Jerome Gambit:Why?

If you came upon a YouTube site with the header "Subscribe if you laugh" and you noted that the host, whose handle is SkillerEP, further referenced "Canadian Chess Comedy" - you would know that you had arrived at a place of chess creativity & humor.

You would hardly be surprised to find a short video titled "Why the Jerome Gambit Works", would you? 

(I have spent over two decades years trying to answer that Why question.)

Still, it makes you want to click on the link, doesn't it? And on the links of some of his other 204 videos, as well. You should. Go ahead.

When it comes to the Jerome Gambit, it must also be mentioned that SkillerEP (a significantly stronger player than I am) has 367 games in The Database. 

SkillerEP's commentary on his blitz game - "Jerome Pioneer vs Angered Toddler" - is entertaining, insightful and well worth listening to.

Chess. Psychology. Decimation.

Jerome Gambit.

Another Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament (Part 10)

Of the following game, it can be said that Black was doing very well - until he wasn't.

Sharp openings like the Jerome Gambit can be like that.

Chioborra - LemonOtter42

Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023

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

4... Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qh3+ 

This was looked at in Yury V. Bukayev's posts "JG: The New (Parts 1, 2 & 3)",

7...Kd6 8.Nc3 Qf6 9.O-O 

The alternative, 9.d4, was suggested by Yury V. Bukayev in the post  "JG: The New (Part 3)".

9...Ne7 10.d3 

White goes for solid play.

He had more aggression in 10.d4, if only because 10...Bxd4 11.Nb5+ Kc5 12.Nxd4 Kxd4 would then lead to checkmate: 13.Qe3+ Kc4 14.a4 Nf3+ 15.gxf3 Qd4 16.Qa3 Qxe4 17.fxe4 Kd4 18.Qb4+ Ke5 19.Qxe7+ Kd4 20.Be3+ Kc4 21.Qc5#.

The Database has 3 other games with 9...Ne7, but all continue 10.Nb5+.

10...Kc6 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.fxe3 Qg5 

Black has an extra two pieces to compensate for his lost two pawns.

13.d4 d6 14.d5+ Kc5 15.Qg3 Ng4 

After White's inaccuracy at move 10, Black should have taken the money and run - exchanged Queens and pressed on in a Queenless middlegame.

16.Qe1 Qh4 

Oh.

An idea that works in the position: 16...Qxe3+ 17.Qxe3 Nxe3. 

An idea that does not work in the position: 16...Qh5 (still with the checkmate threat) 16...Qh5 17.b4+ Kb6 18.Na4+ Kb5 19.c4+ Kxc4 20.Qe2+ Kxb4 21.Rab1+ Ka3 22.Qb2+ Kxa4 23.Qb4#.

17.Qxh4 

The game is pretty much over after the Queen is lost.

Tactical maniacs might point out that it wasn't even necessary to take Her Majesty, as there was a forced checkmate similar to the one above: 17.b4+ Kb6 18.Na4+ Kb5 19.c4+ Kxc4 20.Qe2+ Kxb4 21.Rab1+ Ka3 22.Rb3+ Kxa4 23.Qb5#. 

17...Ng6 18.Qe1 Rf8 19.Qe2 a6 20.Rxf8 Nxf8 21.Rf1 Ng6 22.Na4+ Kb4 23.a3+ Kxa4 24.Qc4+ Ka5 25.Qb4 checkmate

Another Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament (Part 9)

Here is another example of tactics winning the day in a complicated Jerome Gambit position.

LemonOtter42 - KevinOSh

Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023

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

4...Kxf7 5.d3

This "modern" version of the Jerome was LemonOtter's choice of opening line in each of his games with White in this tournament.

5...d6 6.Ng5+ 

This check is tempting, but does not lead to anything. The Database has 147 game examples, with White scoring 26%.

6...Kf8 

6...Ke8 might have been better. See below.

7.Nc3 h6 8.Nf3 Bg4 

The game has gotten away from White. Moreover, there are complications ahead, and whoever does better with them will get the full point.

