Jerome Gambit: Numbers, We Got Numbers (Part 2)

 

Reflecting on the numbers drawn from The Database - see the previous post - I wanted to give the evaluation of the main lines, courtesy of Stockfish 16.1 (30 ply).

The line Jerome Gambit players have been most successful against, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6, is rated by the computer as being about 2 1/3 of a pawn better for Black.

The line Jerome Gambit players have played most frequently, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+Ke6, is rated by the computer as being about 3 pawns better for Black.

The line Jerome Gambit players have played nearly as often, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4 , is also rated by the computer as about 3 pawns better for Black.

The line Jerome Gambit players have played the least, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8, is rated by the computer as being  2 3/4 pawns better for Black.

It all amounts to the first player being comfortable with giving up significant material (remember, 3 pawns = 1 piece), meaning finding the right time control and the right opponent to unleash the Jerome Gambit.

Jerome Gambit: Numbers, We Got Numbers (Part 1)

I regularly refer in my blog posts to "The Database", which is my collection of Jerome Gambit and related games. It has grown over the years, due to my searching out the games, and also due to receiving many games from Readers.

A peek at The Database today shows:

The regular line of Jerome Gambit play, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+     38,295 games         White scores 52%

The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Bxf7+      7,763 games          White scores 57%

The Abrahams Jerome Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Bxf7+                               18,980 games           White scores 51%

A quick breakdown of the four main lines of play is interesting

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8                  3,453 games           White scores 47%

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+Ke6                    4,814 games            White scores 55%

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6                3,053 games            White scores 70%

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.d4             4,249 games              White scores 55%

Jerome Gambit: Explosive

Combining the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) with the Evans Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4) can produce an explosive attack, as the following game (which was MateSharkVlad's challenge after his miniature lost game on Chess.com - as White- against Yury V. Bukayev: 1.e4 c5 2.Ne2 Nc6 3.f4 d5 4.exd5 Nb4 5.c4 Nd3 checkmate) shows.

Yury_V_Bukayev - MateSharkVlad

30 rapid, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O Nf6 6.b4 

Reminiscent of the Evans Jerome Gambit.

6...Bxb4 7.c3 Bc5 

Somewhat cooperative. Instead, 7...Be7 comes to mind.

8.d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 

Yury now demonstrates the power of the pawn center.

10.e5 Ng8 

Black figures that retreat is enough. Instead, he should have returned his extra piece with 10...d5 11.exf6 Qxf6, still with an edge.  

11.d5 Nb8 

Probbly 11...Ne7 was better, but Black was committed to a plan.

12.Ng5+ 

12...Ke8 13.Re1 Ne7 

Again, the Knight tries to safeguard the King.

14.d6 Ng6 15.Qh5 

15...Bd4 

Hoping to snare a free Rook, but the action is all on the other side of the board.

16.Nxh7 Kf7 

Instead, 16...Bxf2+ would slow - but not stop - the attack. Black is angling for 17.Kxf2 Qh4+ 18.Qxh4 Nxh4, but he would still be worse. Of course, White could reply to 16...Bxf2+ with 17.Kh1, ending that adventure.

17.Qf5+ 

17...Kg8 18.Nf6+ gxf6

There also was little future in 18...Kf8 19.Ng4+Kg8 20.Qxg6.

 19.Qxg6+ Black resigned

Black sees that checkmate is coming, and turns over his King.

For those who enjoy unfortunate endings, Stockfish 16.1 gives the longest that Black can hold out, while giving up most of his pieces and still being mated: 19...Kf8 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.dxc7 Qe7 22.Ba3 d6 23.Bxd6 Nd7 24.Nc3 Rh7 25.Rxe7 Bxe7 26.Re1 Rg7 27.Bxe7+ Kg8 28.Qe6+ Kh8 29.Re4 Nf8 30.Qh6+ Kg8 31.Bf6 Rxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Bh3+ 33.Kxh3 Ne6 34.Rxe6 Kf7 35.Re7+ Kg8 36.Qh8# 

Quite a nice game by Yury!

