Jerome Gambit: Bored to Death

I have a bad habit of taking a dynamic chess position and reducing it to something that I can easily understand - at the same time, taking the game closer and closer to a draw.

In the following game, I transformed the red hot Jerome Gambit to a cold bowl of oatmeal.

Lucky for me, my opponent seems to have gotten bored with things, and his endgame slip gave me a rather undeserved win.

perrypawnpusher - SPK_316

Giuoco Fun, Chess.com, 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 d6 9.Qe3 Qf6 

Here is one of those situations that you find often in the Jerome Gambit. Stockfish 15.1 evaluates the position (31 ply) as about 1 pawn better for Black.

However, with 68 games with this position in The Database, White scores 75%.

10.O-O 

Or 10.Nc3 as in perrypawnpusher - pitrisko, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 28) and perrypawnpusher - strobane, blitz, FICS, 2012 (1-0, 68).

10...N8e7 

I have also seen 10...Bh3, an attacking idea that didn't work, in perrypawnpusher-TJPOT, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 48). 

11.f4 Bd7 12.d4 

This is a little more patient than my 12.f5 in perrypawnpusher-LeiCar, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 25). 

12...Nc6 13.e5 

After the game, the compuer recommended 13.d5, then 14.Nc3 then 15.Bd2.

13...dxe5 14.fxe5 Qe6 15.Nc3 

15...Nb4 

Black eyes the "hole" at d5 and aims to place his Knight there.

16.Qe2 Rf8 17.Be3 Nd5 

Mission accomplished.

18.Ne4 

After the game, Stockfish 16.1 had an interesting recommendation, a long line of play which showcases the power of the "Jerome pawns" and which leads to a balanced position: 18.Rxf8+ Nxf8 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.c4 Qe4 21.Rf1 Ng6 22.Qf2 Be6 23.d5 Bg8 24.b3 Qxe5 25.Bd4 Qh5 26.Bxg7 Kd7 27.h3 Ne7 28.Bf8 Qg6 29.Qc5 Re8 30.Qb5+ Kd8 31.Qxb7 Qb6+ 32.Qxb6 axb6 33.Bxe7+ Rxe7. 

It is not at all likely that I would have worked all that out myself, but I give it as an example of the computer demonstrating some "understanding" of the kind of play that can come from the Jerome Gambit.

18...Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Ne7 20.Nc5 Qd5 

Now Black's Queen occupies d5, but it will not be as comfortable a stay.

21.Rxf8+ Kxf8 22.c4 Qc6 23.d5 Nxd5 

Not a happy choice, but returning the piece for two pawns is probably the best idea here.

24.cxd5  Qxd5

25.Qf3+ 

My idea here was to have my g-pawn "graduate" to the f-file and provide support for my passed pawn at e5. 

Instead, after the game Stockfish 16.1 preferred the instructional: 25.Nxd7+ Qxd7 26.e6 Qe7 27.Rf1+ Kg8 28.Rf7 Qd6 29.Qc3 Qd1+ 30.Kf2 Qg4 31.h3 Qg6 32.Qxc7 h6 33.Qd7 a5 34.Kg1 Kh7 35.a4 b6 36.Rf3 Qe8 37.Qd6 Qd8 38.Qe5 Ra7 39.Qf5+ Kg8 40.Rd3 Qe7 41.Rd7 Rxd7 42.exd7 Qd6

25...Qxf3 26.Nxd7+ Ke7 27.gxf3 Kxd7 28.Kf2 Ke6 29.f4 Rd8 

My tendency to simplify things has gotten me this, at best, equal position, where Black's King and Rook are better placed.

30.Re1 Rd2+ 31.Re2 Rxe2+ 32.Kxe2 c5 33.h4 

33...Kf5 

The Black King can not stray too far, as it must keep the pawn at e5 under control. One idea is to advance his Queenside pawn majority, and then advance his Kingside pawns; the resulting position would be even.

34.Kd3 Kxf4 

An unfortunate slip.

35.e6 Kf5 36.e7 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Another Short Video

Jim Santosa has another short Jerome Gambit video out, focused upon a fun Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game - "Blitz Giuoco Piano Game: Jerome Gambit #chess #shorts".

An earlier video by Jim was mentioned on this blog in "Jerome Gambit: New Video".

Jerome Gambit: Finding My Way

Finding myself in a position that I was not familar with - either as White or as Black - I was still able to find my way to the full point. 

hamadkargarfard7 - perrypawnpusher

Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

This is only the second time that I have faced 6.d4 (as Black).

I have only played it once (as White) myself. 

6...Qh4 

Seen as early as the game Sorensen, S.A. - X, Denmark, 1888 (1-0, 27).

7.dxc5

Better 7.0-0 (King safety first!) Qxe4 7.dxc5 as in perrypawnpusher - 4xe1, Chess.com, 2017 (1/2-1/2, 29).

7...Qxe4+ 8.Kf1 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qc4+ 10.Kg1 

White's castling-by-hand is a bit awkward.

10...b6 11.cxb6 axb6 12.a3 

12...Bb7 13.Qe1 

It is unfortunate that this move both allows Black to win the Queen, it also allows a checkmating attack.

