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CHESS OPENINGS.

CHAPTER I.

THE KING'S KNIGHT'S OPENING.

** Throughout this work the terms 'you' and 'he' have been used for the first and second players respectively.

THE King's Knight's Opening takes its name from the first player's second move K Kt to B 3, the first moves on each side being P to K 4, as is always the case, except in the irregular openings; this opening has always been, and probably will always continue, a favourite with chess-players; less brilliant, perhaps, than the King's Gambit, it is safer and affords a more enduring attack. Of Black's possible replies to it, three only are worth consideration.

2. P to Q3

1. K Kt to B 3

3. Q Kt to B3

Petroff's Defence, § 1.
Philidor's Defence, § 2.
The Italian Defence,* §§3-8.

Of these three defences the Italian is the best, as it at once frees the second player's game, but it is

open

* Following the Germans I have called this the Italian Defence, instead of the Giuoco Piano, because it is convenient to reserve that term for the form of attack resulting from 2. Q Kt to B 3, to which it is especially appropriate.

B

to the disagreeable reply 3. B to Q Kt 5, which constitutes the Ruy Lopez attack; this consideration has induced many players to prefer the close defences, as Petroff's and Philidor's are termed. But on the one hand these defences cause some disadvantage of position to the second player; and on the other, since the Lopez attack has been better understood, it is admitted, that though troublesome, it is by no means irresistible, and in fact ought to result in an even game. There is, therefore, no reason for abandoning the Italian defence, which is satisfactory, for it is believed that the toofrequent adoption of Petroff's, Philidor's, and the other close defences (such as the French, Sicilian, and Fianchetto), has exercised a pernicious influence upon English chess.

If the Italian defence be adopted, the attack may be continued in four ways

(1.) 3. B to Q B 4. If Black reply 3. B to QB 4, we have the Giuoco Piano, and if you then play 4. P to Q Kt 4, the Evans Gambit. But instead of 3. B to B 4 he may play 3. K Kt to B 3, the Two Knights' Defence, which is in my opinion his safest course. §§ 3-5.

(2.) 3. B to Q Kt 5. The Knight's Game of Ruy Lopez. § 6.

(3.) 3. P to Q 4. The Queen's Pawn Two Game, or Scotch Gambit. § 7.

(4.) 3. P to Q B 3. The Queen's Bishop's Pawns Game in the K Kt's Opening. § 8.

§ 1. Petroff's Defence.

This defence to the K Kt's Opening was at one time very popular, but it is now considered inferior to the two others.

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because

If 3. B to QB 4, he must not play 3.Kt × P, you would gain the advantage by 4. Q Kt to B 3 (see Ch. II. § 2, the K Kt's defence to the K B's game), but 3. Q Kt to B 3, and the position is that of the Two Knights' Defence, which produces an even game. If 3. P to Q 4, the proper reply is 3. K P x P. 3. P to Q3

If he play 3. Ktx P, you will speedily gain an advantage thus

3. Kt x K P

4. Q to K 2

4. Q to K 2

If instead of this he withdraw the Kt, you obviously win his Queen by 5. Kt to Q B 6 (dis. ch.)

5. Qx Kt

6. P to Q 4

7. P to KB 4

5. P to Q 3

6. P to K B 3

with a much better game.

After his move 3. P to Q 3, two courses are open to you; you may either retreat the Kt to B 3, which is the usual and the safest move, or play 3. Kt x K BP, as suggested by Mr. Cochrane; this is not generally

considered sound, but I think that practically it may be ventured on with safety, since he must capture your Knight with his King, and thereby expose that piece terribly; it has the merit of producing interesting situations in what is otherwise a tame game.

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You have rather the best of it, since he must lose

time in retreating the Kt.

In the second place

4. Ktx KBP

5. B to QB4 ch.

4. Kx Kt

5. B to K3

This is his best move, as it is desirable to get rid of your KB: if he play 5. K to K sq, then 6. P to Q 4; if 5. P to Q 4, Mr. Staunton recommends 6.B to QKt3; but you may also play 6. K P x P, recovering at once a full equivalent for your Knight.

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White may now Castle with Queen's Rook and advance the Pawns on the King's side with a capital

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