Jerome Gambit: Return to Transylvania

I jumped at a chance to play a couple of games with mika76, who had played some interesting games in the GameKnot Vlad-Tepes Mini-Tournament.

This challenging battle finished first.

perrypawnpusher - mika76
www.GameKnot.com, 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Kf8 6.Nxc6
Side-stepping the Banks variation as looked at in "Jerome Gambit and Vlad Tepes..." and "Jerome Gambit, Vlad Tepes... and Garlic!"

6...bxc6

Usually Black captures with the other pawn, as in Jerome - Brownson, Iowa, USA 1875: 6...dxc6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qf3 Qd4 9.d3 Bg4 10.Qg3 Bb6 11.e5 Nh5 12.Qh4 Be2 13.Qxd4 Bxd4 14.Re1 Bxe5 15.Rxe2 Re8 16.g3 Kf7 17.f4 Bd4+ 18.Kf1 Nf6 19.Nd2 Rxe2 20.Kxe2 Re8+ 21.Ne4 a5 22.Kf3 h6 23.c3 Ba7 24.Be3 Bxe3 25.Kxe3 Ng4+ 26.Kf3 Nxh2+ 27.Kg2 Ng4 28.Re1 b6 29.a4 Rd8 1/2-1/2

7.d4 Bb6 8.0-0 d6 9.Nc3


perrypawnpusher - hdig, blitz game, FICS, USA, 2007 continued instead: 9.f4 Bb7 10.Nc3 Qf6 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Bxd4+ 13.Kh1 Qxf1+ 14.Qxf1+ Ke8 15.Bg5 Kd7 16.Qf7+ Kc8 17.Qe8 checkmate

9...Qe7 10.f4


It's the same old story: Black has the advantage; White gathers up what he has and goes to work...

10...Nh6

An interesting, provocative idea.

11.f5 Bd7 12.g4
Eying the Knight, but White should have tried 12.f6 Qe6 13.Bxh6 gxh6 14.Qd2 when Black's edge is small.

12...Bxd4+

Giving back the piece for some pawns, a standard defensive maneuver for Black; but here he had more, by playing out what he had started: 12...Qh4 13.g5 Nf7 and White loses the too-quickly-advanced g-pawn.

White has weaseled his way out of a tough situation.

13.Qxd4 Nxg4 14.Bf4

Safe-guarding the Kingside.

14...Rb8 15.Rae1 Qf6 16.Qxa7

Here mika76 took a break from our game. I've mentioned before that this kind of thing is laudable: people lead busy lives and there is much more to the world than the Jerome Gambit.

16...Qh4

Oh, no. Come back to the board too quickly, you might miss something...
17.Qxb8+ Black resigns.
(I inquired about take-backs, but the site doesn't allow them.)

Jerome Gambit: Duck-Billed Platypus of Openings

I'm having a lot of fun writing for this Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) blog – this is something like my 82nd consecutive daily post – and it's broken me of some bad habits along the way.

For example, for almost three years, starting in mid-January 2005, I was posting in the ChessPub.com forum, primarily on the Jerome Gambit. It is fun today to see that my first post there has been viewed almost 4500 times.

Anyhow, you might imagine that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's pet variation was not the hottest topic at ChessPub, and often my posts there looked like conversations with myself. Imagine that.

You might even imagine (correctly) that I was using the forum site as some kind of intermittent blog.

Until the day that one of the Powers That Be told me to zip it.

Qué lástima.

I don't hold any grudges, though. I could have copied all of that good content to this site and not even mentioned the 'Pub. Instead, I invite you to stop by at the ChessPub forum and meet some really fine people chatting about some really interesting chess things.

Just not the Jerome Gambit.

Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XIV

As we get into the "later" Chapters of this Jerome Gambit Tourney, the games get longer, and the wins, much harder...



perrypawnpusher - hogmaster JG3 thematic http://www.chessworld.net/ 2008


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 10.0-0 b6 TN


11.f4 Bb7 12.d3 Qe7 13.Nc3 Re8 14.Bd2 h6


Both sides have been developing their game, and Black has the advantage here. White's chances lie in taking advantage of what weaknesses may develop around his opponent's slightly less safe King; so the text move, which slightly weakens g6, may not be best. Still, Black is aware that any assault on his King would require making White's King less safe, and would offer possibilites to get his inactive h-Rook into play.

15.h3 Qd7 16.Qg3 Ne7 17.e5

After the game, Rybka suggested the alternate plan of f4-f5, followed by the Knight maneuver Nc3-e2-f4-g6. Fair enough, but that's a level of play that's quite above mine.

17...Nfg8

Again, later the computer suggested 17...Nf5 leading to a whole lot of complications where Black kept his advantage.

