The Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee File Again

Again disaster arrives down the e-file. Even if you are playing against a refuted opening like the Jerome Gambit, it is not a good idea to keep your King and Queen too long on an open file.

perrypawnpusher - OverwiseMan
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6

An earlier game with my opponent continued: 6...Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qe8 9.fxe5+ Kc6 10.c3 Ne7 11.Qg5 g6 12.d4 h6 13.Qg3 Bb6 14.d5+ Kb5 15.Na3+ Ka6 16.Qd3+ Ka5 17.Qb5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - OverwiseMan, blitz, FICS, 2010.

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 N8e7

More often seen is 9...Nf6. The text move can be a prelude to play along the f-file.

10.0-0

Or 10.f4 Rf8 11.0-0 Nc6 12.f5 Nge5 13.d4 Ng4 14.Qg3 h5 15.Be3 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Qf6 17.c3 g6 18.Nd2 g5 19.e5 dxe5 20.dxe5 Qxe5 21.Qxe5+ Nxe5 22.Rae1 Kf7 23.Rxe5 Kf6 24.Re2 Bd7 25.Ne4+ Kg7 26.f6+ Kg6 27.Rfe1 h4 28.c4 g4 29.Rf2 Rae8 30.Rfe2 Bc6 31.Nd2 Rd8 32.Ne4 h3 33.gxh3 gxh3 34.Kf2 Rde8 35.Kg3 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - taman, blitz, FICS, 2010.

10...d5

A good idea.

Earlier I saw 10...Be6 11.f4 d5 12.f5 d4 13.Qg3 Bc4 14.d3 Bxd3 15.cxd3 Nf8 16.Qxg7 Rg8 17.Qe5 c5 18.f6 Nfg6 19.f7+ Kf8 20.Bh6+ Rg7 21.Qxg7 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - perama, blitz, FICS; and 

10...Rf8 11.f4 c6 12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Ng4 14.Qg3 Nf6 15.Qxg7 Rg8 16.Qxf6 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - Kovrad, blitz, FICS, 2010.

11.exd5

After the game Rybka preferred 11.d3 followed by f2-f4.

11...Qxd5 12.Nc3 Qe5

The first confrontation on the e-file. I wasn't happy with the idea of exchanging Queens, but I couldn't think of anything better.

13.d4 Qe6

Puzzling: I thought he would have been happy with 13...Qxe3. Maybe he was thinking, If White wants to exchange Queens, then I don't want to.

14.Qg3 c6

15.Bg5 Nf5 16.Qd3 h6

Mistakenly assuming that White will move his Bishop. But, instead, there is the eeeeeeee-file!

17.Rae1 Ne5

Bad things are happening on the e-file, and this doesn't help. "Best" was 17...Kf7. 

18.Rxe5 hxg5 19.Rxe6+

Sufficient, but 19.Qxf5 was stronger.

19...Bxe6 20.Re1 Rd8

And White finishes up.

21.Rxe6+ Kf7 22.Qxf5+ Kg8 23.Qxg5 Rxd4 24.Re8+ Kf7 25.Rxh8 Ke6 26.Re8+ Kd6 27.Qe7 checkmate

The Other KB2

The Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) hits f7, the weakest one in Black's fortress as it is only protected by the King. White has a "King Bishop Two" square though, and my oppponent decided to give it attention.

perrypawnpusher - salla
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8

A defense mentioned by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome in a three-part analysis of his gambit in 1874. Jerome later used the line successfully in two correspondence games against Jaeger (who played the Jerome Gambit).

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6

9.d3 Ng4

Attacking my King's Bishop Two square. Continuing to castle-by-hand with 9...Kf7 seems more prudent.

10.0-0 Ke8

As if to say This won't take long, no need to castle...

Also seen: 10...Qf6 11.Nc3 c6 12.Be3 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Bf5 14.Rxf5 Black resigned, perrypawnpusher - marianomocoroa, blitz, 2010

11.h3 Nf6 12.Bg5

Capturing a pawn with 12.Qxg7 didn't seem worth it after 12...Rg8. After the game Rybka suggested 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.fxe3 Qe7 which didn't appeal, either. 

12...h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Nc3 Rf8

More pressure on f2. I admit that here I kind of wished that I had played 12.Be3. 

15.Nd5 Qd8

My opponent might have been having second thoughts about his strategy; otherwise he could have played 15...Qf7.

Now is the time to grab a pawn (and threaten another).

16.Qxg7 Be6

Planning on chasing away or exchanging off the annoying Knight, but overlooking something in the position. Essential was 16...Rf7.

