Jerome Gambit: Drawing Upon History

The following game nods toward historical play, but shows that aggressive openings do not always lead to a full point for either player.

e4_e5_or_afk - faz1819

2 1 blitz, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

In an earlier post, "War", concerning the game AsceticKing9 - blackburne, ChessWorld Jerome Gambit tournament 6, 2011, I wrote

The Blackburne Defense, harking back to Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885. See "Nobody Expects the Jerome Gambit!" 

Not surprisingly, the modern "blackburne" has played this sacrificial line as well. See "blackburne as Blackburne with black".

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.O-O Bh3 

Instead, 9...Nf6 (before ...Bh3) would have led to the best known Jerome Gambit game, and a delightful checkmate - by Black.

Subsequently, and perhaps with a sense of relief, Geoff Chandler and Todor Dimitrov have shown that the game should end as a draw. 

The position in the diagram is interesting. Does Black have an attack on the King? Is the White Queen in danger? Can the game transpose to Blackburne's line?

I checked The Database, and it showed 11 - 3 - 1 (77%) for White. The lichess.org database has 359 games, with White scoring 70%. 

How does this come about?

10.gxh3 

This move is good enough for a draw.

Stronger was 10.Qc3! Be6 (10...Bxg2 11.Kxg2 Nf6 (11...Qxe4+ 12.Qf3+ Qxf3+ 13.Kxf3 Nf6 14.Nc3 Re8 15.Kg2 b5 16.Nxb5 Re2 17.d4 Bb6 18.b3 Rxc2 19.Bg5 Ng4 20.a4 Black resigned, Anti-Duhring - CptKnorke, lichess.org, 2023) 12.Qg3 Qxe4+ 13.Qf3 Qe5 14.Nc3 Rf8 15.d3 Kg8 16.Qe2 Qf5 17.Ne4 Re8 18.Nxf6+ Kf7 19.Qxe8+ Black resigned, Astral1119 - LittleRock, lichess.org, 2021) 11.d4 (11.Qg3 Qf6 (11...Qh5 12.d3 Rf8 13.Be3 Nf6 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.Nc3 Kg8 16.f4 c4 17.f5 Bf7 18.e5 Ng4 19.e6 Be8 20.Rae1 gxf5 21.h3 f4 22.Qxg4+ Qxg4 23.hxg4 Black resigned, neelnikhar - abdoessam311, lichess.org, 2021) 12.Nc3 h5 13.d3 Nh6 14.Bxh6 Black resigned, Chess-For-All - irakligunia, lichess.org, 2017) 11...Bb6 12.Nd2 Nf6 13.Nf3 Qh5 14.Ng5+ Ke7 15.e5 Ng4 16.h3 Nh6 17.exd6+ cxd6 18.Qe3 Black resigned, Fritz 8 - RevvedUp, 2 12 blitz, 2006. 

Wild, as 1-minute games are, was 10.d4? Qg4? 11.g3? Qf3? 12.Qxh7+ Ke6 13.Qxh3+ Ke7 14.dxc5 Nf6 15.Bg5 Kf7 16.Bxf6 Kxf6 17.Nd2 Qe2 18.Rad1 Kg7 19.cxd6 Rh8 20.Qd7+ Kg8 Black resigned, DutchLiLi - dikkebertha, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022. 

10...Qxh3 

Black needed to realize that he had escaped a bad outcome (i.e. 10.Qc3!) and should have run for a draw.

With 10...Nf6, offering a Rook, Black would have enticed White into helping him check his way to a half-point: 11.Qxa8 Qxh3 12.Qxb7 (not 12.Re1 Ng4 13.d4 Qxh2+ 14.Kf1 Qxf2 checkmate, IsidraRules - brachiotheragon, lichess.org, 2021) 12...Qg4+ (not 12...Ng4 because of 13.Qb3+ winning) 13.Kh1 Qf3+ 14.Kg1 Qg4+ etc with a draw by repetition.

