Jerome Gambit: Battle Royal

If I ever faced a 2500 player in a blitz game, I would probably get serious and play 1.d4, heading for the London Opening.

Who am I kidding? I would play the Jerome Gambit and see what happens - just because.

In the following game, chessriddler, with almost 200 games in The Database, steps up and hurls Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's opening at his opponent, with equal aplomb.

A poke in the eye? A tweak of the nose? Choose your own metaphor, but do enjoy the battle.

chessriddler - peperoni10

10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ 

Just to illustrate the first player's attitude, here he offered a draw.

 5...Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

Here we have a standard Jerome Gambit position. There are 820 games with it in The Database, going back to Charlick - Mann, correspondence, 1881 (1-0, 72) . White scores 65%.

10.O-O Rf8 

Preparing to castle-by-hand, quite prudent.

11.f4 

First, a precaution was played in chessriddler - Aliasgari77, lichess.org, 2023: 11.h3 Kf7 12.f4 Kg8 13.f5 Ne5 14.b3 Bd7 15.d4 Nf7 16.c4 c5 17.d5 Re8 18.Nd2 Ne5 19.Bb2 Qe7 20.Nf3 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 Qxe4 22.Qg3 Nh5 23.Qg5 Qe3+ 24.Qxe3 Rxe3 25.Rad1 Ng3 26.Rf2 Nxf5 27.Bc1 Rg3 28.Rdf1 Ne3 29.Rf8+ Rxf8 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Bxe3 Rxe3 32.Kf2 Re2+ 33.Kxe2 Bf5 34.Kf3 Bc2 35.g4 Bb1 Black won on time

11...Qe7 12.d3 Kf7

Or 12...Be6 13.f5 Bf7 14.fxg6 Bxg6 15.Nc3 Kd7 16.Qh3+ Qe6 17.Qxe6+ Kxe6 18.Bg5 c6 19.d4 Nxe4 20.Rae1 d5 21.Rxf8 Rxf8 22.h3 h6 23.Bc1 Kd6 24.Nxe4+ Bxe4 25.Kh2 g5 26.Bd2 Rf2 27.Rg1 Rxd2 28.c3 Rxb2 29.Kg3 Rxa2 30.Kg4 Rxg2+ 31.Kh5 Rxg1 Black won on time,  chessriddler - M80_11m, lichess.org, 2023. 

13.f5 Ne5 14.h3 Kg8 

Black has an extra piece for two pawns, better development - and a safe King. The computer sees him as about a pawn and 1/4 better.

Things can change, however, especially in a 10-minute game.

15.b3 d5 

Here we go. Hitting White's pawn chain looks like a solid idea, but it overlooks a tactic. It is not surprising that peperoni10 did not choose the Stockfish 16.1 suggestion of 15...b5.

16.Ba3 Qf7

A little better was the tricky 16...d4!?, e.g. 17.Bxe7 dxe3 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 and after gathering in the pawn on e3 White will have a Rook and 3 pawns vs 2 pieces. Two pieces often best a Rook, but the extra pawns - and White's pawn structure - support the first player.

17.Bxf8 Kxf8

To add insult to injury, White now displaces the enemy Knights.

18.d4 Nc6 19.e5 Ne4

I am reminded of the lament, Now that I have what I really want, do I really want what I have?

What should White's plan be?

20.e6 

Stifling the enemy Bishop. There was also the uncomplicated 20.Nc3 Nxc3 21.Qxc3 Kg8 22.Rae1 focusing on further development.

20...Qf6 21.c3 b6 22.Na3 

It looks like White has a plan to undermine the advance Black Knight with c2-c4 (or the goofy Nc4). Instead, he still had 22.Nd2 Nxd2 23.Qxd2.

22...Ne7 

23.Qf4

It is clear that the f-file is important. This move also takes control of some of the dark squares that were ceded with the advance of the e-pawn.

Yet, things begin to unravel.