17.Nxc7+ Qxc7 18.Qxc7 Black resigned

Nice Kitty...

The following game is another visit with a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) defense / refutation that has sharp teeth and claws – at least in theory. When entering this jungle, I always feel a mixture of excitement and dread as I wonder what will happen this time? See "Closer... But not there yet" and "Jerome Gambit Tournament: Chapter XVI".

perrypawnpusher  - JTIV
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

4...Kxf7

My opponent played the Jerome Gambit successfully 3 days before our game: 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 h6 7.c3 dxc3 8.Qb3+ Ke8 9.Nxc3 d6 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.0-0 b6 12.Re1+ Kd8 13.Qf7 Qf6 14.Re8, checkmate, JTIV - NyteFork, FICS, 2010.

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qh4+

Whenever I see this move, I suspect that someone has been reading this blog... (Not that that's a bad thing.)

9.g3 Nf3+

And this move almost confirms it...

Interestingly enough, the updated New Year's Database has 25 games (other than the current one) with this position, with White scoring 58%. My own experience with the line is scoring 78% in 9 games.

10.Kf1

This is my current choice, although it is not clear why. The updated New Year's Database has 4 games (other than the current one) with this move, with White scoring 50%.  I've scored 33% in 3 games (until now).

The Database has 15 games with the alternative, 10.Kd1, with White scoring 73%. That's in part to me scoring 100% in 6 of those games; but 3 of those wins are identical 11-movers with the "Buyer's Regret Variation".

10.Kf1 Nxh2+

This is an okay followup, although the "magic move" is 10...Ne7. Black has had success with two other moves, as well:

10...Qf6 11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.Qxc5+ Kd8 13.Kg2 d6 14.Qd5 Ne7 15.Qd3 Nd4 16.e5 dxe5 17.c3 Bf5 18.fxe5 Qc6+ White resigned, perrypawnpusher-james042665/Chess.com 2008 ;

10...Qh6 11.Qd5+ Ke7 12.Qxc5+ Qd6 13.Qxd6+ cxd6 14.c3 g5 15.Kf2 g4 16.h3 d5 17.hxg4 dxe4 18.d3 d5 19.g5 h6 20.dxe4 dxe4 21.Nd2 Nxd2 22.Bxd2 Bg4 23.Be3 Ke6 24.Rh4 Kf5 25.Bd4 Rh7 26.Rah1 h5 27.Ke3 Ne7 28.R4h2 Nd5+ 29.Kd2 b6 30.Re1 Re8 31.Be3 Rd8 32.Kc2 Rc7 33.a3 Rcd7 34.Bd4 b5 35.Be5 Rc8 36.Kb1 a5 37.g6 b4 38.axb4 axb4 39.g7 b3 40.Bd4 Kg6 41.Kc1 Kf5 42.Rhh1 Nb4 43.Kd2 Rxd4+ White resigned, perrypawnpusher - Temmo, JG3 thematic, ChessWorld, 2008.

11.Kg2 Qh6

Best is the tricky 11...Qg4 and Black holds onto his advantage.

Worst is 11...Qe7 12.Qd5 checkmate, perrypawnpusher - intssed, blitz, FICS, 2010.

12.Rxh2

This move allows Black the chance to slip out of his difficulties. The straight-forward 12.Qd5+ Ke7 13.Qxc5+ Qd6 14.Qxd6+ Kxd6 15.Rxh2 gives White the edge.

12...g6

Necessary was 12...Qe6. The text move turns the game over to White.

13.Qe5+

White's Queen escapes attack with check. Even stronger was 13.Rxh6, since the Black g-pawn would then be pinned.

13...Kc6 14.Rxh6 Nxh6 15.Qxh8

15...Ng4 16.d4 Be7 17.d5+ Kd6 18.Qd4 c6 19.e5+ Kc7 20.d6+

20...Bxd6 21.exd6+ Kb8 22.Nc3 b6 23.a4 Ba6 24.a5 b5 25.b4 Kb7

26.Ne4 Re8 27.Nc5+ Kc8 28.Kf3 Nh2+ 29.Kg2 Re2+ 30.Kh3 h5 31.Qh8+ Re8 32.Qxe8 checkmate

Shaky

I suppose I should take a break from playing the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), calm myself, do some more analysis of the opening and study to improve my game, especially tactics – but I can't stay away. If I give my favorite opening my best play, it usually returns the full point to me...

perrypawnpusher  - apinheiro
blitz, FICS, 2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Bc5 5.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Nxe5 7.Qh5+ g6

Without ...h6 and 0-0, this would be the beginning of either the Blackburne or Whistler defense. As it is, stronger than the text would be 7...Ke6.

