Jerome Gambit: Something Stupid (Part 1)

The following Jerome Gambit game bring to mind a lyric from a 1960s song by Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra, with my own little twist

...and then I go and spoil it all by playing something stupid like dropping a Rook..

I would love to just "forget" about the game, but I have promised to share every one of my Jerome's, good, bad, or indifferent - so here we go. 

perrypawnpusher - Wander007

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 Be6 

Black's Bishop and Knight need to be careful about White advancing his f-pawn to threaten a fork.

10.O-O Kd7 

Black's King gets off of the e-file, in case it is opened.

11.f4 Bc4 12.d3 Ba6 13.c4

White's center control balances his two-pawns-for-a-piece material deficit.

13...b6 14.Nd2 N8e7 

Putting the Knight on f6, or, even better, putting the Queen there, was a small improvement.

15.b4 c6 

Anticipating b4-b5, which was not part of my plan. 

16.Bb2 

16...Kc7 

Black is not afraid to have the g-file opened.

17.Bxg7 Rg8 18.Bf6 Qd7 19.Nf3 

Stockfish 16.1 gives White a slight (less than the value of a pawn) advantage. White's pawns control the center, although Black has the opportunity to move his Rook from a8 to f8 and provide more piece pressure on the Kingside.

[to be continued]

In My Email...

I received this in my email, originally posted on X (formerly know as Twitter). Grandmaster Finegold's videos are enjoyable, as you can see (https://www.youtube.com/@GMBenjaminFinegold). I do not know if I will be able to make the Virtual Class, but I certainly will try. I encourage Readers to attend, as well. I am sure that it will be both fun and educational. - Rick

The Jerome Gambit Virtual Class MONDAY (08/19) from 6:00PM-6:45PM ET $10 registration fee. REGISTER by paying Karen: Paypal: Karen@atlchessclub.com lecture’s zoom link will be sent to the email connected to your paypal account.

Jerome Gambit: A Bad Feeling That I Had Missed Something

 

The other day I was playing a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) against Chess.com's stanley-funk-bot (1-0, 48). When I reached the 9th move, I suddenly had a bad feeling that I had missed something, that there was a trap around there, somewhere...

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Nf6 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 

I was sure that I had previously put this position under a microscope, but with almost 4,500 blog posts to date, that was a lot to keep in my head all at once.

After the game, I found "Jerome Gambit: The Power of Surprise" from August 2016.

Updating some of the numbers mentioned there, I can say that The Database contains 86 games with 9.Qe3, going back to Vazquez,Andres Clemente - Carrington,William, Mexico, 2nd match (5), 1876: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Nf6 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Re8 10.d3 Ng4 11.Qf3+ Kg7 12.0–0 Rf8 13.Qg3 Qf6 14.h3 Ne5 15.Nc3 c6 16.Bg5 Qe6 17.Qh4 Nf7 18.f4 h6 19.f5 hxg5 20.fxe6 gxh4 21.Rxf7+ Rxf7 22.exf7 Kxf7 23.Rf1+ Kg7 24.e5 d5 25.Ne2 b5 26.Nd4 Bd7 27.Rf6 Rc8 28.Rd6 Be8 29.Kf2 Kf7 30.Kf3 c5 31.Ne2 d4 32.Kg4 Rc6 33.Kxh4 Rxd6 34.exd6 Kf6 35.Ng3 Bc6 36.Ne4+ Bxe4 37.dxe4 a5 38.e5+ Ke6 39.Kg3 Black resigned

The move that Carrington overlooked - the move that stanley-funk-bot missed - was 9...Nxe4, which only shows up in The Database in three games:

nineteenletterslong - vuurtoren

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Nf6 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nxe4 10.O-O Bf5 11.d3

