Jerome Gambit: Update -> Unplayed

Some recommended moves in the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+), despite their playability, don't find their way to the chessboard. 

There is one in particular, mentioned on this blog 13 1/2 years ago, which has yet to make it into play, remaining a "secret".

v-trash - P-H-Pearse

3 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 

As I mentioned about 2 1/2 years ago, in "Jerome Gambit: Disease 1, Cure 0"

The major problem with this move is that it leads to a position that Black is not prepared to deal with. He may have planned to "take White out of his book" by refusing to play the "normal" 5...Nxe5, but this is one of the cases where the "cure" is worse than the "disease".

6.Nxc6 

The Database has 60 games with this move, with White scoring 65%. Bill Wall has 9 wins against 0 losses.

By comparison, The Database has 87 games with the more aggressive (if "objectively" not quite as strong) 6.Qh5+, which leads to messy positions (dangerous for Black) where White scores 75%.

Personally, I am 1 - 0 - 1 with 6.Nxc6 (perrypawnpusher - rodrigojalpa, blitz 2 12, FICS 2008 [1-0, 25] and perrypawnpusher - zsilber, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2010 [1/2 - 1/2, 43]) and 2 - 0 with 6.Qh5+ (perrypawnpusher - platel, 10 3 blitz, FICS, 2011 [1-0, 7] and perrypawnpusher - schachix, 5 3 blitz, FICS, 2013 [1-0, 10).

6...bxc6  

This is a reasonable response.

Recently there has been 6...Bxf2+, getting a pawn for the Bishop that is going to be lost, anyhow: mwafakalhaswa - Ashkan -estemmm, 10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2020 : 7.Kxf2 Qf6+ 8.Qf3 Qxf3+ 9.gxf3 dxc6 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Rg1 g6 12.d4 Ne7 13.Bg5 Rf8 14.Bxe7 Kxe7 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.d5 cxd5 17.Nxd5+ Bxd5 18.Rxd5 c6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Ke2 Ke6 21.Rd1 Rxd1 22.Kxd1 Ke5 23.Ke2 Kf4 24.c4 b6 25.b4 a6 26.a4 b5 27.axb5 axb5 28.cxb5 cxb5 29.Kf2 h5 30.h4 g5 31.hxg5 Kxg5 32.Kg3 h4+ 33.Kh3 Kh5 34.f4 Black resigned.

Likewise, we have seen 6...Qf6, as in chessmaster512 - jonjons, ultrabullet, lichess.org, 2020: 7.Ne5 Qxe5 8.d4 Qf6 9.O-O Bxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Be3 Qf6 12.Nc3 Ne7 13.Rad1 Ng6 14.Bd4 Qe7 15.Bxg7 Rg8 16.Nd5 Qxg7 17.Nxc7+ Kd8 18.Nxa8 Qf6 19.e5 Qc6 20.e6 b6 21.exd7 Bxd7 22.Rxd7+ Kxd7 23.Nxb6+ Kc7 24.Rd1 Qxb6 25.c4 Kc6 26.Rf1 Kc5 27.Kh1 Kxc4 28.Kg1 Kb4 29.Kh1 Qxf2 30.Rxf2 Ne5 31.Re2 Ng4 32.Re4+ Kc5 33.Rxg4 Rf8 34.h3 Rf1+ 35.Kh2 Rd1 36.Kg3 Rc1 37.Kh2 Rc2 38.Kh1 Rxb2 39.Kh2 Rxa2 40.Kh1 Ra1+ 41.Kh2 Rb1 Black won on time

The strongest reply, however - one first mentioned in "You, too, can add to Jerome Gambit theory", later "Jerome Gambit Secret #3" - is 6...Qh4. The game might continue 7.d4 Qxe4+ 8.Be3 (8.Qe2 is also possible) when things would remain quite complicated, but a bit in White's favor.

7.Qh5+ Black resigned

White will win the Bishop at c5 and be 2 pawns up. 

Jerome Gambit: Disruptive Knight

Many Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ ) games feature White playing Nc3 followed by Nd5 - a disruptive Knight move.

The following game is a strong example. It is particularly enjoyable in that it shows the defeat of a defense that has caused many Jerome Gambiteers serious headaches.

netanya - Nuriy174

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.f4 d6 

Black plays the "annoying" or "silicon" defense. Computers show a preference for it, and - with the King sitting comfortably away from home, without consequence - it can be really annoying.