8.Qxe5

Black's responses to this capture have been reviewed in the recent "Zombie Chess" and older "I think I have a win, but it will take time..."

8...Bd6

A couple of days before this game I faced the same (not-so-good) Bishop move in a regular Jerome Gambit (without ...h6 and 0-0) against Sirenus. The updated New Year's Database does not have an example of 8...Bd6 in the Semi-Italian Jerome Gambit – until now.

9.Qxh8 Qf6 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6

White is the exchange and a couple of pawns ahead. I should win – once I get past feeling shaky. (See "Crushed" and "A Severe Challenge" not to mention that my only win since was when my opponent resigned in a better position, "Worth the time?".)

11.d3 Be5 12.Bxh6

What is this? I'd like to pretend that it is a fancy sacrifice of the exchange, but it's simply a mistake – or it would have been, if my opponent had noticed, or if he hadn't been suspicious of my intent.

12...Ng4

Forcing me to fix my mistake at the cost of returning a pawn. Instead, Black had 12...Bxb2 13.Nd2 Bxa1 14.Rxa1 d5, when he would have recovered the exchange. He would still be worse, but not as desperate.

13.Bc1 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Be5 15.f4 Bd4 16.c3 Be3 17.Bxe3 Nxe3

The annoying Bishop has been replaced by an annoying Knight. Lucky for me, I only have to face one at a time.

18.Rf2 d6 19.Na3 Bd7 20.Re1 Rh8+

Welcome to the club, annoying Rook.

21.Kg1 Ng4 22.Rf3 Nh2 23.Rg3 Ng4 24.Nc2 Nf6

Slowly I'm getting untangled. Soon, the extra material should tell.

25.Ne3 Nh5 26.Rf3 Nf6 27.e5

27...dxe5

Instead, the over-worked Knight needed to go back to h5. Now it is lost.

28.fxe5 Bc6 29.Rxf6+ Kg7 30.Ref1

Time to put the game away.

30...Rh5 31.d4 Bb5 32.Rf7+ Kh6 33.R1f3 Be2 34.Rh3 Rxh3 35.gxh3 Black resigned

Worth the time?

Question: Someone plays the Jerome Gambit against you. Is it even worth continuing the game? Should you encourage such foolishness?

perrypawnpusher - DavidKevin
blitz, FICS, 2010

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

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit. Probably a surprise to my opponent.

5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke6

A very interesting idea.

7.Nxc6

Natural, but probably not best. yorgos had the right idea in his 2009 FICS game against masif: 7.Nf3 Ng4 (7...d5 8.d4 Bb4 was simpler)  8.d4 Nxd4 9.Ng5+ Qxg5 10.Bxg5 Ne5 11.0-0 h6 12.Bf4 Nc4 13.Nd5 Nxb2 14.Qb1 Ne2+ 15.Kh1 Bd4 16.Nxc7+ Ke7 17.Nxa8 Nxf4 18.Nc7 Nc4 19.Qb4+ Nd6 20.Qxd4 Rf8 21.e5 Nf5 22.Qxf4 Nd6 23.Nd5+ Kd8 24.Qxf8+, Black resigned, yorgos - masif, FICS, 2009

7...dxc6

Preventing d2-d4, unlike 7...bxc6 8.0-0 Re8 9.d4 Bb4 10.Bg5 Be7 11.e5 Nd5 12.Qg4+ Kf7 13.f4 Bxg5 14.fxg5+ Kg8 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.g6 h6 17.Qf3 c6 18.c4 (missing 18.Qf7+ Kh8 19.Rf5 with the idea of 20.Rh5) Rf8 19.Qd3 Ba6 20.Rfe1 Bxc4 21.Qc3 a5 22.b3 Ba6 23.Qxa5 Qxa5 White resigned, jfhumphrey - kenom, FICS, 2010

8.d3 Rf8 9.0-0 Kf7 10.Bg5 Kg8

Black's King has parachuted to safety and the second player is better. He has to keep an eye on the "Jerome pawns" but he has open lines and an extra piece.

11.e5 Black resigned

My opponent did not make any comments after the game, so I do not know why he resigned. Typical Jerome Gambit "shock and awe"? Dissatisfaction at losing a piece? Not wanting to waste any more time on a goofy opening?

He should have stayed.

