Jerome Gambit: Good Try

 

Things have not gone well for Black in the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game.

Take a look for yourself.

TePart0 - lazlo3000

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

White, to move, has a checkmate in 3: 47.Qf4 Kg8 48.Qf7+ Kh8 49.Qf8#.

But White doesn't have to think that hard. Instead, he can just push pawns.

Why doesn't Black resign? Well, first of all, it's a 3-minute blitz game, so anything can happen, including White losing on time. Secondly - stalemate?

Meanwhile, White just keeps on pushing.

47.b4 Kh6 48.b5 Kg7 49.b6 Kh6 50.b7 Kg7 51.Qc7+ Kh6 52.b8Q Kg5 53.g7 Kh4 54.h6 Kg4 55.h7 Kf3 56.h8Q Ke2 57.g8Q 

Well, I would be persuaded to resign here.

57...Kd2 58.Qd5+ Kc1 59.Qbb2 checkmate

Oh, well, good try.

Jerome Gambit: A Tricky Endgame

It has always been true that knowing the opening moves of the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) is not enough. It is necessary to have the tactical skills to take you to and through the middle game, as well. Finally, it is useful to know enough about the endgame to convert your andvantage to a win - and, sometimes, to avert disaster.

The following endgame is educational, for what happened, and what did not. It comes after White used the Jerome Gambit against a higher rated player in a blitz game, and clearly had a win in hand. However, there were a few technicalities to grasp along the way, and a 3-minute blitz game does not always allow that.

SensGuy - huarsan2

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

White's 2-pawn advantage is winning. His King plans to escort one or both of the passers to their Queening squares. Black should be able to catch one of them, but not both.

56. Kb6 Kd6 57. a5 Rb2+

Black's best chance is to check from afar.

58. Ka7 Rc2 

Now White can toss the c-pawn with 59.c8Q Rxc8 when, after 60.Kb7 he can find a way to deal with Black's Rook's checks, e.g. 60...Rc1 61.a6 Rb1+ 62.Kc8! Kd5 63.a7 Ra1 64.Kb8 Rb1+ 65.Rb7, when his remaining pawn will promote.

59.a6 

Bringing the a-pawn closer to promotion - but there is a problem that is specific to Rook pawns.

59...Rc3 

Instead, Black had 59...Rxc7+ 60.Rxc7 Kxc7 when Black can pin White's King to the side of the board, keeping him from getting out of the way of the pawn, i.e. 61.Ka8 Kc8 62.a7 Kc7 stalemate.

60.Kb8 Rb3+ 

White is winning, again, and Black has to resort to checking the King again.

61.Ka8 Rc3 

The Rook can go to any of 14 squares, but only one contains a drop of hope.

62.a7 

62...Rxc7 63.Rxc7 

White needed to chase the enemy King away with 63.Rg6+ Kd5 64.Kb8 when the only way Black can stop the pawn from promoting is to sacrifice his Rook for it.

One last chance at a swindle for Black would be to answer 63.Rg6+ with 63...Kd7, hoping for 64.Rg7+ Kd6 65.Rxc7? Rxc7 stalemate. 

63...Kxc7 Draw by stalemate

If you are not familiar with this kind of endgame, it would be difficult to win under significant time pressure. 

However, if you play this endgame over a few times, you will be familiar.

Jerome Gambit: Counter-Jerome Gambit Declined

Intercrosse - azizmasud

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Bxf2+

The Counter-Jerome Gambit, an interesting bit of chess psychology. Black seems to be saying "If you can sac your Bishop and move my King, I can do the same to you!"

The Bishop sacrifice in the Counter-Jerome Gambit is often the start of a combination that removes the Queens from the board. Black transforms an opening where he is 2 pieces better to one where he is a pawn down - but he does end White's ferocious attack. There is a chance that the attacker will have a problem moving from wild agression to steady, grinding play; perhaps that is Black's plan.  

