A Chess Mystery (Part 1)

 

Chessfriend Yury V. Bukayev has again put his detective skills to work, like Professor Voskresenskiy.

First, he informed me

I have my first hypothesis on who has inspired A.W. Jerome to make his invention - the standard system of the Jerome gambit. According to this hypothesis, this person is H.A. Kennedy. 

This was a fun bit of information. I have searched, myself. 

At different times on this blog, I have looked for possible fore-runners to the Jerome Gambit (inspirations to Alonzo Wheeler Jerome), including the Sarratt or Vitzthum Attack. (See "A Bridge To... Somewhere?", "Another Distant Relative?", "The Sarratt Attack", "Another look at the Sarratt Attack" and "Another Example of the Vitzthum Attack"). 

Yury sent me a link to the following game.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nxd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.Bc4 Bc5 

 6.c3

The best and winning idea 6.Bxf7+! is easy to find by a human analysis - it's the 1st inspiration.

6...Qe7 7.O-O Qe5 8.f4 dxc3+ 9.Kh1 cxb2 

10.Bxf7+

This sharp move is mistaken, and this fact could be fixed by a human analysis, but Black can make a mistake easily after it - it's the 2nd inspiration.

10...Kd8 11.fxe5 bxa1=Q 12.Bxg8 Be7 13.Qb3 a5 

14.Rf8+ Bxf8 15.Bg5+ Be7 16.Bxe7+ Kxe7 17.Qf7+ Kd8 18.Qf8# 

What can we say about the game?

ChessGames.com identifies it as Napoleon Bonaparte vs Henri Gatien Bertrand, played in St. Helena in 1820.

There was this comment at the site (also sent by Yury).

Texas Time Traveler: According to the book "1923-1932: An Anthology" published by "British Chess Magazine" 1986, one B.J.B. wrote a letter to the editor of the magazine in 1932 saying this game was never played between Napoleon and Bertrand, but rather between H.A. Kennedy and the Rev. John Owen. The letter also says Kennedy admitted to having won the game. [More than likely, the game was played prior to 1862./comment by poster]

Alas, my favorite online resource, Google Books, does not have a viewable copy of  1923-1932: An Anthology. It turns out that the book can be found in the White Collection in the Cleveland Public Library - another reason for a return visit; I have been there a half-dozen times.

In any event, it is possible to supply some information on Henri Gatien Bertrand, Hugh Alexander Kennedy and John Owen.

As for Napoleon and chess, "Napoleon Bonaparte and Chess" by Edward Winter, is a comprehensive essay well worth reading.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Moving On

As expected ("Jerome Gambit: Too Soon to Celebrate?") with a draw in my final game in the first round of the "Play The Italian Game III" tournament at Chess.com (see "Jerome Gambit: New Tournament"), I will join either vityas81 or un1212 from my group, and antonique_05, Freddy1201, galopa, GladiadorAguila, johnsond1, and xifengchess from the other groups, in Round Two of play.

My hope is to be able to manage a few Jerome Gambits (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+). So far, the closest I have come has been a Monck Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+).

Jerome Gambit: Recalling Damiano's Defense

Most chess players are familiar with Damiano's Defense 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6, often played by those just discovering opening theory. The proper response is the Knight sacrifice 3.Nxe5, when 3...fxe5 (3...Qe7!? is probably best) 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Qxe5+ leads to a clear advantage to White.

The same sacrificial motif shows up in the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), much to White's dismay.

MocheFromage - TheJeromeGambit

casual blitz, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qc3 

This Queen move is seen in 241 games in The Database, scoring 42%. This is compared with 8.Qf4+ (309 games, scoring 48%) and 8.Qg3 (763 games, scoring 48%). 

8... Nf6 9.f3 

Shoring up the e-pawn, although 9.d3 was more solid (and safer), and 9.d4 Bb6 10.f3 was a better way to get the f-pawn in action. 

9...Nxe4 

The problem, as in the Damiano Defense mentioned above.

10.fxe4 Qh4+ 11.g3 

This allows checkmate, which at least shortens White's suffering. Neither 11.Qg3 Qxe4+ 12.Qe3 Bxe3 nor 11.Kc1 Bg4+ 12.Qf3+ Bxf3+ is tolerable.

11...Qxe4+ 12.Kf1 Qxh1+ 

Black has it all figured out. If he were in a hurry, he had 12...Bh3#.

13.Ke2 Bg4+ 14.Kd3 Qd5+ 15.Qd4 Qxd4 checkmate

Painful lesson: play 9.d3, not 9.f3.

Jerome Gambit: Queen vs Minor Pieces

The following game shows how a Queen can battle minor pieces successfully. A static assessment of the positions might suggest that Black is doing well, but a dynamic assessment  - the Queen in action - tells a much different story.