For starters, Black has an extra piece to give back, so things can't be too bad – but that is also completely unnecessary, as he can simply counter-attack with 11...h6.

After 12.exf6 hxg5 13.fxg7 Kxg7 Black has a piece for two pawns and his two Bishops will tame White's "Jerome pawns".

If White answers 11...h6 with 12.Ne4, instead, Black has both the prosaic 12...hxg5 and the shocking 12...Nxe4!?, as 13.Bxd8 Nxf2 14.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 15.Kh1 Rxd8 gives Black a Rook and two Bishops for his Queen. In that second line again Black would have to be watchful of the "Jerome pawns" but should be okay.

You don't tug on Superman's cape,

You don't spit into the wind,

You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger,

And you don't mess around with Slim.

                                  -- "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" by Jim Croce

If Bill Wall does you the favor of giving you "Jerome Gambit odds," do yourself a favor and try not to match tactics with him. It can only turn out one way...

billwall - mukak
Chess.com, 2010

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

4...Kxf7 5.0-0

One of the "modern" Jerome Gambit variations. White decides to offer only one piece, and then see what he can do with what Black eventually gives him.

5...Nf6 6.d3 h6 7.Be3 Be7 8.c4

Locking down the square d5. Often the watchwords of the "modern" variations are: no hurry, no error.

Also seen: 8.Nc3 a6 9.a3 Rf8 10.d4 exd4 11.e5 dxe3 12.exf6 exf2+ 13.Kxf2 Bxf6 14.Kg1 Kg8 15.Qd5+ Kh8 16.Ne4 Bxb2 17.Rae1 d6 18.Qh5 Black resigned, drewbear - Piratepaul, JG4 thematic, Chessworld, 2008.

8...d6 9.Nc3

Or, in an exhibition of computer play: 9.h3 Rf8 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Qb3 Na5 12.Qa4 c5 13.b4 cxb4 14.Qxb4 Kg8 15.Qa4 b6 16.Rab1 Rc8 17.Rfe1 Rf7 18.Nb5 Bd7 19.Qd1 a6 20.Nc3 Rb8 21.Re2 b5 22.cxb5 axb5 23.Reb2 b4 24.Rxb4 Rxb4 25.Rxb4 Qa8 26.Rb2 Rf8 27.Nb5 Qc8 28.a4 Nc6 29.Bb6 d5 30.Bc7 Be6 31.exd5 Bxd5 32.Nxe5 Nxe5 33.Bxe5 Nd7 34.Rc2 Qd8 35.Bc7 Qe8 36.Qg4 Bc5 37.d4 Nf6 38.Qe2 Bb4 39.Qxe8 Rxe8 40.Be5 Ra8 41.Bxf6 gxf6 42.Nc7 Be4 43.Re2 Rxa4 44.Rxe4 Bd6 45.g3 Bxc7 46.Rg4+ Kh7 47.Kg2 f5 48.Rh4 Bd6 49.Kf3 Ra3+ 50.Ke2 Kg7 51.Rh5 Kg6 52.g4 f4 53.Rd5 f3+ 54.Kd1 Bb4 55.Kc2 Be1 56.Rd6+ Kg7 57.Rd7+ Kf8 58.Kb2 Ra5 59.Rd6 Kg7 60.Rd7+ Kf6 61.Rd6+ Kg5 62.Rd7 Bxf2 63.Kc3 Be1+ 64.Kd3 Ra3+ 65.Ke4 f2 66.Rd5+ Kh4 67.Rh5+ Kg3 68.Rf5 Kg2 69.g5 hxg5 70.Rxg5+ Rg3 71.Rf5 Bd2 72.Rf8 Re3+ 73.Kd5 Rf3 White resigned, Hiarcs 9 - Junior 7, The Jeroen Experience, 2003.

9...Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6

12.Nh4 Rf8 13.Qb3

13...Nxg4

Uncovering an attack on White's Knight on h4. White has an uncovered attack of his own, although for now Black is okay.

14.c5+ Kf6

Suddenly Black is much worse.

Rybka suggests a roughly equal game after 14...d5 15.exd5 Na5 16.Qa4 Bxh4 17.Qxg4 Qf6 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4.

analysis diagram







15.Nd5+ Kf7 16.Nxe7+ Kxe7 17.Nxg6+ Kd7 18.Nxf8+ Qxf8

19.hxg4

A nice touch: finally capturing the Knight puts White a Rook ahead.

19...Rb8 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.f4 exf4 22.Rxf4 Qd8 23.Rf7+ Kc8 24.Qe6+ Black resigned

It is mate next move.