White continues to develop and look for chances.

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.d3 h6 10.Nc3 Qf6 

Black has a piece for a pawn, and he is developing to keep his King safe. Putting a Queen on f6 is one standard move for the defender.

However, this time the move is out of place, and 10...Nf6 would have been more helpful. Why? Because the d5 square needs to be covered.

11.Rf1 Qe7 12.Nd5 Qd7 

Suddenly, Black's King is at risk. Can you see it?

13.b4  

White can reward his disruptive Knight with 13.Qg6+ Nf6 14.Rxf6+ gxf6 15.Qxf6 checkmate.

13...c6 14.Qf5+  

This leads to checkmate. Also still available was 14.Qg6+ Nf6 15.Rxf6+ gxf6 16.Qxf6 checkmate.

14...Kd6 15.bxc5+ Kxc5 

16.Qf8+ Kb5 17.Rb1+ Ka6 18.Nb4+ Kb6 19.Nd5+ Ka6 20.Qa3 checkmate

Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit: Hero Knight

The following miniature game has some interesting moments: Black develops fast, he safeguards his displaced King, he advances his Queen - and he resigns before a dozen moves have been played.

White's Knight can take come credit for this. Take a look.

panchito36 - ppplatypus

5 3 blitz, lichess.org, 2022

 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+ 

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit.

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke6 6.Nc4 

White has a different idea from the more usual 6.c3. The Knight has a special role to play.

6...b5 

An aggressive way to prepare to fianchetto a Bishop on b7.

The more thematic 6...d5 was seen in a number of games: 7.exd5+ Qxd5 8.Ne3 (8.Qg4+ Ke7 9.Ne3 [9.Qh4+ Nf6 10.Ne3 Qe5 11.Kd1 g5 12.Qg3 Qxg3 13.hxg3 Kf7 14.c3 Nc6 15.d4 Ng4 16.Nxg4 Bxg4+ 17.Kc2 Re8 18.Bxg5 Re2+ 19.Nd2 Be7 20.Bxe7 Nxe7 21.Rae1 Rxf2 22.Rhf1 Rxf1 23.Rxf1+ Kg7 24.Ne4 Bf5 25.Kd3 Bxe4+ 26.Kxe4 Re8 27.Kd3 Ng6 28.b4 Nf8 29.a4 Ne6 30.c4 Rf8 White lost on time, BenWB - Coaster, 3 0 blitz, FICS, 2003] 9...Nxc2+ 10.Ke2 Bxg4+  White resigned, Jagga - jbgmfics, 3 5 blitz, FICS, 2019; 8.O-O Qxc4 9.Qg4+ Ke7 10.Re1+ Kd8 11.Qe4 Ne7 12.Na3 Qd5 13.c3 Qxe4 14.Rxe4 Ndc6 15.d4 Nd5 16.Bg5+ Be7 17.Bxe7+ Ndxe7 18.Rae1 Re8 19.f3 Bd7 20.b4 Nd5 21.Rxe8+ Bxe8 22.b5 Na5 23.c4 Nc3 24.c5 Bxb5 25.Nxb5 Nxb5 26.d5 Nc3 White resigned, rihards - berik, blitz, FICS, 2005) 8...Qc6 9.Qg4+ Kf7 10.Qxd4 Bc5 11.Qd5+ Be6 12.Qxc6 bxc6 13.O-O Nf6 14.c3 Bb6 15.d4 Rad8 16.Re1 Rhe8 17.Nd2 c5 18.Nf3 cxd4 19.cxd4 Bxd4 20.Nxd4 Rxd4 21.b3 Ne4 22.Bb2 Rd2 23.Ba3 Rxf2 24.Nc4 Bxc4 25.bxc4 Rc2 26.Rec1 Re2 27.Rf1+ Kg6 28.Rae1 Rxa2 29.Bc5 Rc2 30.Bxa7 Rxc4 31.Rf4 Nd6 32.Rxe8 Rxf4 33.Re7 Nb5 34.Be3 Rc4 35.Re5 c6 36.Rg5+ Kf7 37.Rg3 g6 38.Rf3+ Ke6 39.Bg5 Nd4 40.Re3+ Kf5 41.Bh6 Rc1+ 42.Kf2 Rc2+ 43.Kg3 Ne2+ 44.Kf3 Nd4+ 45.Kg3 g5 46.h3 Kg6 47.Bf8 Nf5+ 48.Kf3 Nxe3 49.Kxe3 Rxg2 50.Kf3 Ra2 51.Kg3 Ra4 52.Kf3 Kf7 53.Bd6 Rd4 54.Bc5 Rd3+ 55.Kg4 Rc3 56.Bd4 Rc4 57.Kxg5 Rxd4 58.h4 c5 59.Kf5 c4 60.Ke5 Rd8 White resigned, KnightBiker - tonya, 10 0 blitz, FICS, 2009.