Stockfish 16.1 suggests a Knight's tour with 23.Nc4 Ba6 24.Ne5 Kg8 25.Nd7 Qg5 26.Qxg5 Nxg5 27.Rfe1 h6 (not 17...Nxf5 because of 18.Re5) 28.f6 gxf6 29.Nxf6+ Kg7 30.Nh5+ Kg6 31.Nf4+ Kf5 32.Nxd5 Nxd5 33.Re5+ Kf6 34. Rxd5. Give me a break.

23...Nxc3 24.Rae1

Again, it takes some computer help to come up with the alternative, 24.Qxc7 Ne2+ 25.Kh2 Ba6 26.Rae1 Nxd4 27.Rf2 Bd3 28.Qf4 Kg8 29.g4 Be4 30.Nc4 h5 31.Qe5 hxg4 32.Qxf6 g3+ 33.Kxg3 gxf6 34.Nd6 Bc2 35.Kf4 Ndxf5 36.Rxc2 Nxd6 37.Rc7 Ng6+ 38.Kg3 Re8 39.Rxa7 Ne5. When the pawn on e6 falls, Black will have two Knights for a Rook. Whew!

24...Ba6 25.Rf3 

This returns the exchange.

25...Ne2+ 26.Rxe2 Bxe2 27.Rf2 Bd3 28.g4 c5 

White's pawns continue to be under pressure.

29.Rf3 Be4 30.Rf2 Qxd4 31.g5

One last push. 

31...Nxf5 32.Qd6+ Kg8 33.Qd7

White's Queen is very active, but his King is in grave danger.

33...Rf8 34.e7 Nxe7 35.Qe6+ Kh8 

White resigned

Quite a game.

Jerome Gambit: I Don't Really Understand This Move...

While I did not understand my opponent's 10th move in the following game, I understood what moves I could make to play against it - which is what mattered in the end.

perrypawnpusher - slp001

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ N8e7 

The usual response is 8...d6, although a quick check of The Database shows that both moves score 63% for White, 37% for Black. The lines also can transpose.

9.O-O d6 10.Qe3 Ne5 

I don't really understand this move, although I have faced the Knight on e5 in similar variations in other games. It almost seems like a taunt - Go ahead, hit me with a pawn!

Two other games of mine saw 10...b6 11.f4 Bb7 in  perrypawnpusher - Jaqueperpetuo, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 25) and 10...Be6 11.f4 in perrypawnpusher - subhann, blitz, FICS, 2016 (1-0, 21).

11.d4 

Of course, after the game Stockfish preferred 11.f4 by about half a pawn.

11...N5g6 

The Knight returns to home base, but the computer calculates that the two tempos used for the excursion cost Black about a pawn in valuation.

12.f4 Rg8 13.f5 Nh8 

14.f6 

There were other, calmer moves (e.g. 14.Nc3, 14.c4), but I wanted to get at the enemy King.

14...gxf6 15.Rxf6+ Nf7 16.Qf2 Rg7 

Missing a nifty response, returning a little material with 16...Nf5 17.Rxf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Qc8, and an equal game.

It is unfortunate that Black, in and attempt to strengthen his King's protection, allows the collaps of his defense.

17.Bh6 Kg8 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rxf7+ Kh8 20.Qf6+ Kg8 21.Qg7 checkmate

JeromeGambit: Uncomfortable

I feel a bit uncomfortable fighting against, and then defeating, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) but the tournament requires Jeromes in every game.

Perhaps there is something to reconsider in White's play.

yoyokskr - perrypawnpusher

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

A"modern" variation of the Jerome, bypassing 5.Nxe5+. It seems less risky, but it is not nearly as sharp.

Of course, there is also 5.Ng5+, the "Face Palm Variation" (see the post "Jerome Gambit: The SMH Variation", among others) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+.

5...Nf6 6.d4 exd4 

Reminiscent of the Macbeth Attack or the Haxo Gambit.

7.Ng5+ 

 I was surprised to find 27 games with this move in The Database, with White scoring 48%.

7...Kg8 8.Re1 

I suppose that White could also continue with 8.c3, if he were thinking of the Goring Gambit, or 8.b4 Bxb4 9.c3, if her were partial to the Evans Gambit. Both might lead to exciting play, but Black would still be better.

8...h6 9.Nf3 d6 

Black's development is superior, even given the placement of his King's Rook. His extra piece counts, too.