13...Qg4 

14.f3 Nxf3+ 15.Kf2 Nxe1 16.Kxe1 Rhe8+ 17.Kd2  17.Qd4 checkmate 

Jerome Gambit: Hyperactive Knight

 

In the following game I pressed an attack against my opponent, only to constantly face defensive actions by his Knight. 

Alas, for his sake, despite the heroics, I was able to prevail.

 

perrypawnpusher - 123456789qeeed

Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5. Nxe5+ Nxe5 6. Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 Be7 8.d4 

Other, related games

perrypawnpusher - Cibola, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 27);

chessmusings - Dumble Door, Internet, 2016 (1-0, 17); and

joca552000 - Mabbpah, 8 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2023 (1/2-1/2, 15).

8...d6 

Or 8...Bf6 as in perrypawnpusher - Cibola, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 27) 

9.Qg3 Nf6 10.Nc3 h6 

Sometimes the move of the h-pawn helps in defense, including finding a place for the King at h7; sometimes it weakens the e8-h5 diagonal.

11.O-O Nh5 

This move has a tactical refutation which both of us overlooked.

12.Qd3 

It should have been easy to see 12.Qf3+ Nf6 13.e5 winning the Knight.

12...Nf6 

The loss of two tempos by the Knight gave me time to improve my position. 

13.f4 Nh7 14.Bd2 c6 15.Rae1

The position is close to even, thanks to the formidible "Jerome pawns".

15...Bh4 16. g3 Be7 17.f5 

17...Bg5 18.Ne2 Nf6 

That Knight! 

19.Nf4 Kf7 

Instead, after the game Stockfish 16.1 recommended safeguarding the King a different way: 19...Bxf4 20.Bxf4 Kg8 21.Qf3 Kh7.

20.h4 Bxf4 21. Rxf4 Nh5 

Obviously, the Knight takes the defense of it's King seriously.

22.Rff1 Rf8 23.Qf3 Nf6 24.e5 dxe5 25.dxe5 Qxd2 26.exf6 gxf6 

The exchange of White's passive Bishop for Black's hyperactive Knight is not an even trade. Black's King is now unsafe and at risk for checkmate.

27.Qh5+ Kg7 28.Re7+ Kh8 29.Qg6 Rg8 30.Rh7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Chessgames.com Opening of the Day

If you visit the Chessgames.com website today, you will see that the Opening of the Day is the Kentucky Opening - otherwise known as the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

This is a fair acknowledgement, as it was 150 years ago that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's games and analysis began appearing, starting with the Dubuque Chess Journal.

The site has only 10 Jerome Gambit games, but they do include 4 by Jerome, himself, as well as the early Amateur - Blackburne game, Hikaru Nakamura's game, and blog contributor Yury V. Bukayev's game.

Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale 1. A Jerome vs W Shinkman 0-1 21 1874 corr 2. A Jerome vs O A Brownson     ½-½ 29 1875 corr 3. A Jerome vs NN 1-0 20 1876 Casual game 4. A Jerome vs W H Colburn   0-1 34 1879 corr 5. NN vs Blackburne 0-1 14 1884 Casual game 6. E Sidran vs Ron Thompson 0-1 16 1992 CIS Casual email 7. L White vs NN 1-0 32 2003 Internet Section 15-A 8. L Nelson vs Z Sugar 1-0 20 2006 Queens-ch 9. Nakamura vs D Kollars 1-0 28 2020 Online 3 0 blitz 10. Yury Bukayev vs Valery Golshev 1-0 24 2021 Online 30 0 rapid

Jerome Gambit: Kings in Danger

The following game shows both Kings in danger, and only one of them was able to escape. Fortunately, it was mine.

ce_1 - perrypawnpusher

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d3 

A "modern" variation of the Jerome, as opposed to the "classical" 5.Nxe5 that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome played.

5...Nf6 6.Ng5+

Recently seen in LemonOtter42 - Chioborra  Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023 (1-0, 24), LemonOtter42 - KevinOSh, Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023 (0-1, 32), and NNN_1 - Shustruy, internet, 2022 (1/2-1/2, 30).

Overall, I have faced this move 5 times, scoring 3 - 1 - 1.

The Database shows 1,107 games with 5.Ng5+. White scores 36%.

6...Kg8 

At 30 ply, Stockfish 15.1 evaluates this move and 6...Ke8 as the same. An example of 6...Ke8 is madmadmal - perrypawnpusher, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 53). 

7.Be3 

Using the idea of 7.c3 h6 8.Qb3+, RattyMouse out-played me - see RattyMouse - perrypawnpusher, 3 0 blitz, FICS, 2009}(1-0, 31) 

7...d6 

Years ago, I exchanged Bishops, 7...Bxe3 8.fxe3 in bushytail - perrypawnpusher, blitz, FICS,2008 (1/2-1/2, 50). 

8.Bxc5 dxc5 9.c3 

Guarding the d4 square and preparing for a Queen check along the a2-g8 diagonal.

