Jerome Gambit: Unsafe (for me) At Any Speed (Part 3)

 

[continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - GuestJDZB

2 12 blitz, FICS, 2024

I had one eye on the board and one eye on the clock.

26...Rc7 27.Rxb5 Rxc2 28.Rxb6 Rxa2 29.Rxb7

 Sadly, White's Queenside passer looks interesting, but will not amount to anything.

29...Ra1+ 30. Kg2 Ra2+ 31. Kh3 Ne7 32. b4 Rb2 

Rooks belong behind passed pawns.

33.b5 g6 34.f5 gxf5 35.exf5 Nxf5 36.Rxh7 Rxb5 

I jettisoned my b-pawn to reach safe harbor.

Alonzo Wheeler Jerome was probably turning in his grave at my meekness, but there really was not anything left.

37.Rh5 Nd6 38.Rxb5 

After the game Stockfish 16 proposed a line, through move 49, that improved my position from the current 0 pawn advantage to 2/100th of a pawn advantage.

38...Nxb5 

Neither of us was critical on time, and Black's King is properly placed to intercept my pawns.

39.Kg4 Kf7 40.Kf5 Nd6+ 41.Kg5 Kg7 42.h4 Ne4+ 43.Kf4 Nf6 44.g4 Kg6 45.h5+ 

Here my opponent offered a draw, which I accepted.

I guess he didn't want to finish with 45...Nxh5 46.gxh5+ Kxh5 with naked Kings.

It was an exciting game, and I salute my opponent.

The next one will be played with a slower time control.

Jerome Gambit: Unsafe (for me) At Any Speed (Part 2)

 

[continued from the previous post]

perrypawnpusher - GuestJDZB

2 12 blitz, FICS, 2024

13...dxe4 14.dxe4

Instead, Stockfish 16 prefers exchanging Queens with 14.h3 N4e5 15.Qxe4 Nc6 16.Nd5 Qxe4 17.dxe4 Rf7, although it sees Black as better. I don't really understand its "reasoning", and we are entering a part of the game where, afterwards, I found much of the computer's suggestions impenetrable.

14...Be6 

Developing quickly, but leaving himself open to a possible pawn fork if I were to play f2-f4-f5. 

15.Be3 

I will give you Stockfish 16's preference, without comment: 15.h3 N4e5 16.Qh5 Kf7 17.Bg5 Qb4 18.f4 Qxb2 19.fxe5+ Kg8 20.Bd2 Qxc2 21.Qg5 Qd3 22.Rxf8+ Rxf8 23.Rd1 c6 24.Be1 Qc4 25.Kh2 Qc5 26.Rd6 Bc8 27.Qg3 Nxe5 28.Rd1 Ng6 29.a4 Be6 30.Rd2 Qe5 Black is about 3/4 pawn better. 

15...Qd6 

To quote the comic Rodney Dangerfield, I tell ya, I don't get no respect.

My King is safely castled, his is in the middle of the board - but which one is being attacked? Mine.

Respect? I respect my opponent's play.

16.g3 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 a6 

Keeping my Knight off of the b5 square.

Can I keep him from castling? 

18.Rad1 Qb6 19.Qxb6 

I was not happy to see my Queen go, but it messed up his pawns.

19...cxb6 20.f4 Bc4 21.Rf2 Rd8 22.Rfd2 Rxd2 23.Rxd2

Can the "Jerome pawns" help me hold on? (Where, oh where, did my attack go?)

23...Rf7

Preparing to swing the Rook over to the d-file and exchange. The move gave me a breather, as I could work against his Bishop.

24.b3 Bb5 25.Nxb5 axb5 26.Rd5 

Black's Queenside pawns are a vulnerable nightmare.

Hope danced in my head, in the form of the phrase No losing chances - if I could get there.

[to be continued]

Jerome Gambit: Unsafe (for me) At Any Speed (Part 1)

I wanted to play a game of chess.

I went online to the Free Internet Chess Server.

I challenged a Guest.

I should have paid more attention.

Hey! Wait a minute! What is the time control for this game? 2 12? What am I doing playing at this speed? 

perrypawnpusher - GuestJDZB

2 12 blitz, FICS, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5...

I was banging out my moves, hoping that I could use my knowedge of the opening lines to put some increment time on my clock. 

8...Qe7 

At this point I had the suspicion that my opponent had met the Jerome Gambit before, although there is no way to check The Database, due to his use of the "Guest" handle.

As I mentioned back in the post "Fire Exit"

It's always a good thing if Black can get in ...Qf6 or ...Qe7 in a meaningful way.

Interestingly, The Database has 315 games with this position, with White scoring 53%. By comparison, the lichess.org website has 8,071 games with the position, with White scoring 51%. Close.

9.Qe3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Ng4 

There are 8 examples of 10...Ng4 in The Database, with White scoring an understandable 54% (see previous note). Surprisingly, the 33 games at lichess.org show White scoring 71%.

I don't know how to account for the discrepancy.

