Jerome Gambit: Chessgames.com Opening of the Day

If you visit the Chessgames.com website today, you will see that the Opening of the Day is the Kentucky Opening - otherwise known as the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+).

This is a fair acknowledgement, as it was 150 years ago that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's games and analysis began appearing, starting with the Dubuque Chess Journal.

The site has only 10 Jerome Gambit games, but they do include 4 by Jerome, himself, as well as the early Amateur - Blackburne game, Hikaru Nakamura's game, and blog contributor Yury V. Bukayev's game.

Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale 1. A Jerome vs W Shinkman 0-1 21 1874 corr 2. A Jerome vs O A Brownson     ½-½ 29 1875 corr 3. A Jerome vs NN 1-0 20 1876 Casual game 4. A Jerome vs W H Colburn   0-1 34 1879 corr 5. NN vs Blackburne 0-1 14 1884 Casual game 6. E Sidran vs Ron Thompson 0-1 16 1992 CIS Casual email 7. L White vs NN 1-0 32 2003 Internet Section 15-A 8. L Nelson vs Z Sugar 1-0 20 2006 Queens-ch 9. Nakamura vs D Kollars 1-0 28 2020 Online 3 0 blitz 10. Yury Bukayev vs Valery Golshev 1-0 24 2021 Online 30 0 rapid

Jerome Gambit: Kings in Danger

The following game shows both Kings in danger, and only one of them was able to escape. Fortunately, it was mine.

ce_1 - perrypawnpusher

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.d3 

A "modern" variation of the Jerome, as opposed to the "classical" 5.Nxe5 that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome played.

5...Nf6 6.Ng5+

Recently seen in LemonOtter42 - Chioborra  Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023 (1-0, 24), LemonOtter42 - KevinOSh, Jerome Gambit Practice Tournament, Chess.com, 2023 (0-1, 32), and NNN_1 - Shustruy, internet, 2022 (1/2-1/2, 30).

Overall, I have faced this move 5 times, scoring 3 - 1 - 1.

The Database shows 1,107 games with 5.Ng5+. White scores 36%.

6...Kg8 

At 30 ply, Stockfish 15.1 evaluates this move and 6...Ke8 as the same. An example of 6...Ke8 is madmadmal - perrypawnpusher, blitz, FICS, 2009 (0-1, 53). 

7.Be3 

Using the idea of 7.c3 h6 8.Qb3+, RattyMouse out-played me - see RattyMouse - perrypawnpusher, 3 0 blitz, FICS, 2009}(1-0, 31) 

7...d6 

Years ago, I exchanged Bishops, 7...Bxe3 8.fxe3 in bushytail - perrypawnpusher, blitz, FICS,2008 (1/2-1/2, 50). 

8.Bxc5 dxc5 9.c3 

Guarding the d4 square and preparing for a Queen check along the a2-g8 diagonal.

10...h6 

A rather clueless choice on my part. A better idea was 9...c4 block that dangerous diagonal, and if 10.d4, then 10...h6. Instead, 10.dxc4 Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 would not help White a bit.

10.Qb3+ Nd5 

Am I tricky, or what? This move is best, but it reflects upon the uncomfortable position I had put myself in.

11.exd5 

Underestimating me, or the position. The right way was 11.Qxd5+ Qxd5 12.exd5 with a small edge. 

11...Qxg5 

My turn to fumble my chances. 

After the game, Stockfish 16.1 recommended 11...Na5 12.Qa4 Qxg5 13.Nd2 (If 13.Qxa5, Qc1+) b6 (saving the dim Knight, not grabbing the g-pawn) 14.Ne4 Qf5 15.O-O Bd7 16.Qc2 Nb7 17.Ng3 Qf7 18.Rae1 Qxd5 19.f4 exf4 20.Ne2 f3 21.Nf4 Qf7 22.Rxf3 Re8 23.Rxe8+ Bxe8 24.Qe2 Nd6 and Black would have been better.

All a bit beyond me.

12.dxc6+ Kh7 

13.Qd5 

Instead, 13.cxb7 Bxb7 was risky, but  13.O-O would have been prudent, and would have kept things in balance. 

