Jerome Gambit: Strange Enough

 

Sometimes the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ) is new enough, strange enough, different enough, dangerous enough, scary enough, surprising enough, Jerome enough to make the game look like a simple thing, after all.

Jacobmir - robviz

3 2 blitz, Chess.com, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4....Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Qe7  10.Nc3 c6 11.d4 Nh6

This move is okay, but there was nothing wrong with putting the Knight on f6: 11...Nf6 12.0-0 Kf7 13.f4 Re8, when the King will go to g8 to complete castling-by-hand.

12.O-O Rf8 13.f4 Ng4 

Attacking the enemy Queen - with a plan.

14.Qg3 Qh4 15. Qxh4 Nxh4 

16.f5 g6 

Attacking the advanced "Jerome pawn" is a good idea, in principle, but in this particular case, it helps strand one of the Knights.

17.Bg5 Nxg2 18.Kxg2 gxf5 19.exf5 Bxf5 

I suspect that Black was happy here, with a position that is materially equal, with even the promise of a Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame and a draw. That is a mis-reading of the position, as 20.h3 now would win a piece.

White plays an even stronger move. Black cannot keep up.

20.Rae1+ Kd7 21.Re7+ Kc8 22.Rfe1 h6 23.Bf4 d5 24.Re8+ Kd7 25.R1e7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Act in Haste, Repent at Leisure

Bullet chess. One minute, no increment. Think fast. Move fast. But not too fast...

In the following game, Black takes everything White throws at him. Does it leave him scared - or confident?

Or over-confident?

[Insert laugh track here.]

Anonymous - Anonymous

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights Defense.

4.Bxf7+ 

Another "impatient" Jerome Gambit, sacrificing the Bishop before ...Bc5.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Ng6 7.e5 Ng8 

White's e-pawn is aggressive, but, remember, Black is two pieces ahead.

8.Qf3+ Ke8 9.Nc3 d6 10.O-O Be6 11.d5 Bc8 12.e6 

What an annoying "Jerome pawn". But, still...

12...Be7 Black resigned

Ooops... The only way to avoid checkmate is to resign.

Jerome Gambit: Tasty

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is a full and tasty game, remarkably so given that it was completed in under 2 minutes, as the time control demanded.

Anonymous - Anonymous

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qc3 Qf6 

A reasonable way to confront White's Queen. It is unclear why he does not subsequently exchange Queens.

9.O-O Bd7 10.d3 Ke7 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.fxe3 Qg6 

13.Nd2 

Connecting his Rooks, which will become active on the f-file. In a game with a slower time control, he would have allowed himself to become distracted by 13.Qxc7. Instead, he permits Black to use up a move protecting against that possibility. Bullet strategy.

13...c6 14.Rf2 Kd8 

Planning to castle-by-hand on the Queenside, but the move is a mistake.

15.Rf8+ 

The Rook pins pieces, right and left.

15...Be8 16.Raf1 Kc7 

17.Qa5+ b6 18.Qc3 h5 

Black wishes to attack, too, and has a role for his Rook.

19.e5 d5 20.Nf3 h4 21.Nd4 h3 22.g3 Ne7 

Radical surgery, but something had to be done.

23.Rxh8 Rd8 24.Nb5+ Kb7 25.Nd6+ Rxd6 26.exd6 Nf5 

Another disappointment for Black: there is too much material hanging to be able to grab the pawn at d6.

27.Rxf5 Qxf5 28.Qxg7+ Ka6 29.Rf8 

Avoiding the trap 29.Rxe8?, when Black would be able to force checkmate with 29...Qf3.

Black's next move is a mistake; his game collapses.

29...Qe5 30.Qxe5 White won on time

2020 Jerome Gambit Championship Cancelled

 

It looks like the Chess.com  2020 Jerome Gambit Championship has been cancelled.

I have contacted the intended Tournament Director, E4fortheL, for further information.

It looks like there will be a chance for a 2021 Jerome Gambit Championship!

Jerome Gambit: Head Spin

The following game is another Jerome Gambit (1.e4  e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) race-to-the-finish 1-minute bullet game. Both players realize that the central "Jerome pawn" center is critical. White, material down, is able to achieve his plans, while Black, appearing stronger, is not. It is another one of those games that makes my head spin.

Anonymous - Anonymous,

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4  e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qxe7+ 

Seen recently: 8.Qf5+ Qf7 9.Qxc5+ Ke8 10.Qxc7 Qe6 11.O-O Qxe4 12.f3 Qd4+ 13.Rf2 Qa4 14.Qe5+ Ne7 15.Qxg7 Rg8 16.Qxh7 Qa5 17.Re2 Qg5 18.Rxe7+ Qxe7 19.Qxg8+ Qf8 20.Qxf8+ Kxf8 Black resigned, Anonymous - Anonymous, 10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2020.