18.Rae1 Nf5 19.Qf2 Nge7 20.g4 g6


Hogmaster gamely decides to sacrifice a piece to achieve open lines against my King.

The know-it-all computer suggests that things are about even after Black focuse on a different "open line," the a8-h1 diagonal: 20...Qc6 21.Kh2 Nd4 22.Re4 h5 23.Qxd4 hxg4 24.f5 Rxh3+ 25.Kg1 dxe5 26.Qxe5 Nd5 27.Qxe8+ but what would I know? Relying on these things to "explain" what's going on can be a bad idea sometimes.

21.gxf5 gxf5 22.Re3

Race you to the g-file!
22...Rg8+ 23.Rg3 Kf7 24.Ne2 h5 25.Kh2 Rg6
This doesn't work out as well as swapping Rooks.

26.Rfg1 Reg8 27.Nd4 dxe5 28.Rxg6 exd4
An exchange sacrifice or a miscalculation?
Can Black hold the Bishops-of-opposite-colors ending after: 28...Nxg6 29.fxe5 Nxe5 30.Rxg8 Kxg8 31.Qg3+ Ng4+ 32.hxg4 Qxd4 33.gxh5+ Qg4 34.Qxg4+ fxg4 35.Kg3 ?
29.Rxg8 Nxg8 30.Qg3 Ne7 30.Qg7+ Ke6
Finally Black's defense breaks, although 31...Ke8 was not much better.
32.Re1+ Kd6 33.Qe5+ Kc6 34.Qxe7 Qxe7 35.Rxe7 Kd6 36.Re5 Bc8 37.Kg3 1-0

What a struggle!
My opponent played quite well, and it's hard to believe that he finished in the middle of the pack in our tournament.

Jerome Gambit Blog: Tidying Up

Time to clean up a few things in this blog...

"In The Beginning..." refers to the first appearance in print of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) as being in the Dubuque Chess Journal, April 1874, Vol. VI, No. 50, p. 358-9.

This is a correction to the reference in the Oxford Companion to Chess, Whyld and Hooper, first (1984) and second editions (1992), noting "It appeared first in American Chess Journal, 1876." The authors are correct in that the June, September, November and December issues of the ACJ had Jerome Gambit content -- the Dubuque Chess Journal simply had prior coverage.
I have not been able to find an earlier reference than April 1874.

"To Infinity... And Beyond! (Part II)" and "Breaking News" indicated that at some time in the future Stefan Bücker's quarterly chess magazine, Kaissiber, would carry my article on the Jerome Gambit. Current speculation is there may be a short article in the October 2008 issue.

In "Nobody expects the Jerome Gambit!" I mentioned that Blackburne, in Mr. Blackburne's Games at Chess (1899) referred to the Jerome Gambit as "the Kentucky Opening." I have yet to discover how it is that the British master came up with that name.

"Is This Blog About YOU??" and "You, too, can add to Jerome Gambit theory" both have been well-answered by games from ongoing Jerome Gambit thematic tournaments, and the occasional Comment to this blog or email to its Editor (richardfkennedy@hotmail.com). Of course, fresh games and analysis are always appreciated.

In "The Man, The Myth, The Legend..." I mentioned placing a classified ad with the online Paxton, Illinois (home of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome) website, http://www.paxtonil.com/, seeking information about the originator of the Jerome Gambit. While I have received no reply, and the ad has expired (and no longer appears), I can report that if you have an unwanted Paxtonopoly game, please contact the PRIDE office at 379-3388 or email pride@paxtonil.com.
I am no further enlightened on the things that puzzled me in " 'Tis A Puzzlement..."

After some progress on learning about the Jerome Gambit game Harris,W.A. Sgt. - Quayle,Ernest H.Los Angeles, California, USA 1944, as given in "The Joy of Discovery" Parts I, II, and III, the trail has gone cold.

"We are not alone..." heralded HANGING PAWN:: Tip's Chess Blog's coverage of the Jerome Gambit, and the offer therein of not just the computer vs computer Jerome Gambit games where White won (via download), but all of the games (contact the blogmaster). To date I have not received the larger stash.

With Rail2Rail winning his Jerome Gambit thematic tournament at ChessWorld, (see "Rail2Rail by a length" and "Rail2Rail Nails It") I had hoped for an annotated game or two from the winner; but nothing, yet.

"My head is spinning" Truly. Rybka 3.0 – or, in my case, Deep Rybka 3.0 Aquarium – is the real deal. It has got to be the tool for the serious (and very serious) chess player. Like having a "Grandmaster In A Box". A rather intimidating Grandmaster, at times – but: Wow!

After "The Salvio Gambit??" and "The Salvio Gambit?? (More)" I have not heard back from my friends at Chess.com, so I will tentatively suggest that I got my analysis correct.