With the text, White protects his g-pawn and advanced c-pawn, but leaves his own King at risk.

13...Qc1+ 14.Ke2 Qxh1 15.Qe4+ g6 16.cxb7 Bxb7 17.Qxb7

White has a pawn for the exchange, but his Knight and Rook are unfortunately placed, so, even given his raggedy pawn structure, Black is better. 

I wish, during the game, that I was as confident as the computer, after the game. White's Queen continued with her threats.

17...Rac8 18.Qd5 

Threatening checkmate at f7.

18...Rhf8 19.Qd7+ Kh8 20.Qh3 

 20...h5 

Also okay was 20...Kh7, but I was concerned about 21.Qd7+ Kg8 22.Qh3 Kh7 23.Qd7+ and a possible draw by repetition.

After the game, the computer pointed out that after 22.Qh3, Black would have had 23...Rxf2+!? 24.Kxf2 Rf8+, when White would have had to give up his Queen with 25.Qf3, since all other moves would allow checkmate. After that, Black's Queen would dominate White's Rook and Knight, while gathering in some pawns.

21.Qg3 Kh7 22.b3 Qc1 23.Qxe5

A final slip. 

23...Rce8 24.Qxe8 Rxe8+ 25.Kf3 g5 White resigned

Checkmate is on the horizon.

Jerome Gambit: Is A Draw OK?

The following game treads a familiar path, yet I wound up settling for a draw. It raises the standard Jerome Gambit question: having sacrificed two pieces, should White be satisfied with a draw?

Playing an opponent rated about 100 points above me, this time I agreed.

perrypawnpusher - aansmar

Italian Game tournament, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 

7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 

I have also faced 8...Qe7 in perrypawnpusher - frencheng, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 17) and 8...Qf6 in perrypawnpusher - kashifnaseem, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 34). 

9.d3  

Or 9.Nc3 as in perrypawnpusher - klixar, blitz, FICS, 2007

9...Qd7 

Alternatives: 

9...h6, as in perrypawnpusher - caterwaul, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 39); or 

9...g4 as in perrypawnpusher - salla, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 18) and perrypawnpusher - marianomocoroa, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 14); or 

9...Kf7 as in perrypawnpusher - klask, blitz, FICS, 2023 (0-1, 47),  perrypawnpusher - PasayDefence, Piano Piano, Chess.com 2021 (0-1,28), perrypawnpusher - truuf, blitz, FICS, 2011(0-1, 32), and perrypawnpusher - Abhishek29, lichess.org, 2019 (1-0, 35); or 

9...Nh5 as in perrypawnpusher - maxmi, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0, 42); 

9...h5 as in perrypawnpusher - ulisimbolon, blitz, FICS, 2016 (0-1, 22); and 

9...Be6 as in perrypawnpusher - Sarantes, Let's Play the Italian Game, Chess.com 2018 (1-0, 37) and perrypawnpusher - GuestTYQD, blitz, FICS, 2023 (1-0, 39). 

10.h3 

This was an unfortunate move to have to make, but I did not want to see Black's Queen come to g4, for an exchange. Still, I initiated the exchange a half dozen moves later. Go figure.

10...h5 

To harass White's Queen. It opens the g5 square to White's Bishop, but Black sees it as worth it.

11.Bg5 Qf7 12.Nc3 c6 

Keeping White's Knight off of d5.

13.Na4 b5 

Encouraging White to make the exchange that he was already planning. Even at the cost of a pawn, the best line was 13...Bb4+ 14.c3 Ba5 15.Qxd6+. 

14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.Qd6+ Qe7 16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 17.e5 

Winning back material.

17...Be6 18.exf6+ gxf6 19.Be3 

19...c4 20. dxc4 Bxc4 21. O-O-O Bd5 22. Rhe1 draw

A draw might seem a bit premature, given that I was a pawn ahead, but exchanging the Rooks on the e-file seems likely, and the resulting Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame looks pretty balanced.

