Jerome Gambit: Enthusiastic Video

If you would like to see a player demonstrate the proper attitude for playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), check out the short Jerome Gambit video. The presenter clearly likes his chess and easily shares his enthusiasm. 

Jerome Gambit: Chess Analysis Channel

If you were going to start an "Every Gambit Refuted" series, you might start with the outrageous Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), right?

Visit the Chess Analysis Channel at YouTube, and you will see

Welcome to the "Every Gambit Refuted" series! Here, you will embark on a journey to master the art of defending against and neutralizing some of the most popular and tricky gambits in chess. Throughout this series, you'll learn how to effectively counter each gambit, understand the principles behind these aggressive openings, and develop the skills needed to turn potential traps into your advantage. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, this series will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to refute every gambit with precision and strategy. Let's dive into the world of chess tactics and take your game to the next level!

The creator addresses a number of openings - some refuted, some to learn. This includes a 13 1/2 minute video on The Jerome Gambit.

No surprise, he shares

I do see it a lot in blitz...

I don't think this is sound, guys...

Fair enough.

Most people who play the Jerome Gambit already know that it is "unsound" as well as "refuted". They are counting upon the audacity of the attack - which often comes as a surprise to their opponents - and their own familiarity with the opening's tactics and overall strategy, all of which can give the first player an advantage in blitz or bullet play. 

I think it is important to view the video, as it will prepare you for what you might face in your next Jerome Gambit game. Forewarned is forearmed.

 

Jerome Gambit: Blackburne Defense, Suspended

I was playing through some games from the recently completed "Jerome Gambit Classic #1" tournament at Chess.com, when I spied a 10-move game in a critical line in the Blackburne defense...

LuffyChess64 - 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.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

This is how Joseph Henry Blackburne sacrificed a Rook, in the most notorious and best-known Jerome Gambit game, Mr. M - Blackburne, London, 1884 (0-1, 14). 

I suspect that that game is about all most chess players know about the Jerome Gambit, which can add to the surprise when they first face it.

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.O-O Nf6 10.Qd8 

By the way, although the Blackburne game is sometimes given as an example of how to crush a faulty attack, as far back as the August 15, 1885 issue of the Brooklyn Chess Chronicle, J.B. and E.M. Munoz suggested this move as good for White, although later analysis by Chandler and Dimitrov suggested that a draw would be the likely outcome.

The Database has 61 games with 10.Qd8, with White scoring 60%.

Interestingly enough, the lichess.org site has 241 games with 10.Qd8, with White scoring 62%.

10...Qxe4 11.Qxc7+ Bd7 12.d3 Qd5 13.Nc3 Qf5 

At this point, Stockfish 16.1 (32 ply) sees White as almost a Rook ahead in evaluation.

So, it is unfortunate that here White resigned.

A quick look at the Chess.com website shows that White withdrew from the tournament. At the time he had scored an impressive 41-13-0, which suggests that he might simply have wanted to turn his attention to other games that he was playing in other tournaments.

Our loss.

Semi-Italian Opening + Computer

GriffyJr at FICS is the computer program Crafty v23.4. It makes short work of its human opponent.

GriffyJr - heliosant

5 0 blitz, FICS, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

The semi-Italian opening.

4.O-O 

Moving right along.

4...Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 

Black is being careful, perhaps too careful. Certainly 5...Bc5 was a strong alternative.

6.d4 d6 

There is a hole in this idea, which GriffyJr pounces upon.

7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Bxf7+

Black resigned

Of course, now 9...Kxf7 would drop the Queen, but 9...Ke7 would be answered by 10.Bg6, and then White's advantage in material, King safety and development - in the hands of a coomputer - would be hard to overcome. 

Jerome Gambit: Blizting the c1-h6 Diagonal

The following game is a short story concerning the Jerome Gambit, and a diagonal.

PerezosoGarfield - simongriffin

15 0 blitz, FICS, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d4 

White opens the c1-h6 diagonal.

5...Be7 

Black pulls his Bishop back and prepares to contest that diagonal. Simply 5...Nxd4 was fine.

6.Nxe5+

It was worth starting with 6.d5 Nb8 and then 7.Nxe5+.

