Jerome Gambit: Hardly A Drawing Weapon

The following Jerome Gambit game of mine reminded me of a post from earlier this year, "Jerome Gambit: Is A Draw Good Enough?", where I pondered

One timeless question when it comes to the Jerome Gambit has been whether a draw is a good enough result for White, after his wild sacrifices.

According to The Database, I have played 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ almost 800 times, and only 7% of the games were drawn.

In addition, I scored 82% in those games, so the Jerome has hardly been a drawing weapon for me.

I have also been helped by a rating advantage: on average, I was rated about 170 points above the average rating of my opponents - giving "Jerome Gambit odds" in many of those games. Based on ratings expectancy, I should have scored 72%; perhaps it was the Jerome that boosted my scoring another 10%.

Against kelasui, below, I was the lower rated player, however: my ratings expectancy was 40%.

Was the draw a favorable outcome for me? 

Did my opponent quickly grow tired of the whole affair and simply turn over 1/2 a point?

More questions to ponder.

perrypawnpusher - kelasui

3d/move, Chess.com, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 d6 

Ah, yes, the "silicon" or "annoying" defense. For a discussion, check out "Jerome Gambit: Dealing With the Annoying" (among others).

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Qh3+ Kf7 

Or 9...Ke7 10.Qg3 Kf7 11.Qxe5 Bd4 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qe2 as in perrypawnpusher - TheNatureBoy, Chess.com 2021 (0-1, 24). 

10.Qh5+ Ke6 11.Qh3+ Kf7 12.Qh5+ Ke6 Draw

I was comfortable with the draw.

Apparently, my opponent was comfortable with the draw.

Only Stockfish 16.1 was not comfortable, rating my opponent's position as 3  pawns better than mine.

Oh, well...

Was H.Nakamura Right? Is JG ‘Unbreakable’, Is EG ‘Legendary’ For Beginners’ Games? (Part 7)

                        

         Was H.Nakamura Right? Is JG ‘Unbreakable’, Is EG ‘Legendary’

For Beginners’ Games? (Part 7)

(by Yury V. Bukayev)

Dear readers, again and again I repeat the following. If an expert’s appraisal is based on something without real proofs, he can be right or “almost right” here sometimes. That is so, even in the case where he realizes that his appraisal is hasty, or non-serious, or bold, or emotional. Sometimes he is right here for a large per cent (for example, 55, 75 or 95) of cases which he appraises.

We remember Rick Kennedy’s post ‘Jerome Gambit: Which Tier? Unbreakable?’ (September 23, 2020) where the notable dialogue about the standard system of the Jerome gambit (JG) between Top GM Hikaru Nakamura and IM Levy Rozman was shown as the part of their popular video and as its approximate text. Thus, they have discussed there what chess opening tier for beginners’ practice is right for it. The end of this text contains several phrases by Mr. Nakamura where he places the standard system of JG near the top of ‘Unbreakable’. Mr. Nakamura’s words contain no proofs of this very high appraisal. In my opinion, the tier’s name ‘Unbreakable’ is very arguable, because we discuss an opening practice, not an opening theory: each opening can be broken in a game as a result of practical mistakes of a player. But this name plays no role for us, just this very high appraisal of 4.Bxf7+ for beginners’ practice is important for our consideration.

Before writing of my Part 1 of this analytical research (please, look at it: it’s a blog post of October 16, 2022) it was enough difficult for me to prove this Hikaru Nakamura’s appraisal, for a large per cent of cases. It was necessary to choose a certain control of time for beginners’ games, and I have chosen an unlimited one. And in the Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 of this research I have made some clear proofs of this Mr. Nakamura’s appraisal and some “not absolutely clear proofs” of it. We shouldn’t forget that the word ‘unbreakable’ includes a draw, not only a win.

And here are my new invented traps - no.11 and no.12 - which are based on a similar ‘natural’ reaction of a beginner.

Traps 11 and 12. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 (Black defends his pieces, it is a typical response for an unlimited game.) 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5 Qxe5 10.Qf3 Nf6 11.b4! AN Bxb4!? (I started to consider other possible Black's captures here in Part 5 and Part 6 of this investigation.) 12.0-0 (The other good way is 12.c3, although in both cases White's main chance is to use Black's typical psychology...) 12...Qxa1!? (It’s a typical reaction for beginners and not only for them. Moreover, 12…Qxa1 isn’t a bad move here, so, again, it is a new true opening variation, in fact.) 13.c3 Qxb1?! (It’s also a typical reaction for beginners and not only for them, so 13.c3 is my trap no.11.) 14.e5+! Kxe5 (If 14...Ke6?, then 15.exf6!) 15.Re1+ Kd6 (Black tries to retreat and to avoid immediate checks - it's a typical psychology.) 16.d4 (White's threat 17.Bf4# is enough here to beat the majority of opponents-beginners) 16...Qxc1! 17.Rxc1. Here Black has two "natural ways":

A) 17...Ba5?! 18.Qg3+!, and White stands better,

B) 17...Ba3 18.Re1 Rg8?! (Black defends his pawn g7, but it isn't a good defence here.) 19.c4!, and White stands better. (So 18.Re1 is my trap no.12.)

