BOOK III. THE KING'S KNIGHT'S OPENING. ELEMENTARY ANALYSIS.—THE GIUOCO PIANO OPENING THE KING'S KNIGHT'S OPENING. LESSON J. WHEN, after each party has played his K. P. two sq., First Player attacks K. P. at once with K. Kt., the game is termed the King's Knight's Opening. The most important branches of Chess spring from this move, which is perhaps more used than any other, its claims to patronage being founded on the soundest principles. Hence the lengthy analysis this opening has undergone in every treatise of note. It being our intention to give many examples of this game, and of certain branches springing from it, as they have occurred over the board between the most distinguished players, we shall confine ourselves in the present lesson to a rudimentary examination of a few of the obvious methods of meeting the sortie of Knight, beginning with the most exceptionable. The best move for Black, in answer to K. Kt., is Q. Kt. to B. 3d, defending P., and playing forth a piece. Suppose such move to be played, and to be followed by each party moving K. B. to Q. B. 4th, the game becomes the GIUOCO PIANO of Italian writers. 1. K. P. two sq. 2. K. Kt. to K. B. 3d sq. 1. K. P. two sq. Your Kt. now attacks his King's P., and as he has sev eral methods of defending it, there is great variety in this game. We have already said that the best move for Black is Q. Kt. to Q. B. 3d sq.; but he may play one of the fol lowing: 1. K. B. to Q. 3d sq. 2. Q. to K. B. 3d sq. 3. Q. P. one sq. 4. K. Kt. to K. B. 3d sq. We shall suppose Black now to play 2. K. B. to Q. 3d sq. One would naturally suppose this move cannot be good, inasmuch as it prevents the Queen's P. from being played, and consequently confines his pieces. The following moves will show you how to take advantage of it: White. 3. K. B. to Q. B. 4th sq. 4. Q. P. two sq. 3. K. Kt. to B. 3d sq. As he might have played Q. B. P. one sq. on the 3d move, a variation will be given. Instead of taking your King's Pawn, he might have played Q. Kt. to B. 3d sq. See the second variation. If he had taken your Q. P. (4th move), you would have won a piece by advancing King's P. one sq. 5. Q. P. takes P. 5. K. B. to Q. B. 4th sq. You might now take his King's Bishop's Pawn with King's Bishop, and on his taking the Bishop, play Queen te her 5th sq., checking and winning K. Kt.; but it is rather better to play Q. to her 5th sq., because you threaten checkmate, and you also attack the undefended Knight; therefore, 6. Q. to her 5th sq. 7. K. to his 2d sq. 8. Q. takes Kt. 6. K. B. takes K. B. P. check 7. Castles. 8. K. B. to Q. Kt. 3d sq. Your game is very superior to his, having won a piece for a Pawn; you have besides a very powerful attack; your next move should be K. Kt. to its 5th sq., and afterwards, K. R. to K. B. sq. It was better for you to play King to his second than to Queen's sq., because you attacked his King'、 Bishop, which was afterwards compelled to move. First Variation, beginning at 3d move of Black. You have much the best of the game, having gained a Rook and two Pawns for a Bishop. If on the 5th move he had played K. B. to its sq. to defend K. Kt. P., you would have played K. Kt. to K. 5th sq., attacking his K. B. P. If he had not taken your Bishop on the 7th move, you would have won his Q. by playing Q. B. to K. Kt. 5th sq. Second Variation, beginning at 4th move of Black. White. 1. K. P. two sq. 2. K. Kt. to B. 3d sq. 8. K. P. one sq. Black. 1. The same. 2. K. B. to Q. 3d sq. 7. K. B. to Q. 5th sq. You have an excellent position; if he were to remove King's Kt., you ought to play Queen to K. R. 5th sq. 8. K. P. one sq., and wins a piece. |