6...Nxe5 7.dxe5 Bg5

As planned.

8.Qf3+

Stronger was 8.Qh5+ - but White gets there.

8...Ke8 

Sadly, Black's better choices were 8...Bf6 and 8...Kg6.

9.Qh5+ g6 10.Qxg5 Black resigned

White is up 2 pawns, with a safer King. An exchange of Queens might extend the length of the game, but not change the outcome.

Jerome Gambit: Discouraged? Nah. Confused? Maybe.

I suppose I should be discouraged after my performance with the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) in the "Giuoco Fun" tournament at Chess.com. I scored 1 - 3 - 0, and the one win that I had was on time, my opponent not having made a single move.

There are four games left to be completed in Round 3, Group 5, and it is possible that I will wind up in 4th place in the group, ahead of only the player who lost all 8 of his games on time. There will be no Round 4 for me.

Still, I came out of the opening in 2 of those 3 lost games with the advantage. Tactical slip-ups did me in, not the Jerome Gambit.

I have already signed up for the "Italian Game" tournament, also at Chess.com, a 50-player event.

Again, I don't expect things to be easy. Of the 14 players currently signed up, I am the lowest rated, with 2 of my possible future opponents rated in the 1900s, and 3 rated above 2100.

It all makes me recall a blog post from 15 years ago, "Jerome Gambit for Dummies (5)," where I examined the "Jerome Gambit Tournament 2007-2008" and concluded

...in this Jerome Gambit Tournament, White needed to be rated only 200 points higher than his opponent to overcome the handicap of “giving Jerome Gambit odds” and have strong winning chances.

Oh, wait a minute - that quote says "200 points higher", doesn't it?

And didn't I average about 100 points higher in those recent 3 games that I lost?

Ah, well... I still love the Jerome Gambit.

Jerome Gambit: White's Attack Rolls On

It only takes a move or two by the defense to activate the attack in the Jerome Gambit, and then the attack rolls on, as in the following bullet game.

angelcamina - NishantRajak71

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ 

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Qxd4 Qe7 

Familiarity with a particular line can help when you have to think fast. angelcamina has reached this position in 16 games, scoring 75%. 

9.O-O d6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qc4+ Be6 12.Qb5 

Putting the question to Black: protect the b-pawn or let it go? Tick, tick, tick.

12...Rab8 

Instead, 12...Bd7 13.Qxb7 Rhb8 14.Qa6 d5 gives compensation for the pawn. 

13.f5

It can be hard to decide which pawn to advance, the e-pawn or the f-pawn - it can come down to intuition. In this case, though, 13.e5 was a bit better. 

13...Bd7 14.Bg5 

Typical Jerome Gambit pin.

14...h6 15.Nd5 

Typical Jerome Gambit Knight leap.

15...Qd8

Grabbing the e-pawn looked too risky to Black.

16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qe2 Nd4 

Attacking White's active Queen is a standard Black motif, but here the defender is drawn astray by the opportunity to attack the c-pawn as well. He could have centralized his Knight, instead, with 17...Ne5.

18.Qh5+ 

This move leads to an even position, but illustrates the idea that it is often easier to attack than defend.

18...Kg8 19.c3 

Kicking the Knight. Stockfish 16.1 can not get much past even in its analysis of 19.Qg6+ or 19.Rad1.

19...c6 

You kick my Knight, I will kick your Knight.

The retreat 19...Nc6 was in order. 

Now White's attack on the King rolls on.

20.Qg6+ Kf8 21.Nxf6 Qxf6

Panic, but there was no escape instead with 21...Ne2+ 22.Kh1 Qe7 23.Nxd7+ Qxd7 24.Rae1.

22.Qxf6+ 

The Queen goes on a rampage. At the end is checkmate.

22...Ke8 23.Qxh8+ Ke7 24.Qxb8 Ne2+ 25.Kh1 b5 26.f6+ 

Soon, another Queen will join the fray.

26...Ke6 27.f7 Ke5 28.f8=Q Be6 29.Qbxd6+ Kxe4 30.Rae1 Bd5 31.Qff4+ Kd3 32.Rf3+ Kc2 33.Rxe2+ Kd1 34.Qd2 checkmate