That is why White will get here also a very large per cent of identical successful results against beginners. And against much more strong players!

It maybe, the invention of my traps 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and my approaches (Part 1, Part 2) will cause Mr. Nakamura’s and Mr. Rozman’s wish to replace the standard system of JG into their top tier ‘Legendary’ (on ‘GMHikaru’ YouTube channel).

Contact the author: istinayubukayev@yandex.ru

© 2025 Yury V. Bukayev (Copyright © Bukayev Yury Vyacheslavovich 2025). All rights reserved.

[A legal using of this investigation with a reference to it is permitted and doesn't require author's consent.]

Jerome Gambit: A Deadly Pin

The following Jerome Gambit game is a good example how the dangers of the opening follow into the middlegame, and the defender cannot afford to let up his efforts.

anilone - ihffff

10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Nf6 

Looked at in this blog over 16 years ago, in "A Jerome Gambit Brawl".

Stronger was Sorensen's move, 6...Qh4. The text leads to an even game. 

7.dxe5 Bxf2+ 

This is very interesting, although Stockfish 16.1 prefers 7...Qe7

8.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 9.Ke3 

9...Ng5 

A bit better, and thematic, was 9...d5. 

10.Rf1+ Kg8 11.Kf2 Ne6 12.Kg1 

Both Kings are safe. Black plans to advance his h-pawn, putting the blocked-in Rook to use on the h-file.

12...b6 

A slip, but White does not notice.

13.Nc3

Dangerous was 13.Qf3. 

13...Bb7 14.Nd5 h5 15.c4 h4 16.h3 Qe8 17.Qg4 

Black's best defense is now 17...Bxd5 18.cxd5 Nc5 19.Rf5 Rc8 20.Be3 c6, although White would still be better.

17...Rh5 

Focusing on the e-pawn, but overlooking something.

18.Nf6+ 

Forking the King, Queen and Rook; the g-pawn is pinned.

Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Adding to Theory

I recently received an email from chessplayer Rahul T Reji. (I have added a few diagrams.) He adds to Jerome Gambit theory.

I have been analyzing a particular position in the Jerome Gambit and believe I may have found a move worth considering. I have pasted below the PGN detailing the line for your review. You will notice that although black does not make any major blunders, the game slips away from its grasp very quickly. I would love to hear your thoughts on it and whether you think it holds any potential in practical play. It is currently the second most popular choice on chess website lichess.org, the most common being 9.Qe3

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qb5+ 

The most common response to d6 is the move Qe3, which is also the best engine move. However, I found that playing Qb5+ and then Qb3 leads to a slightly more advantageous position (when playing against humans) the Queen on the b3 square controls the f7 square, preventing the very common castling "by hand" maneuver (Kf7 Re8 Kg8), while also restricting development of the bishop on c8, as it would lead to the loss of the b7 pawn. 

9...c610.Qb3 

Computer gives this position -1.9, whereas after 9.Qe3, computer gives -2.1 

10...Nf6 11.O-O Qc7 12.Nc3 Bd7 13.d4 Ke7 14.f4 Rae8 15.f5 Nf8 16.e5 16.Ng4 

Very natural move, which is also a blunder. In order to avoid complete collapse, black had to sacrifice a pawn here - with dxe5

17.Bg5+ Nf6 

only move 

18.exf6+ gxf6 19.Rae1+ Kd8 20.Bxf6+ Kc8 21.Bxh8  Black Resigned

I have a little to add to Mr. Reji's work.

But, as you will see, only a little.

I appreciate that he could shine a light on a pretty hazy bit of the opening. He is right, it does hold potential for practical play, for the reasons he points out.

A couple of years ago, in the post "Jerome Gambit: Easy Come...," I looked at the game angelcamina - FutureWorld_Champion, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2023, which featured 10.Qc4 instead of 10.Qb3, but noted

In earlier games angelcamina has retreated his Queen to b3 or b4

Currently, The Database show 12 of angelcamina's games with 9.Qb5+ c6 10.Qb3 but none of them have appeared on this blog.

Eleven years ago, in the post "Tangled", I shared the game Wall,B - Guest7556673, PlayChess.com, 2014, which did see 10.Qb3; as did "My House! My House! My Kingdom for a House!" with the game Wall,B - Yunfan, Chess.com, 2011.

After the latter post, I pointed out

This is something new: in almost 24,000 games in The Database, this position does not show up at all!

To update, The Datbase currently has over 116,000 games. 34 of those games go 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qb5+ c6 10.Qb3. In 1/3 of the games, angelcamina played White.

Jerome Gambit: Despite

Despite the fact that the Jerome Gambit and its relatives are considered "refuted" openings, devotees continue to play the lines, with success.

