We prefer White"s game.
There is also another method of declining the Gambit, which, although hitherto una.n.a.lysed, seems to present some interesting features.
WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to K"s 4th. 1. P. to K"s 4th.
2. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 2. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
3. B. to Q. B"s 4th. 3. B. to Q. B"s 4th.
4. P. to Q. Kt."s 4th. 4. P. to Q"s 4th.
5. P. takes Q"s P. 5. Kt. takes Q. Kt."s P.
6. P. to Q. B"s 3d. 6. Kt. takes Q"s P.
7. Q. to Q. Kt."s 3d. 7. P. to Q. B"s 3d.
8. B. takes Kt. 8. Q. takes B. (best.) 9. Q. takes Q. 9. Q. takes Q.
10. Kt. takes K"s P. Even Game.
It is very possible some of White"s moves may be improved upon, but the foregoing variation seems satisfactorily to demonstrate that Black can gain no advantage.
Before taking our leave of this beautiful opening, we would again remind the young player, that it is perfectly immaterial, whether Black at move 5 captures the gambit p.a.w.n with B. or Kt., if with the latter White equally replies with P. to Q. B"s 3d; and on Black"s retiring the Kt. to Q. B"s 3d (best), the position becomes the same as given in a previous variation.
GAME V.--RUY LOPEZ KNIGHT"S GAME.
We will now proceed to examine this, perhaps, the strongest and most embarra.s.sing attack the board affords. It is through fear of this variation, that many of our best players have abandoned the usual defence of 2. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d, and turned to the King"s Knight"s defence, or the old move of P. to Q"s 3d.
WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to K"s 4th. 1. P. to K"s 4th.
2. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 2. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
3. B. to Q. Kt."s 5th. 3. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
By playing your Bishop thus, you again threaten to win his K"s P. The move in the text, commonly known as the Berlin defence, is perhaps as good a reply as the position admits. He has, however, three other plausible moves; viz., B. to Q. B"s 4th; B. to K"s 2d; P. to Q"s 3d, which will be touched upon hereafter.
4. P. to Q"s 4th. 4. P. takes P.
This move (or perhaps still better, 4. Castles) appears to yield a far stronger attack than the old move of Q. K"s 2d. Black, instead of P.
takes P., might either reply with 4. K"s Kt. takes K"s P., or 4. Q"s Kt.
takes Q"s P. If the former, perhaps castling at once is your best reply; if the latter, you take Kt. with K"s Kt., and then play P. to K"s 5th, as in the present variation.
5. P. to K"s 5th. 5. Kt. to K"s 5th.
6. Castles. 6. B. to K"s 2d. (best.) 7. Kt. takes P. 7. Kt. takes Kt. (or Var. A.) 8. Q. takes Kt. 8. P. to K. B"s 4th.
9. P. takes P. _en pa.s.sant_. 9. Kt. takes P.
10. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
White has a very fine game.
We will now turn our attention to the other modes of play Black may adopt at his 3d move, instead of K"s Kt. to B"s 3d; viz., B. to Q. B"s 4th; P. to Q"s 3d; B. to K"s 2d. (see Variations B. C.)
_Variation B. on Black"s 3d Move._
WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to K"s 4th. 1. P. to K"s 4th.
2. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 2. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
3. B. to Q. Kt."s 5th. 3. B. to Q. B"s 4th.
4. P. to Q. B"s 3d. 4. K"s Kt. to K"s 2d. (best.) 5. Castles. 5. Castles.
6. P. to Q"s 4th. 6. P. takes P.
7. P. takes P. 7. B. to Q. Kt."s 3d.
8. P. to Q"s 5th. 8. Q"s Kt. to his sq.
White may also play 8. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d with advantage.
9. P. to Q"s 6th. 9. P. takes P.
10. Q. takes P. 10. B. to Q. B"s 2d.
11. Q. to Q. R"s 3d. 11. P. to Q"s 4th.
12. K"s R. to Q"s sq. 12. B. to Q"s 3d.
The move 12. K. R. to Q"s sq. is recommended in the Handbook as giving White an advantage of position. The reply, however, in the text, which occurred to the writer in actual play, seems calculated to free Black from his embarra.s.sment.
_Variation C. on Black"s 3d Move._
WHITE. BLACK.
3. P. to Q"s 3d.
4. P. to Q"s 4th. 4. B. to Q"s 2d.
5. Castles.
Black has a tolerably safe though constrained position.
N.B.--For 3. B. to K"s 2d, see the games ill.u.s.trative of this opening.
GAME VI.--THE SCOTCH GAMBIT.
This opening derives its name from having been adopted in the great match by correspondence between the London and Edinburgh Chess Clubs.
The attack consequent on this opening at one time considerably embarra.s.sed Mr. Cochrane, who considered there was no satisfactory defence to it. Major Jaenisch, however, with characteristic patience and a.n.a.lysis, has proved the contrary.
WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to K"s 4th. 1. P. to K"s 4th.
2. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d. 2. Q"s Kt. to B"s 3d.
3. P. to Q"s 4th. 3. P. takes P.
If he play 4. Kt. takes P., you reply with either Kt. takes Kt., or Kt.
takes K"s P., and obtain the better position.
4. B. to Q. B"s 4th. 4. B. to Q. B"s 4th.
This is now acknowledged to be Black"s best move; for 4. B. to Q. Kt."s 5th. (ch.) see Variation A.
5. P. to Q. B"s 3d. 5. K"s Kt. to B"s 3d. (best.)