We will now consider the effect of the variation at White's Black moves his knight to protect his K B P, now threatened by two pieces. 7. P to Q 4th 8. K Kt to Q 3rd 7. P to Q 3rd 8. P to K B 6th If White now take P with P, Black replies with 9. B to K 2nd, and the game may be considered equal. The Cunningham Gambit. In all the preceding variations of the King's Gambit, Black endeavours, at his third move, to support his Gambit Pawn with P to K Kt 4. In this Opening, so called from its adoption by Mr. Cunningham, the historian, Black, instead of so doing, moves his King's Bishop to K 2nd, with the view afterwards of checking at K R 5th. This variation differs from all the preceding ones in White's' third move. Instead of moving Knight to K B 3rd, he brings out his King's Bishop, allowing Black to check at K R 5th. It is a somewhat hazardous Opening for the inexperienced player. The foregoing variations of the King's Gambit depend upon Black taking the offered Pawn. He has other moves, however, at his command, but none which lead to such interesting combinations as capturing the Pawn. In declining the Gambit, he may move B to Q B 4th or P to Q 4th. WHITE. 1. P to K 4th 2. P to K B 4th 3. K Kt to B 3rd 4. P to QB 3rd BLACK. 6. K Kt to B 3rd Even game. THE CLOSE, OR IRREGULAR GAME. All those openings wherein the two players do not commence with 1. P to K 4th each, it has been found most convenient to class under the term "Irregular." These Openings are generally found to result in a somewhat slowly-developed game, and are often chosen by the more cautious class of players. Harrwitz, in his match with Paul Morphy, opened all the games in which he was first player with the Queen's Gambit. We would recommend the student not to neglect these so-called Irregular Openings, leading as they do to positions very different to those already described. A player who has made himself acquainted with the style of play demanded by the leading débuts, often finds himself at a loss, when encountering an adversary who has familiarised himself with the Openings on the Queen's side. WHITE. 1. P to Q 4th 2. P to QB 4th The Queen's Gambit. BLACK. 1. P. to Q 4th 2. P takes P The authorities say that it is better for Black not to take the Pawn, but to move 2. P to K 3 instead. (See below.) 3. P to K 3rd 3. P to K 4th If Black here attempts to support the Gambit Pawn with 3. P to Q Kt 4th, White replies with P to Q R 4th, and will gain an advantage. 4. K B takes P 5. P takes P 6. Q Kt to B 3rd 7. K Kt to B 3rd 8. P to K R 3rd 4. P takes P 5. K Kt to B 3rd 6. K B to Q 3rd 7. Q Kt to B 3rd 8. P to K R 3rd The advance of the K R P is indispensable for each player at an early stage of this Opening. The game is about equal. Your position has perhaps more freedom. It is usual in this Opening for both players to bring their Queen's Bishop into play at Q Kt 2nd, by first advancing the Q Kt P to 3rd, the Queen's Rook afterwards occupying the QB square. While on the subject of the "close" games, we may observe that in reply to your move of 1. P to Q 4th, Black may play either 1. P to K B 4th or 1. P to Q B 4th. In the former case, you can either move 2. P to K 4th, as suggested by Mr. Staunton, or 2. P to QB 4th. In the latter, you advance the Pawn to Q 5th, with a superior game. The French Game. This is a safe game for the second player, and one often adopted by amateurs when matched against superior players. WHITE. 1. P to K 4th 2. P to Q 4th 3. P takes P BLACK. 1. P to K 3rd 2. P to Q 4th 3. P takes P If you play 3. P to K 5th, Black will speedily acquire the better game. 4. K B to Q 3rd 5. K Kt to B 3rd 7. B to K 3rd 8. Q Kt to B 3rd WHITE. 1. P to K 4th Even game. 4. K B to Q 3rd 5. K Kt to B 3rd 7. B to K 3rd The Sicilian Game. BLACK. 1. P to QB 4th The English and German Hand-Books agree with Jaenisch in pronouncing this to be the very best reply on the board to 1. P to K 4th. Recent experience, however, has tended, in some measure, to qualify the opinion of these high authorities, the defence of 1. P to K 3rd being now usually preferred, as yielding a more immediate equality of positions. This defence, if not properly met, may often result in giving the second player the advantage. 2. P takes P 3. Q Kt to B 3rd 2. Q takes P 3. Q to her sq The King's Bishop's Pawn's Opening. WHITE. 1. P to K B 4th 2. K Kt to B 3rd BLACK. 1. P to K B 4th 3. K Kt to B 3rd 4. P to Q Kt 3rd In this form of the Close Game, we have generally found it expedient to keep the Q P unmoved as long as possible, and play the K B to Q 3rd, following it speedily with P to Q R 3rd, to prevent the descent of the adverse Q Kt to his 5th. Under these circumstances, the Queen can be played to K 2nd, and the Q Kt brought round, by Q B 3rd and Q sq, to K B 2nd. The Fianchetto, or Flank Opening, Consists in either player moving 1. P to Q Kt 3rd. It is, however, generally employed defensively against 1. P to K 4th, although it is sometimes adopted by the opening player, whilst giving the odds of a piece to a mere routine opponent, in order to throw him on his own resources at the commencement of the game. The method of opening the game by 1. P to Q B 4th was first brought prominently into notice by Mr. Staunton, in his great match with M. St. Amant. Mr. Staunton recommends Black to reply also with 1. P to QB 4th. In this form of opening, it is generally advisable to advance the K P one step only, and afterwards to play P to K Kt 3rd, in order to bring out the K B at K Kt 2nd. We believe, however, that Black may obtain at least an even game by playing 1. P to K 4th in reply to 1. P to Q B 4th, thereby bringing about the "Sicilian Game," the position of the players being reversed. SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM ON THE FRONTISPIECE. WHITE, 1. Q to K 3rd (ch) 2. R to K 4th BLACK. 1. R takes Q If Black move otherwise, Knight mates at K 6th, or Q Kt 7th. 3. R to QB 4th (ch) 3. P takes R |