Jerome Gambit: Study Plus Video

                                                 

About 3 weeks ago, in the blog post "Jerome Gambit: chessriddler's Study" I mentioned that the online player chessriddler had "assembled a 14 chapter study of the Jerome Gambit - including some Jerome ideas for Black - at lichess.org."

Tell me, Readers - did you visit the site?

Did  you make it to the 14th chapter, featuring the Jerome Gambit game chessriddler - NM CrazyHorses?

It only lasted a dozen moves; you might have missed it.

Still I think it would be worth your while - for both educational and entertainment value - to head on over to lichess.org and check it out.

Or, you can watch the game on a short YouTube video titled "NM CRAZYHORSES IS BACK!! JEROME GAMBIT TRAP!!"

I watched it.

It left me chuckling, shaking my head, and muttering "That must have hurt!"

Go ahead. You know you want to.

Jerome Gambit: Still Waters Run Deep

Regular readers of this blog will know of Chris Torres, a chess coach in San Francisco.

This blog was a little over a year old when Chris referrred to Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885 (0-1, 14) on his Chess Musings site as "The Most Violent Chess Game Ever Played!".

I later followed that post with "Another Lesson in the Jerome Gambit".

More recently I mentioned his "Special Coverage of the 2021 World Chess Championship".

Of course, Chris continues to have a presence in the physical world and on the internet.

I recently ran across a post on his site, dailychessmusings.com, referring to "A friendly game of chess"

To quote

Recently, I found myself playing a "friendly game" with a young player in the skittles room at the US Amateur Team West Chess Championship. I seized upon this opportunity to showcase the Jerome Gambit and enjoyed watching my opponent's eyes light up when I sacrificed two pieces within the first five moves! He, in turn, surprised me by initiating his own piece sacrifice with 7...Bxf2+. We played a lively game until my young opponent needed to run off to his next round. Unfortunately, I broke Rule 1 for friendly games by not remembering the name of my opponent. I had also promised this unnamed player the chance to analyze our game upon completion and to show him the best defenses to the Jerome Gambit. He seemed eager to accept my offer so I am hoping that he will read this post and I can fulfill that promise.

I hope that Chris has had contact with that young player. If not, perhaps today's blog post will help in that effort.

In the meantime, here is the game. It looks very much like a student vs coach game, in that there is often danger in what appears to be quiet positions.

Torres, Chris - Unknown

skittles, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

The Counter-Jerome Defense, recently mentioned in "Jerome Gambit: Humor vs Success".

8.Kxf2 Qh4+

9.g3 

Stockfish 15.1 recommends, instead 9.Qg3, although I can't get excited for White after 9...Qxg3 10.Kxg3!?, despite the computer's assessment of  about two pawns plus for White. 

Actually, Stockfish prefers to meet 9.Qg3 with 9...Qxe4 when 10.d3 leads to a similar assessment, although Black's activity can be annoying, e.g. 10...Qf5+ 11.Ke1 Nf6 12.Rf1 Re8+ 13.Be3 Qe5 14.Kd2 Qxg3 (14...Qxb2? 15.Nc3 Qb4 16.a3 Qe7 17.Nd5) 15.hxg3 d6.

9...Qf6+ 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 

This is Black's idea: Queens off the board!

11.Rf1 Nxe4+

Evening up the material, but more risky than it appears.

12.Kg1+ Kg7 13.b3 

Initiating an attack along the long diagonal.

13...Rf8 14.Bb2+ Kg8 15.Rxf8+ Kxf8 16.d3 

16...Nd6 

While centralized, the Knight gets in the way of Black's development in a familiar way: blocking the d-pawn, which blocks the Bishop, which hems in the Rook.

Although it looks awkward, 16...Ng5 was probably better. 

17.Ba3 b6 18.Nc3 Bb7 

Black hurries to complete his piece development, but he always seems to be a step behind.

19.Nb5 Ke7 20.Nxc7 Rf8 21.Nb5 Rf6 22.Nxd6 Rxd6 23.Re1+ Kf6 24.Bxd6

At this point, the game was discontinued, but White is clearly winning, with an extra Rook and pawn.

Jerome Gambit: Tournament Progress

 

With 2 games to be completed in my group in the Jerome Gambit Classic #1 tournament at Chess.com, it looks like I will be joined in Round 3 by cool64chess and xulian.

All 4 other groups have completed play.

Also headed into futher play is accattone44, Eeduardo26, hamedkargarfard7, josephstalle, mconto, moisesah,  PetrosianGridlock, Seisiro_Chess, sinipete, szachmach, vkar33, and wolfverner,

I have not played anyone in that second group, previously.

I wish good chess to all of my opponents.

Jerome Gambit: Humor vs Success

How do you respond to White's sacrifice of a Bishop in the Jerome Gambit?

One defense, with a bit of humor, depends upon Black returning the Bishop with his own sacrifice.

However, being humorous does not necessarily mean successful, as the following game shows.

