Jerome Gambit: Cliff Hardy With A Bullet

 

Here is another Cliff Hardy Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) chess battle - a bullet game against a grandmaster.

As always, the time control adds an additional factor to the game - Black must not only defeat the Jeorme Gambit, he must do so before his flag falls. As Cliff comments

It's just that today was very unusual in that I got to play a GM with the Jerome Gambit and won. Although I must admit, it's not that good - I got outplayed but was a bit quicker.

The notes are by Cliff. I have added diagrams.

Cliff Hardy (2458) - GM Andrey Sumets (2442), 

1 0 bullet, Lichess, 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 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qe7 10.d3 c6

11.Be3 Bxe3 12.Qxe3 g6?! -++

The Ukrainian GM wants to put his king on g7 and castle artificially but that could have been slightly better achieved by playing 12...Kf7 -++.

13.0-0 Kg7 14.f4 Re8 15.Qg3 b5

16.Rae1 b4 17.Nd1 Bb7? -+

The bishop was best left where it was to help cover the f5-square and defend against the white kingside attack. Best was to counterattack in the centre with the risky looking 17...d5! -++.

18.f5?! -++

The attack could slightly have been improved by playing first 18.Ne3 (threatening to win the queen with 19.Nf5+!) e.g. 18...Kh8 19.f5 -+.

18....Qe5 19.Qh3? -++

19.Qh4 -++ would have better covered both the weakened dark squares of g5 and h6.

19....d5 20.Nf2 dxe4 21.dxe4 Rad8 22.g4 g5 23.Qe3 h6 

24.Kg2?

I missed the capture of the a-pawn with the queen again! 24.Qxa7 -++ would have been best here.

24...c5 25.h4 Qd4 26.Rh1?

Much better would have been 26. hxg5 Nxe4! (26...hxg5? Qxg5+ =) 27. gxh6+ Kh7 28. Nxe4 Qxe3 29. Rxe3 Rxe4 -++.

26...Nxe4 27.Qxd4+ Rxd4 28.Kg1 Kf7 

29.hxg5 Nxg5 30.Rxe8 Nf3+? -++

30...Bxh1! -++ would have been best.

31.Kf1 and Black lost on time but still had a winning position

At least my kingside attack slowed the GM up a bit...

Jerome Gambit: More Cliff Hardy

 

Here is another recent Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) bullet game by the mysterious Cliff Hardy. 

The notes are by Hardy. I have added diagrams.

Cliff Hardy (2453) - NN (2369), 

1 0 bullet, Lichess, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ Qe7 9.Qe3 Nf6

[This position appears in 103 games in The Database. White scores 68% - Rick]

10.Nc3 d5 11.d3 dxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.0-0 h5

14.f4?

14.h3 -++, to stop ...Ng4, would have been wiser, before pushing the feared Jerome f-pawn.

14....Bf7 15.e5 Re8??

15...Ng4 -++ would have been better.

16.Qg3?? -++

Since Black's rook has left the a-pawn unguarded, taking the little guy with 16.Qxa7 would have left White with a slight advantage.

16....Nd7? -++

16...Ng4 -++ would have been a more active posting for the knight.

17.Be3 h4 18.Qf2 Kg8 

19.Rae1 c6 20.Bd4 Nb6?? ++-

20...c5 -++ would have pushed White back on the defensive, whereas now the f-pawn runs riot.

21.f5 Nf8 22.f6 Qe6 

23.Ne4?? ++-

23.fxg7! Kxg7 24.Qxf7+!? Kxf7 25.e6+! Kg6 26.Rxf7 ++- would have led to a much stronger position for White.

23....Rh5??

23...g6 ++- would have kept the kingside closed and given Black better chances of hanging on.

24.fxg7 Ng6?!

24...Nh7 would have covered f6, although then after 25.Qxf7+!? Qxf7 26.Rxf7 Kxf7 27.Nd6+ Kxg7 28.Nxe8+ ++-, White's material lead and powerful e-pawn would have still yielded a dominant advantage.

25.Nf6+ Kxg7 26.Nxh5+ and Black resigned. 

Jerome Gambit: Cliff Hardy Redux

 

Cliff Hardy is the hard-boiled private eye featured in over 40 novels by Peter Corris.

"Cliff Hardy" is also the name I have given to a mysterious Australian chess player who enjoys playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ) in adventurous style.

Here is the first of several Cliff Hardy games that I have recently received. It was a 1-minute game, and Mr. Hardy played blindfold.

The notes are by Cliff. I have added diagrams.

Cliff Hardy (1957) - NN (1919)

1 0 bullet, blindfold, Lichess, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6

I was playing blindfolded (and thus on my blindfold account) in this one-minute-each bullet game. My opponent had the advantage of sight of the board but I may have had the advantage of familiarity with this gambit. 

7.Qxe5 Bd6??

That being said, the Lichess database came up with one other game that my opponent has had this position in and in that game he played the correct rook sacrifice 7...Qe7! here.