The Database has almost 1,300 games by angelcamina, who scores 64% - all at bullet speed.

In the following game, he collects another point.

angelcamina - GGGOKHANSS

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit

4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Ke7 

"The only way to defeat a gambit is to accept it." - Steinitz

"I don't believe in psychology. I believe in good moves." - Fischer

"Capturing the Bishop is about a pawn better for Black; Declining the Bishop is about 3 pawns better for White" - Stockfish 16.1, if it could talk

5.Nxe5 

The text is about as strong as retreating the Bishop to c4 or b3 - or capturing the Knight: 5.Bxg8 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 d6 7.Bb3 Qe8 8.d4 exd4 9.Bg5+ Kd7 10.Qf5+ Kc6 11.Ba4+ b5 12.Qxb5 checkmate, angelcamina - Black_attac, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2019 

5...d6 

Or, 5...Nf6 6.Bb3 d6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.c3 Nxf3+ 9.gxf3 Bh5 10.d4 Kd7 11.Be3 c6 12.Nd2 Kc7 13.Qc2 Be7 14.O-O-O Rc8 15.Bf4 Kb8 16.e5 dxe5 17.dxe5 Nd5 18.Ne4 Ka8 19.Bg3 Bf7 20.Nd6 Bxd6 21.exd6 Qb6 22.c4 Nb4 23.Qf5 Bg6 24.Qg5 Rhe8 25.d7 Black resigned, angelcamina - BatuBey_22, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2022 

6.Bxg8 dxe5 7.Bc4 

Or, retreating further, 7 Bb3 Ke8 8.O-O Be6 9.Bxe6 Nxe6 10.c3 Ng5 11.d4 Bd6 12.dxe5 Bxe5 13.Qxd8+ Rxd8 14.f4 Nxe4 15.fxe5 Ng5 16.Bxg5 Rd5 17.Bf4 Rd2 18.Nxd2 Black resigned, angelcamina - nicolasabra, lichess.org, 2019

7...Ke8 

This looks something like the position after move 3, with one less Knight for White and two fewer pawns for Black. Oh, and Black's King can no longer castle.

White now collects some material.

8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxe5+ Kd7 10.Qxd4+ Ke8 11.Qxh8 

Down a Rook, a Knight, and 3 pawns, Black decides to continue playing. Perhaps he has an eye on the clock? It is a 1-minute game, after all.

11...Bg4 12.Qe5+ Be7 13.d3 c6 14.Bg5 Qd7 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 

Did Henry David Thoreau play chess? In any event, his advice here was followed: Simplify, simplify simplify.

17.O-O Be6 18.Bxe6 Kxe6 19.Nc3 Rd8 20.f4 b5 21.Rae1 a5 

In short order, White now opens lines, creates a passed pawn, and always has his eyes on checkmate.

22.f5+ gxf5 23.exf5+ Kf6 24.Ne4+ Ke5 25.f6 Rf8 26.f7 Ke6 27.Ng5+ Kd7 28.Nxh7 Rxf7 29.Rxf7+ Kd6 30.Ng5 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: One of My Favorite Games

I was recently reminded (i.e. "Jerome Gambit: Have A Plan") of one of my favorite Jerome Gambit games, alluded to in a post over a dozen years ago, "I tell ya, I don't get no respect...".

breaker - gobo

Tournament #1, ChessWorld.net, 2005

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.h4 

Another example of an opening line most recently looked at in "Jerome Gambit: Have A Plan".

5...Nf6 6.c3 Re8 7.Qb3+ d5 8.c4 d4 9.d3 Rb8 

White has locked the center, a wise idea given Black's advantage in material and development.

10.h5 Kg8 11.Nh4 Nxh5 

At this point in the game, both players timed out.

Mark it on the score sheet, not "1-0" or "0-1", but "0-0".

Jerome Gambit: Have A Plan

One way of getting past the nagging little problem that the Jerome Gambit is actually a refuted opening is to have a plan, even as your opponent stalls in his resistance.

It helps if the time limit is fast, too, as in the following bullet game.

TColbert - PorkBun0

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2025

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

4...Kxf7 5.h4 

This is a creative line in the Jerome Gambit, in this case, headed toward a delayed "Face Palm" variation. The move was looked at a few years ago in "Jerome Gambit: Smash!"

5...Qf6 6.Ng5+ 

Having said "A", White says "B".

6...Kf8 7.O-O h6 8.Nf3 Nge7 

White is behind in development, but he at least has the safer King.

He could use a little help, however.

9.c3 d5 10.d4 Bb6 11.exd5 Nxd5 

12.dxe5 Nxe5 

Ah, yes, remember: this is a 1-minute game.

13.Qxd5 

Now Black can bail out of this breakout by White, into an even game, with 13...Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 Qxf3 15.gxf3. 

13...Ke8 14.Re1 White won on time

Black is losing a piece, too.