9.Nd5 Nd4 

The Knight is not as secure as Black thinks. White can now play 10.Nxd4, as 10...Bxd1 can be met by the fork 11.Ne6+. (Black does best with 10...Qh4.)

10.b4 c6 11.bxc5 

11...cxd5 

First Black should have played 11...Bxf3 12.gxf3 and then 12...cxd5 because this move could have been met by 12.Nxd4.

12.exd5 dxc5 

Again, first 12...Bxf3. 

13.h3 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Qxd5 

Black now finishes up.

15.c3 Qxf3 16.cxd4 Qxh1+ 17.Kd2 Qxd1+ 18.Kxd1 exd4 

19.Ba3 b6 20.f4 g5 21.fxg5 hxg5 22.Kc2 Rxh3 23.Rf1+ Kg7 

24.Rf5 Kg6 25.Re5 Nf6 26.Re6 Re8 27.Rd6 Re2+ 28.Kb3 Rxd3+ 29.Ka4 Rxa2 30.Rc6 Rdxa3+ 31.Kb5 Rb2+ 32.Kc4 Rc3 checkmate

Another Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament (Part 8)

The following game contains a well-told tale. The Jerome Gambit starts with a lot of bluster, often with the game ending quickly. If the defender defends well, then White must yield ground begrudgingly in worse positions, constantly looking for a tactical shot to even things - or bring home the full point.

 

Duckfest - KevinOSh

Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Qf6 9.Nc3

With Black's Queen on f6, it is logical to develop the Knight and threaten Nd5.

9...Ne7 10.O-O h5 

Interestingly, this is Stockfish 15.1's suggestion, as is White's response.

11.h4 Bg4 12.d3 c6 

Black hopes to keep the White Knight out of d5 for good, but he could also have moved his King off the a3-f8 diagonal with 12...Kg8. 

13.Be3

There was also the chance to gain the "minor exchange" with 13.Na4 followed by exchanging. This would give White a slight edge.

13...Bd4 14.Bf4 

Targeting the weakened d6 pawn. Now, either 14...Be5 followed by exchanges, or 14...Ng6 15.Bxe6+ Kg8 16.Kh1 Rd8 (Stockfish's line) would be good for Black.

14...Rd8 

Good as well: Black shores up his pawn.

15.Nd1 

Hoping for enough time to play c2-c3 and blunt Black's battery of Bishop and Queen.

Black should now ignore the White b-pawn (which he does) and play 15...Be2 or 15...Bxd1 or even 15...Bc8; or anticipate things and move the other Bishop to e5.

Instead, unfortunately for him, he swats at White's Bishop with his own exchange-Knight-for-Bishop idea.

15...Ng6 16.Bg5 Black resigned

This skewer will cost Black his Rook.

The try 16...Nf4, hoping to answer 17.Bxf6 with the Knight escapade 17...Nxe2+ 18.Kh2 Nxg3 19.Bxd4 Nxf1+ 20.Kg1 Nd2 21.Be3 Nxe4 22.dxe4 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 b6, going up the exchange for a pawn, falls at the start to 17.Bxf4, losing a piece.

Jerome Gambit: The Fun Continues

The second round of the "Giuoco Fun" tournament at Chess.com (see "Jerome Gambit: The Battles Continue") has started, and I am matched with kertt1, Borislav007, Igorrud and SPK_316.

I am playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) in my four games as White.

I suppose that I could also be defending against the Jerome, but two games, already, have chosen different paths. We will see.

Another Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament (Part 7)

In the following game, Black uses Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's defense against Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's gambit, so it can be argued that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome was vindicated.

"For Jerome!" as Canadian Grandmaster Aman Hambleton might say.

KevinOSh - Duckfest

Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

Seen in Jaeger - Jerome, correspondence, 1880 (0-1, 14).

7.Qxe5 d5 

This is, by far, the strongest move in this position, although, according to The Database, it is quite rare. White has scored 2- 8 when facing this line. Fair warning.

