an almost irresistible attack. If you remove the Knight to K 5, he will reply by 5. Q to K R 5 ch (the Salvio and Cochrane Gambits), and you can hardly save the game. Your proper course is boldly to abandon the Knight and Castle (the Muzio Gambit); you will then obtain a game so strong as to show clearly that his advance of the Pawn was unsound. § 1. The King's Knight's Gambit. For 3. B to QB 4 (the K B's Gambit), see § 5. 3. P to K R 4 is sometimes played, to prevent the advance of Black's Knight's Pawn, but it cannot be recommended. 3. P to K Kt 4 This is certainly his best move. 3. B to K 2 (the Cunningham Gambit), with a view to checking at KR 5, is nearly certain to result in the loss of the Gambit Pawn. 4. B to QB 4 (best) For 4. P to K R 4 (the Allgaier Gambit) see § 4. 4. B to K Kt 2 This prevents the threatened advance of your Knight to K 5. 4. P to Kt 5 is not so good (see §§ 2 and 3), 5. Castles If 5. P to K R 4, 5. P to KR 3. 5. P to Q3 If he now advance the Knight's Pawn, you may ensure winning the Gambit Pawn by 6. Kt to K sq, or obtain a strong attack by 6. P to QB 3. The best move; QB to K 3 is now abandoned as inferior. 8. P to K 5 9. Kt x P 10. R to K sq 8. PxP 9. Bx Kt If 10. Px B, he will check with the Queen at QB 4, winning your K B. § 2. The Salvio and Cochrane Gambits. In these variations of the Knight's Gambit, Black plays, at his fourth move, P to K Kt5, instead of B to K Kt 2, which gives him a strong counter attack, but is dangerous, as it allows you to adopt the almost irresistible Muzio Gambit. If you leave the Knight to be taken, and Castle, the game becomes the Muzio Gambit. 6. K to B sq 5. Q to KR 5, ch 6. K Kt to R 3 In the Cochrane Gambit he advances the Pawn to KB 6, before bringing out the Knight. 7. P to Q 4 7. P to KB 6 If he should play instead 7. P to Q 3, you retreat the Knight to Q 3, and have the better game. 8. Q to K sq If 8. Bx Kt, or 8. B to KB 4, he will reply with 8 P× Kt P, and he must win; if 8. P× P, then In this variation of the Salvio Gambit, Black advances the K BP to B 6 before bringing his Knight out. I doubt much whether it is an improvement on the Salvio, but it gives him a decided advantage. Moves 1-5, same as before. 6. K to B sq 6. P to KB 6 7. P to Q4 This is your best move; if 7 Kt PXP, then 7 Kt to K B 3. 8. KxP 9. K to Kt sq 7. Px Kt P ch 8. Q to R 6 ch 9. K Kt to R 3 If he play the Knight to B 3, you may safely take KBP with Knight. 10. Q to Q 3 If 10. Q B× Kt, he will retake with K B, and D afterwards check with the B at K 6, with a very strong game. 11. PXQ 12. Q BX Kt 14. K to Kt 2 With the best game. 10. QxQ 11. P to Q 3 12. BxB 13. B to K 6 ch § 3. The Muzio Gambit. It was shown in the preceding section that the Salvio and Cochrane defences must inevitably give Black the superior game; it was also observed that it was in your power to prevent his playing them by sacrificing the Knight which he attacked at his fourth move, thereby gaining time, an all-important consideration in Chess. This bold Gambit, termed the Muzio (the essential characteristic of which is the sacrifice of the Knight), is as sound as it is brilliant and striking, and may be said almost to ensure victory to the first player. With the most careful play Black can obtain no more than an even game, and the chances of error are numerous. White 1. P to K 4 3. K Kt to B 3 4. B to QB 4 .5. Castles GAME I. Black 1. P to K 4 3. P to K Kt 4 4. P to Kt 5 |