Jerome Gambit: Unsafe (for me) At Any Speed (Part 1)

I wanted to play a game of chess.

I went online to the Free Internet Chess Server.

I challenged a Guest.

I should have paid more attention.

Hey! Wait a minute! What is the time control for this game? 2 12? What am I doing playing at this speed? 

perrypawnpusher - GuestJDZB

2 12 blitz, FICS, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5...

I was banging out my moves, hoping that I could use my knowedge of the opening lines to put some increment time on my clock. 

8...Qe7 

At this point I had the suspicion that my opponent had met the Jerome Gambit before, although there is no way to check The Database, due to his use of the "Guest" handle.

As I mentioned back in the post "Fire Exit"

It's always a good thing if Black can get in ...Qf6 or ...Qe7 in a meaningful way.

Interestingly, The Database has 315 games with this position, with White scoring 53%. By comparison, the lichess.org website has 8,071 games with the position, with White scoring 51%. Close.

9.Qe3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Ng4 

There are 8 examples of 10...Ng4 in The Database, with White scoring an understandable 54% (see previous note). Surprisingly, the 33 games at lichess.org show White scoring 71%.

I don't know how to account for the discrepancy.

I have also faced 10...d6 in a number of games:

perrypawnpusher - MRBarupal, 10 5 blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 22);

perrypawnpusher - Navarrra, 6 12 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 24);

perrypawnpusher - chingching, 5 11 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1/2 - 1/2, 36);

perrypawnpusher - mikelars, 4 12 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 50);

perrypawnpusher - ZhekaR, 10 5 blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 36);

perrypawnpusher - MarkHundleby1, Chess.com, 2013 (1-0, 27);

perrypawnpusher - alvarzr, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2013 (0-1, 59) 

perrypawnpusher - CorH, 3 12 blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41)

[That's right, it looks like I have discovered one more of my games that has not yet made it into this blog. It will appear soon. - Rick]

I have also faced 10...Kf7, in perrypawnpusher - frencheng, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2-1/2, 34) 

11.Qe2 d5 

A thematic move in the Jerome Gambit - in other lines. I was surprised to see, after the game, that both my opponent and I had overlooked that ...d5 here simply drops a pawn to 12.Nxd5. 

(This is even more puzzling when I recall that I chose 10.Nc3 over 10.d3, in order to hit the d5 square. Tick, tick, tick... For both of us.)

Instead, there was 11...Nf6 12.d4 d5 13.e5 Ng8 14.Nxd5 Qd7 15.Nc3 and now taking the d-pawn would be even, although the computer slightly prefers (by a half-pawn) 15...N8e7. 

12.d3 Rf8 

Instead, 12...d4 would have withdrawn the opportunity of my grabbing that pawn.

13.O-O 

Uh, 13.Nxd5 would have kept the game even. 

[to be continued]

"Jerome pawns" on Parade

The two pawns that White gets in returned for his sacrificed piece in some variations of the Jerome Gambit get nicknamed the "Jerome pawns". They can often be helpful, in their own way, in both attack and defense.

The following game is a good example.

Wall, Bill - Suku

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 N8e7 

I was surprised to see, at least according to The Database, that this was the first time Bill had arrived at this position.

8.Qh5 

With all sorts of mischief planned for the Kingside.

8...Re8 9.f4 

How should Black respond to the threat to his Knight?

He can try 9...Kg8, unpinning it and protecting his pawn on h7 in the process.

He can hit back in the center with 9...d5, which is probably best, as the move works against the f-pawn's advance as well, i.e. 10.f5 Nxf5 taking advantage of the pin on White's e-pawn.

9...h6

Apparently worried about the h-pawn, but this loss of time will hurt him.

10.f5 Nc6 

Uncovering the threat of his Rook along the e-file, but White has time to react - after grabbing a piece.

11.Qxg6+ Kg8 12.d3 

"Jerome pawns"on parade.

12...d5 

This is still a good idea, although the sad retreat, 12...Ne7 (to harass the Queen) is also useful.

13.Bxh6 

The position calls out for this.

13...Qh4+ 

Black sees that he can capture the annoying Bishop, but he fails to see one move further.

14.g3 Qxh6 

But, but, but...

15.Qxe8+ Kh7 16.Nd2 Qe3+ 

This check will not change things.

17.Kd1 dxe4 18.Qg6+ Kh8 19.Rf1 exd3 20.f6 

Showing who is in charge: White's defense holds even as his offense pushes through.

20...Qe2+ 21.Kc1 Qg4 22.fxg7+ Kg8 23.Rf8 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Not Found Along the Way

In the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, Bill Wall makes his way past an annoying defense and moves on to deliver checkmate.

As always, there was a defense to be found along the way, but part of the challenge in facing the Jerome is finding that defense - before it is too late.