SedulousWay - dk1210

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 

The "Counter-Jerome Defense" or the "Counter-Jerome Gambit". See "Jerome Gambit: How Bad Has It Gotten?", "Jerome Gambit: Tactical Awareness" and "Jerome Gambit: Be Careful, Look Both Ways".

For more recent examples, see "Nobody Expects the Jerome Gambit (Part 3)" and "Jerome Gambit: Psychology".

Checking The Database, there are 585 games with this sacrifice. Alas, Black scores 28%.

8.Kxf2 Qf6+ 

This is the plan: to exchange Queens, and drain White's attack of its energy.

On one hand, this is sound strategy, as White will have to deal with frustrated dreams.

On the other hand, Black has gone from being ahead by a couple of pieces to being ahead by one piece to being behind by a pawn.

9.Qxf6+ Nxf6 

10.d3 d6 11.Rf1 h6 12.Nc3 Be6 13.Be3 Raf8 14.h3 Ke7 15.Kg1 

White has castled-by-hand. Black has decided to keep his King in the center, perhaps to assist his Queenside pawns. White is better, but the Bishops-of-opposite-colors threaten drawish play.

15...g5 16.Bd4 Rhg8 17.Rxf6 Rxf6 18.Bxf6+ Kxf6 19.Rf1+ Kg7

Is a bullet speed endgame easier to play than a Jerome Gambit opening?

20.Kf2 

Headed toward the center. 

20...Rf8+ 

Not so fast.

21.Ke2 Rxf1 22.Kxf1 Kf6 

23.Kf2

Again.

There was also time for 23.Nb5, although play is complicated: 23...Bxa2 24.Ke2 Bf7 25.Nxc7 a6 26.Ke3 Ke7 27.Kd4 Kd7 28.Nd5 a5 29. Ne3 b5 30. g3 Be6 31. h4 gxh4 32. gxh4 h5; the computer sees this position as almost 4 pawns better for White - but Stockfish can see ahead 30 ply.

23...Ke5 24.Ke3 c5 25.Ne2 

Offering a pawn. How do you assess that in the remainder of time you have left, if you started with only 1 minute?

25...Bxa2 

Unwise. Better was central play with 25...d5.

26.b3 a5 

Hoping to rescue the Bishop. Not much better was 26...Bb1 27.Kd2 h5 28.Kc1 Ba2 29.Kb2 Bxb3 30.cxb3. 

27.Nc3 Bxb3 28.cxb3 h5 29.g4 h4 

Locking up the Kingside does not change things.

30.Nb5 d5 31.exd5 Kxd5 32. Nc3+ Ke5 

33.Ne4 

Black has too many weaknesses.

33...Kd5 34.Nxg5 b5 35.Nf3 c4 36.dxc4+ bxc4 37.bxc4+ Kxc4 

Piece placement now helps White win the pawn race.

38.g5 a4 

Black might have tried to enlist the clock to his side by stretching things out (unless he was behind in time): 38...Kd5 39.Nd4 Ke5 40.Nc6+ Kd6 41.g6 Ke6 42.Nxa5 Ke7 43.Kf4 Kf6 44.g7 Kxg7 45.Nc6 Kg6 46.Nd4 Kh5 47.Nf5 Kg6 48.Nxh4+ Kf7 49.Kg5 Kg7 50.Nf5+ Kf7 51.Kh4 Kf6 52.Kg4 Kg6 53.h4 Kf6 54.h5. Even though the lone remaining pawn is a Rook pawn, the Knight will help it advance and promote.

39.g6 a3 40.g7 a2 41.g8=Q+ Black resigned

White's x-ray attack will win the passed pawn, just in time.

Jerome Gambit: Maybe Not This Time

Regarding the following game, I had to look up "sedulous": (of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence.

Dedication, maybe so; diligence, maybe not this time.

Sigh. Bullet chess.

SedulousWay - victor_a10gr

1 0 bullet, 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 

Blackburne's Defense.

8.Qxh8 

Despite a scary game warning - see Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885 (0-1, 14) - this capture is playable, if White knows theory. 

8...Qh4 9.g3

The kind of thing that can happen in a 1-minute game.

This is definitely not the way Jerome Gambit goes. See "Update: Old Dog Can Still Bite".

 9...Qxe4+ 10.Kf1 

Or 10.Kd1 Bg4+ 11.f3 Bxf3#

10...Bh3+ White resigned

To add a historical perspective, let me dip further into The Database:

10...Qxh1+ 11.Ke2 Bg4+ (11...Qe4+ 12.Kd1 [12.Kf1 Qxc2 13.Qxh7+ Kf8 14.Nc3 Qd3+ 15.Kg1 Bf5 16.b3 Re8 17.Bb2 Qxd2 18.Na4 Qxf2+ 19.Kh1 Be4 checkmate, Tiny25 - Dashology, lichess.org, 2023] 12...Bg4+ 13.f3 Bxf3 checkmate, burraburra - rsiemon, FICS, 2012) 12.f3 (12.Kd3 Qf3+ [12...Re8 13.Qxh7+ Kf8 14.Nc3 Bf5+ 15.Kc4 Qc6 16.b4 b5+ 17.Kb3 Be6+ 18.Kb2 Bd4 19.Qh4 Bxc3+ 20.dxc3 Bf5 21.Bh6+ Nxh6 22.Qxh6+ Ke723.Re1+ Kd7 24.Qg7+ Kd8 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Qd4 Qe5 27.Qxa7 Qe4 28.Qb8+ Kd7 29.Qxb5+ Qc6 30.Qxc6+ Kxc6 31.a4 Kb6 32.Kb3 c6 33.Kc4 Bxc2 34.f4 Bxa4 35.Kd4 Kb5 36.h4 Bb3 37.h5 White won on time in a losing position, DjUncleSam - mertlivesthere, lichess.org, 2022; 12...Qd5+ 13.Kc3 Be6 14.b3 Nf6 15.d3 Qd4+ White resigned, TwilightSands - Lala5th, lichess.org, 2023] 13.Kc4 Be6+ 14.Kb5 a6+ 15.Ka4 Qc6+ 16.Ka5 Qb5 checkmate, imerio - Cibola, FICS, 2020) 12...Re8+ 13.Kd3 Qxf3+ 14.Kc4 Re4+ 15.d4 Qe2+ 16.Kb3 Qb5+ 17.Kc3 Bb4+ 18.Kb3 Bd2+ 19.Ka3 Qb4 checkmate, Nesseerd - AJIT, FICS, 2003.

Jerome Gambit: Blowing Open

The Jerome Pawns, the two that White gets in exchange for his piece sacrifice(s) are helpful in a number of ways.

In the following game, they advance and blow open the enemy defenses.

accattone444 - sinipete

Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 

As old as Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, 1875 (1/2 - 1/2, 29).

6.Nxc6 bxc6 

The capture 6...dxc6 is recommended, instead, to prevent White's next move.

7.d4 Be7 8.O-O d6 

As is sometimes the case, 8...d5 is more effective. Perhaps Black was concerned that it would be answered by 9.e5 with a protected advanced passed pawn. 

9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Ba6 11.b3 Kf7 

Black hopes to castle-by-hand.

Some prevention might have come from covering the light squares with 11...Qd7. 

12.f4 

Pawns vs piece, a Jerome Gambit theme.

12...g6 

Consistent with his 11th move would have been 12...Rf8 13.e5 Nd7 14.Qg4 Kg8. 

13.e5 Ne8 14.f5 

Here comes trouble.

14...gxf5

Best was 14...dxe5, but 15.fxg6+ would still rip things open. 

15.Qh5+ Kg8 

Mate in 2.

16.Qxf5 

Still forcing mate, but missing 16.e6 followed by 17.Qf7#. 

16...Nf6 17.exf6 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Keep On Keeping On.

A strong defense against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) requires White to keep the pressure on, and to keep on keeping on - until an opportunity arises to resolve the game as a win for the first player. 

angelcamina - LeoCarlos04

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qf4+ Ke8 

9.c3  

This time White works on building his pawn center.

Previously he played 9.O-O Bd6 10.Qe3 Nf6 11.Nc3 Bb4 12.d3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 d6 14.Ba3 Kf7 15.f4 Re8 16.e5 Nd5 17.Qd4 Qe6 18.c4 Ne7 19.Rae1 Nc6 20.Qf2 Qf5 21.exd6 Rxe1 22.Rxe1 cxd6 23.Bxd6 Be6 24.h3 h5 25.c5 Re8 26.Qf3 g6 27.c3 Bd5 28.Rxe8 Bxf3 29.gxf3 Kxe8 30.Be5 Qxd3 31.Kg2 Qc2+ 32.Kg3 Qxa2 33.Kh4 Kf7 34.Kg5 Qb3 35.Kh6 Qc4 36.Kg5 Qxc5 37.Kh4 Qc4 38.Kg3 a5 39.Kh4 a4 40.Kg5 a3 41.Kh6 a2 42.Kh7 a1=Q White resigned, angelcamina - almostagm, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020; and the interesting

9.Qxc7 Bxf2+ in angelcamina - mistrustful, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2021 (1-0, 23). 

9...Nh6 

With the plan to bring the Rook to the f-file to harass the enemy Queen.

10.d4 Rf8 11.Qg3 Bb6

Black's great lead in piece development means that White has to be careful.

12.Bxh6 gxh6 13.O-O Qxe4 14.Nd2 Qf4 

To exchange off White's strongest piece, which will get little rest.

15.Rae1+ Kd8 16.Qh3 d5 17.Qd3 Bf5 18.Qe2 c6 

Black's two Bishops out-shine White's Knight. 

His problem is his unsafe King - which would have been better protected by 18...Qd6. 

White sees his opportunity and quickly takes advantage of it.

19.Qe7+ Kc8 20.Qxf8+ Kc7 21.Re7+ Kd6 22.Qf6+ Be6 23.Qxe6 checkmate