10.e5 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Rxe5 Bb6 

Instead, 12...Bd6 had a bit more bite to it.

13.c4 

Cute. Of course, now 13...dxc e.p. would drop the Queen. In the meantime, the text threatens the annoying c4-c5. Fortunately there is a straightforward solution.

13...c5 

14.Qf3 Bc7 15.Re2 

A slip. The Rook needed to go all the way back to e1.

15...Bg4 16.Qd3 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Qd6 

Turning my attention to the Kingside.

18.g3 Re8 19.Qd2 Kf7 

Making way for the Rook on h8 to come to the center files.

It was also possible to leave the Rook in place and try 19...h5.

20.b3 Re6 21.Qd3 Rhe8 22.Bf4 

Hoping to blunt Black's Queen-plus-Bishop battery.

There are other attacks, howevr.

22...Re1+ 23.Kg2 Qc6+ 24.f3 

Or 24.Qf3, when 24...Qxf3+ 25.Kxf3 Bxf4 25.gxf4 would be followed by 25...Rg1 and a doubling of Rooks on the first rank, or by 25...d3; both of which would win at least a piece.

24...R8e2+ 25.Kh3 Qe6+ 26.g4 Bxf4 27.a4 Rxh2 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: With A Bullet

The following game was played at the speed of 1 minute, no increment. 

I continue to be amazed how successful angelcamina is, with such little -TIME- to work with.

angelcamina - hsynli_5

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 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 Qe7

9.Qc4 

Stockfish 16 evaluates 9.Qxe7+ as about 2 pawns better than the text move, but not every Jerome Gambiteer is ready to exchange Queens so early in the game. 

9...d6

The computer's choice here is the bolder 9...d5 which shows up in only one game in The Database, fehim - NicholsonM, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 32).

angelcamina has scored 13 -3 against 9...Nf6. 

He is 2 -1 against 9... c6. 

10.O-O Be6 11.Qa4+ 

Stiring things up. According to The Database, angelcamina was 1 - 2 with 11.Qb4 here, and 2 - 0 with 11.Qb5+.

11...Bd7 12.Qb3 

12...Rb8 

Playing it safe. Perhaps he did not believe that those who take the b-pawn will sleep in the gutter... Is the question "Jerome Gambit: To b or Not to b?"

Another possibility was 12...Qxe4, but perhaps that did not feel "safe".  

13.d4 

Willing to take Black at his word, that the e-pawn is poisoned. Otherwise: 13.d3. 

13...Nf6 14.Nc3 a6

Again, hoping to forestall mischief.

15.Bd2 Qf7 16.Qa3 Ke7

Hoping to be able to castle-by-hand. 

17.f4 Rhe8 18.e5 

 18...Nd5 

He would do better completing "castling" with 18...Kf8 and an even game.

19.f5 Nh8 20.Rae1 

The "Jerome pawns", backed by Rooks, are looking to cause problems.

20...Bb5 21.Nxb5 

21...axb5 22.exd6+ Kd7 23.dxc7 Kxc7 

White has 3 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but, besides Black's Knight stuck at h8, King safety - in this case, Black's King is not - is the most salient issue.

24.Qc5+ Kd7 25.Qxb5+ Kc7 26.Qc5+ Kd7 27.Qb5+ Kc7 

28.Bf4+ 

No draw, thank you, just gaining a little time on the clock.

The computer prefers 28.c4, but angelcamina is planning on finishing off his opponent quicker. Things fall apart, the center cannot hold.

28...Kc8 29.Qc5+ Nc7 30.Rxe8+ Qxe8 31.Qxc7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Tournament Update

                             

It looks like I will come in first in my first round group of 12 at the 228-player Jerome Gambit Classic #1 tournament at Chess.com, possibly even finishing 22 - 0; and then move on to the next round. I have two games to finish.

Things are not quite as rosy for me in the second round of the 250-player Giuoco Fun tournament, also at Chess.com. I probably have to win my last 3 games to advance from my group of 5.

Finally, it looks like I need at least a draw in my final game in the second round of the Italian Game tournament (Chess.com), plus a favorable tie-break.