Jerome Gambit: Battle Royal

If I ever faced a 2500 player in a blitz game, I would probably get serious and play 1.d4, heading for the London Opening.

Who am I kidding? I would play the Jerome Gambit and see what happens - just because.

In the following game, chessriddler, with almost 200 games in The Database, steps up and hurls Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's opening at his opponent, with equal aplomb.

A poke in the eye? A tweak of the nose? Choose your own metaphor, but do enjoy the battle.

chessriddler - peperoni10

10 0 rapid, lichess.org, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ 

Just to illustrate the first player's attitude, here he offered a draw.

 5...Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Ke8 8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Nf6 

Here we have a standard Jerome Gambit position. There are 820 games with it in The Database, going back to Charlick - Mann, correspondence, 1881 (1-0, 72) . White scores 65%.

10.O-O Rf8 

Preparing to castle-by-hand, quite prudent.

11.f4 

First, a precaution was played in chessriddler - Aliasgari77, lichess.org, 2023: 11.h3 Kf7 12.f4 Kg8 13.f5 Ne5 14.b3 Bd7 15.d4 Nf7 16.c4 c5 17.d5 Re8 18.Nd2 Ne5 19.Bb2 Qe7 20.Nf3 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 Qxe4 22.Qg3 Nh5 23.Qg5 Qe3+ 24.Qxe3 Rxe3 25.Rad1 Ng3 26.Rf2 Nxf5 27.Bc1 Rg3 28.Rdf1 Ne3 29.Rf8+ Rxf8 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Bxe3 Rxe3 32.Kf2 Re2+ 33.Kxe2 Bf5 34.Kf3 Bc2 35.g4 Bb1 Black won on time

11...Qe7 12.d3 Kf7

Or 12...Be6 13.f5 Bf7 14.fxg6 Bxg6 15.Nc3 Kd7 16.Qh3+ Qe6 17.Qxe6+ Kxe6 18.Bg5 c6 19.d4 Nxe4 20.Rae1 d5 21.Rxf8 Rxf8 22.h3 h6 23.Bc1 Kd6 24.Nxe4+ Bxe4 25.Kh2 g5 26.Bd2 Rf2 27.Rg1 Rxd2 28.c3 Rxb2 29.Kg3 Rxa2 30.Kg4 Rxg2+ 31.Kh5 Rxg1 Black won on time,  chessriddler - M80_11m, lichess.org, 2023. 

13.f5 Ne5 14.h3 Kg8 

Black has an extra piece for two pawns, better development - and a safe King. The computer sees him as about a pawn and 1/4 better.

Things can change, however, especially in a 10-minute game.

15.b3 d5 

Here we go. Hitting White's pawn chain looks like a solid idea, but it overlooks a tactic. It is not surprising that peperoni10 did not choose the Stockfish 16.1 suggestion of 15...b5.

16.Ba3 Qf7

A little better was the tricky 16...d4!?, e.g. 17.Bxe7 dxe3 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 and after gathering in the pawn on e3 White will have a Rook and 3 pawns vs 2 pieces. Two pieces often best a Rook, but the extra pawns - and White's pawn structure - support the first player.

17.Bxf8 Kxf8

To add insult to injury, White now displaces the enemy Knights.

18.d4 Nc6 19.e5 Ne4

I am reminded of the lament, Now that I have what I really want, do I really want what I have?

What should White's plan be?

20.e6 

Stifling the enemy Bishop. There was also the uncomplicated 20.Nc3 Nxc3 21.Qxc3 Kg8 22.Rae1 focusing on further development.

20...Qf6 21.c3 b6 22.Na3 

It looks like White has a plan to undermine the advance Black Knight with c2-c4 (or the goofy Nc4). Instead, he still had 22.Nd2 Nxd2 23.Qxd2.

22...Ne7 

23.Qf4

It is clear that the f-file is important. This move also takes control of some of the dark squares that were ceded with the advance of the e-pawn.

Yet, things begin to unravel.