Jerome Gambit: The Challenge of Blitz

Blitz games can be entertaining for those watching, as things happen quickly - sometimes very bad or very good things.

That's the challenge of blitz, as well: playing fast enough not to lose on time, but slow enough to make sure all of your moves are good.

Kingtora - Caballo-Astuto

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 Nf6 

Three pieces vs the Queen looks like a good idea, but Black misses the point (it's a blitz game) that one of his will fall quickly.

8.Qf5+ 

White has a plan, but, instead, he should have aimlessly played 8.Qxe5+ followed by 9.Qxc5.

8...Kf7 9.fxe5 

This is White's idea: Black's Knight is pinned.

9...Qe8 

Almost, but not quite enough. He had, instead, 9...d6 10.Qf1 and then 10...Qe8, because 11.exf6 can be met with 11...Qxe4+.

Blitz. It happens.

10.exf6 gxf6 11.Qh5+ Ke7 

12.Qxe8+ 

White chooses to play with Queens off of the board. I am sure he had his reasons, but I would prefer 12.Qxc5.

12...Rxe8 13.d3 d6 14.Nc3 Bg4 

Not sure what this move is about. Could be time related.

15.Nd5+ Kd7 16.Nxf6+ Black resigned

Material will be lost.

[Readers, this post is number 4,600. Many thanks to those who have contributed games, analysis and history about the Jerome Gambit, over the 16 years of this blog's existence. - Rick]

Jerome Gambit: Remember?

Kingtora - andrikrist

10 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1 e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qxh8 

If he remembers the variations, White can take this Rook and live.

8...Qh4 

Everyone remembers Amateur - Blackburne, London, 1884, (0-1, 14) right?

9.O-O 

Fully playable, although 9.d4 was stronger. 

9...Qxe4 

A slip. Complicated play follows blocking the Queen in with, 9...Nf6, although 10.Qd8 Bb6 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qd3 would secure Her Majesty's release.

10.Nc3 

Or 10.Qxh7+ Kf8 11.d3 Qe5 12.Be3!? Qxb2 13.Nd2 Qg7 14.Qxg7+ Kxg7 15.Bxc5 dxc5 

10...Qxc2 

In the Jerome Gambit, greed is not good.

Instead, 10...Qh4 would have been more useful. 

11.d4 Bb6 12.Nd5 Bd7 13.Qxh7+ Ke6 

White is a pawn and the exchange better, but the real issue is King safety.

14.Nxb6 cxb6

Black now faces a forced checkmate.

15.Re1+ Kd5 Black resigned

White will win the Bishop and then gather in more material as Black tries, unsuccessfully, to ward off mate.

Jerome Gambit: More Proof

White sets up another trap, and Black tumbles into it.

More proof of the successful combination of the Jerome Gambit and blitz time control.

Kingtora - Nomi7

5 0 blitz, lichess.org, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 Qe7 8.Qc4+ Kf8 

Already giving White thoughts of an attack along the a3-g8 diagonal. Consistent with the offering of an exchange of Queens would have been 8...Qe6.

9.b3

Preparing a threat, but in a moment the opponent's awareness is gone.

9...Ne5 

Counter threat.

10.Qxc7 

A diversion.

10...Ng4 

A further threat.

11.Ba3 Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: Careless?

The following game is a reminder to defenders to learn a bit about the Jerome Gambit - and a quick lesson (see "Jerome Gambit: Hot Mess" for an earlier example) for Jerome Gambiteers on how to punish a careless second player.

Kingtora - selimmessadia

5 0 blitz, lichess.org 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf6 

Hoping to save the Knight, but this not the way to do it.

7.d4 

Going for the quick win. Instead, White recovers his sacrificed material with 7.Qf5+ Ke7 8.Qxe5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5+.

7...Bxd4 

If you are not familiar with the Jerome Gambit, you probably would not find 7...Bb4+ 8.c3 Nd3+ 9.Kd2 d5, keeping the advantage.

8.Bg5+ Black resigned

His Queen is lost.