Nf6 12.Nc3 Re8 13.Qf3 c6 14.Bd2 Qa5 15.Rfe1 Qb4 16.b3 Qh4 17.Rxe8 Rxe8 18.g3 Qh3 19.Qg2 Qh5 20.h3 Qxh3 21.Qxh3 Bxh3 22.Bg5 d5 11 23.Bxf6 Kxf6 24.Kh2 Bc8 25.Kg2 b6 26.f3 Bb7 27.g4 c5 28.Kg3 h5 29.gxh5 gxh5 30.Nd1 Rg8+ 31.Kh4 Rg1 32.c4 dxc4 33.dxc4 Bxf3 34.Rc1 Rxd1 35.Rxd1 Bxd1 36.a3 a6 37.b4 cxb4 38.axb4 Kg6 39.c5 bxc5 40.bxc5 a5 41.c6 a4 42.c7 Bg4 43.Kg3 a3 44.Kf4 a2 45.Ke5 a1=Q+ 46.Kd6 Qd4+ 47.Kc6 h4 48.c8=Q Bxc8 49.Kc7 Qc5+ 50.Kd8 Bb7 51.Ke8 Bc6+ 52.Kd8 Qd6+ 53.Kc8 Qd7+ 54.Kb8 Qb7 checkmate

Petasluk - Caarreeyy

blitz FICS, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Nf6 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nxe4 10.0–0 Re8 11.Qf3+ Kg7 12.d3 Nc5 13.Nc3 c6 14.Qf4 Qf6 15.Qh6+ Kg8 16.Bd2 Qg7 17.Qh4 d5 18.Bh6 Qe7 19.Bg5 Qf7 20.f4 Ne6 21.Bh6 Ng7 22.g4 Bd7 23.Rf2 b5 24.Raf1 b4 25.Ne2 c5 26.Ng3 Re3 27.f5 Rxg3+ 28.Qxg3 gxf5 29.Bxg7 Qxg7 30.gxf5 Qxg3+ 31.hxg3 Kf7 32.g4 a5 33.Kg2 Rg8 34.Kh3 Kf6 35.Kh4 h6 36.Re1 h5 37.Rg1 Black forfeited on time 

Giomilano - groupon

blitz, lichess.org, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Nf6 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nxe4 10.0–0 Re8 11.Qb3+ Be6 12.Qf3+ Bf5 13.d3 Ng5 14.Qf4 Kf6 15.Qxg5+ Kg7 16.Qxd8 Rexd8 17.Bg5 Bxd3 18.cxd3 Re8 19.Nc3 h6 20.Be3 Rxe3 21.fxe3 Rf8 22.Rxf8 Kxf8 23.Nd5 a5 24.Nxc7 a4 25.Nd5 a3 26.b3 b5 27.Rf1+ Kg7 28.d4 b4 29.e4 h5 30.e5 h4 31.e6 h3 32.g3 g5 33.e7 g4 34.e8Q Kh6 35.Qe6+ Kg5 36.Rf5 checkmate

It is reassuring that in all of these games (including mine), White did not grab the poisoned Knight and fall for 10.Qxe4? Re8 and White's Queen is lost.

Jerome Gambit: Declined

Declining the Bishop sacrifice in the Jerome Gambit transforms the nature of the game. Instead of a tactical battle, there is a much quieter conflict, where the attacker has an extra pawn, but the defender has better development.

Clearly, White must reformulate his plans.

According to The Database, White scores 52% against 4...Kxf7, 62% against 4...Kf8, and 67% against 4...Ke7. 

So, in the Jerome Gambit Declinded, White must resign himself to grinding out a win - but he realizes increased success over the Jerome Gambit proper.

(My own experience has been a bit different. Out of 456 games that started 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, my opponent declined the Bishop with 4...Kf8 only four times [I scored 75%] and with 4...Ke7 only three times [I scored 100%]. When I faced 4...Kxf7, I scored 82%.)

hamedkargarfard7 - JuanviPascual

Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kf8 

Declining the sacrifice.

Both players now show patience in developing their game and moving it forward.

5.Bb3 d6 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Nd4 8.Nbd2 h6 9. Be3 Bg4 

I would guess that both players would be surprised to learn that Stockfish 16.1 (34 ply) evaluates White as being almost 2 2/3 pawns better. (I was.)

10.h3 Nxf3+ 11.Nxf3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qe7 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.O-O-O 

White accumulates small advantages: the extra pawn, the minor exchange, the safer King, the better pawn structure.

14...b5 15.Bd5 

Now, and for the next few moves, 15.Qf5, infiltrating the Kingside, is an even better idea. 

15...Rc8 16.g4 g5 17.Qf5 

The Queen steps into a gap in Black's defense.