8...Nxe7 

Alternatively, and about equal in strength: 8...Bxe7 9.O-O d6 10.d4 Bd7 11.Nc3 Nf6 12.f4 g6 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Kg7 15.exf6+ Bxf6 16.Be3 Rhe8 17.Bf2 Re7 18.Rae1 Rae8 19.Rxe7+ Rxe7 20.Nd5 Rf7 21.Nxf6 Rxf6 22.d5 Ra6 23.a3 Bf5 24.c4 Ra4 25.Rc1 Kf6 26.Bd4+ Ke7 27.b3 Rxa3 28.Bc5+ Kd7 29.Bxa3 Black resigned,  Anonymous - Anonymous, 1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020. 

9.c3 d5 10.d4 Bb6 11.e5 c5 

White has established his pawn center, with a protected passed pawn at e5; Black immediately attacks it.

12.Be3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nf5 14.Nc3 Be6 15.O-O-O Nxe3 16.fxe3 Ke7 

Black's two Bishops look dangerous, while, for the time being, White's center has stalled.

17.Rhf1 Rhf8 18.Rf4 g5 19.Rf3 Bg4 20.Rxf8 Rxf8 21.Rd2 Be6 

Okay, who's got a plan?

22.Kc2 Ba5 23.a3 Bc7 24.b4 a5 25.Kb3 axb4 26.axb4 h5 27.e4 

Working for a mobile center, at last.

27...dxe4+ 28.d5 

The center looks troublesome, but, with a lot of time on his clock, Black could find a way for his Bishops to tame it. The problem: he never has a lot of time on his clock.

28...Bf5 29.d6+ Bxd6 30.exd6+ Kd7 

Black's Bishop and passed pawn would seem to give him the edge over White's Knight and blockaded passer, but the game is about even.

White's next move is an error, but neither he nor his opponent notice. The clock is pushing things at a rapid pace and the players are moving more quickly.

31.Rd5 Rf6 32.Nb5 g4 33.Kc3 

Fixing things.

33...Be6 34.Rxh5 Rf2 35.Re5 Rxg2 36.Rxe4 Rxh2 37.Nd4 

A tense position, but still in balance.

37...g3 

A slip. With the safe 37...Bd5 38.Rxg4 Rh3+ 39.Kd2 Kxd6 the game would still be even.

38.Rxe6 g2 39.Rg6 Rh4 40.Rxg2 Rxd4 41.Kxd4 Kxd6 42.Rg6+ Black resigned

Whew! Black trusts his opponent can find the checkmate in time.

Jerome Gambit: A Game of Survival

The following game is not only a Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), it is a game of survival and a race against time. After White's 32nd move, Stockfish 11 rates his opponent as over 7 Queens ahead... That's a whole lot of trouble. Certainly the Jerome has been kinder to him on many other occasions. But that is not the whole story. A player wins a chess game if he checkmates his opponent, if his opponent resigns - or if his opponent runs out of time.

I could make reference here to the movie "Forest Gump" and the "Run, Forest, Run!" meme, but I prefer the high speed chase sequences between the cartoon characters Wile E Coyote and the Roadrunner, that often lead off a cliff... 

(I saw another chess player complain about another opponent the other day: He's not strong, he just moves quickly. Well, then don't play blitz...) 

Anonymous - Anonymous,

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Qf6 9.fxe5+ Qxe5 10.Qxe5+ Kxe5 11.c3 

An interesting idea, taking advantage of Black's King in the center of the board. It is relatively rare: The Database has 7 previous games with the move, with White soring 21%. (In bullet chess, just about anything goes.)

11...Kxe4 12.d4 Bd6 13.O-O Nf6 14.Bg5 b6 15.Na3 Bb7 

Except for Black's hyper-developed King, his position looks very good.

16.Nb5 Kd5 17.Rac1 Kc4 

White is interested in checkmating the enemy King. Black is skeptical.

18.a4 Kb3 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rxf6 

Grabbing a pawn while it is available.

21...Kxa4 21.c4 Raf8 

Swapping Rooks is a good, forcing, defensive plan.

22.Rxf8 Rxf8 23.h3 Bg3 24.Rc3 a6 25.Rxg3 axb5 26.Ra3+ Kb4 27.cxb5 Kxb5 

So far Black had defended well, and his extra piece gives him a winning edge.

