.Nf3 b6 21.Bf4 c5 22.c3 Be6 when White's extra, passed pawn is blockaded.

18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Be3 

White's pawns look even more ominous.

19...Bxf5 

Giving back material, but perhaps not in the way (or amount) he planned. It is hard to suggest an alternative - perhaps the mild 19...c6.

20.g4 Qd7 21.gxf5 Nxf5 22.Rxf5+ Qxf5 23.Rf1 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: First Time

 

Why do club players employ the Jerome Gambit?

I recently received a game, with the accompanying comment "I tried out the Jerome, and the first time I used it, my opponent was getting destroyed."

CenturionianPlatinum - zirzir

5 5 blitz, Chess.com, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6 

In his first Jerome Gambit, White hits the jackpot. Out of 11,649 games in The Database with the position after 6.Qh5+, only 212 see 6...Kf6. That is less than 2% of the time. 

7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qd5+ Ke8 10.Qh5+ Kf8 11.Qxc5+ d6 12.Qe3 Bd7 

White has the positional benefits that come with the Jerome - and he has also regained his sacrificed pieces, remaining two pawns ahead. Nice.

13.O-O Nf6 14.d3 h6 

This Rook move, often played for defensive purposes, frequently weakens the squares around the King. 

15.Nc3 Kf7 16.f4 Rf8 17.f5 Kg8

Black has castled-by-hand, but an attack is coming.

18.Qg3 Qe7 19.Bxh6 Kh8 20.Bg5 Qf7 

21.Qh4+ Kg8 22.Rf3 Nh7 23.Be7 Rfe8 

24.Rh3 Rxe7 25.Qxh7+ Kf8 26.Qh8+ Qg8 27.Qh4 c6 28.Rf1 Rae8 29.Qg3 Rf7 30.Qxd6+ Ree7 31.Qb8+ Re8 32.Qxa7 

Death by a thousand cuts...

32...Bxf5 33.Qa3+ Ree7 34.exf5 Black resigned