Having fun with "Jerome Gambit and Vlad Tepes..." and "Jerome Gambit, Vlad Tepes and... Garlic!" I've started a couple of games at GameKnot with he-of-the-garlic, mika76.

As always, I'm "Looking for a few Jerome Gambit games..."
"Hey Wiki, it's me, Ricky!" So far the link to this blog from the Wikipedia article on the Jerome Gambit has been intact - and people are following it. Gotta love that.















Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Carlos Azcarate Topping Ninja Knights T3

With only four games left to complete the 13-player, double round robin, Ninja Knights T3 (Jerome Gambit) tournament at ChessWorld, it appears that Carlos Azcarate will hold onto first place with 19 points out of 24 games, followed closely by casker with 18.5 points, braken with 18 points, drewbear with 17.5 points and Piratepaul with 17 points.

This fighting chess offsets the misfortune at the bottom of the score table, where one player racked up a score of 0 points, losing all of his games by time forfeit, likely due to loss of interest in the tournament. Placing just ahead of him, with 1 point, was another disengaged player who acted quickly to claim a time forfeit from the tail-ender – before losing the rest of his own games on time.


The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is likely to score 42% for White, which is what it has achieved in recent thematics. This statistic must be taken with a grain of salt, however, as a full 60 of the 156 games (38%) in this tournament were decided by the clock.


In the following game White is holding his own against the 6...Kf8 defense, until his unfortunate 23rd move.

mediax - queen st
Ninja Knights T3 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qc3 Qg5 9.0-0 Nf6 10.d4 Qg6 11.dxc5 Nxe4 12.Qf3+ Bf5 13.cxd6 Nxd6 14.h3 Kf7 15.Qb3+ Be6 16.Qc3 c6 17.Bf4 Ne4 18.Qf3 Rad8 19.Bc7+ Bf5 20.Bxd8 Rxd8 21.Qb3+ Kf8 22.f3 Ng3 23.Rf2 Rd1+ 24.Kh2 Rh1 checkmate


The tournament winner uncorked the most surprising opening move of all, not once, but twice, when he followed the routine 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 with 5.Ng5+



While I await detailed analysis, it is possible to point out precedents, the earliest of which in my database is an internet blitz game from a decade ago, lar - babylyub (1/2-1/2, 27).

Jerome Gambit: Fools walk in...

With all of the refutations, games, and analysis of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) that I've posted on this blog you would think that I would not be foolish enough to actually play the opening again.

Of course, you might think I wouldn't have been foolish enough to ever have played the Jerome Gambit – but it's too late for that.
Here's a recent "lesson" in the Jerome Gambit for me – Ouch!

Hats off to my new "instructor," James042665 at Chess.com.
perrypawnpusher - james042665
Chess.com, 2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+

Jerome Gambit Refutation Number I-Forget, as seen in "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter II" and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XIII".

9.g3 Nf3+ 10.Kf1
A line I first played against Temmo in our Jerome Gambit Tournament game, to be covered in more depth when I get to annotate it in Chapter XVI. The impact of the pesky Black Knight is more significant than in my game against Sir Osis ("Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter III").

10...Qf6
This Theoretical Novelty makes perfect sense.

11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.Qxc5+ Kd8 13.Kg2 d6 14.Qd5
The simple retreat 14.Qf2 was best, and after 14...Nd4 15.d3 White would have the imbalance typical in the Jerome Gambit: two pawns vs a piece. Of course, Black would still be better.

14...Ne7 15.Qd3 Nd4 16.e5
Here I thought that I was going to win that annoying Knight, but I should have been satisfied with getting back on track with 16.c3 and an eventual d2-d4.

Now my game caves in.
16...dxe5 17.c3
Later, Rybka informed me that this leads to mate, starting with 17...Qc6+ 18.Kf2 Qxh1. Yikes!
17...Bf5

Good enough.

18.fxe5 Qc6+ White resigns.
Answering, again, the basic question raised much earlier: "But - Is this stuff playable? (Part I)"
Of course not.

Hey, Wiki, it's me, Ricky...

According to information at the Wikipedia website (www.wikipedia.org), on August 19, 2008, for almost a half hour, a link to this blog was part of the information that is provided on the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

Then the XLinkBot removed the link.

According to the site:

There are several things that should be considered when adding an external link.

Is it accessible to the reader?
Is it proper in the context of the article (useful, tasteful, informative, factual, etc.)?
Is it a functional link, and likely to continue being a functional link?

Of course, there are also "links to be avoided," including:

11. Links to blogs and personal web pages, except those written by a recognized authority.

Hey, Wikipedia, I've been researching the Jerome Gambit for 7 years, and until my article comes out in Kaissiber – and maybe even after then – this blog is the authoritative source for information on Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's creation.

Recognize me!

I've reinstated the link, with explanation. Let's see how long it stays in this time.

graphic by Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"