7.Ne3 Bb7 8.d3  

Stronger was 8.c3, e.g. 8...Nc6 9.d4 Qg5 10.O-O Nxd4 11.cxd4 Bxe4 12.f3 Bb7 13.d5+ Bxd5 14.Re1 Bc5 15.Kh1 Kd6 16.Nc4+ Kc6 17.Bxg5 Black resigned, gregweb - michon, 5 5 blitz, FICS, 2016 

8...Qg5 

The Black Queen takes its thematic position in a Blackburne Shilling Gambit. The White Knight on e3 protects the otherwise vulnerable pawn on g2, however.

In fact, Stockfish 14.1 gives White almost a Rook's worth of advantage here. Black would have done better to retreat his King to f7.

9.c3 Nc6 10.Qb3+ Ke7

An unfortunate misstep. 

11.Nd5+ Black resigned

I was puzzled the first time I saw this position. What was White's Knight doing in order to force resignation?

Then I realized, it was what the Knight wasn't doing: blocking the c1-h6 diagonal. Black will respond to the check, and his Queen will be lost.

New Refutation Trap for the Blackburne Shilling Gambit

Looking for more "applications" of the Jerome Gambit idea Bxf7+, I encountered a series of posts at the Chess.com Openings Forum, titled New Refutation Trap For the Blackburne Shilling Gambit.

I would like to share some of the many comments in the discussion. (If you look closely, you will not only find Bxf7+, but a near transposition to the Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. There are now 30 game examples in The Database.)

BlackLawliet,  January 31, 2021

So I was playing a game, and my opponent played the notorious Blackburne shilling gambit, but instead of trading knights, I set up a trap that I find almost everyone falls for; 4.b4!...

The point is that almost everyone plays Bxb4 which is actually a blunder because: 5.c3... 

After this, you may think that your opponent can just trade knights and then just retreat the bishop, but why this trap is so good is because people fail to see is that after they take your knight, and you capture with the queen, you are threatening Qxf7# which is checkmate...

And after they protect f7 you can simply take their bishop.

I've played quite a few games using this trap and not once has someone not taken the pawn. Also, I checked the data base and this move is actually a novelty, so I'm calling it the Flint Lock trap, The reason being that after 4. b4, the developed pieces resemble the shape of a flint lock...

Deranged, January 31, 2021

Nice trap! Black can save the piece, but only if he gives up a pawn + completely ruins his position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 b5 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.cxd4 Kf8 8.dxe5

tactixianchess, January 31, 2021

Nice opening trap! However, the brilliancy is pushed even further. (Add this variation to your trap)

Write my name in the books when I contribute to opening theory. 

Nice name for the trap as well. 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.b4 Now we have the trap on the board. 4...Bxb4 Black accepts. 5.c3 b5 Trying to counterattack (cxb4 and cxd4 are met by bxc4) 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 The King must take. 7.Nxe5+ Kf8 8.cxd4 And White is completely winning. (Do Not play 8.cxb4 after 8...Qe7. This is not looking good for White (Granted White is stillslightly better but it is a very uncomfortable position. I would rather play as black.) 9.Ng4 All other moves are losing. 9...Qxe4+ 10.Ne3 Bb7 By the time you reach this position you willbe regretting playing cxb4...

horselover123 February 1, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.b4 d5 5.Bxd5

5.exd5 Bg4 counterplay, threatening to double the pawns and play e4 6.Be2 A safe move to not weaken the kingside but really Bxd5 should've been played earlier 6...Bxf3 this is what the engine recommends, but many moves can be played here (6... Nxe2 7.Qxe2 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nf6) (6... Nxf3+ 7. Bxf3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nf6) 7. Bxf3 Nf6 