10...h6 

A rather clueless choice on my part. A better idea was 9...c4 block that dangerous diagonal, and if 10.d4, then 10...h6. Instead, 10.dxc4 Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 would not help White a bit.

10.Qb3+ Nd5 

Am I tricky, or what? This move is best, but it reflects upon the uncomfortable position I had put myself in.

11.exd5 

Underestimating me, or the position. The right way was 11.Qxd5+ Qxd5 12.exd5 with a small edge. 

11...Qxg5 

My turn to fumble my chances. 

After the game, Stockfish 16.1 recommended 11...Na5 12.Qa4 Qxg5 13.Nd2 (If 13.Qxa5, Qc1+) b6 (saving the dim Knight, not grabbing the g-pawn) 14.Ne4 Qf5 15.O-O Bd7 16.Qc2 Nb7 17.Ng3 Qf7 18.Rae1 Qxd5 19.f4 exf4 20.Ne2 f3 21.Nf4 Qf7 22.Rxf3 Re8 23.Rxe8+ Bxe8 24.Qe2 Nd6 and Black would have been better.

All a bit beyond me.

12.dxc6+ Kh7 

13.Qd5 

Instead, 13.cxb7 Bxb7 was risky, but  13.O-O would have been prudent, and would have kept things in balance. 

With the text, White protects his g-pawn and advanced c-pawn, but leaves his own King at risk.

13...Qc1+ 14.Ke2 Qxh1 15.Qe4+ g6 16.cxb7 Bxb7 17.Qxb7

White has a pawn for the exchange, but his Knight and Rook are unfortunately placed, so, even given his raggedy pawn structure, Black is better. 

I wish, during the game, that I was as confident as the computer, after the game. White's Queen continued with her threats.

17...Rac8 18.Qd5 

Threatening checkmate at f7.

18...Rhf8 19.Qd7+ Kh8 20.Qh3 

 20...h5 

Also okay was 20...Kh7, but I was concerned about 21.Qd7+ Kg8 22.Qh3 Kh7 23.Qd7+ and a possible draw by repetition.

After the game, the computer pointed out that after 22.Qh3, Black would have had 23...Rxf2+!? 24.Kxf2 Rf8+, when White would have had to give up his Queen with 25.Qf3, since all other moves would allow checkmate. After that, Black's Queen would dominate White's Rook and Knight, while gathering in some pawns.

21.Qg3 Kh7 22.b3 Qc1 23.Qxe5

A final slip. 

23...Rce8 24.Qxe8 Rxe8+ 25.Kf3 g5 White resigned

Checkmate is on the horizon.

Jerome Gambit: Is A Draw OK?

The following game treads a familiar path, yet I wound up settling for a draw. It raises the standard Jerome Gambit question: having sacrificed two pieces, should White be satisfied with a draw?

Playing an opponent rated about 100 points above me, this time I agreed.

perrypawnpusher - aansmar

Italian Game tournament, 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 Nf6 

I have also faced 8...Qe7 in perrypawnpusher - frencheng, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17) and 8...Qf6 in perrypawnpusher - kashifnaseem, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 34). 

9.d3  

Or 9.Nc3 as in perrypawnpusher - klixar, blitz, FICS, 2007

9...Qd7 

Alternatives: 

9...h6, as in perrypawnpusher - caterwaul, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39); or 

9...g4 as in perrypawnpusher - salla, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 18) and perrypawnpusher - marianomocoroa, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 14); or 

9...Kf7 as in perrypawnpusher - klask, blitz, FICS, 2023 (0-1, 47),  perrypawnpusher - PasayDefence, Piano Piano, Chess.com 2021 (0-1,28), perrypawnpusher - truuf, blitz, FICS, 2011(0-1, 32), and perrypawnpusher - Abhishek29, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 35); or 

9...Nh5 as in perrypawnpusher - maxmi, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 42); 

9...h5 as in perrypawnpusher - ulisimbolon, blitz, FICS, 2016 (0-1, 22); and 

9...Be6 as in perrypawnpusher - Sarantes, Let's Play the Italian Game, Chess.com 2018 (1-0, 37) and perrypawnpusher - GuestTYQD, blitz, FICS, 2023 (1-0, 39). 

10.h3 

This was an unfortunate move to have to make, but I did not want to see Black's Queen come to g4, for an exchange. Still, I initiated the exchange a half dozen moves later. Go figure.

10...h5 

To harass White's Queen. It opens the g5 square to White's Bishop, but Black sees it as worth it.

11.Bg5 Qf7 12.Nc3 c6 

Keeping White's Knight off of d5.

13.Na4 b5 

Encouraging White to make the exchange that he was already planning. Even at the cost of a pawn, the best line was 13...Bb4+ 14.c3 Ba5 15.Qxd6+. 

14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.Qd6+ Qe7 16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 17.e5 

Winning back material.

17...Be6 18.exf6+ gxf6 19.Be3 

19...c4 20. dxc4 Bxc4 21. O-O-O Bd5 22. Rhe1 draw

A draw might seem a bit premature, given that I was a pawn ahead, but exchanging the Rooks on the e-file seems likely, and the resulting Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame looks pretty balanced.