28.Rc3 Bc6 29.d5 Bxd5 30.Rxc7 Bc6 31.Ra7 Rg8 32.Ra3 

An unfortunate slip, quite understandable when you are taking only a second - or less! - per move. 32.g4 was the only defensive try available.

32...Rxg2+ 33.Kf1 Rxb2 

Black is clearly better, but can he checkmate his opponent before his flag falls? The fact that the game continues for 17 more moves shows that White is skeptical about Black's chances...

34.Re3 Kb4 35.Re7 Rb3 36.Rxh7 Rf3+ 37.Ke2 Rg3 

38.Rh4+ Kb3 39.Kf2 Rg2+ 40.Ke3 Rh2 41.Rh5 Rh1 42.Kd4 Rd1+ 43.Ke5 Rh1 44.Kd6 Re1 45.Kc7 

Catch me, if you can! A whole new idea in fortresses.

45...Rd1 46.Re5 Rh1 47.Rc5 

Clearly, a race to the finish.

47...Rxh3 

See?

48.Rb5+ Kc4 49.Rxb6 Kd5 50.Rb8 White won on time 

(For the record, Black has a checkmate in 28 moves.)

Jerome Gambit: At it Again

 

MrJoker, aka Louis Morin, is at it again.

We recently saw his successful use of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) in a practice game before joining his Canadian teammates playing in the 1st FIDE Online Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities.

Captain of the Canadian team, FIDE master Richard Berube, recently wrote this about Louis

Most chess players say that the game encourages rational thinking, teaches us to respect some basic principles and shows that success can come only as a result of playing good practical moves. Louis Morin, member of team Canada at the DIS FIDE Online Olympiad, is probably not one of them. Louis believes mainly in psychological chess where an opponent is confronted with problems of different natures. In the fourth round of the DIS Olympiad, Louis had the «chance», for a second time, to play a very bizarre opening called the «Jerome Gambit», a catastrophic opening forcing the opponent to reconsider what he knows about the initial phase of the game. The result looks like this.

Morin, Louis - Mrunali, Pande

25 10 FIDE Online Olympiad for People with Disabilities, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

The Database shows that Louis has reached this position 20 times previously. Maybe he can't remember every single one of those games, but he probably was comfortable at this point in this game.

10.d3 Kf7 11.O-O Rf8 12.f4 Kg8

Black has castled-by-hand and has the typical piece-for-two-pawns advantage.

13.Nc3 c6 14.Bd2 Ng4 

When in doubt, attack the enemy Queen.

This is not a bad move, but it does call to mind Master Berube's comment about "forcing the opponent to reconsider what he knows about the initial phase of the game". It is likely a sign that Black is confronting the notion, What do I do next?

He might have played the move he had just prepared, 14...d5.

By the way, 14...Ng4 had previously been seen in mrjoker - drstrangemove, 2 12 blitz ICC, 2008 (1-0, 53).

15.Qg3 

Anticipating ...Qh4. In light of his later plans to advance his Kingside pawns, he might have considered keeping the Queen out of the way with 15.Qe2.

15...Qb6+ 16. Kh1 Qxb2 17.Rac1 Nh6 

I am not sure that grabbing the b-pawn was a good idea, but I am sure that the Knight should have retreated to f6, even if it was afraid of White's e4-e5. 

18.f5 Ne5 

Natural, but a mistake. Black misses the point that it is time to return some of the sacrificed material with 18...Bxf5 19.exf5 Nxf5 when he could maintain an edge.

19.Bxh6 Rf7 20.Bd2 Bd7 21.h3 Qb6 

22.Qe3

I am not sure that White needs to exchange Queens. If I were to guess, however, I would suspect that Louis assesses that his opponent will want to keep his Queen and keep it active. In effect, White gets to reposition Her Majesty for free.   

22...Qd8 23.Kh2 Qh4 24.Qg3 

If so, this is a change of plans.

24...Qd8 

Consistent.

25.Bg5 Qa5 

I suspect his team captain will want to have a word with him after the game.

26.d4 Nc4 27.Qd3

Repositioning the Queen almost for free.

27...b5 

28.g4 Re8 29.Rce1 Qc7

To hold up the advance of the e-pawn.

30.Bf4 Kh8 31.a4 a6 32.axb5 axb5 

33.g5 Rg8 

The defense is difficult, especially since 33...Kg8 would be met by 34.f6, and then 35.e5, but that was the way to go.

34.Qg3 Qb8 35.g6 Re7 

Checkmate is unavoidable.

36.Qh4 Rge8 

Or 36...h6 37.Bxh6 Rge8 38.Bg5+ Kg8 39.Qh7+ Kf8 40.Qh8# 

37.Qxh7 checkmate