5...Nf6 near equality, black plans to eliminate the bishop by Nxd5 and make the d5 pawn a target, and also take b4 when safe 

6.c3 Preserve the b4 pawn while making a threat, but Nxd5 still (6.Bb3 well you could retreat the bishop but this doesn't benefit you, as now black has a comfortable position 6...Bg4 one of many moves that can be played, pressures knight (6...Bxb4 also playable, c3 doesn't work because of Nxf3+ or Nxb3) 

6...Nxd5 7.exd5 don't take d4 with cxd4 as b4 will hang (7.cxd4 Nxb4,  Nd3+ and exd4 are both threats 8.dxe5 doesn't help (8.d5 probably a safer move; here material is even but after Nd3+ you are uncastled 8...Nd3+ 9.Ke2 (9. Kf1)) 8...Qd3) 

7...Nxf3+ 8.Qxf3 Not much to say about this position.. white is momentarily up a pawn but it is doubled and over-extended black has clear development plans with Bd6 and Be7 followed by 0-0, it will probably fall later on, so I would say this is about equal

horselover123 February 8, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.b4 b5 Trying 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe5+ Ke8 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.Qxh8 Nxc2+ 10.Kc1 Nxa1 11.Qxg8 black is momentarily up a piece for two pawns, and the piece will be regained with Bb2, so black will be down material, but black will also end up in an endgame with the bishop pair and has counterplay with Bb7and moves like Qf6 and Qg5, if you don't believe me check the engine..

It continues...

Later there is a link to a YouTube video on the line.

Jerome Gambit: Finding the Right Path

Sometimes against the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 ) the defender can adopt a quiet plan and force the attacker to "find something".

Other times, like in the following game, the game evolves quickly into play for both sides that requires finding the right path through surrounding danger.

It is a fun game, but do not be surprised with notes recomending other move choices.

PedrosF1 - JustEatingPi

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 

5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 7.Qf5+ Kd6 8.f4 Nf3+ 

The Norton Defense, first seen in Jerome - Norton, D. P., correspondence, 1876 (0-1, 42). It leads to exciting play, but is not as dangerous as the Nibs Defense, 8....Qh4+ g3 9.Nf3+.

9.gxf3 Qh4+ 10.Kd1 

White needs to hide away his King, not play 10.Ke2. See ZahariSokolov - Quarte, standard, FICS, 2015 (0-1, 17).

10...Ne7 

Either this move or 10...Nf6 is the right idea.

For some history and analysis on this defense, review "Jerome Gambit: Updating An Old Line" and "Jerome Gambit: Updating the Norton Defense".

10...Qf2 did not turn out as predicted. See perrypawnpusher - Sir Osis of the Liver, Jerome Gambit thematic, ChessWorld.net, 2008 (1-0, 19) 

11.e5+ 

Tempting, but 11.Qe5+ Kc6 12.b4!?, as in Littleplayerparis - Bepis, blitz, lichess.org, 2021 (1-0, 26), is stronger and leads to an even game - although Black's King is more at risk.

11...Kc6 12.Qe4+ Kb6 

Seeking shelter for the King. Best, according to Stockfish 14.1, is the unplayed 12...d5 when Black would be better. 

13.b4 

Sharp, but 13.d4 is better as it cuts out the opportunity given in the note to the next move 

13...d5 

Losing the thread. The Bishop needed to temporarily run further into enemy territory with 13...Bf2.

14.bxc5+ Kxc5 15.Qe3+ Kc6 16.Ba3 Nf5 

17.Qc5+ Kd7 18.Qxd5+ Ke8 19.Nc3 Qxf4 20.Re1 Qxh2 21.e6 Qf4 22.e7 c6 23.Qd8+ Black resigned

Checkmate will come.

Jerome Gambit: Jerome-Knight Gambit? Impatient Jerome Gambit?

The Two Knights Defense is one way of avoiding the Jerome Gambit - or is it? Some attackers find that the 4.Bxf7+ sacrifice is still useful, especially in a blitz game.

Guest8375006553 - Guest4708408726

10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 

The Two Knights defense. 