All along the way, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) has been a faithful companion.

Jerome Gambit: Finally, the Idea Worked

Many of my Jerome Gambit games (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ) have followed an uninspired pattern of sacrificing material, recovering the material, and winning in the endgame.

The following one is an exception. I like to think that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome would have been happy with the way that the game ended.

xulian - perrypawnpusher

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.c3 

White chose a more "modern" approach to the Jerome Gambit, rather than the "classical" 5.Nxe5+. Earlier chess engines preferred this approach (sacrificing one piece is enough), but current ones, like Stockfish 15.1, assess 5.Nxe5+ as about a pawn stronger than 5.c3.

5...Nf6 6.d3 Bb6 

Instead, Black castled-by-hand with 6...Rf8 7.O-O Kg8 in ecimsa - perrypawnpusher, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 32). 

7.O-O 

Queens came off the board after 7.Qb3+ d5 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. Qxd5+ Nxd5 in Gary_Seven - perrypawnpusher, JG3 thematic tournament, ChessWorld.net, 2008 (0-1, 30). 

7...Rf8 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 Kg8 d6 11.Qc2 Bg4 12.h3 Be6 

With a piece for a pawn, I was content to play a slow game, along with my opponent. He did not have full compensation for his sacrifices.

13.b3 Qd7 

The ghost of an idea forms.

14.Bg3 Nh5 15.Bh2 Nf4 16.Bxf4 Rxf4 

Storm clouds gathered...

17.Rad1 

Thinking about d3-d4.

17...Bxh3

I have made this sacrifice in a number of games over the years (none of them Jeromes) and it has never worked. In the current game, I was helped by the fact that Black was already better.

18.gxh3 

It is hard to be critical of this move, as the alternatives, 18.Ne1 or 18.g3 or 18.d4 still would maintain Black's advantage.

Still, I now had my chance.

18...Qxh3 19.Nh2 Rh4 20.Ndf3 Qg3+ 21.Kh1 Qxf3+ 22.Kg1 Qg3+ 23.Kh1 Qxh2 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Out of Gas

The following game started out as promising for me, but my attack soon ran out of gas.

perrypawnpusher - Igorrud

Giuoco Fun, Chess.com, 2024

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 

This position appears in 372 games in The Database. White scores 55%.

9.Nc3

I have also tried 9.O-O, as in perrypawnpusher - recreation, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 13) and perrypawnpusher - kashifnaseem, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 38).

9...c6 

Keeping watch over the d5 square.

Stockfish 15.1 (30 ply) prefers 9...h5!?

I have also faced 9...Ne7 in perrypawnpusher - JoseSoza, Chess.com, 2012 (0-1, 36) 

10.O-O Ne7 11.d3 Ng6 

I was surprised to see that Stockfish 16.1 considered this position as completely equal, based on the odd line of play: 12.Na4 h5 13.Nxc5 h4 14.Qe3 h3 15.e5 Qxe5 16.Qxe5 Nxe5 17.Re1 hxg2 18.Re3 Rh3 19.Ne4 Nf3+ 20.Kxg2 Nh4+ 21.Kh1 Nf3 22.Kg2 Nh4+, etc. Does Black really have to force a draw by repetition?

Also: Given how much White has sacrificed, is an assessment of the game "equal" a success for him?

12.Be3 Kf7 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.f4 Rf8 15.Qf3 Kg8 

Black has a piece for two pawns, and he has castled-by-hand.

16.Qe3 

Hoping to move the Queen off of the f-file (enemy Rook) and gain a tempo in the process, as Black has to protect his forward c-pawn.

This just leaves my f-pawn hanging, however - nothing neither I nor my opponent noticed.

16...b6 17.e5

This advance just creates a hole that the enemy Queen positions herself in.

17...Qf5 18.Ne4 

This was my self-justification for my last move. 

18...Be6 

Allowing White to get a little pull. Still in play was 18...Nxf4.

Now, things start to be exchanged.

19.Ng3 Qf7 20.Qxe5 Qxe5 Nxe5 24.Rae1 Rxf1+ draw agreed