8.Qxh8

Unfortunately, the sacrifice just doesn't work in this position for Black as he can't try to trap the queen in with 8...Nf6?? (due to 9. Qxd8, of course),

8....Qg5 9.Qxh7+ Ke6? 10. Qxg8+ and Black resigned.

Jerome Gambit: Slack-Jawed

Recently I was challenged to a friendly Jerome Gambit game at Chess.com. My opponent took the White pieces.

His 12th move left me slack-jawed. 

I just stared at the move. I had never seen anything like it - which is really saying something, given that I am supposed to be some kind of "expert" on the Jerome Gambit.

I eventually prevailed in the game, but it was all pretty unsettling.

I have added notes to distract you from my play.

REustace - perrypawnpusher

1 day/move, Chess.com, 2022

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, named after Lt. G.N. Whistler, Secretary of the Lexington Kentucky Chess Club, who played the defense against Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in a series of correspondence games.

Although this is my favorite defense to the Jerome Gambit, I feel bad about playing it in this game. I should have played 6...Ke6 and let my opponent hammer me. 

8.Qxh8 

This is a dangerous grab of material, similar to touching a hot stove, as I once wrote.

It is true that in a game played at blitz speed, the complications tend to favor White. The Database shows 628 games, with White scoring 62%.

However, against an opponent who is familiar with the Jerome Gambit, and who has time to recover from its surprises, it is not as likely to be successful. 

8...Qxe4+ 

This is the right idea for Black. 

Sobering is the game Wall,B - Sepoli, Chess.com, 2010, which continued 8...Qf6? 9.Qxh7+ Kf8 10.O-O Black resigned, . 

9.Kd1 

The alternative, 9.Kf1, as old as Jerome - Norton, correspondence, 1876, (1/2 - 1/2, 20) is about as strong.

9...Qxg2 

Black should not get fancy here. A cautionary tale: 9...Bxf2 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.Qh3 d5 12.Qf3+!? Qxf3+ 13.gxf3 Bf5?! 14.d3 Nf6 15.Bf4 Nh5 16.Bxc7 Rc8 17.Bd6+ Kf7 18.Nd2 Bd4 19.Ba3 Nf4 20.Re1 Ng2 21.Re7+ Kf6 22.c3 Bb6 23.Kc2 Ne3+ 24.Kb3 Bxd3 25.Re1? Bc2+ 26.Kb4 Bc5+? 27.Kb5 a6+ 28.Ka5 b6+ 29.Kxa6 Bd3+? 30.Kb7 Kxe7 31.Bxc5+ Rxc5 32.Rxe3+ Black resigned, Hanesman - glupysh, lichess.org, 2022. 

10.Qxh7+ 

The move 10.Re1 should be reserved for when you see your opponent's knees shaking, as in 10...Qf3+ 11.Re2 Qh1+ 12.Re1 Qf3+ 13.Re2 Qh1+ 14.Re1 Qf3+ draw (in a winning position for Black), Wall,B - Mathieubuntu, FICS 40 0 2011. 

10...Kf8 

Another case of "nerves" (the clock may have been a factor) continued, instead, 10...Kf6 11.Qh4+ Kg7 12.Re1 Qf3+ 13.Re2 Qh1+ 14.Re1 Qf3+ 15.Re2 draw (Black's position is better), Reent - activepieces, lichess.org, 2020. 

11.Re1 d5 

Strong. A couple of alternatives

11...Qf3+ 12.Re2 d6?! (12...d5!?) 13.Qxg6? (13.d3!? Bg4 14.Bh6+ Nxh6 15.Qxh6+ Kf7 16.Qh7+ Kf8 17.Qh8+ draw) 13...Bg4 White resigned, SunbaeFM - Konvekta2004, lichess.org, 2021; and

11...d6 12.Nc3 (12.c3 Qxf2 13.Qxg6 Qf3+ 14.Re2 Bg4 15.Qe4 Qxe4 White resigned, TePart0 - ttoorr, lichess.org, 2021) 12...Bg4+ 13.Ne2 Re8 14.d3 Bxe2+ 15.Rxe2 Qf1+ 16.Kd2 Qxe2+ (16...Bb4+ 13.c3 Qxe2#)17.Kc3 Qe5+ 18.Kb3 Qd5+ 19.Kc3 Bb4+ 20.Kxb4 a5+ 21.Kc3 Qc5+ 22.Kd2 Qxf2+ 23.Kc3 Qe1+ 24.Bd2 Qxa1 25.Bh6+ Nxh6 26.Qxh6+ Ke7 27.Qg5+ Kd7 28.Qg4+ Kd8 29.Qg5+ Kc8 30.Qxg6  Re5 31.Qg8+ Kd7 32.Qf7+ Kc6 33.Qf3+ Kb6 34.Qf2+ Ka6 35.Qd4 Qe1+ 36.Kb3 Qb4+ 37.Qxb4 axb4 38.Kxb4 Rh5 39.c4 Rxh2 40.a4 Kb6 41.b3 c5+ 42.Kc3 Ka5 43.d4 Rh3+ 44.Kc2 Kb4 45.dxc5 dxc5 46. Kb2 Rh2+ 47.Kb1 Kxb3 48.Ka1 Rh1 checkmate, Konevlad_2004 - F2freestyle, lichess.org, 2021. 

