Jerome Gambit: Epic Checkmate Video

 

I have occasionally complained that the only Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game that most chess players are familiar with is Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1885 (0-1, 14).

So I was very pleased to run across AZT Games' video, "Epic Checkmate! Jerome vs NN" which presents an early game ("Off-hand game, played over the board, March 1, 1876, between AWJ and another amateur") won by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, using his own gambit.

(Also, see the post "A sparkling variation to the tired Piano game".)

Noa Gambit: Bring the Heat

In the following game, White pursues his winning goal. Black counters, and counters, and counters... until his flag falls.

angelcamina - CATCHESS11

1 0 bullet, lichess.org

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6

The Two Knights Defense.

4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ 

The Noa Gambit, otherwise known as the Monck Gambit, otherwise known as the Open Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. 

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5

7.Neg5+ Kg8 8.d4 e4 9.Ne5 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Be7 

11.h4 

There are no games in The Database with 11.O-O!? but with 11...Bxg5 12.Bxg5 Qxg5 13.Qxd5+ Kf8 14.f4!? White would have compensation for his sacrificed material.

11...c6 12.Qh5 Qf8 13.e6  

Keeping the pressure on.

13...h6 

For the record: 13...Bxg5 14.hxg5 Bxe6 15.Be3 [15.Qh4 Re8 16.c3 d4 17.cxd4 Bc4 18.b3 e3 19.Bxe3 Qb4+ 20.Kd1 Qc3 21.Rc1 Qd3+ 22.Bd2 Qe2+ 23.Kc2 Qd3+ 24.Kd1 draw] Qb4+ 16.c3 Qxb2 17.O-O Qxc3 18.Rab1 Qxc3 19.Rbc1 Qe5 20.Rxc6 h6 21.Bd4 Qxd4 22.Rxe6 hxg5 23.Re8+ Rxe8 24.Qxe8+ Kh7 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qe8+ draw 

14.Nf7 Rh7 15.Qg6 

15...Bxe6 16.Nxh6+ Kh8 17.Qxe6 gxh6 18.Be3 

18...Re8 

Missing 18...Bf6, which would keep the game in balance.

19.Bd4+  White won on time

White has a winning position, e.g. 19...Rg7 20.Qxh6+ Kg8 21.Qxg7+ Kxg7 22.Bxg7 Kxg7

An Early (and Overlooked) Abrahams Jerome Gambit

In looking through this blog, and the related database ("The Database") I was surprised that I have not presented the earliest example that I have of 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+, the Abrahams Jerome Gambit, played by longtime chessfriend Pete Banks.

According to Wikipedia

Abrahams was the author of several chess books, including Teach Yourself Chess (1948), The Chess Mind (1951), Handbook of Chess (1960), Technique in Chess (1961), Test Your Chess (1963), The Pan Book of Chess (1966), Not Only Chess (1974), and Brilliancies in Chess (1977).

Further, he published books on legal, philosophical and political issues

Law Relating to Hire Purchase (1939), Ugly Angel (1940), Retribution (1941), Day of Reckoning (1943), World Turns Left (1943), Conscience Makes Heroes (1945), Lunatics and Lawyers (1951), Law for Writers and Journalists (1958), According to the Evidence (1958), The Legal Mind (1954), Police Questioning: The Judges' Rules (1964), Trade Unions and the Law (1968), and Morality and the Law (1971)

 

Banks, Pete - Brown, A.

Halesowen CC Summer tournament, 1994

Pete noted: Not a graded game, but semi-serious, as it is played for a trophy. My opponent was weaker than me, so I risked the 'Abrahams-Jerome'. 

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 

Not waiting for Nf3 and ...Nc6.

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ Kf8 

Correct.

5.Qxe5 d6 6.Qf4+ Nf6 7.d3 Nc6 8.Nf3 

8...Nd4 9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.c3 Be5 

It is tempting to threaten the enemy Queen, but the Bishop risks being trapped and captured. Simply the retreat, 10...Bb6, was the way to go. 

11.Qh4 Ke8 

Black wants to bring his Rook to f8, but his King would be a bit safer after 11...Kf7, and later bring his Rook to e8 (or f8).