8.Ke2 

The Counter-Jerome Gambit Declined, a rare choice. (The Database has 6 earlier games with the move, with White going 3 - 2 - 1.) It is as if White were saying "There's got to be something behind this move, so if he wants me to capture - I won't!" This is similar to Black's thinking behind the Jerome Gambit Declined (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Ke7).

The problem is that White remains a piece down.

It is not clear how much trouble White would actually be in after playing 8.Kxf2, anyhow. There is not much in 8...Qh4+ for Black, as it can be answered by 9.g3, and the Queen will have to return with 9...Qf6+ entering the regular Counter-Jerome Gambit with 10.Qxf6+ Nxf6 when White's pawn on g3, instead of g2, makes little difference.

For the most recent look at 8.Kxf2 see "Jerome Gambit: Tactical Awareness".

8...Nf6

Intercrosse also faced 8...Bh4 in a game that continued 9.Qxh8 d5 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.Qxg6 dxe4 12.Rf1+ Ke7 13.b3 (better 13.Rf7+ Ke8 14.Qxg8#) 13...Kd7 14.Qf5+ Kc6 15.Qxe4+ Qd5 16.Qg6+ Nf6 17.Rxf6+ Bxf6 18.Qxf6+ Be6 19,Nc3 Qxg2+ 20.Qf2? Qg4+ (20...Bg4+!) 21.Qf3+ Qxf3+ 22.Kxf3 Rf8+ 23.Ke3 Rh8 24.Bb2 Rxh2 White resigned in a winning position, possibly a time issue, Intercrosse - jakshy, blitz, lichess.org, 2020. 

9.Rf1 Bh4 10.g3 Bxg3 

Black gives up the Bishop, after all.

Stockfish 13 points out that Black had strong attacking chances, even after exchanging Queens e.g. 10...Re8 11.Qf4 d5 12.Nc3 Kg8 13.Qxh4 Nxe4 14.Qxd8 Bg4+ 15.Kd3 Nc5+ 16.Kd4 Ne6+ 17.Ke3 Raxd8 

11.hxg3

Instead, 11.Qxg3 might have reduced the Queen's exposure to attack. 

11...Kg7 12.b3 Rf8 13.Bb2 d6 

14.Qg5 h6 15.Qh4 g5 16.Qh1 

 The Queen finally finds respite - for a moment.

16...Kg8 

Black's King's attempt at safety has the opposite effect. If His Majesty was to move, it should be to g6. 

17.Qxh6 Bg4+ 18.Ke1 

The computer will nit-pick that 18.Kd3 was stronger, but the text is fine, and, remember, this is a 3-minute game.

18...Nxe4 

Oooops.

19.Qg7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Site Birthday

 

Chessfriend Yury Bukayev reminded me that this blog recently celebrated its 13th birthday!

Yes, "Welcome!" was posted on June 10, 2008.

Tomorrow's post will be #3,335.

I am very thankful for the many, many Readers who have supported this blog by sending games, analysis, comments and encouragement.

It is my pleasure to continue to bring news - and history - about the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) & Jerome-related openings.

Again, thank you all.

Rick

Jerome Gambit: What Happens If...?

 

When I review games to post on this blog I try to ask the question "What happens if" someone plays - or neglects to play - a particular move? This is especially true when one move is pivotal for the outcome of the game.

I also like to build upon previous posts. For example, if you have read "Jerome Gambit: Blackburne's Ghost" you know that the game reached a certain point where I recommended a particular saving line of play for White. Without the necessary move, White stumbled and fell.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the following 3-minute, 2-second increment blitz game.

SensGuy - osnola2

3 2 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

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

 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 d6 

We have reached Blackburne's defense, with the offer of a Rook, the acceptanceof which would lead to a complicated (but advantageous for the first player) game for White and Black.

Whistler's defense would offer the Rook a different way, 7...Qe7. 