8.d4 Bb6 9.c3 Nf6 10.Bg5 

There was also the possibility of reinforcing the center with 10.f3, a new idea. 

10...Kf7 

Or he could have tried 10...dxe4 11.O-O h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxe4 Kf7 14.Re1 Rf8 15.Nd2 Kg8, also, having castled-by hand, with the advantage of a piece for two pawns, and the two Bishops.

11.O-O Re8 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxd5+ Be6 14.Qxb7 

This is riskier than 14.Qh5+ or 14.Qb5, but White has to do something. 

14...Qg5 

This move is aggressive-looking, but it actually leads to an even position. He could have pushed his opponent around a bit more with 14...Bc4 15.e5 Qe6 16.Rc1. 

15.f4 

Overlooking something. White's chances rested with 15.Qc6 Kf8 and then 16.f4. 

15...Qb5 

White's Queen now has nowhere to go. Black has two threats now.

16.a4 

There is no joy in 16.Rf2 Rab8, either, but it addresses one of the threats. Instead, the text hopes to move Black's Queen, so that White's Queen can move to freedom.

16...Bxd4+ White resigned

Another Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament (Part 6)

Familiarity with the Jerome Gambit lines is helpful in navigating its tricky ways.

Be sure to check out Geoff Chandler's "Blunder Table", below, as it gives the insights of a creative player and chess teacher on how much an advantage is usually enough for a player to have, in order to advance to a win.

Duckfest - LemonOtter42

Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023

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

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

Leaving the Rook en prise, either an oversight, or the Blackburne Defense. 

The latter harkens back to the brutal game Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884 (0-1, 14), the one Jerome Gambit game most chessplayers are likely to be familiar with.

As I wrote in "Harried"

Here "Amateur" played 8.Qxh8 and after 8...Qh4 9.0-0 Nf6 10.c3 he was crushed by Blackburne: 10...Ng4 11.h3 Bxf2+ 12.Kh1 Bf5 13.Qxa8 Qxh3+ 14.gxh3 Bxe4 checkmate. 

At that time, 10.Qd8 was suggested by J.B. and E.M. Munoz, giving White the better game; although, almost 120 years later, Chandler and Dimitrov showed that Black could hold the draw.

8.Qxh8 Qf6 

Reacting to the enemy Queen.

White is content to swap, being the exchange and a couple of pawns ahead. 

9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 10.d3 Ng4 11.O-O d5 

12.Nc3 d4 13.Nd5 Bd6 14.Bf4 Be5 15.Bxe5 Nxe5 

White continues to move ahead.

It is good to reflect upon Geoff Chandler's "blunder table"

Here is a one-move blunder table showing how severe the blunder [or advantage, in this case - Rick] needs to be in a game between two players of the same grade.

All players should be able to spot their opponent leaving a mate in one on.

A 1200 player should win if an opponent blunders a Queen or a Rook. But not necessarily if they pick up a Bishop or Knight.

1500 players often convert piece-up games into a win, but this is not the case if a pawn or two up.

An 1800 player usually wins if they are two pawns up.

In a game between two 2000+ players a blundered pawn is usually enough to win.

16.Nxc7 Rb8 17.Nb5 Ke7 18.Nxd4 a5 19.f4 Ng4 20.Rae1 h5 21.h3 Nf6 

22.f5 gxf5 23.Nxf5+ Kd7 24.e5 Nd5 25.Ng7 b5 26.Nxh5 Bb7 27.Nf6+ Nxf6 28.exf6 

28...Kc6 

White's pawns are too much.

29.f7 Rf8 30.Re8 Rxf7 31.Rxf7 Kc5 

Some players do not resign, preferring to play until checkmate.

32.Rxb7 Kc6 33.Rh7 b4 34.Re5 Kd6 35.Rxa5 Kc6 36.Rh6+ Kb7 37.Rg5 Kc7 38.Rg7+ Kc8 39.Rh8 checkmate