12.Re8+ 

What?? Really? This exchange sacrifice would have thrown me in a blitz game.

I had faced 12.d4 in  blackburne - perrypawnpusher, Jerome Gambit 3 thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2008 (0-1, 17) and 12.Qh4 in F0nix - perrypawnpusher, Chess.com, 2021, (0-1, 13). 

12...Kxe8 13.Qxg8+ Bf8 14.d3 Qf1+ 

I could not find the checkmate, and so decided on winning White's Queen. 

After the game Stockfish 15 pointed out 14...Bg4+ 15.Ke1 Qg1+ 16.Kd2 Qxf2+ 17.Kc3 Qf6+ 18.d4 Qf3+ 19.Kd2 Qe2+ 20.Kc3 Qc4+ 21.Kd2 Qxd4+ 22.Ke1 Qg1+ 23.Kd2 Qxh2+ 24.Kc3 Qg3+ 25.Kd2 Qf2+ 26.Kc3 Qe1+ 27.Bd2 Qg3+ 28.Kd4 c5+ 29.Kxd5 Rd8+ 30.Ke4 checkmate.

Yeah, uh, sure, okay, if you say so...

15.Kd2 Qxf2+ 16.Kc3 d4+ 

There is a checkmate in 14 after 16...Qf6+ but I won't be offended if you don't bother looking for it.

17.Kb3 Qf6 18.c4 dxc3 19.Nxc3 Be6+ 20.Qxe6+ Qxe6+ White resigned

A very interesting game.

Jerome Gambit: In the Weeds Again

 

There are plenty of complications in the Jerome Gambit. They tend to favor the player more familiar with the opening, more comfortable with the time control, and more effective in calculating tactics.

The following game shows the weeds of complications popping up, surrounding the players. 

bot_ulric - Anderstood

5 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

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. Black offers a Rook, but in turn plans to go after the enemy King with ...Qxe4+.

8.Qxh8 

Risky.

This is a blitz game and the clock and complications can shift a game one way or another.

8...h5 

Very interesting - and new, according to The Database. White's Queen can still go to h7, but not capture a pawn. 

Main line is 8...Qxe4+ with attack.

9.Qh7+ Kf6 10.Qxg8 Qxe4+ 

This is the core move in Whistler's defense.

Played now, in this game, it is not the killer move it would have been two moves earlier. 

11.Kd1 

The King jumps. 

Had he jumped in the other direction with 11.Kf1, it would have been difficult for Black to continue his attack, although the complications would grow like weeds. Here a a few ideas: 

11.Kf1 Qh4 

or 11...b6 12.Qh8+ Kf5 13.Qg7 Bb7 14.Qf7+ Ke5 15.f4+ Kd6 16.Qf6+ Qe6 17.Qxe6+ Kxe6; 

or 11...Qf4 12.f3 b6 13.Nc3 Ba6+ 14.d3 Qxc1+ 15.Rxc1 Rxg8 16.Ne4+; 

or 11...Qxc2 12.Nc3 Qd3+ 13.Kg1 b6 14.Nd5+ Ke5 15.Nxc7 Bxf2+ 16.Kxf2 Qd4+ 17.Ke1 Qe4+ 18.Kd1 Ba6 19.Re1 Rxg8 20.Rxe4+ Kxe4 21.Nxa6 

12.Qd8+ Be7 13.Qh8+ Kf5 14.Qg8

11...Qg4+

Black has a draw, if he wants it (and can find it). 

12.f3 Qxg2 13.Qh8+ Kf5 14.Re1 

Now 14...Qxf3+ 15.Re2 Qf1+ 16.Re1 Qf3+ 17.Re2 would bring a draw by repetition as we have seen in similar games, before.

14...Bf2 

Now, if the Rook reflexively moves out of the line of fire with 15.Re2 Black would checkmate with 15...Qf1+ 16.Re1 Qxe1+.

But White has something better.

15.Qe5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: This Can't Be Happening

Sometimes a defender seems to be distressed when meeting the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), protesting This Can't Be Happening.

Yet it is.

ZodgeMan - mekfer

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 g6 

Black follows the advice: When someone attacks one of your pieces, attack a more valuable one of his.

In this situation, however, kicking the White Queen does not help, and actually creates large problems.

Bullet chess requires split second asessments, and here Black errs.

8.Qxe5+ Kf7 9.Qxc5 

White has recovered his two sacrificed pieces.

His Queen will continue to rage.

9...Ke8 10.Qe5+ Ne7 11.Qxh8+ Black resigned