4.Bxf7+ 

From an earlier post

I have looked at the Jerome Gambit-ish Two Knights Defense variation (Jerome-Knight Gambit? Impatient Jerome Gambit?) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Bxf7+ a number of times, most recently in the series "Jerome Gambit: Facing Up to 4.Bxf7+ in the Two Knights" Parts 1, 2 and 3; and "Jerome Gambit: Jerome-Knight Gambit".

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 Neg4 

Recently Black fell into a trap that we have seen before: 6...Ng6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Qf3+ Kg8 9.Qxd5 checkmate, Guest2712510835 - Guest4549590140, blitz, Chess.com, 2022. 

7.e5 Qe7 8.f4 d6 9.O-O dxe5 10.fxe5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qxe5 

Black has wisely returned one of his two extra pieces for White's central pawns. White will have to work hard to make something out of his chances.

12.Bf4 Qxb2 13.Nd2 Bc5+ 14.Kh1 Bd6 

Black repositions his Bishop, and in the process, surrenders his whole advantage. How can that be?

15.Bxd6 cxd6 16.Nc4 Qb4 17.Nxd6+ 

17...Kg6 

The safest response would be 17...Ke7, when 18.Re1+ Be6 19.Nf5+ Kf7 20.Nd6+ would lead to a draw by repetition.

Heading toward the center with something like 17...Ke6 would be dangerous, i.e. 18.Re1+ Kd7 19.Ne8+ Kc6 20.Qf3+ Nd5 21.c4, etc.

18.Qd3+ Kh6 

If 18...Kh5, then 19.Rab1 will force the win of the Black Queen.

19.Nf7+ Kh5 20.Rf5+ Bxf5 21.Qxf5+ Kh4 22.g3 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Another Application

 

If you look at the games of Alonzo Wheeler Jerome, you will see that he consistently played "his" gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+. 

However, as many tactical minded players have shown (as recent as "Jerome Gambit: Application"), parts of the Jerome Gambit can be applied to other openings to yield wild, attacking play - especially in blitz games.

Guest0679558022 - Guest4717316331

10 0 blitz, Chess.com, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6 

I call this the Semi-Italian Opening, based on Euwe and Meiden's use of the label in their Chess Master vs Chess Amateur (1963).

Others prefer the title Anti-Fried Liver Defense, because it keeps White's Knight off of g5, thereby avoiding the Fried Liver Attack, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 Kxf7.

4.Bxf7+ 

This variation does not have a name, but I refer to it as an "impatient Jerome Gambit", as White sacrifices before Black plays ...Bc5. The lack of a hanging Bishop on c5 makes White's subsequent play more like the Halloween Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4.

For the record, although not as representative as the selection of Jerome Gambit games, The Database has 2,634 games with the position after 4.Bxf7+, with White scoring 42%. 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ 

Stockfish 14.1 shivers down to its bits and bytes at this move, but its recommendation to transpose to the Scotch Opening with 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 is not to everyone's liking. Again, The Database has  271 games with that line, with White scoring 41%.

5...Nxe5 6.d4 Nc6 

White has sacrificed two pieces for two pawns. In return he has a large pawn center, an enemy King to attack - and an opponent who has (most likely) been taken out of his opening preparation. In a slower game, this might not be enough, but in blitz that is often serious compensation.

7.Nc3 Nf6 8.e5 Qe8 9.O-O Nh7 

The Knight withdraws to an uncomfortable place. It is interesting that the computer suggests that Black settle things "scientifically" by returning a piece for two pawns, with 9...Nxe5 . 

10.Nd5 Qd8 11.Qf3+ Kg8 

We see the impact of White's pawn on e5: first, with Black's Knight chased away, his own Knight can come to d5, and second, the Black Knight can not come to f6 to protect against the check.

There is another lurking danger, as well, tied to the defender's misplaced Knight. 

12.Qb3 

Threatening a discovered check along the a2-g8 diagonal.

12...Ng5 

Hoping to give his King some breathing room.

This could be accomplished safer with 12...g6 13.Nxc7+ d5 14.exd6+ Kg7 15.Nxa8 Bxd6 16.Be3 Nf6 when the position would be messy, but with Black's Kight back in his rightful place at f6, the second player likely would have the advantage.

13.Nf6 checkmate

Discovered, double check and mate. Very, very nice.