2. P. to Q"s 4th. 2. P. takes P.
3. B. to Q. B"s 4th. 3. B. to Q. Kt."s 5th. (ch.) 4. P. to Q. B"s 3d. 4. P. takes P.
5. P. takes P. 5. Q. to K. B"s 3d.
6. P. takes B. 6. Q. takes Q"s R.
Perhaps your soundest move at this point is 6. Q. to Q. Kt."s 3d, as recommended in the German Handbook, although, by the mode of play in the text, you get an attack that amply compensates for the loss of the "exchange."
7. Q. to Q. Kt."s 3d. 7. Q. to K. B"s 3d.
8. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
Afterwards playing Kt. to K"s 2d, with a fine position.
GAME II.
WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to K"s 4th. 1. P. to K"s 4th.
2. P. to Q"s 4th. 2. P. takes P.
3. P. to K. B"s 4th. 3. B. to Q. B"s 4th.
This appears to be his best reply.
4. B. to Q. B"s 4th. 4. P. to Q"s 3d.
By your last move you threatened to take his K. B"s P. (checking) and if he took your Bishop with King, to play Q. to K. R"s 5th. (ch.) &c. If Black, instead of P. to Q"s 3d, play K"s Kt. to B"s 3d, you reply with P. to K"s 5th; and upon his playing P. to Q"s 4th, you must gain some advantage by capturing his Kt. with K"s P.--a mode of play not feasible in a similar position in the Giuoco Piano.
5. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 5. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
If he play B. to K. Kt."s 5th, you reply with P. to K"s 5th, and should he take P. with P. you get a winning position by B. takes K. B"s P.
(ch.)
6. Castles. 6. P. to Q"s 6th.
7. K. to R"s sq. 7. P. takes P. (dis. ch.) 8. Q. takes P.
And though minus a p.a.w.n, you have an ample equivalent in the attack. It is highly probable that many moves, both of attack and defence, in this somewhat novel variation may be improved upon. I only regret that I am precluded, both by want of time and s.p.a.ce, from going further into the variations.
THE QUEEN"S GAMBIT.
GAME I.
WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to Q"s 4th. 1. P. to Q"s 4th.
2. P. to Q. B"s 4th. 2. P. takes P.
It is considered more advisable to decline the gambit. (See Game II.) By taking the p.a.w.n, Black generally subjects himself to some slight inferiority of position.
3. P. to K"s 3d. 3. P. to K"s 4th.
Your move of P. to K"s 3d, appears somewhat preferable to P. to K"s 4th, as recommended by the "cla.s.sical" writers on Chess, to which Black would equally reply with P. to K"s 4th, with an even game. It is worth while remarking, that if he attempt to sustain the gambit p.a.w.n by P. to Q.
Kt."s 4th, you gain the advantage. (See Variation A.)
4. K"s B. takes P. 4. P. takes Q"s P.
5. P. takes P. 5. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
6. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 6. B. to Q"s 3d.
7. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 7. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
8. Castles. 8. Castles.
9. P. to K. R"s 3d. 9. P. to K. R"s 3d.
White has perhaps a slightly better position.
_Variation A. on Black"s 3d Move_.
WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to Q"s 4th. 1. P. to Q"s 4th.
2. P. to Q. B"s 4th. 2. P. takes P.
3. P. to K"s 3d. 3. P. to Q. Kt."s 4th.
4. P. to Q. R"s 4th. 4. B. to Q"s 2d.
If he play P. to Q. B"s 3d, you take p.a.w.n with p.a.w.n, and on his retaking, win a piece by Q. to K. B"s 3d.
5. P. takes P. 5. B. takes P.
6. P. to Q. Kt."s 3d. 6. Q. to Q"s 4th.
7. P. takes P. 7. B. takes P.
8. Q. to Q. R"s 4th. (ch.) winning a piece.
These moves are from Mr. Staunton"s Handbook.
GAME II.
WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to Q"s 4th. 1. P. to Q"s 4th.
2. P. to Q. B"s 4th. 2. P. to K"s 3d.
This is now acknowledged to be his best method of declining the gambit.
3. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 3. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
4. P. to K"s 3d. 4. P. to Q. B"s 4th.
Your 4th move is the one given by all "the books." In the late match between Messrs. Lowenthal and Harrwitz, the latter several times adopted the move of 4. Q"s B. to K. B"s 4th, at this juncture, with advantage, a sortie hitherto denounced by most of the modern writers on Chess.
5. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 5. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
6. P. to Q. R"s 3d. 6. P. to Q. R"s 3d.
There is no advantage on either side.
We will now briefly examine those other methods of opening a game, which either player may adopt in lieu of 1. P. to K"s 4th, or 1. P. to Q"s 4th.