It is of little consequence whether he play the B to B 4 or R 4, since it must ultimately retire to Q Kt 3, as he will want to play Q Kt to R 4 subsequently. If he had taken the pawn at his fourth move with Knight, and then retired it to QB 3, the position would be the same. 6. P to Q 4 7. Castles 6. P x P 7. P x QBP is bad because it gives you too much time at a critical point in the game. 7. K Kt to B 3 is also bad because of 8. PxP 9. P to K 5 8. B to Q Kt 3 with a fine game. 8. B to Q Kt 3 8. P x P These eight moves are considered the best on each side, but from this point many attacks diverge9. Q Kt to B 3, P to Q 5, P to K 5, B to Q Kt 2, B to QR 3, R to K sq, Kt to K Kt 5, P to K R 3. All *The different modes of declining the Gambit will be examined in Game II. these may be played without disadvantage, but the best and the most frequently adopted are 9. Q Kt to B 3, and 9. P to Q 5. It matters little which of the two you choose, since they converge again after a few moves. 9. Q Kt to B 3 9. Q Kt to R 4 Formerly 9. B to K Kt 5 was played here, but it has now rather fallen into disrepute on account of the powerful Fraser-Mortimer attack to which it subjects Black. The first few moves of that attack are as follows: 10. Q to Q R 4 10. B to Q 2 If B x Kt or K to B sq, you advance the Pawn to Q 5. If you had played 9. P to Q 5, the same position would have been arrived at by the following moves: 9. P to Q 5 10. B to Q Kt 2 11. K B to Q 3 12. Q Kt to B 3 9. Q Kt to R 4 10. Kt to K 2 11. Castles 12. K Kt to Kt 3 It is, however, on the whole, more advantageous to play Q Kt to B3 at your 9th move, on the chance of getting the Mortimer attack. 13. Q Kt to K 2. The game is about even; Black has gained a Pawn and is tolerably safe; but, on the other hand, White's pieces are excellently disposed for action. GAME II. The Gambit Declined. The customary modes of declining the Gambit are (1) to play P to Q 4 as a counter gambit, or (2) to retire the Bishop to Q Kt 3; but neither of these is altogether satisfactory; the Bishop must not be retired to Q 3 or to K 2, because it would not be well posted there, and would confine Black's game. This seems to be his best move; but if 6. B to K B 4, then if Kt to Q R 3 then 12. Q to K Kt 4, ch If 5 P to Q Kt 5, he will remove the Kt to Q R 4, and on your taking K P with Kt, will equalise the game by Q to K B 3. I prefer White's game. § 5. The Two Knights' Defence. In this variation of the Italian defence, Black plays 3. K Kt to B 3 instead of 3. B to QB 4; it deserves more attention than it has hitherto received from chess-players, as it enables the second player without difficulty to equalise the game, which he can hardly do after playing 3. B to QB 4. The Evans Gambit is the strongest attack known except the Muzio; the Giuoco Piano is slightly favourable to the first player, but both of these attacks may be successfully evaded by the Two Knights' Defence; it is moreover available in certain forms of the Petroff Defence and Scotch Gambit, and it is the best reply to the King's Bishop's Opening. White 1. P to K 4 3. B to QB 4 Black 1. P to K 4 2. Q Kt to B3 |