I have also faced 10...d6 in a number of games:

perrypawnpusher - MRBarupal, 10 5 blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 22);

perrypawnpusher - Navarrra, 6 12 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 24);

perrypawnpusher - chingching, 5 11 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1/2 - 1/2, 36);

perrypawnpusher - mikelars, 4 12 blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 50);

perrypawnpusher - ZhekaR, 10 5 blitz, FICS, 2011 (0-1, 36);

perrypawnpusher - MarkHundleby1, Chess.com, 2013 (1-0, 27);

perrypawnpusher - alvarzr, 2 12 blitz, FICS, 2013 (0-1, 59) 

perrypawnpusher - CorH, 3 12 blitz, FICS, 2014 (0-1, 41)

[That's right, it looks like I have discovered one more of my games that has not yet made it into this blog. It will appear soon. - Rick]

I have also faced 10...Kf7, in perrypawnpusher - frencheng, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1/2-1/2, 34) 

11.Qe2 d5 

A thematic move in the Jerome Gambit - in other lines. I was surprised to see, after the game, that both my opponent and I had overlooked that ...d5 here simply drops a pawn to 12.Nxd5. 

(This is even more puzzling when I recall that I chose 10.Nc3 over 10.d3, in order to hit the d5 square. Tick, tick, tick... For both of us.)

Instead, there was 11...Nf6 12.d4 d5 13.e5 Ng8 14.Nxd5 Qd7 15.Nc3 and now taking the d-pawn would be even, although the computer slightly prefers (by a half-pawn) 15...N8e7. 

12.d3 Rf8 

Instead, 12...d4 would have withdrawn the opportunity of my grabbing that pawn.

13.O-O 

Uh, 13.Nxd5 would have kept the game even. 

[to be continued]

"Jerome pawns" on Parade

The two pawns that White gets in returned for his sacrificed piece in some variations of the Jerome Gambit get nicknamed the "Jerome pawns". They can often be helpful, in their own way, in both attack and defense.

The following game is a good example.

Wall, Bill - Suku

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qxc5 N8e7 

I was surprised to see, at least according to The Database, that this was the first time Bill had arrived at this position.

8.Qh5 

With all sorts of mischief planned for the Kingside.

8...Re8 9.f4 

How should Black respond to the threat to his Knight?

He can try 9...Kg8, unpinning it and protecting his pawn on h7 in the process.

He can hit back in the center with 9...d5, which is probably best, as the move works against the f-pawn's advance as well, i.e. 10.f5 Nxf5 taking advantage of the pin on White's e-pawn.

9...h6

Apparently worried about the h-pawn, but this loss of time will hurt him.

10.f5 Nc6 

Uncovering the threat of his Rook along the e-file, but White has time to react - after grabbing a piece.

11.Qxg6+ Kg8 12.d3 

"Jerome pawns"on parade.

12...d5 

This is still a good idea, although the sad retreat, 12...Ne7 (to harass the Queen) is also useful.

13.Bxh6 

The position calls out for this.

13...Qh4+ 

Black sees that he can capture the annoying Bishop, but he fails to see one move further.

14.g3 Qxh6 

But, but, but...

15.Qxe8+ Kh7 16.Nd2 Qe3+ 

This check will not change things.

17.Kd1 dxe4 18.Qg6+ Kh8 19.Rf1 exd3 20.f6 

Showing who is in charge: White's defense holds even as his offense pushes through.

20...Qe2+ 21.Kc1 Qg4 22.fxg7+ Kg8 23.Rf8 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Not Found Along the Way

In the following Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) game, Bill Wall makes his way past an annoying defense and moves on to deliver checkmate.

As always, there was a defense to be found along the way, but part of the challenge in facing the Jerome is finding that defense - before it is too late.

Wall, Bill - Dasasary

internet, 2023

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 

7.f4 d6 

In "Silicon Defense" I wrote

Although not given a specific title, I have begun to call this the "Annoying Defense", although I suppose, since it is the choice of several computer chess programs, I could also call it the "Silicon Defense" - but it would still be annoying.

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Qe2 Bb6 

Black removes his Bishop from the threat of Qc4+ and then capture.

11.Rf1 Re8 12.g4 h6 13.h4 Bd4

It is hard to know what Black intended here.

I suspect Bill of using hypnosis.

14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5 Ng8

 Sadly, the Knight had to stay put, although Black would have an even game after 15...Rf8 16.gxf6 Rxf6 17.Qc4+ Kd7. 

Now Bill wraps things up.

16.Qc4+ Kd7 17.Qd5+ Ke7 18.Rf7 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: Casual and Safe, Not Enough

My opponent in the following game does not do anything traumatic to his game. Instead, he just kind of drifts into trouble.

Jerome Gambit players do not necessarily win by force, but they often can take advantage of positions that appear quiet and un-exciting on the surface. Then, force helps a lot.

perrypawnpusher - poorplayer63

Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2023

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.Qc3 

I thought that I would give this move (instead of 9.Qe3) a try.

Bill Wall is 7 - 0 with 9.Qc3; but Bill wins with a lot of interesting moves in the Jerome Gambit.

According to The Database, Littleplayerparis has scored 70% with 9.Qc3 in 121 games.