11.Qc3 

Instead, 11.d4 Qg4+ 12.Kh1 Qf3+ 13.Kg1 Qg4+ 14.Kh1 Qf3+ 15.Kg1 Qg4+ was drawn in angelcamina - ermit, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022. 

11...Qg4+ 12.Qg3 Black resigned

Black does not have his checking-to-draw option, and he is down a Rook and a pawn.

Jerome Gambit: Opponent Slip

I am not going to advance to the next round of the "Play The Italian Game III" tournament, but it was nice to score my first win in the following game. 

My play was not particularly good. For a change, I was able to take advantage of a tactical slip by my opponent, instead of the other way around.

perrypawnpusher - vityas81

"Play The Italian Game III", Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights Defense.

4.O-O 

Looking for a transposition to the Jerome Gambit.

I have also played 4.Nc3.

4...Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

Here we go.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ 

Interesting is 6.Nc3 as in leobrazer - perrypawnpusher, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 48) 

Also 6.d3 Rf8 7.Ng5+ Kg8 8.Nf3 d5 White resigned, as in Capt.Mandrake - perrypawnpusher, JG3 thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2008. 

6...Nxe5 7.d4 

7...Nc6 

Or 7...Bd6 8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 as in perrypawnpusher - Freddy1201, "Play The Italian Game III" tournament, Chess.com, 2023 (0-1, 23) 

The recommendation of Stockfish 15.1 is 7... d5. In The Database, White scores 1- 12- 1 against the move (!) 

8.dxc5 Rf8 9.Nc3 Kg8 

10.Bg5 Qe8 11.Bxf6 Rxf6 

Instead, 11...gxf6 looks uglier, but is better. 

12.f4 

This mistake overlooks the tactical chances that go with 12.Nd5. 

12...Qe7 13.Qd5+ Kh8 14.Rad1 

White is ahead in development, but still needs some help to get to an even game.

14...Nb4 

It is tempting to attack the enemy Queen, and the computer still rates Black as better after this move, but as a prelude to a pawn grab, it is not a good idea.

15.Qc4 Nxc2 

An unfortunate slip.

Black needed to play 15...a5, which calls into question the whole idea behind the Knight move. White would, of course, answer by kicking the Knight with 16.a3, when Black would have to find 16...b5!? to keep his edge.

16.Nd5 Black resigned

The Knight on c2 is a goner.

vityas81 needs to win 4 of his remaining 5 games to move on to the next round, a challenge, but not impossible. 

Jerome Gambit: Quantity Does Not Assure Quality

There are a lot of games in the notes to the following game.

It reminds me of my visit to The Ohio State University Chess Club, decades ago. I played 13 games, each with a different opening or defense. I lost every game. The club members didn't know what to say - How could someone who knew so much, know so little?

perrypawnpusher - GladiadorAguila

"Play The Italian Game III", Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 

Instead, 4...Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ would be the Noa or Monck Gambit.

5.Bxf7+ 

5...Kxf7 6. Nxe5+ Nxe5 

Instead, 6...Ke8 7.Nxc6 bxc6  was seen in perrypawnpusher - opazovalec, 10 2 blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16) 

7.d4 Bxd4 

A slight improvement over 7...d6 seen in perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, 3 12 blitz, FICS 2011 (1/2 - 1/2, 62).

Also seen was 7...Bd6 in perrypawnpusher - joseluislopez, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 55); perrypawnpusher - lixuanxuan, 14 0 blitz, FICS, San Jose, California US 2014 (1-0, 22);  perrypawnpusher - LttlePrince, blitz, lichess, 2020 (0-1, 29); perrypawnpusher -andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 18);

And 7...Bb4 in perrypawnpusher - kezientz, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 9); perrypawnpusher - Abatwa, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17); perrypawnpusher - SSGSSGSSG, blitz, FICS, 2018 (1-0, 20); perrypawnpusher - obmanovichhh, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39); perrypawnpusher - LydenChess, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); perrypawnpusher - Aerandir, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 15); and perrypawnpusher - Gibarian, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33). 