12.Bg5 

This game was played over 30 years ago, when the analysis of the Jerome Gambit was much thinner - including the fact that this blog had not yet started.

Consistent would have been 12.d4 Nd7 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8 14.dxe5 Nxe5. 

12...Rf8 

The proper way to protect the Knight was 12...Kf7, possibly in conjunction with 13...h6; the old You attack my piece, I will attack your piece.

13.f4 

The Bishop is trapped and will be won, but Black has play against White's Bishop, too. The first player should have considered 13.d4 when 13...h6 can be answerd by the retreat 14.Bd2.

13...h6 

14.fxe5 hxg5 15.Qxg5 dxe5 16.Qxe5+ Kf7 

17.O-O 

Taking liberties. He should have protected the d-pawn with 17.Qg3 Kg8 and then 18.O-O.

However, he gets away with it.

17...Re8 

Attacking the enemy Queen is attractive. 

18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Qg6 c6 

Everyone has forgotten about the big, fat, juicy d-pawn.

Pete now takes advantage of Black's over-loaded Queen.

20.Rxf6 Rf8 

Peaceful. He might have tried 20...Rxe4!? 21.Nd2!? Qxf6 22.Qxf6 gxf6 23.Nxe4 gaining a pawn (but remaining 2 down).

21.Rxf8+ Kxf8 22.d4 Qh4 

Black will not give up easily.

It must be remembered that not every Jerome Gambit leads to rock-em, sock-em checkmating attack. Sometimes White is just better, and has to work out the details.

23.Nd2 c5 

Neglecting his King. Now, more of the details are clear.

24.Rf1+ Kg8 25.Nf3 Qg4 

Exchanging Queens will decrease some of the pressure, but Pete will have none of it.

26.Ng5 Qd7 27.Qh7 checkmate

The Pseudo-Traxler Bukayev Romantic Attack Which Is Stronger Than the Traxler Attack

 

                                                       

                           The Pseudo-Traxler Bukayev Romantic Attack

                         Which Is Stronger Than the Traxler Attack                                     

                                                              by Yury V. Bukayev

 

Since this famous blog isn't only about JG, today let me introduce my new analytical invention which was born after my looking at the Traxler attack (C57) in the Italian opening and looking at the Rossolimo variation (B30) in the Sicilian opening. We remember, Mr. Traxler has discovered his attack with 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+! 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+! after his looking at the Jerome gambit, so the Jerome gambit is a "grandfather" of this my invention.

Thus, here is my new attack:

 

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5!? (this is a popular modern defence in the Rossolimo variation) 4.b4?! AN (this new sort of the Wing gambit can be enjoyed by a lot of Sicilian Wing gambit lovers in the Internet) 4...cxb4 5.a3 a6 6.Bc4!? Nf6 7.Ng5 Bc5?! (let me name it as 'Pseudo-Traxler Bukayev Romantic Attack'). 

Why is the probability of Black's choice of 7...Bc5 higher than one of 7...d5! (which is stronger, in fact)? After 7...d5 8.exd5! Black sees that the main Two Knights defence plan ...Nc6-a5 can't "save" the diagonal a2-g8 because the square a2 is free here, so White retreats Bc4-a2! The position is very sharp, and Black's knowledge and understanding of "side" Two Knights defence variations against 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 are not enough usually. Black sees a more risk for himself here (7...d5 8.exd5!) than in the case of 7...Bc5, because this new Traxler-ish attack is clearly stronger than the Traxler attack and because its all ideas seem to be clear for an attacker.

The strongest way for White is analogous to the Traxler attack - 

 

8.Bxf7+!  ,

 

and after the analogous response

 

8...Ke7!

 

Black has enough good counter-play, the position is very sharp, is near to even game.

 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.]

_____________________________________

A Short Abrahams Jerome Gambit

Players familiar with the Jerome Gambit should also become familiar with the Abrahams Jerome Gambit, as there are many chances to strike and win quickly.

rajasthan - adriancapetown

10 0 blitz, FICS, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+ 

The Abrahams Jerome Gambit

3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ 

One of the benefits of playing the Abrahams, as opposed to the regular Jerome (with Nf6 and ...Nc6), is that Black really has only one response to this check that keeps his advantage.

