CHAPTER II. THE KING'S BISHOP'S OPENING. THIS opening is weaker and less varied than the King's Knight's, since the second player may almost always reply to it with the Two Knights' Defence, the result of which is an even game. Black's best reply is 2. K Kt to B3; the old defence, 2. B to QB 4, subjects him to several disagreeable attacks. 2. P to K B 4, or 2. P to QB 3, are also bad. § 1. The King's Bishop's Defence. White 1. P to K 4 2. B to QB 4 Black 1. P to K 4 2. B to QB 4 You may now play 3. K Kt to B3, or 3. P to Q Kt 4 (best), or 3. Q to K 2, the Lopez gambit. 3. P to QB 3 was recommended by Philidor, but is now thought weak; 3. P to K B4 is bad, because Black would take K Kt with Bishop and then check with the Queen at Rook's 5th, winning the Rook's Pawn with a good game. In the first place 3. K Kt to B 3 3. P to Q3 If 3. Q Kt to B 3, we have the Giuoco Piano; if 3. K Kt to B 3, you play 4. KtxK P, with a good game. 4. P to QB 3 6. P to Q4 7. B to K Kt 5 8. Q Kt to Q2 10. B to K Kt 3 4. Q to K 2 The Handbuch pronounces the positions equal, but I am inclined to think that White's game is the stronger. In the second place 3. P to Q Kt 4 This is your best play. 4. P to QB 3 3. BxP 4. B to Q R 4 It is impossible to retreat the Bishop to QB 4, If 5. P to Q3, 6. Q to Q Kt 3, with a decided ad vantage. This move is not so good as either of the preceding. 3. Q Kt to B3 The best reply, but 3. Q to K 2 may be played without disadvantage; if 3. P you may play 4. P to K B 4, 4. BxK BP, ch (best) to Q 3 or 3. P to QB 3, with the better game. 4. KxB 5. P to Q 4 7. Q to QB 4 ch, with a view to winning the QP, enables him to get his pieces out too quickly. 7. K Kt to B3 Black has a freer game than you have. This is the best defence unquestionably. 3. K Kt to B 3 (best) 3. QKt to B 3 The position is that of the Two Knights' Defence, which leads to an even game, the best continuation for which is 4. P to Q 4, not 4. Kt to K Kt 5. If Black had played instead 3. Kt × KP, you would have got the superior game thus 4. Q Kt to B 3 3. KtxKP 4. Kt to K B 3 (best) CHAPTER III. THE KING'S GAMBIT. THE KING'S GAMBIT* includes all the games which spring from your second move, P to KB 4, by which you sacrifice a Pawn in order to get rid of the adverse King's Pawn, and to obtain time and space for bringing out your pieces. No other opening produces so many intricate situations and brilliant combinations; no other is so full of interest to the student of the game. The defence is difficult, but if skilfully conducted ought to prove successful, overwhelming though your attack may appear. If Black accept the Gambit, which is on the whole his best play, you may continue the attack in two ways: -- (1.) 3. K Kt to B 3, the King's Knight's Gambit. (2.) 3. B to QB 4, the King's Bishop's Gambit. Of these the Knight's Gambit is the most frequently played, but the Bishop's is the strongest. To the latter the proper reply is 3. P to Q 4, or 3. K Kt to B3; to the former, 3. P to K Kt 4, after which you should play 4. B to Q B 4. (The Allgaier Gambit, 4. P K R 4, is not to be commended.) Black may then play either B to K Kt 2, which is the safest and best move, as it prevents the threatened advance of your Knight; or 4. P to K Kt 5, which may give him *The term Gambit is derived from an Italian word which signifies a trip in wrestling; in Chess it denotes the sacrifice of a Pawn for the sake of gaining some advantage in position. |