And 7...Neg4 as in perrypawnpusher - xxfred, blitz, FICS, 2012 (0-1, 28);

And 7...Re8 as in perrypawnpusher - hklett, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 31); perrypawnpusher - strandskatan, blitz, FICS, 2013 (1-0, 38) 

And 7...Ng6 as in perrypawnpusher - aksakal, blitz, FICS, 2017 (1-0, 17) 

And 7... Nc6 in perrypawnpusher - hudders, blitz, FICS, 2010, (1-0, 13) 

And 7...Nd3+ in perrypawnpusher - genericme, blitz, FICS, 2015 (1-0, 22) 

And 7...Nf3+ in perrypawnpusher - wertu, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 20) and perrypawnpusher - catmandu, blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 12)

8.Qxd4 Nc6

This is an improvement over 8...Re8 seen in perrypawnpusher - Fazmeister, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 36); perrypawnpusher - KaZC, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2 - 1/2, 61); and perrypawnpusher - spince, blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41) 

Also seen was 8...d6 in perrypawnpusher - hklett, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 20); perrypawnpusher - JoseSoza, Chess.com 2012 (0-1, 34); and  perrypawnpusher - andrewLLL, lichess.org, 2020 (1-0, 39). 

And 8...Qe7 in perrypawnpusher - BigKalamar, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 49); and perrypawnpusher - OudeKwakkelaar, blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 16).

9.Qc4+

Or 9.Qd3 as in perrypawnpusher - anandh, blitz, FICS 2011 (1-0, 11); perrypawnpusher - Duir, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0,42); and perrypawnpusher - bartab, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 19)

9...d5 

9...Ke7 as in perrypawnpusher - Avious, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 40) 

10.exd5 Re8+ 11.Be3 Ne5 

Black still has his traditional piece-for-two-pawns advantage.

12.Qb3 

Better might have been 12.Qf4.

12...Neg4 13.O-O-O Nxe3 14.fxe3 Kg8 

With both Kings safe, the focus can turn to the "Jerome pawns" which seem more like targets than attacking units.

In the tactics that follow, things do not get better.

15.Rhe1 a6 16.d6+ Be6 17.Qxb7 cxd6 18.Qb4 d5 19.e4 Bg4 20.Rd2 Qc7 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Qxh2 

Take the heavy pieces off of the board (making White's King safer), and in club play (like this game) White would have interesting chances in the endgame.

After the game Stockfish 15.1 scoffed at this idea, however, considering Black to be more than a piece better. 

23.Qd2 Qc7 24.Qd3 

The Rook lift 24.Re3 might have been better. 

24...Be6 25.Rd4 Qc5 26.Ra4 

At this point I was out of ideas and merely shuffling pieces. 

26...a5 27.Qd4 Qg5+ 28.Qd2 Qb5 29.b3 Red8 30.Qe2 Qg5+ 31.Qd2 

The final mistake, a mouse slip - I resigned immediately

 

Jerome Gambit: Tradition Continued

  

Recently, in the post "Jerome Gambit: Missing", which referenced the video "The Chess GAMBITS Tier List ft. Hikaru Nakamura", I noted that 

Of the 32 chess openings that they discussed, the Jerome was not one of them. 

That seemed odd to me.

Yury V. Bukayev, in detective mode, pointed out that this was not unexpected, as

It's GothamChess channel in 2023 in contrast with GMHikaru channel in 2020 in both cases (for intermediate players, for beginners). Mr. Rozman has no materials on JG in his channel in contrast with Mr. Nakamura, so this tradition was continued

Thank you, Detective Bukayev. 

Jerome Gambit: Time

Longtime Readers of this blog may remember the post from years back, "If You Can't Bash Them With the Jerome Gambit, Maybe You Can Bore Them to Tears".