Fast time controls, or the element of surprse, can magnify this situation.

See "The Abrahams Jerome Gambit (Part I)" and "The Abrahams Jerome Gambit (Part II)"

4...Ke6 

Objectively - say, evauation by Stockfish 17.1 (30 ply) - this move gives Black an edge of about 1/3 pawn. 

5.Nf3 

Giving the possibility of transposing to the Jerome Gambit, proper.

More in tune with the Abrahams Jerome Gambit is 5.Qf5+ Kd6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.b4, with that edge mentioned above. 

5...Qf6 

In defending against any Jerome Gambit, ...Qf6 often comes into the discussion - sometimes it is helpful, sometimes it is not.

In this case, it is not. Black should support the e-pawn with 5...d6.

6.Qe8+ 

rajasthan knows his Jerome Gambits - there are lines in the regular Jerome (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 Qf6 8.Qe8+) where this move does not work. 

However, in this case, The Database has 53 games with this position. White scores 72%.

6...Be7 

Decisions, decisions, decisions. 

If 6...Ne7 then 7.Qxh8 

If 6...Qe7 7.Qxc8 

As I quoted in "Jerome Gambit: Success Is Just Around the Corner... (Part 1)"

 As Oliver Hardy used to say to Stan Laurel, "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."

7.Qxc8 Bd8 8.Qxb7 Qf4 

Here, Black forfeited by disconnection

Jerome Gambit: The Primacy of Check

When the King is in check, the player must put every thing else aside and block the check, move out of the check, or capture the attacking piece. Double check reduces the King's options to just moving away.

Checks must be attended to first, as the following game shows.

vagel - ssshhhilov

5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 

6...Bxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.O-O Nf6 

So far, as in Jerome - Shinkman, Iowa, 1876 (1/2-1/2, 42).

9.Bg5 Re8 

vagel has also seen 9...c5 10.Qc3 Qc7 11.f4 Nxe4 12.fxe5+ Ke6 13.Qb3+ d5 14.Nc3 Nd2 15.Qxd5 checkmate, vagel - Jairoton, lichess.org, 2023; and 

9... Rf8 10. f4 Nc6 11.Qe3 (11.Qd3 h6 12.Bh4 Kg8 13.Nc3 Be6 14.Rae1 d5 15.e5 d4 16.exf6 dxc3 17.f7+ Rxf7 18.Bxd8 Black resigned, vagel - annbrykova, lichess.org, 2024) 11...h6 12.Bh4 Qe7 13.Nc3 b6 14.Nd5 Qd7 15.Nxf6 gxf6 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Qxe5 Kg8 19.Bxf6 Bb7 20.Qg3+ Kh7 21.Rad1 Qc6 22.Qg7#, vagel - glcnckss, lichess.org, 2024. 

Stockfish 17.1 suggests 9...h6. 

10.f4 Nc6 11.Qc4+ 

White plans mischief - the kind you can see in 5-minute games - if Black blocks this check with his Bishop.

11...Be6 12.Qd3 h6 13.Bh4 

Black has defended well, and need only castle-by-hand with 13...Kg8 to cement his advantage.

13...Qd7 

Casually developing another piece, missing the fact that he is now blocking his Bishop. In a 5-minute game, players can move quickly and miss something. 

14.e5 

The same can be said for White. Perhaps he figured that he would have time for 14.f5 on his next move, but 14...Ne5 15.fxe6+ (the check is important and must be attended to) Qxe6 16.Qb5 is only even. 

He needed to play f4-f5. Lucky for him, he has another chance.

14...Nd5  15.f5

Things are beginning to look a little worrisome for Black, but he needs to take a deep breath, find 15...Kg8, and accept the fact that after the further 16.fxe6 Qxe6 16.exd6 Qxd6 the game will be level.

15...Nxe5 

One bit of practical chess advice is If your opponent attacks your piece, attack one of his that is of greater value.

Here, White attacks the Black Bishop, so Black, in turn, attacks the White Queen - overlooking the primacy of check.