8.Qxh8 Qh4 9.O-O 

As mentioned most recently in the notes to TePart0 - Vencedor96, 3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020 (0-1, 13), stronger is 9.d4. It is worth looking at "Jerome Gambit: It Helps to Be Prepared"

9...Nf6 10.Qd8 Bb6 

Black has worked to trap White's Queen, hoping to either attack it with his remaining Rook, or, if necessary, sacrifice the Rook. White's plan for escape was to play Qxc7, so Black's most recent move was designed to stop that eventuality.

Now 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qd3 is the way out. But, what happens if White misses that move?

11.d3 

Instead of sacrificing his e-pawn, however, White protects it.

Now Black can play the winning move 11...Bh3!, When White has only bad and worse choices. It is clear that 12.Qxa8 Qg4 will lead to checkmate, while 12.gxh3 - to stop the mate - simply loses the Queen to 12...Rxd8. "Best" is 12.Qxf6+ Kxf6 13.gxh3 Qxh3 when White would have a Rook, a Knight and a pawn for his Queen, but Black's strongly placed Queen and better development would clearly make him better.

However, as Savielly Tartakower argued, "No one ever won a game by resigning", so there is always hope.

11...Bxf2+ 

Somewhere, somehow, Black must have mixed up variations here, but it is difficult to see in what way.

12.Rxf2 Be6 13.Qxa8 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Errant Knights

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game shows the difficulties Black can get into if his Knights do not know their proper responses for defense. Sometimes it is necessary to return material to ward off the attack.

DutchLiLi - DoctorChess333

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Ng6

This makes sense at a superficial level. The best move, however, was 8...Kc6, walking away from protecting the Knight.

9.Qd5+ Ke7 10.Qxc5+ d6 11.Qf2 Nh6 

 

The Knights are standing guard, but they do not prove effective in their work.

12.d4 Rf8 13.f5 Nh8 

The correct line of play again requires sacrifice, as Stockfish 13 shows: 13...Ke8 14.Bxh6 gxh6 15.0–0 Qh4 16.Qxh4 Nxh4 17.Nc3 Bxf5 18.exf5 Rxf5 19.Rxf5 Nxf5 and White has a small edge.

14.Bg5+ Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Whistler's Ghost

The following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game features a defense played successfully (twice) by Alonzo Wheeler Jerome against his own opening.

White starts off fine, but a defensive slip allows Black's counter-attack to achieve proportions usually seen in Whistler's defense.  

Intercrosse - laura_2701sibate

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

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

 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 Qh4  

A very energetic move that can be easily met. Intercrosse has faced other ideas

7...Bd6 8.Qf5+ Qf6  White resigned, Intercrosse - zugzwwwang,blitz, lichess.org, 2020 9.Qg4 Nh6 10.Qe2 b6 11.O-O Bb7 12.d4 Bxh2+?! 13.Kxh2 Qh4+ 14.Kg1 Ng4 15.Bf4 g5 16.Bg3 Qh5 17.f3 Nf6 18.Nc3 Re8 19.Qd3 d6 20.Rae1 Qg6 21.Qc4 Re7 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.exd5 Rxe1 24.Rxe1 Qf7 25.Re6 Kg7 26.Qe2 Qf5 27.Re7+ Kg6 28.Rxc7 Ba6 29.Qe7 White won on time, Intercrosse - ccrado, blitz, lichess.org, 2021; 