9...Nf6 10.O-O 

For historical purposes: 10.d3 c6 11.O-O Kd7 12.f4 Qb6+ 13.Kh1 Kc7 14.Qe1 Re8 15.b3 Nd5 16.Qg3 Nb4 17.Na3 Bd7 18.c3 Nxa2 19.f5 Ne5 20.d4 Qxb3 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Rb1 Qxc3 23.Be3 a6 24.Qxg7 b5 25.Rf3 Kc8 26.Rd1 Rd8 27.Bb6 Kb7 28.Bxd8 and wins Jerome - Brownson, Iowa 1875.

10...Be6 

A casual move. Instead, after the game Stockfish 16 recommended the following, odd line, leading to what it evaluated as Black's 2 1/2 pawn advantage: 10...Nf4 11.Kh1 Rf8 12.f3 N6h5 13.d3 Ne2 14.Qe1 Nxc1 15.Qxc1 Qh4 16.Kg1 Rf7 17.Nc3 Kf8 18.Qd2 Bd7 19.a4 Kg8 20.Ne2 h6 21.Qb4 Bc6 22.a5 Nf4 23.Nxf4 Qxf4 24.Qc3 d5 25.a6 dxe4 26.fxe4.

Sometimes I have complained that Stockfish does not "understand" the Jerome Gambit, and this is a good example.

11.d4 

Equally un-dynamic. I am always debating, "f2-f4 or d2-d4?" and it is remarkable how often I choose the opposite of the computer, as is again the case here.

11...Nxe4 

I admit that I was hoping for this move, but it hardly can be considered falling into a trap. Instead, there was 11...d5, and whether White meets that with 12.e5 or 12.f3, Black would still be better.

12.Qe3 d5 13.f3 Qd7 14.fxe4 dxe4 15.Qxe4 c6 

This "safe" move later got a thumbs down from the computer, which suggestsed that the position should be reduced to one in which White simply has an edge: 15...Rf8 16.Nd2 Rxf1+ 17.Nxf1 Kf7 18.Bd2 c6 19.Qd3 Rd8 20.Be3 Kg8 21.Re1 c5 22.Bf2 cxd4 23.Qxd4 Qxd4 24.Bxd4 Bxa2 25.Bxa7 Bf7 26.g3 h6 

16.Nc3 Kd8 17.Bg5+ Kc8 18.Rae1 Re8

At this point I was pretty sure that I had something... 

19.d5 cxd5 20.Nxd5 Bf7 

21.Ne7+Nxe7 22.Rxf7 Kc7 23.Rxe7 Rxe7 24.Qxe7 Qxe7 25.Rxe7+

I can always be "tricked" out of my attack on the King by being given enough material; I routinely head for the endgame. Rightly or wrongly, I attribute this to a very early chess book of mine, Reuben Fine's Chess the Easy Way.

25...Kc6 26.Rxg7 Re8 27.Rxh7 Re1+ 28.Kf2 Rc1 

A slip in a lost position.

29.Bxc1 

Black resigned

Jerome Gambit: No Longer Missing (Again)

As long as I am presenting games that I have somehow missed posting on this blog, let me present the following affair - from the same tournament as the previous game, as it turns out.

perrypawnpusher - BunnyWarrior

Giuoco Piano Thematic tournament, Chess.com, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ 

A "nudge" to move the King to the back rank, to interfere with the development of his Rook.

7...Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

I have reached this position in 62 games, scoring 76%. 

The computers assess this as over-performing.

10.O-O 

If Black could now castle, which seems natural at first glance (if you have not been following the game), Stockfish 15.1 would assess his position as about a Rook better. But - Black cannot castle. He has to settle for the typical Jerome Gambit advantage of a piece for two pawns.

10...Kf7 11.f4 Re8 

Does Black even need to castle, now?

This position appeared as early as Vazquez,A - Carrington,W, Mexico, 2nd match (1), 1876 (1-0, 34).

12.f5 Ne5 13.d4 Neg4 

Kick the Queen!

Stronger was to retreat the Knight to d7.

14.Qb3+ Kf8 15.h3 

Kick the Knight!

15...Nh6 

The above-mentioned Vazquez - Carrington game saw the interesting alternative 15...Rxe4, giving back a piece, i.e. 16.hxg4. Actually, Stockfish 15.1 prefers that White offer a pawn, instead, with 16.Nc3 Rxd4 17.hxg4 Rxg4 and assesses that position as minimally favoring Black.

Sometimes I do not understand computers; frequently they do not understand the Jerome Gambit. 

16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.Nd2 

My development is looking better.

17...Nxe4 18.f6 

I remember being pleased with this move. In fact, I used it in 3 subsequent games - perrypawnpusher - TobiasBrunner, Let's Play the Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2018 (1-0, 32); perrypawnpusher - warwar, The Italian Battleground tournament, Chess.com, 2018 (1-0, 39); and perrypawnpusher - Kugich, Piano Piano tournament, Chess.com, 2021 (1-0, 38).

But it was not my move. Bill Wall played it 6 years earlier, in Wall, B. - Vijay, V., Chess.com, 2010 (1-0, 22.)

18...Nxd2 

Unsuspecting.

19.Qg3 Nxf1 

Cooperative to the end.

20.Qg7 checkmate