Stockfish 16.1 suggests a Knight's tour with 23.Nc4 Ba6 24.Ne5 Kg8 25.Nd7 Qg5 26.Qxg5 Nxg5 27.Rfe1 h6 (not 17...Nxf5 because of 18.Re5) 28.f6 gxf6 29.Nxf6+ Kg7 30.Nh5+ Kg6 31.Nf4+ Kf5 32.Nxd5 Nxd5 33.Re5+ Kf6 34. Rxd5. Give me a break.

23...Nxc3 24.Rae1

Again, it takes some computer help to come up with the alternative, 24.Qxc7 Ne2+ 25.Kh2 Ba6 26.Rae1 Nxd4 27.Rf2 Bd3 28.Qf4 Kg8 29.g4 Be4 30.Nc4 h5 31.Qe5 hxg4 32.Qxf6 g3+ 33.Kxg3 gxf6 34.Nd6 Bc2 35.Kf4 Ndxf5 36.Rxc2 Nxd6 37.Rc7 Ng6+ 38.Kg3 Re8 39.Rxa7 Ne5. When the pawn on e6 falls, Black will have two Knights for a Rook. Whew!

24...Ba6 25.Rf3 

This returns the exchange.

25...Ne2+ 26.Rxe2 Bxe2 27.Rf2 Bd3 28.g4 c5 

White's pawns continue to be under pressure.

29.Rf3 Be4 30.Rf2 Qxd4 31.g5

One last push. 

31...Nxf5 32.Qd6+ Kg8 33.Qd7

White's Queen is very active, but his King is in grave danger.

33...Rf8 34.e7 Nxe7 35.Qe6+ Kh8 

White resigned

Quite a game.

Jerome Gambit: I Don't Really Understand This Move...

While I did not understand my opponent's 10th move in the following game, I understood what moves I could make to play against it - which is what mattered in the end.

perrypawnpusher - slp001

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ng6 

7.Qd5+ Kf8 8.Qxc5+ N8e7 

The usual response is 8...d6, although a quick check of The Database shows that both moves score 63% for White, 37% for Black. The lines also can transpose.

9.O-O d6 10.Qe3 Ne5 

I don't really understand this move, although I have faced the Knight on e5 in similar variations in other games. It almost seems like a taunt - Go ahead, hit me with a pawn!

Two other games of mine saw 10...b6 11.f4 Bb7 in  perrypawnpusher - Jaqueperpetuo, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1-0, 25) and 10...Be6 11.f4 in perrypawnpusher - subhann, blitz, FICS, 2016 (1-0, 21).

11.d4 

Of course, after the game Stockfish preferred 11.f4 by about half a pawn.

11...N5g6 

The Knight returns to home base, but the computer calculates that the two tempos used for the excursion cost Black about a pawn in valuation.

12.f4 Rg8 13.f5 Nh8 

14.f6 

There were other, calmer moves (e.g. 14.Nc3, 14.c4), but I wanted to get at the enemy King.

14...gxf6 15.Rxf6+ Nf7 16.Qf2 Rg7 

Missing a nifty response, returning a little material with 16...Nf5 17.Rxf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Qc8, and an equal game.

It is unfortunate that Black, in and attempt to strengthen his King's protection, allows the collaps of his defense.

17.Bh6 Kg8 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rxf7+ Kh8 20.Qf6+ Kg8 21.Qg7 checkmate

JeromeGambit: Uncomfortable

I feel a bit uncomfortable fighting against, and then defeating, the Jerome Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) but the tournament requires Jeromes in every game.

Perhaps there is something to reconsider in White's play.

yoyokskr - perrypawnpusher

Jerome Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ 

4...Kxf7 5.O-O 

A"modern" variation of the Jerome, bypassing 5.Nxe5+. It seems less risky, but it is not nearly as sharp.

Of course, there is also 5.Ng5+, the "Face Palm Variation" (see the post "Jerome Gambit: The SMH Variation", among others) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Ng5+.

5...Nf6 6.d4 exd4 

Reminiscent of the Macbeth Attack or the Haxo Gambit.

7.Ng5+ 

 I was surprised to find 27 games with this move in The Database, with White scoring 48%.