I suspect the same thing may have happened in a recent game of mine.

Or it might be another case of the real world intervening and distracting my opponent.

perrypawnpusher - UnKnOwn_VOid

7d/move, Chess.com, 2023

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 Be6 

10.O-O 

I have played 10.f4 in a number of games: perrypawnpusher - udofink, 10 0 blitz FICS, 2010 (1-0, 29);  perrypawnpusher - Kingsmeal, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 25) ; perrypawnpusher - GabrielChime, 12 0 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 33); perrypawnpusher - nmuffjgp, 8 10 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 22); perrypawnpusher -Krisstianes_017, 3d/move, Chess.com,  2018  (1/2 - 1/2, 43); and perrypawnpusher - dmarkg, "Piano Piano" tournament, 3d/move, Chess.com, 2020 (1-0, 31).

10... Qd7 

Or 10...Nf6 as in  perrypawnpusher - dirceu, 5 10 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 16);

Or 10...Qf6 as in perrypawnpusher - Papst, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2017 (1-0, 61) and  perrypawnpusher - OverwiseMan, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 24); 

Or 10...Kd7 as in perrypawnpusher - magza, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2011  (0-1, 40) (0-1, 40) 

11.f4 Bc4 12.d3 Ba6

13.Nc3 Nf6 14.b3 Ng4 15.Qg3 Nf6 16.Bb2 Kf7 17.Rae1 

White won on time

Jerome Gambit: Somewhat of A Disaster

The second round of the "Play the Italian Game III" tournament at Chess.com is turning out to be somewhat of a disaster for me: four games (out of six) completed, all of them losses - including two Jerome Gambits.

The loss in the following game can not be blamed on the opening, however.

perrypawnpusher - Freddy1201

3d/move, "Play The Italian Game III", Chess.com, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights Defense.

4.O-O 

Instead, 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ (or 5.0-0 the Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit) is the Noa Gambit or the Monck Gambit -

4...Bc5 

Allowing a transposition.

5.Bxf7+ 

Transposing to the Jerome Gambit, 1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.O-O Nf6.

This position appears in 1,843 games in The Database, with White scoring 43%.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ 

I have also faced 6.Nc3 in leobrazer - perrypawnpusher, 3 0 blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 48) and 6.d3 in Capt.Mandrake - perrypawnpusher, JG3 thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2008, 6.d3 Rf8 7.Ng5+ Kg8 8.Nf3 d5 Black resigned

6...Nxe5 7.d4 Bd6 

The strongest response for Black here is 7...d5. It has not been played a lot, but has scored 12 - 1 - 1 for the defender. (Some of that success might be due to familiarity and preparation in the opening. Yes, occasionally Black knows about the Jerome Gambit, too.)

8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 Bd6 10.e5 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 d6 12.exf6 Qxf6 

Stockfish 16 evaluates this position as better for White, largely, it appears, due to it's choice for White's next move - 13.f5!? (which I never even considered)

Black's King is less safe than White's, but otherwise he is better developed and has the two Bishops. The theoretical advantage for the first player of having the Kingside pawn majority vs his opponent having the Queenside pawn majority would only come into play in a King + pawns endgame, which is still far away.

13.Nc3 Bf5 14.Qd5+ Be6 15.Qf3 

I probably should have gone pawn-grabbing, instead, with 15.Qxb7 Qf5 16.Qxc7+ Bd7, although in the play that follows Black would have enough activity to compensate.

15...c6 

Black does not want to give up those pawns.

However, this means that both of us did not understand the position.

In fact, even now, with the help of Stockfish 16, I still don't, except the generalization that active piece play (starting with 16...Qf5) will keep the position balanced, even if one player is ahead a pawn or two.

The text move give White another chance for that mysterious move f5!? and advantage.

16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Rhe8 18.Qd2 Bc4 19.Rfe1 d5 

The position is even.