Wall, Bill - Dasasary

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 d6 

In "Silicon Defense" I wrote

Although not given a specific title, I have begun to call this the "Annoying Defense", although I suppose, since it is the choice of several computer chess programs, I could also call it the "Silicon Defense" - but it would still be annoying.

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Qe2 Bb6 

Black removes his Bishop from the threat of Qc4+ and then capture.

11.Rf1 Re8 12.g4 h6 13.h4 Bd4

It is hard to know what Black intended here.

I suspect Bill of using hypnosis.

14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5 Ng8

 Sadly, the Knight had to stay put, although Black would have an even game after 15...Rf8 16.gxf6 Rxf6 17.Qc4+ Kd7. 

Now Bill wraps things up.

16.Qc4+ Kd7 17.Qd5+ Ke7 18.Rf7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Casual and Safe, Not Enough

My opponent in the following game does not do anything traumatic to his game. Instead, he just kind of drifts into trouble.

Jerome Gambit players do not necessarily win by force, but they often can take advantage of positions that appear quiet and un-exciting on the surface. Then, force helps a lot.

perrypawnpusher - poorplayer63

Italian Game tournament, 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.Qc3 

I thought that I would give this move (instead of 9.Qe3) a try.

Bill Wall is 7 - 0 with 9.Qc3; but Bill wins with a lot of interesting moves in the Jerome Gambit.

According to The Database, Littleplayerparis has scored 70% with 9.Qc3 in 121 games.

9...Nf6 10.O-O 

For historical purposes: 10.d3 c6 11.O-O Kd7 12.f4 Qb6+ 13.Kh1 Kc7 14.Qe1 Re8 15.b3 Nd5 16.Qg3 Nb4 17.Na3 Bd7 18.c3 Nxa2 19.f5 Ne5 20.d4 Qxb3 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Rb1 Qxc3 23.Be3 a6 24.Qxg7 b5 25.Rf3 Kc8 26.Rd1 Rd8 27.Bb6 Kb7 28.Bxd8 and wins Jerome - Brownson, Iowa 1875.

10...Be6 

A casual move. Instead, after the game Stockfish 16 recommended the following, odd line, leading to what it evaluated as Black's 2 1/2 pawn advantage: 10...Nf4 11.Kh1 Rf8 12.f3 N6h5 13.d3 Ne2 14.Qe1 Nxc1 15.Qxc1 Qh4 16.Kg1 Rf7 17.Nc3 Kf8 18.Qd2 Bd7 19.a4 Kg8 20.Ne2 h6 21.Qb4 Bc6 22.a5 Nf4 23.Nxf4 Qxf4 24.Qc3 d5 25.a6 dxe4 26.fxe4.

Sometimes I have complained that Stockfish does not "understand" the Jerome Gambit, and this is a good example.

11.d4 

Equally un-dynamic. I am always debating, "f2-f4 or d2-d4?" and it is remarkable how often I choose the opposite of the computer, as is again the case here.

11...Nxe4 

I admit that I was hoping for this move, but it hardly can be considered falling into a trap. Instead, there was 11...d5, and whether White meets that with 12.e5 or 12.f3, Black would still be better.

12.Qe3 d5 13.f3 Qd7 14.fxe4 dxe4 15.Qxe4 c6 

This "safe" move later got a thumbs down from the computer, which suggestsed that the position should be reduced to one in which White simply has an edge: 15...Rf8 16.Nd2 Rxf1+ 17.Nxf1 Kf7 18.Bd2 c6 19.Qd3 Rd8 20.Be3 Kg8 21.Re1 c5 22.Bf2 cxd4 23.Qxd4 Qxd4 24.Bxd4 Bxa2 25.Bxa7 Bf7 26.g3 h6 

16.Nc3 Kd8 17.Bg5+ Kc8 18.Rae1 Re8

At this point I was pretty sure that I had something... 

19.d5 cxd5 20.Nxd5 Bf7 

21.Ne7+Nxe7 22.Rxf7 Kc7 23.Rxe7 Rxe7 24.Qxe7 Qxe7 25.Rxe7+

I can always be "tricked" out of my attack on the King by being given enough material; I routinely head for the endgame. Rightly or wrongly, I attribute this to a very early chess book of mine, Reuben Fine's Chess the Easy Way.

25...Kc6 26.Rxg7 Re8 27.Rxh7 Re1+ 28.Kf2 Rc1 

A slip in a lost position.

29.Bxc1 

Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: No Longer Missing (Again)

As long as I am presenting games that I have somehow missed posting on this blog, let me present the following affair - from the same tournament as the previous game, as it turns out.

perrypawnpusher - BunnyWarrior

Giuoco Piano Thematic tournament, Chess.com, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ 

A "nudge" to move the King to the back rank, to interfere with the development of his Rook.