Readers would benefit from playing over the game several times, just to see how Bill takes advantage of the particular imbalance.

Wall, Bill - Sugie

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O Nf6 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 

7...Nf3+ 

Black returns some of the sacrificed material. Will White hold onto his d-pawn and allow the breakup of his Kingside pawns? 

8.Qxf3 Bxd4 9.Qd3 Bb6 

White has a pawn for his sacrificed piece, but his initiative gives him an even game. 

10.e5 Ne8 11.Qd5+ Kf8 12.Qf3+ Kg8 

Of course Stockfish 15, which completely distrusts the Jerome Gambit, recommends that White now grab the draw by repetition with 13.Qd5+ Kf8 14.Qf3+ Kg8 15.Qd5+ etc.

What a difference a move makes: one of Bill's games continued 12...Ke7 13.Bg5+ Nf6 14.exf6+ Kf7 15.fxg7+ Kxg7 16.Bxd8 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest3429793, internet, 2018.

13.Re1

Looking to stir up trouble.

13...d5 14.exd6 Nxd6 

This recapture seems natural, but 14...h6 (or 14...h5) was actually necessary. Black relaxes too soon, an error many of those who defend against the Jerome commit.

The White Queen begins to take over the game.

15.Qd5+ Kf8 16.Bg5 Qd7 17.Be7+ Qxe7 18.Rxe7 Kxe7 

Introductory texts value the Queen as equal to 9 pawns, the Rook equal to 5 pawns, and the Bishop and Knight each equal to 3 pawns. That would put Black about a pawn ahead.

As often happens, however, the Queen proves more mobile and more able to make tactical threats than the opposing Bishop and Rook.

19. Nd2 Rf8 

The Rook should have gone to e8; it makes a difference.

20.Re1+ Kd7 21.Nf3 Re8 22.Rxe8 Kxe8 

23.c4 

White keeps up the pressure.

23...Nf7 24.c5 Ba5 25.Qe4+ Kf8 26.Qa4 

26...b6 27.Qc6 Rb8 28.Qxc7 Ra8 29.Ng5 

29...Nxg5 30.Qd8+ Kf7 31.Qd5+ Be6 32.Qxa8 Bxa2 33.Qxa7+ Kf6 34.cxb6 Black resigned

Black will have to give up another piece (34...Bxb6 35.Qxb6+) and White's Queen will continue to out-duel the remaining minor pieces.

Jerome Gambit: Quick Disaster

Of course, part of the fun of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is that Black, too, has to be careful to avoid quick disaster - as in the following game. 

username12374 - roman1968

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf6 8.Qxc5 Qe7 9.Qf5 checkmate

(Also seen in perrypawnpusher - zsilber, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2010.)

Jerome Gambit: A Word of Caution

A word of caution: as we prepare our plans for attack, it is always useful to pay attention to what our opponent is doing, because it may be equally important in how the game plays out.

username12374 - nagappanm1007

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Bxd4 7.Qxd4 Qf6 

From "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.

8.O-O Nf3+ 

Oh.

9.gxf3 Qxd4 White resigned

This position actually occurs 23 times in The Database, with White scoring 9%.

Jerome Gambit: Solid Work

Not every Jerome Gambit features White blowing away his opponent. Sometimes the defense is solid, and the gambiteer has to use his advantages, little by little, to achieve the win.

The following game is a good example of solid work.

Wall, Bill - Benjamin

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O d6 

Solid play in the "modern" variation: with 5.O-O White asks What is your plan? and Black responds Nothing wild or risky. 

6.c3 Nf6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 

9.Nc3 Bg4 10.Qb3+ Kf8 

We have seen the kind of slip 10...Be6 11.Ng5+. 

11.d5 Na5 12.Qd1 Nh5 

Black's Knights seem restless. Their placement gives White an edge.

13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3+ Nf6 15.Be3 Nc4 16.Bxb6 axb6 

Things are about equal, thanks to White's "Jerome pawns" which are about to become more mobile.

17.Qe2 Ne5 18.f4 Ng6 19.e5 Nd7 20.g4 Qh4 

Black is not ready to surrender.

21.Qe3 Ne7 22.Rf3 Nc5 23.Raf1 Ke8 24.exd6 cxd6 

Opening a line to the King.

25.b4 Nd7 26.g5 Kd8 27.Qe6 

27...g6 

Helping the defense would have been 27...Rf8. The text might have been aimed against a possible f4-f5, or as an outpost for a Knight, but the lost tempo fuels White's attack.

28.Ne4 

Stockfish 15 rates White's position as almost a Queen better.

28...Nf5 29.Nf6 Nxf6 30.Qxf6+ Ne7 31.Qxh8+ Black resigned