16.fxe6+ 

This capture comes with double check, and the King has only two choices as to where to go

16...Kxe6 

He could have forfeited his Queen with 16... Kg8, instead. 

The text foreits his King.

17.Qf5 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Can you see the problem with this move?

The following game shows the right way to play the Jerome Gambit.

The Queen sacrifice and resulting checkmate add to the enjoyment.

Wall, Bill - Atlaga

SparkChess, 2025

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4

Bill has reached this position in 606 of his games, scoring 95%. This compares quite favorably with all the games in The Database  - White scoring 55%. 

He has also played 6.Qh5+ in 397 games, scoring "only" 91%. Again, this is well above that of the games in The Database, with White scoring 57%. 

6...Bxd4 

When White sacrifices two pieces in the Jerome Gambit, he is "objectively" worse, as measured by Stockfish 17.1.

However, the attack that the sacrifices initiate, and the accompaning chaos on the board, give White chances to reverse that assessment. This often comes when the defender, unfamiliar with the Jerome, makes the 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th) best moves, stepping toward danger.

The text move is a good example. It is not a "bad" move, it simply is not the best, which would be 6...Qh4.

7.Qxd4 Nc6 

This move is similar. Compare it with a more standard line of play, e.g. 7...d6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 Ng6 11.Bg3. 

8.Qc4+ Kf8 

And, again. Black is still better, per the computer, but not by as much as a move or two ago. He had, instead, the standard 8...d5. 

9.O-O Ne5 10.Qc3 d6 11.f4 Nc6 

12.Nd2 Nge7 

Can you see the problem with this move? I do not think that Black did. (Me, neither) In developing his Knight where it would not be kicked by a possible White pawn advance to e5, he subtly undermines the defense of his King.

It is interesting to note that Stockfish 17.1 seems a bit stymied, as well. Its recommened line, 12...a5 13.b3 h5 is a bit of a head-scratcher.  

Bill can find a way through

13.b4 a6 14.Bb2 Rg8 15.Nf3 h6 

16.a4 Be6 

White gets to kick this Bishop, but the piece happily aids in the defense of its King.

17.f5 Bf7 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 Rxa1 20.Rxa1 

Black has exchanged his one active Rook. White's remaining Rook, in contrast, threatens to advance to the 8th rank.

20...d5 

I do not know what to make of this move.

Is the defender giving back the sacrificed piece? Is he simply playing the often-critical pawn advance? 

Part of his problem is reflected in the computer's tortuous recommended line of play: 20...Ne5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Qxe5 Bc4 23.Qc5 Be2 24.Qb4 Ke8 25.Qb3 Bh5 26.h3 Bf7 27.Qc3 Qd6 28.Kh1 Qd8 29.Ba3 Qd7 30.Bc5 Qd8 31.Qe5. My eyes glaze over.

The more positional computer line feels no better: 20...Nb8 21.Ra8 Ke8 22.Qd3 Bh5 23.Nd4 Bf7 24.c4 b6 25.h3 h5 

21.exd5 

I have to wonder if Bill intentionally side-stepped 21.bxc6 Nxc6 22.e5 for insidious reasons.

21...Nxd5 

You can argue that Black should have, instead, tried 21...Qxd5 22.bxc6 Nxf5 or 21...Bxd5 22.bxc6 Bxc6, but does it really matter?

It does, as Bill immediately shows.

22.bxc6 

Bill offers his Queen. The sacrifice must be accepted.

22...Nxc3 23.Ba3+ 

23...Ke8 

This allows checkmate, but the alternative is equally chilling: 23...Qd6 24.Bxd6+ cxd6 25.cxb7 Ke7 26.Ra8 Bd5 27.Rxg8 Bxb7 28.Rxg7+ Kf6 29.Rxb7 and in this endgame White has an extra Rook and a couple of pawns.

24.Re1+ Be6 

(24...Ne2+ 25.Rxe2+ Be6 26.Rxe6+ Qe7 27.Rxe7+ Kd8 28.cxb7 c5 29.Bxc5 h5 30.b8=Q#) 

25.Rxe6+ Kf7 26.Ne5 checkmate