7...Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

I have reached this position in 62 games, scoring 76%. 

The computers assess this as over-performing.

10.O-O 

If Black could now castle, which seems natural at first glance (if you have not been following the game), Stockfish 15.1 would assess his position as about a Rook better. But - Black cannot castle. He has to settle for the typical Jerome Gambit advantage of a piece for two pawns.

10...Kf7 11.f4 Re8 

Does Black even need to castle, now?

This position appeared as early as Vazquez,A - Carrington,W, Mexico, 2nd match (1), 1876 (1-0, 34).

12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Neg4 

Kick the Queen!

Stronger was to retreat the Knight to d7.

14.Qb3+ Kf8 15.h3 

Kick the Knight!

15...Nh6 

The above-mentioned Vazquez - Carrington game saw the interesting alternative 15...Rxe4, giving back a piece, i.e. 16.hxg4. Actually, Stockfish 15.1 prefers that White offer a pawn, instead, with 16.Nc3 Rxd4 17.hxg4 Rxg4 and assesses that position as minimally favoring Black.

Sometimes I do not understand computers; frequently they do not understand the Jerome Gambit. 

16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.Nd2 

My development is looking better.

17...Nxe4 18.f6 

I remember being pleased with this move. In fact, I used it in 3 subsequent games - perrypawnpusher - TobiasBrunner, Let's Play the Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2018 (1-0, 32); perrypawnpusher - warwar, The Italian Battleground tournament, Chess.com, 2018 (1-0, 39); and perrypawnpusher - Kugich, Piano Piano tournament, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 38).

But it was not my move. Bill Wall played it 6 years earlier, in Wall, B. - Vijay, V., Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 22.)

18...Nxd2 

Unsuspecting.

19.Qg3 Nxf1 

Cooperative to the end.

20.Qg7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Forked...

The game presented in the previous two posts, perrypawnpusher - Claire bot, Spark Chess, 2023 (1-0, 23), got me thinking and thinking...

Hadn't I overlooked a similar game?

A little research showed that the following game should have been posted on this blog over 7 years ago.

perrypawnpusher - IlToscano

Giuoco Piano Thematic tournament, Chess.com, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+ 9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kf1 Nxh2+ 

This is another one of those complicated Jerome Gambit positions where theory and practice differ markedly.

Stockfish 15.1 (32 ply) sees Black as about a pawn better.

Yet The Datbase has 19 games with this position, with White scoring 84%. (I am 9 - 0.)

11.Kg2 Qf6 

Out of the frying pan, into the fire. 

12.Qd5+ 

This is embarassing.

What was the time control on this game? How many days per move?

Yes, indeed, I missed the pawn fork 12.e5+, winning Black's Queen.  

12...Ke7 13.Qxc5+ d6

14.Qxc7+ Bd7 15.Rxh2 Rc8 16.Qxb7 Rxc2 

White has a two pawn advantage, although he has to untangle his Queenside.

Fortunately, the position of Black's advanced Rook suggests a move for White - and, quite possibly, critically distracts Black.

17.Nc3 Nh6 

Overlooking something.

18.Nd5+ Black resigns

A fork, winning the Queen, after all.

Jerome Gambit: Moves Can Fly

In a bullet game, opening moves can fly, and opponents can "debate" where they will end up - until they get there. Then the excitment begins.

In the following 1-minute game, angelcamina winds his way to a Jerome Gambit (the game could have gone 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bx7+ Kxf7 5.Nc3 Nf6).

Once on familiar ground (see the games in the notes) he takes command, attacking both the enemy Queen and the enemy King.

angelcamina - dylanddk

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 

Petroff?

3.Nc3 

The classical variation of the Petroff?

3...Bc5 

Busch-Gass Gambit?

4.Bc4 

I'd rather not.

4...Nc6

Very well, then.

5.Bxf7+ 

How about an Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit?

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 

7...Bb4 

Black decides to save the Bishop, and initiates a plan that has a flaw in it. Remember, this is a 1-minute game and this kind of thing happens.

8.dxe5 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 

Removing the defender of the pawn at e4.

9...Nxe4 

Overlooking something, not the first time that this has happened. The Database has 31 games with this capture, with White scoring 79%.

10.Qd5+

angelcamina is 7 - 2 - 0 from this position. 

He has also tried: 10.Qf3+ Nf6 11.exf6 gxf6 12.O-O d6 13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.Bh6+ Kg8 15.Rfe1 Bf5 16.Qxf5 Kf7 17.Qh5+ Kg8 18.Re2 Rc8 19.Qg4+ Kf7 20.Qg7 checkmate, angelcamina - puffy04, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019. 

