Jerome Gambit: Is This Enough to Refute?

 

I have always encouraged those who visit this blog, and those who play the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), to become as familiar as possible with many "refutations" of the opening.

It is helpful to know what your opponents might play against you.

Where might they get their ideas? In truth, probably the best place would be this blog. In all fairness, I think I have posted every "refutation" extant, and will post new ones as they are produced.

Like I said, it is helpful to know what your opponents might play against you.

There are many places your opponents might research, but some of them are not very convincing.

For example, a visit to the WikiBooks coverage, Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Bc5/4. Bxf7 provides pretty thin gruel:

4. Bxf7+?

White's plan is to lure black's King into the open. This gambit is relatively weak because black can deflect any attack while maintaining a significant material advantage. The obvious response is Kxf7.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Bxf7

	4	5
Jerome Gambit	Kxf7	Nxe5+ Nxe5	=+

Yes, that's it.

If that coverage scares you off, I hear that Win with the London System, by Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovacevic is pretty good.

Jerome Gambit: Illusion

In the following bullet game, White keeps calm as Black plans a deadly fork - that turns out to be an illusion. 

shyamdangol - pvp803

2 1 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.c3

White prepares for d4, as in the regular Giuoco Piano.

The idea is an interesting combination of both "modern" and "classical" approaches to the Jerome. It appears in 128 games in The Database, with Whtie scoring 49%.

Alternately, there was 7.Qh3 (145 games, scoring 44%), or 7.f4 (1,870 games, scoring 60%), or 7.Qf5+ (2,162 games, scoring 54%).

7...Nf6

Black also had 7...Nd3+ which sets a number of problems for White, via possible Knight forks. There are 17 games in The Database with 7...Nd3+. White scores 50%).

 8.Qf5+ 

Consistent, as opposed to 8.Qe2, a computer recommendation; there are no game examples in The Database/

8...Kd6

Hanging onto the Knight.

He also had 8...Kf7, so that after 9.Qxe5, the pesky 9...Bxf2+ (not in The Database) could again arrive, again with advantage.

 9.d4

9...Nd3+ 

Escaping the pawn fork, with check

10.Kd2 

The computer doesn't see much difference between this move or 10.Kd1 or 10.Kf1 or 10.Ke2. 

10...Nxe4+ 

Counting on a Knight fork at f2, but missing something. In bullet chess, that happens.

11.Qxe4 Nxf2 

12.Qe5+ Kc6 13.Qxc5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Anything Is Playable in 1-Minute Chess

msc87 - Xander1010

1 0 bullet, lichess, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d3 

One of the "modern" Jerome Gambit variations, unlike the "classical" 5.Nxe5+ lines played by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome.

5...Nf6 6.Ng5+ 

I have railed in the past against Ng5+ in the Jerome Gambit (see "Jerome Gambit: The Face Palm Variation" and "Back At Me" about 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+ for examples).

It is tempting to continue to put pressure on the Black King, but the Knight needs help in order to be effective - and help does not always come. There are 342 game examples in The Database, and White scores only 34%.

6...Kg6 

His Majesty would be safer at g8.

7.h4 h6 

Hoping to eject the annoying enemy Knight, and possibly create a space for his King at h7. However, it is also the enemy pawn that is a problem, and a stronger response was to be found in 7...h5, keeping the pawn back and holding ontohis advantage.

8.h5+ Nxh5 9.Qxh5+ Kf6 10.Qf7 checkmate

Ouch.

Abrahams Jerome Gambit: One of These Things Is Not Like the Other

There are similarities between the Jerome Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+, and a similar sacrifice coming out of the Bishops opening, 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+. 

There are differences, as well. Not everything you know about the classical Jerome Gambit can be carried over to the Abrahams.

msc87 - DSphotographer

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 

I refer to this line as the Abrahams Jerome Gambit, after Gerald Abrahams, who called the line the Jerome Gambit in his chess books. See the posts "The Abrahams Jerome Gambit (Part I and II)".

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ g6 

Like in the Jerome Gambit, the King does best to retreat to Kf8. 

The text gives White an edge.

5.Qxe5 Qe7 

Defending along the lines of Whistler's defense in the Jerome, although it does not work in this case.

What is Black's best defense? Stockfish 16.1 takes us on a merry ride to answer that question: 5...Bxf2+!? 6.Kxf2 Nf6 (6...Qxe4+ 7.Ne2 Qxg2 8.Qxh7+ Kf8 9.Rf1 favors White) 7.Qf4 g5 8.Qf3 Nc6 9.d3 Nd4 10.Qd1 d5 11.Nc3 Bg4 12.Nf3 Rf8 13.h3 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Kg8 15.Bxg5 Ng4+ 16.hxg4 Qxg5 17.Rh3 Rxf3+ 18.Rxf3 Nxf3 19.Kxf3 Rf8+ 20.Kg2 Rf4 21.Ne2 Rxg4+ 22.Kf3 Qh5 23.Ke3 Qh6+ 24.Kf2 Qh2+ 25.Ke1 Qh1+ 26.Kd2 Qh6+ 27.Kc3 Qc6+ 28.Kb3 Qb5+ and Black will force a draw by perpetual check.

6.Qxh8 Nf6 

The consistent 6...Qxe4+ does not generate enough of an attack, and after 7.Ne2 Qxg2 8.Qxh7+ Kf8 9.Rf1 White will be able to safeguard his King and remain the exchange ahead.

However, the text is not like its cousin in the Jerome Gambit - White's Queen is not trapped, and, instead, goes on a rampage.

7.Qxc8 d6 

Giving more resistance would be 7...Nxe4. But, remember, this is a 1-minute game.

8.Qxb7 Nbd7 9.Qxa8 Nxe4 

White is better here, ahead by 2 Rooks and 2 pawns, but he must be careful because his King is still in the center, and Black's pieces are targeting him. A lot to keep in mind as the clock continues to tick.

10.Ne2 Bxf2+ 

Black has a saving cheapo in mind.

11.Kd1 Bb6 

Now, to do something about Black's pressure on the e-file...

12.Re1 Nf2 checkmate

Checkmate with one piece. That's gotta smart.

Nice work, DSphotographer.

Missed by that much, msc87.

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.