7...Kg8 8.Re1 

I suppose that White could also continue with 8.c3, if he were thinking of the Goring Gambit, or 8.b4 Bxb4 9.c3, if her were partial to the Evans Gambit. Both might lead to exciting play, but Black would still be better.

8...h6 9.Nf3 d6 

Black's development is superior, even given the placement of his King's Rook. His extra piece counts, too.

10.e5 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Rxe5 Bb6 

Instead, 12...Bd6 had a bit more bite to it.

13.c4 

Cute. Of course, now 13...dxc e.p. would drop the Queen. In the meantime, the text threatens the annoying c4-c5. Fortunately there is a straightforward solution.

13...c5 

14.Qf3 Bc7 15.Re2 

A slip. The Rook needed to go all the way back to e1.

15...Bg4 16.Qd3 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Qd6 

Turning my attention to the Kingside.

18.g3 Re8 19.Qd2 Kf7 

Making way for the Rook on h8 to come to the center files.

It was also possible to leave the Rook in place and try 19...h5.

20.b3 Re6 21.Qd3 Rhe8 22.Bf4 

Hoping to blunt Black's Queen-plus-Bishop battery.

There are other attacks, howevr.

22...Re1+ 23.Kg2 Qc6+ 24.f3 

Or 24.Qf3, when 24...Qxf3+ 25.Kxf3 Bxf4 25.gxf4 would be followed by 25...Rg1 and a doubling of Rooks on the first rank, or by 25...d3; both of which would win at least a piece.

24...R8e2+ 25.Kh3 Qe6+ 26.g4 Bxf4 27.a4 Rxh2 checkmate

Jerome Gambit: With A Bullet

The following game was played at the speed of 1 minute, no increment. 

I continue to be amazed how successful angelcamina is, with such little -TIME- to work with.

angelcamina - hsynli_5

1 0 bullet, lichess.org, 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 Qe7

9.Qc4 

Stockfish 16 evaluates 9.Qxe7+ as about 2 pawns better than the text move, but not every Jerome Gambiteer is ready to exchange Queens so early in the game. 

9...d6

The computer's choice here is the bolder 9...d5 which shows up in only one game in The Database, fehim - NicholsonM, blitz, FICS, 2010 (0-1, 32).

angelcamina has scored 13 -3 against 9...Nf6. 

He is 2 -1 against 9... c6. 

10.O-O Be6 11.Qa4+ 

Stiring things up. According to The Database, angelcamina was 1 - 2 with 11.Qb4 here, and 2 - 0 with 11.Qb5+.

11...Bd7 12.Qb3 

12...Rb8 

Playing it safe. Perhaps he did not believe that those who take the b-pawn will sleep in the gutter... Is the question "Jerome Gambit: To b or Not to b?"

Another possibility was 12...Qxe4, but perhaps that did not feel "safe".  

13.d4 

Willing to take Black at his word, that the e-pawn is poisoned. Otherwise: 13.d3. 

13...Nf6 14.Nc3 a6

Again, hoping to forestall mischief.

15.Bd2 Qf7 16.Qa3 Ke7

Hoping to be able to castle-by-hand. 

17.f4 Rhe8 18.e5 

 18...Nd5 

He would do better completing "castling" with 18...Kf8 and an even game.

19.f5 Nh8 20.Rae1 

The "Jerome pawns", backed by Rooks, are looking to cause problems.

20...Bb5 21.Nxb5 

21...axb5 22.exd6+ Kd7 23.dxc7 Kxc7 

White has 3 pawns for his sacrificed piece, but, besides Black's Knight stuck at h8, King safety - in this case, Black's King is not - is the most salient issue.

24.Qc5+ Kd7 25.Qxb5+ Kc7 26.Qc5+ Kd7 27.Qb5+ Kc7 

28.Bf4+ 

No draw, thank you, just gaining a little time on the clock.

The computer prefers 28.c4, but angelcamina is planning on finishing off his opponent quicker. Things fall apart, the center cannot hold.

28...Kc8 29.Qc5+ Nc7 30.Rxe8+ Qxe8 31.Qxc7 checkmate