You may now play either 3. K Kt to B 3, or 3. B to QB 4. In the first place 3. K Kt to B 3 3. B to Q Kt 5 ch If 3. Q Kt to B 3, the game becomes the Scotch This position occurs in the King's Bishop's game (see Ch. II.), where it is arrived at by 1. P to K 4 2. B to Q B4 3. P to Q 4 1. P to K 4 2. K Kt to B 3 4. QxP If 4.P to K5, then 4. P to Q4, with the advantage. 5. Q to K 3 6. P to QB 3 4. Q Kt to B3 5. B to Q Kt 5, ch If 6. B to K 2, he Castles, with the better game. CHAPTER V. IRREGULAR DEFENCES. ALL the openings hitherto examined have commenced with 1. P to K 4 1. P to K 4 The present chapter will be de voted to those games in which White begins in the customary manner, but Black makes a different reply. In the next chapter I shall notice the moves which White has at his disposal besides 1. P to K 4. The Irregular Defences are (1.) 1. P to K 3 (2.) 1. P to QB 4 (3.) 1. P to Q Kt 3 The French Game The Sicilian Game. The Centre Counter Gambit. It has never been supposed that any of these moves gives the second player a superior position, but it is thought that they counteract the advantage of the first move, and equalise the game more quickly than the usual defence can. I would not, however, recommend them, for they always result in tame and uninteresting games, by no means comparable to those which spring from the regular opening. White § 1. The French Game. 1. P to K4 Black This is considered the best of the close defences; it is often made use of when the odds of Pawn and move are given. 2. P to Q4 (best) 2. P to Q4 (best) If 3. P to K 5, 3. P to QB 4, with the advantage; if 3. Q Kt to B 3, he must reply with 3. B to Q Kt 5, and not with 3. P to QB 3 The advance of the Q BP prevents the formation of a centre by White. 2. K Kt to B 3 This is considered your strongest move; advancing the KP is weak, but 2. Q Kt to B 3, or 2. P to Q 4, may be safely played. 2. P to K 3 3. P to Q 4 3. PXQP § 3. The Fianchetto di Donna. This defence of P to Q Kt 3 may be adopted with perfect safety, but gives Black a very close game. The Q Kt P is advanced one square in order to play the QB to Kt 2, where it is well posted, bearing on the adverse right wing. On the other hand the Fianchetto di Rè (P to K Kt 3) is bad, because the proper place for the K B is QB 4 or Q Kt 3, and not K Kt 2, where it is shut in and almost useless. White 1. P to K4 2. P to Q 4 3. B to Q3 Black 1. P to Q Kt 3 2. B to Q Kt 2 3. P to K3 If 3. P to K B 4, you may take K BP with P, and on his taking your K Kt P with B you can obtain a strong attack by Q to K R 5 ch. 4. Q Kt to B3 4. K Kt to B 3 Some players here move P to K Kt 3, making |