7...d6 8.Qc3 (8.Qf4+ 9.d4 Bxd4 10. O-O Be5 11.Qf3 Bg4 12.Qb3 Rb8 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.Bg3 Kg7 16.Nc3 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 Qe7 18.Rae1 Rbe8 19.f3 Be6 20.f4 gxf4?! 21.Bh4 Rhf8 22.Rxf4 Kg6 23.Re3 Qg7? 24.Rg3+ Ng4 25.Rfxg4+ Bxg4 26.Rxg4+ Kf7 27.Qxg7+ Ke6 28.Rg6+ Rf6 29.Qxf6+ [29.Bxf6 h5 30.Be5#] 29...Kd7 30.Rg7+ Re7 31.Qxe7+ Kc6 32.Qxc7+ Kb5 33.b4 Kxb4 34.Qxb7+  Kc3 35.Rc7+ Kd2 36.Qd5+ Ke3 37.g4 Kf4 38.e5 Kxg4 39.exd6 Kxh4 40.Rg7 Kh3 41.Qh5 checkmate, Intercrosse - Drunkpad, blitz, lichess.org, 2020) 8...Nf6 9.O-O Qe8 10.d4 Bb6 11.e5 Nd5 12.Qf3+ Qf7 13.Qe4 Bf5 14.Qh4 dxe5 15.dxe5 Re8 16.Be3 Rxe5 White resigned, Intercrosse - AAASHIRBAD, blitz,  lichess.org, 2021; and

7...Qe7 8.Qf5+ Nf6 9.O-O d6 10.Qf3 Ke8 11.c3 Rf8 12.d4 Bb6 13.Bg5 Qxe4?! 14.Qd1 (14.Qxe4+ Nxe4 15.Re1 d5 16.f3 h6 17.Bh4 g5 18.Bg3 c5 19.fxe4 cxd4 20.exd5+ Kd8 21.Kh1) 14...Qg6 15.Re1+ Kf7 16.Qb3+ d5 17.Bxf6 Bh3 18.Qxd5+ Black resigned, Intercrosse - pedroberto, blitz, lichess.org, 2021.

8.Qxc5+ d6 

Also, the classic 8...Ke8 9.d3 Nf6 10.Bg5 Qh5 11.O-O Qxg5 12.Qxg5 Kf7 13.Nc3 d6 14.f4 Rf8 15.Nd5 Kg8 16.f5 Nxd5 17 Rf3 Nf6 18.Rg3 h6 19.Qxh6 (19.Qxg7#) 19...Kf7 20.Rxg7+ Ke8 21.Re1 Bd7 22.e5 Black resigned, blackburne - brain50, JG3 thematic, ChessWorld.net, 2008.

9.Qxc7 

This pawn grab is playable, but safer and more solid was 9.Qe3.

9...Qxe4+ 

This was Black's idea. It shouldn't work.

Earlier, Intercrosse faced 9...Nf6 10.O-O Qxe4 11.d3 Qg6 12.Nd2 Bh3 13.Qxb7 Rb8 14.Qxb8+ Kf7 15.Qb7+ Kf8 16.Nf3 Nd7 17.Ne1 Nc5 18.Qd5  Ne6 19.Qxd6+ Kf7 20.c4 Rd8 21.Qc6 Nd4 22.Qc7+ Kg8 23.Qxd8+ Kf7 24.Qxd4 a5 25.c5 Bc8 26.c6 a4 27.Qd5+ Ke7 28.b3 axb3 29.Ba3+ Ke8 30.c7 h5 31.Qd8+ Kf7 32.Qxc8 Black resigned, Intercrosse - kaizerss, blitz, lichess.org, 2020. 

10.Kd1 

Probably played on reflex, but it changes the game from winning for White to winning for Black. Instead, 10.Kf1 helps blunt the attack, and Stockfish 13 suggests a further castle-by-hand for White, giving this line: 10...Bg4 11.Nc3 Qxc2 12.h3 Qd3+ 13.Kg1 Nf6 14.Kh2 Re8 15.b3 Bd7 16.Ba3 Kf7 17.Rhc1 Rc8 18.Qxd6 Qxd6+ 19.Bxd6 Rhe8 20.d3 Bc6 White has to work a bit, but he winds up ahead a couple of pawns.

Compare with a line arising from Whistler's defense: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qxh8 Qxe4+ 9.Kd1.

10...Qxg2 

This is strong enough, but there was already a checkmate with 10...Bg4+ 11.f3 Bxf3+ 12.gxf3 Qxf3+ 13.Ke1 Re8+ 14.Qe7+ Rxe7#  

11.Re1 Bg4+ 12.Re2 Qf1 checkmate