Let my readers play this game from Black's fifth move; the latter taking K. B. P. and giving check. It will be found that White has still the best game. Or if, for Black's fifth move, he advances his Q. P. two squares, he will discover that White has the game notwithstanding. It is not necessary that we should give the moves. Try for yourselves. KING'S KNIGHT'S GAMBIT. In a former page I explained the nature of the King's Gambit, which, it will be recollected, turns on the sacrifice of the King's Bishop's Pawn at the first player's second move, in order to break up his opponent's central position. After sacrificing the Gambit Pawn, the first player moves King's Knight to Bishop's third square, and so on. The opening known as the King's Knight's Gambit, is a variation of the King's Gambit, in which the first player advances the King's Rook's Pawn before bringing out his King's Bishop. The game opens thus:— 3 Better than taking his Pawn, as it obliges White and White now has the best of the game. If White attack Queen with Bishop, Black checks with Pawn, and weakens your position. From its very nature, however, this may be considered a lost game for the White. Let my readers now pursue the game from this point. KING'S BOOK'S PAWN'S GAMBIT. This is an opening seldom adopted, but it is interesting as exhibiting another variety in our noble game. It commences thus : 'White. 1 P. to K. 4 2 P. to K. B. 4 Black. 1 P. to K. 4 2 P. takes P. We now come to the variation from the King's Gambit, from which opening it derives its name. to move his Kt. If Black had moved his K. B. P., White would have taken K. Kt. P., sacrificed his Kt., and afterwards given check with his Queen on K. R. 5, and speedily won the game. 4 Kt. to his fifth constitutes the Allgaier Gambit, which we shall consider hereafter. 5 The best move for Black. 6 Threatening K. B. P. with Kt. or B.; in either case disagreeable for Black. 7 Or Black can play his Kt. to R. 3, and so defend his K. B. P. 8 Von Der Laza suggests the advance of P. to K. B. 6, as better play, as then Black probably obtains the Kt. 9 Kt. obliged to retreat, or he might move to his 6th, in which case, if P. took him, White would take K. Kt. with his B., and attack his R. Instead of White playing King's Knight to Bishop's third, he moves White. 3 P. to K. R. 4; Black. this move not only prevents Black from giving check with his Queen, but it also disables him from supporting the Gambit Pawn. Black's best play then is 3 K. B. to K. 2 attacking the advanced Pawn. To support his position, White plays 4 K. Kt. to B. 3. It is clearly waste for Black now to take the Pawn, so he plays 4 P. to Q. 3, which White answers by 5 P. to Q. 4. If Black now replies by moving his King's Knight's Pawn two squares, White takes Pawn with Pawn; and if he recaptures Pawn with Bishop, you answer by advancing King's Knight's Pawn one square, and you have a strong position. Black's best play, therefore, is to pin the Knight : 5 Q. B. to K. Kt. 5 White's best play is now to take the Gambit Pawn, for if he moves Queen's Knight to Queen's 2, he obstructs the advance of his Bishop, and allows his antagonist to move out his Knight and Castle. 6 K. B. takes P. 6 B. takes R. P. (ch.) Now, if you take Bishop with Rook (you cannot take it with Knight, or you lose your Queen), he takes Knight with Bishop, and attacks your Queen. Your better play, therefore, is to push on your Pawn, and attack the Bishop. White. 7 P. to K. Kt. 3; Black. this obliges Black to retire his Bishop or lose it. He plays: 8 B. takes B. 7 K. K. B. to Kt. 4 Black can now either take Bishop or Knight. If he takes the Bishop, he forces a change of Queens, he therefore takes the Knight. 8 B. takes Kt. 9 Q. takes B. This obliges Queen to take Bishop. 9 Q. takes B. White's next move is to bring out his Queen's Knight to prevent Black giving him check with his Queen on his Bishop's eighth. 10 Q. Kt. to B. 3. From this point White has a good attacking position; for he can move out his King's Bishop and threaten mate; but this Black prevents by advancing his King's Bishop's Pawn: 10 P. to K. B. 3 White may now rapidly bring the game to an issue: 11 Q. to K. R. 5 (ch.) 11 P. to K. Kt. 3 Now, whatever Black does, White has the advantage of position, and ought to win. Let the student play out the game with a competent opponent from this point. Before dismissing this opening, we may as well examine another kind. of defence, which though powerful, depends for its success on the mode of attack adopted by the first player. Either colour may move first, but for the sake of uniformity, writers on chess have assumed that White always has the first move. The first three moves for each player are the same as before :White. Black. 1 P. to K. 4 2 P. to K. B. 4 3 P. to K. R. 4 1 P. to K. 4 2 P. takes P. 3 K. B. to K. 2. Now White varies the attack. Instead of moving out his Knight to defend the advanced Pawn, he moves 4 Q. to K. Kt. 4; to which Black replies by 4 K. Kt. to B. 3, attacking the Queen; or Queen's Pawn two squares, which we will examine presently. Presuming the Knight to be brought out, White takes Knight's Pawn, which is weak, as we shall see presently, or retires his Queen. 5 Q. takes K. Kt. P. 5 R. attacks Q. The Queen must now retire to her Rook's 6th, or make a fearful sacrifice. 6 Q. to R. 6 She moves 6 K. B. to Q. 3 |