17...Kg7 18.h4 c6 

Hoping to eject the enemy Bishop, but events overtake this plan. More dynamic as 18...Nxd5 19.exd5 Rcf8. 

19.hxg5 hxg5 20.Qxg5+ Black resigned

The second player's defense has collapsed, and checkmate is coming.

Jerome Gambit: Straying Away From Home And Discovering Check

In a chess game, unless you are a world champion like Wilhelm Steinitz, it is best to keep you King at home, lest he fall into danger, as in the following game.

yoyokskr - ce_1

Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d4 

Opening another line for his pieces.

5...exd4 6.Ng5+ 

White is eager to attack. His sole Knight will need some "cooperation", however - from his own side, and his opponent - to create a dangerous attack. 

The Database has 1,485 games with this position. White scores 37%. 

6...Kg6 

Black's King should not wander away from home. Simply 6...Ke8 was best.

The Database not indicates that White's chances have improved to 51%.

7.O-O 

 In "A Return to Pre-School") I made the point

I think if the bodacious Blackmar Diemer Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxd4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3) can be referred to as a "high school for tactics" then the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) can at least be dubbed a "pre-school for tactics".

Here, White had the opportunity to set up a discovered check against the enemy King with 7.Qg4, although Black can defend with 7...Qf6 and keep an edge

7...Ne5 

I am guessing that with this Knight move, Black was hoping to entice White's f-pawn forward, so that he - Black - could take advantage of a discovered check by his Bishop.

Instead, he could have taken counter-measures against White's plan to set up a discovered check: 7...h6 8.Qg4 Qf6 and he would keep his advantage.

8.Kh1 

Taking Black at his word that the discovered check would be a problem. Yet, 8.f4 immediately was playable.

8...Nf6 9.f4 Neg4 

Oddly, the wrong Knight.

Returning a piece with 9...Nfg4 10.fxe5 Rf8 would lead to only an edge for the first player.

Now there is checkmate.

10.f5+ Kh5 11.h3 Qe7 12.Rf3 Ne3 13.Rxe3+ Kh6 14.Nf7+ Qxf7 15.Rg3+ g5 16.Rxg5 Nxe4 17.Rg8+ Nd2 18.Bxd2 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Close to the Fire

Those who play the Jerome Gambit are taking a calculated risk: will the benefits (opponent does not know the opening, is distressed by it, is overwhelmed by it) of the opening outweigh its risks (it is a tactical, "refuted" opening) ?

Even so, there are lines in the Jerome that include even greater risk, yet, time after time, players go there - and come away successful.

seasidejerry - wolfwerner

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 Qh4 

The earliest game in The Database with this move is Sorensen - Anonymous, Denmark, 1888 (1-0, 27)

7.dxc5 

White prefers not to "castle into it" with 7.O-O Qxe4 8.dxc5 although that would be less bad, according to Stockfish 16.1.

How close can he come to the fire without being burned?

7...Qxe4+ 8.Kf1 Qc4+ 9.Kg1 Nf6 10.Nc3 Qxc5 

11.Be3 Qe7 12.h4 Re8 13.Bg5 h6 

14.Nd5 Qd6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Qh5+ 

16...Ke6 

"Developing" his King, instead of "un-developing his Knight with 16...Ng6.

White is given his chance.

17.Qxe8+ Kxd5 18.Rd1+ Black resigned

Two pieces will not be enough compensation for a Queen, especially with a King at risk.

Jerome Gambit: Target

When a defender makes an active move, he should be careful that he is not, in fact, moving a piece away that could be a part of his King's protection. 

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game illustrates.

szachmach - FurkanFexsy

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 

6...Bd6 7.dxe5 Bxe5 

Decided upon too quickly. Better was 7...Be7 or 7...Bb4+. 

8.Qd5+ Ke8 9.Qxe5+ Kf8 

 

A little bit bettr might have been 9...Qe7.

10.O-O d6 11.Qg3 Nf6 12.f3 c5 

This move makes a target out of his d6 pawn. His next move intensifies this.

13.Bf4 Qa5 14.Bxd6+ Ke8 15.Qe5+ 

This works. Even more powerful was 15.Qxg7 Qd8 16.Qxh8+ Kd7 17.Qg7+.

15...Kd8 16.Qe7 checkmate