10...Ke7 

Black has retreated other ways:

10...Kf8 11.Qxe4 d6 (11...d5 12.exd6 Qxd6 13.O-O Bd7 14.a4 Re8 15.Qf3+ Kg8 16.Ba3 Qg6 17.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 18.Rxe1 h5 19.Qf8+ Kh7 20.Qf3 Rf8 21.Bxf8 Be6 22.Bb4 Bg4 23.Qg3 Qxc2 24.h3 White won on time, angelcamina - amda, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020; 11...Kf7 12.Qd5+ Kf8 13.O-O Qe7 14.a4 c6 15.Qf3+ Qf7 16.Qe3 Ke7 17.Ba3+ Kd8 18.Rad1 Kc7 19.Bd6+ Kd8 20.e6 dxe6 21.Bb4+ Kc7 22.Qe5+ Kb6 23.Qa5 checkmate, angelcamina - Keithman3, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019; and 11...Qe7 12.a4 d6 13.Ba3 Qxe5 14.Qxe5 c5 15.Qxd6+ Kg8 16.Qd5+ Kf8 17.Bxc5+ Ke8 18.O-O-O Be6 19.Qxe6 checkmate, angelcamina - Yaroslav_Syzran, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020) 12.Ba3 Qg5 (12...Be6 13.O-O-O Bf7 14.exd6 cxd6 15.Bxd6+ Kg8 16.Rhe1 Qg5+ 17.Bf4 Qa5 18.Rd7 Qxc3 19.Rxf7 Kxf7 20.Qe6+ Kf8 21.Bd6 checkmate, angelcamina - apropes, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019) 13.exd6 cxd6 14.Bxd6+ Kg8 15.O-O Bf5 16.Qd5+ Be6 17.Qxe6 checkmate, angelcamina - Master1615, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019; as well as

10...Ke8 11.Qxe4 Qe7 (11...Rf8 12.O-O Qh4 13.Ba3 Rf4 14.Qe3 c6 15.Rad1 Qg4 16.Bd6 Re4 17.Qg3 Qxg3 18.hxg3 b5 19.Rd4 Rxd4 20.cxd4 Bb7 21.f4 Kf7 22.g4 Ke6 23.Kf2 a5 24.Ke3 a4 25.Ke4 g6 26.f5+ gxf5+ 27.gxf5+ Kf7 28.Ke3 Re8 29.Rh1 Ba6 30.Rxh7+ Kg8 31.Rxd7 b4 32.Ra7 Bb5 33.f6 Kh8 Black won on time, angelcamina - ottobitunbyte, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020) 12.O-O d6 13.Ba3 Rf8 14.Rfe1 Bf5 15.Qe3 Kd7 16.exd6 Qxe3 17.Rxe3 Rae8 18.dxc7 Rxe3 19.fxe3 Rc8 20.Rd1+ Kxc7 21.Rd2 Kb8 22.Bd6+ Ka8 23.Be5 Be6 24.a3 g6 25.Bf6 Rf8 26.Rd8+ Rxd8 27.Bxd8 a6 28.Bb6 Bf5 29.c4 Bxc2 30.Kf2 Bb3 31.c5 Kb8 32.Kf3 Kc8 33.Kf4 Kd7 34.g4 Kc6 35.h4 Kb5 36.e4 Ka4 37.e5 Kxa3 38.Kg5 a5 39.Kf6 a4 40.e6 Bxe6 41.Kxe6 Kb4 42.Bd8 a3 43.Bf6 a2 Black won on time, angelcamina - outis, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019. 

11.Qxe4 Rf8 

The text move does not save Black, but at least it temporarily saves his Queen - not like 11...d6 12.Bg5+ Kd7 13.Bxd8 Kxd8 14.exd6 Re8 15.O-O-O Rxe4 16.dxc7+ Kxc717.f3 Re2 18.Rhe1 Rxg2 19.Re7+ Kb6 20.Rd6+ Kc5 21.Rd4 Bf5 22.Re5+ Kc6 23.Rxf5 Rxh2 24.Rg4 Rh1+ 25.Kb2 Rd8 26.Rxg7 Rd7 27.Rf6+ Rd6 28.Rxd6+ Kxd6 29.Rxb7 Rh5 30.Rxa7 h6 31.Rh7 Rb5+ 32.Kc1 h5 33.c4 Ke6 34.cxb5 Kd6 35.Rxh5 Kc7 36.a4 Kb6 37.a5+ Kxa5 38.c4 Kb6 39.Rh6+ Ka5 40.b6 Ka6 41.c5 Kb7 42.Rh7+ Kb8 43.c6 Ka8 44.Rh8 checkmate, angelcamina - adriannez, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019.

12.Bg5+ Rf6 

White now has a checkmate attack.

13.exf6+ 

Ouch.

13...Kf7 14.Qd5+ Kf8 15.fxg7+ Kxg7 16.Bxd8 Black resigned