3. B to QB4 4. P to Q Kt 4 5. P to QB 3 3. B to QB 4 4. BxP 5. B to QB 4 It is of little consequence whether he play the B to B 4 or R 4, since it must ultimately retire to Q Kt 3, as he will want to play Q Kt to R 3 subsequently. If he had taken the Pawn at his fourth move with Knight, and then retired it to QB 3, the position would be the same. 6. P to Q 4 7. Castles 6. PxP 7. PXQ BP is bad because it gives you too much time at a critical point in the game. 7. K Kt to B 3 is also bad because of These eight moves are considered the best on each side, but from this point many attacks diverge— 9. Q Kt to B 3, P to Q5, P to K 5, B to Q Kt 2, B to QR3, R to K sq, Kt to K Kt 5, P to K R 3. All these may be played without disadvantage, but the best and the most frequently adopted are 9. Q Kt to B3, and 9. P to Q5. It matters little which of the two you choose, since they converge again after a few moves. 9. Q Kt to R4 9. Q Kt to B 3 Formerly 9. B to K Kt 5 was played here, but it has now rather fallen into disrepute on account of the powerful Fraser-Mortimer attack to which it subjects Black. The first few moves of that attack are as follows: 10. Q to QR 4 10. B to Q2 if B x Kt or K to B sq, you advance the Pawn to Q 5. If you had played 9. P to Q 5, the same position. would have been arrived at moves: 9. P to Q5 10. B to Q Kt 2 11. KB to Q 3 12. Q Kt to B3 by the following 9. Q Kt to R 4 10. Kt to K2 11. Castles 12. K Kt to Kt 3 It is, however, on the whole, more advantageous to play Q Kt to B 3 at your 9th move, on the chance of getting the Mortimer attack. 13. Q Kt to K 2. The game is about even; Black has gained a Pawn and is tolerably safe; but, on the other hand, White's pieces are excellently disposed for action. GAME II. The Gambit Declined. The customary modes of declining the Gambit are (1) to play P to Q4 as a counter gambit, or (2) to retire the Bishop to Q Kt 3; but neither of these is altogether satisfactory; the Bishop must not be retired to Q 3 or to K 2, because it would not be well posted there, and would confine Black's game. This is generally considered Black's best move, but I prefer B to Q Kt 3 5. KPXP 6. KtxKP (best) 5. Kt x Kt P 6. KtxP This seems to be his best move; but if 6. B to if Kt to Q R 3 then 12. Q to K Kt 4, ch If 5. P to Q Kt 5, he will remove the Kt to Q R 4, and on your taking KP with Kt, will equalise the game by Q to K B 3. 5. P to QR3 § 5. The Two Knights' Defence. In this variation of the Italian Defence, Black plays 3. K Kt to B 3 instead of 3. B to Q B4; it deserves more attention than it has hitherto received from chess-players, as it enables the second player without difficulty to equalise the game, which he can hardly do after playing 3. B to Q B4. The Evans Gambit is the strongest attack known except the Muzio; the Giuoco Piano is slightly favourable to the first player, but both of these attacks may be successfully evaded by the Two Knights' Defence; it is moreover available in certain forms of the Petroff Defence and Scotch Gambit, and it is the best reply to the King's Bishop's Opening. White 1. P to K 4 Black 1. P to K 4 |