White can now try the slow plan of giving up a pawn to "win the minor exchange", with 20.a4 Kg8 21.a5 Rad8 22.b3 Ra6 23.Na4 Re4 23.Nc5 Rxf4 24.Nxa6 bxa6 25.Qd3 c5 but he would have compensation for that pawn, and nothing more.

Instead, I foolishly surrendered control of the e-file in the pursuit of exchanging a couple of Rooks.

20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.g3 

I originally intended 21.Re1, hoping for another Rook swap, but 21...Rx1+ 22.Qxe1 would drop a pawn to 22...Qxf5, but without the activity in the note to move 19. 

The text dangerously opens the a8-h1 diagonal toward my King.

21...Qe6 

This move is okay, but 21...d4 would take advantage of the fact that White's Knight needs to stay put to protect the e2 square and keep the Rook out.

22.b3 Ba6 23.Kg2 b6 

White resigned

Probably a bit early, but White's light squares are likely to get weaker and weaker, to go along with the surrendered e-file.

Also, I was getting battered in another Jerome Gambit game (I was playing 6 games at once) and feeling altogether discouraged.

Jerome Gambit: Not Quite A Guaranteed Loss

Bill Wall has 2,000 Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) and related games in The Database.

Facing his Jerome Gambit is not quite a guaranteed loss, but he does score 89% with it.

You have been warned.

Wall, Bill - Kumar

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7. f4 Ng6 8.Qxc5 

Bill has experimented with 8.f5!?+ Kd6 9.fxg6 Kc6? (9...Nf6) 10.Qd5+ Kb6 11.Qb3+ Kc6? (11...Ka6) 12.Nc3 hxg6 13.Qd5+ Kb6 14.Na4+ Ka5 15.b4+ Kxa4 16.Qb3+ Kb5 17.a4+ Kc6 18.Qd5+ Kb6 19.Qxc5+ Ka6 20.Qa5 checkmate, Wall,B - Guest1157782, playchess.com, 2013. 

8...Kf7 

Bill has also faced 

8... Qh4+ 9.g3 Qf6 (9...Qe7? 10.Qf5+ Kd6 11.Qd5 checkmate, Wall,B - JQZY, FICS, 2020) (9...Qg4) 10.f5+ Kf7 11.fxg6+ Qxg6 12.O-O+ Nf6 13.e5 d6 14.Qxc7+ Bd7 15.Qxd7+ Black resigned, Wall,B - Arty, PlayChess.com, 2014); and 

8...d6 9.f5+ Ke7 10.Qa3 Ne5 11.d4 Nc4 12.Qc3 Nb6 13.Bg5+ Nf6 14.e5 dxe5 15.dxe5 Kf7 16.O-O Nfd5 17.e6+ Ke8 18.Qxg7 Black resigned, Wall,B - Guest3980985, PlayChess.com, 2015. 

9.O-O d6 10.Qc4+ Be6 11.Qe2 Bd7 

Stockfish 15.1 sees White with an edge, but it has to be a small one.

12.Nc3 c6 

This move keeps White's Knight off of the d5 square. An alternative to consider was 12...c5 to discourage a d2-d4.

13.e5 d5 

This move gives White's "Jerome pawns" too much leeway. More in line with the position was 13...Nge7 14.d4.

14.f5 Nxe5 15.Qxe5 Nf6 16.d4 Re8 17.Qg3 Kg8 

Black has returned the sacrificed piece. White is up a pawn.

18.Bg5 Rf8 19.Rae1 Kh8 20.Rf4 Qb6 

The Queen looks for adventure, but should have stayed home to help protect the Kingside. She returns, but the delay is crucial.

21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.Re7 Rg8 23.Rxd7 Qxb2 

24.h4 Qxc2 25.Rg4 Qxf5 26.Rgxg7 Qf1+ 27.Kh2 Black resigned

Checkmate is unavoidable.