Jerome Gambit: Hunker Down

 

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game has an interesting theme: After the initial sacrifices, White regains material - and then hunkers down as Black counter-attacks.

The extra pawns (and, in the end, exchange) provide sufficient protection for White.

chessriddler - TiaanSprinkaan1

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke7 

This unusual line shows up 26 times in The Database, and has occasionally been mentioned on this blog.

As I noted in the game ZahariSokolov - mmamaju

standard, FICS, 2015 (0-1, 44) - See"Jerome Gambit: Chaos Rules")

Here we have the "Jerome Gambit, Paulsen Variation", otherwise known as "An Odd Line in an Odd Line". It is more of a psychological ploy than a solid defense...

It is a rare line... but it is worth knowing the best response, if only, like in the current game, you want to finish quickly.

6.Qh5 Nf6 

The best response, 6...Bxf2+, given in "An Odd Line in an Odd Line", has yet to be played

It is rare that counter-sacrificing the Bishop at f2 is a good move for the second player (see "Jerome Gambit Strikes in Denmark!"), but here it was his best choice: 6...Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2 Qf8+ 8.Nf3 Nf6 with advantage to White, according to Rybka.

7.Nxc6+ 

Yury V. Bukayev smartly notes

Probably, chessriddler has seen 7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.Nc4# in time, but he has solved to continue the fight intentionally for unknown reason.

7...bxc6 8.Qxc5+ Ke8 

White is better. It is time to consolidate.

9.O-O Qe7 10.Qe3 Rb8 11.Nc3 Rf8 

Black's efforts make the game interesting, but White has sufficient resources to deal with them.

12.b3 Ba6 13.Re1 Ng4 14.Qg3 Qf7 15.f3 Nh6 16.d3 Qf6 17.Bb2

17...Qg6 18.Qxg6+ hxg6 19.Ne2 Rb5 

A slip.

20.Bxg7 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Don't Blink

Bullet games always carry the risk of mistake. 

The following game shows Black well on his way to victory - until he blinks. Suddenly, White is better. Is there time enough for the defender to recover?

angelcamina - Mxhosa

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 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 Nf6 

9.Nc3 d6 10.Qb5+ c6 11.Qe2 

White has arranged for his Queen to retreat to e2, instead of the more usual e3.

11...Rf8 12.O-O Kf7 13.Qc4+ Be6 14.Qb4 Qc7 15.f4 

Black has done well with his defense and is clearly better.

His response to White's threat of a pawn fork should be to move either his Bishop on e6 or his Knight on g6.

Alas, this is a 1-minute game, and Black moves a third piece, instead.

15...Nd7 16.f5 Black resigned

Black has the option of 16...Kg8, when 17.fxg6 hxg6 would give White only an edge. Perhaps with a different time control, Black might have played on. 

Jerome Gambit: White Can Be Okay With Calm

The Jerome Gambit often leads to wild, complicated play. 

There are also times when White can grasp the opportunity to play a quiet, simple, advantageous game.

username12374 - Bogdan_43

3 0 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 Nf6 

Black blocks the dangerous a1-h8 diagonal. The move is not a good choice, however.

He could have offered the Rook on h8 with either Blackburne's defense, 7...d6 or Whistler's defense, 7...Qe7.

8.Qxc5 Qe7 

Exchanging Queens is ill advised, now, after the loss of the Bishop at c5. 

9.Qxe7+ Kxe7 10.Nc3 d6 11.O-O Black resigned

The position is calm, and White is simply two pawns better.

Jerome Gambit: Not Impressive

 

There are still 3 games going on in the Chess.com "Play the Italian Game III" tournament, but with 1.5 points (out of a possible 6) I will finish at the bottom of Group 2, in Round 2, behind GladiadorAguila, Freddy1201 and vityas81.

I scored 1 win against 2 losses with the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), and 1 loss with the Noa Gambit, (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+) all against lower-rated players.

Not impressive.

However, I have already joined the "Giuoco Fun" tournament, which plans to have 250 (!) players and more opportunities for me to play some Jeromes.

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