Becoming a Q., giving check, double check, and mate.

NOTES TO GAME III.

(a) If White check with his Q. B., Black interposes K. B. and wins a piece.

(c) If the R. take the B., Black takes R. with Q., and presently wing the adverse Q. Or if, instead of taking the B., White check with his Q. at K. R.'s 4th, Black moves K. to his square, and wins in a few moves.

GAME IV.

Between MM. Kieseritzkij and Michelet.

LESSON V.

THE MUZIO GAMBIT.

In the two defences to the King's Gambit by Salvio and Cochrane just examined, when the second player for his fourth move advances his P. to K. Kt.'s 5th, attacking the Knight, White replies by moving his Knight to King's 5th, subjecting himself, as was shown, to a counter-attack, from which escape without loss is difficult if not impracticable. From this circumstance, apparently, originated the conception of the "Muzio Gambit," wherein the first player instead of removing the attacked Knight boldly abandons him, and by castling is enabled to bring an almost overwhelming array of forces to the immediate assault of the adverse King.

The earliest knowledge of this magnificent variation, the most daring and brilliant, and at the same time, as modern discoveries have shown, the most sound and enduring method of attack yet known, is derived from Salvio (Trattato dell' Inventione et Arte Liberale del Gioco di Scacchi. Naples, 1604), to whom it had been communicated by Signor Muzio as occurring in casual practice between Don Geronimo Cascio and another player. "Dirò un' altro modo di Gambitto, il quale mai fu pensato, e per quanto mi venne riferito dal Signor Muzio, d'Alessandro, gentiluomo di molto garbo, e del Giuoco molto intendente; succedè col Signor Don Geronimo Cascio, così gran giuocatore, con un' altro giuocatore casualmente."

The chief works to be consulted upon the Muzio Gambit are Sarratt, 1813 and 1821, p. 346; Ghulam Kassim, 1829; Lewis, 1844, pp. 348-410; Jaenisch, vol. ii., pp. 222-230 Walker, 1846, pp. 173-194, and the German "Handbuch."

In abandoning the Knight at this point you have the choice of three different methods of procedure. In the first place, to castle, which is the long established and ordinary mode of play. Secondly, to play your Q. P. two squares, as given in Koch (Elementarbuch der Schachspielkunst, &c. Magdeburgh, 1828), and Ghulam Kassim (An Analysis of the Muzio Gambit, &c. Madras, 1829). And lastly, as suggested by the late Mr. McDonnell, to play your Q. Kt. to B.'s 3d sq. Let us proceed to consider these moves in the order above given, commencing in the present Lesson with 5. Castles, and reserving 5. P. to Q.'s 4th, and 5. Q. Kt. to B.'s 3d for subsequent examination.

5. Castles.

6. Q. takes P. (best).

5. P. takes Kt.
6. Q. to K. B.'s 3d (best).

If instead of taking the P. you play 6. Q. P,

speedily gains an advantage. (e. g.)

two, Black

7. Q. B. to K. Kt.'s 5th.

8. Q. B. P. one.

9. K. B. to Kt.'s 2d.

10. K. B. to K. R.'s 3d.
11. K. Kt. to K.'s 2d.

Until the appearance of Mr. Sarratt's work, Black's best defence, after you have taken the P. at move 6, was considered to be 6. Q, to K.'s 2d, but that and 6. Q. P. one, and 6. B. to K. R.'s 3d, have given place to the move in the text of 6. Q. to K. B.'s 3d, although the distinguished authors of the German "Handbuch" are of opinion that Black may adopt any one of the three former without disadvantage The variations arising from them will be shown hereafter. (See Game the Fourth.)

7. Q. takes K. P.

7. P. to K.'s 5th. If you play 7. Q. B. P. one, he replies with 7. Q. Kt. to B.'s 3d, and upon your advancing 8. Q. P. two, he takes it with his Kt. and has the better game. If you play 7. Q. P. one, he will answer with 7. B. to K. R.'s 3d, and maintain his advantage. Black's best move apparently is to take the Pawn; if he check with the Queen at Q. Kt.'s 3d, he takes her from the protection of his own King and drives yours to a safe refuge.

8. Q. P. one.

8. K. B. to K. R.'s

3d.

The eight opening moves here given are generally allow、 ed to be the best both for attack and defence which this remarkable Gambit admits.

Mr. McDonnell originated a variation on your 8th move of 8. Q. Kt. P. one; for the consequences of which see Game the Third.

If Black on his last move play 8. Q. Kt. to B.'s 3d, you reply with 9. Q. B. takes P., and will have an irresistible attack.

He may play, however, 8. B. to Q. B.'s 4th (ch.), and afterwards 9. B. to K.'s 6th, upon which you can take Bishop with B., and if his Queen retake, can play Q. to K. R.'s 5th, and then Q. Kt. to B.'s 3d, with an excellent game.

9. K. Kt. to K.'s 2d.

9. Q. B. to Q.'s 2d. The best play for Black at move 9, whether you play 9. B. to Q.'s 2d or 9. Q. Kt. to B.'s 3d, appears to be 9. K. Kt. to K.'s 2d; if he replies to both with that move, it is of course indifferent which you play first.

10. Q. Kt. to B.'s 3d.

10. Q. Kt. to B.'s 3d. Opinions are divided upon Black's 10th move, some players advocating the move now given, while others prefer the more defensive one of 10. Q. B. P. one, for the consequences of which see Game the Second.

11. Q. to B.'s 4th (ch.)
12. Q. Kt. to Q.'s 5th.

Black can also play 12. Q. P. one, but as the following train of moves will show, with less advantage.

13. Q. Kt. to Q.'s 5th
14. R. takes Kt.

15. Q. B. to Kt.'s 4th.

12. Q. P. one.

13. Q. Kt. to K.'s 4th.
14. P. takes R.

You ought to win.

13. R. takes Kt. (ch.)

13. K. takes R.

He can also take the R. with his Q., as in the following:

14. Q. to K. R.'s 5th.
15. Q. takes B.
16. Q. takes Q.

17. Kt. to Q. Kt.'s 5th.
18. Q. B. to his 3d.

13. Q. takes R.

14. Kt. to K.'s 3d.

15. Q. to K. Kt.'s 4th.

16. Kt. takes Q.

17. K. to Q.'s sq.

And von win.

14. Kt. to Q.'s 5th (ch.) 15. Q. to K. R.'s 5th.

The German "Handbuch" pursue the game as follows:—

16. Q. B. takes P. 17. R. takes B.

14. K. to Q.'s sq.
15. Q. to K. B.'s sq.

and other authorities now

16. B. takes B.
17. Kt. to K.'s 3d.
18. K. to his sq.
19. K. to Q.'s sq.

18. Q. to K. R.'s 4th (ch.) 19. Kt. to K. B.'s 6th (ch.) And the game is dismissed as drawn by perpetual check. I venture to think, however, it will not be difficult to show that with a slight variation in White's play he can win instead of draw the game. Let us suppose at move 16, instead of Q. B. takes P. that you play

16. P. covers.

16. Q. to K. R.'s 4th (ch.) If he play 16. B. to K. Kt.'s 4th, you take it, checking, and ought certainly to win; and if he play K. to his sq., or Q. to K.'s 2d, you obviously mate on the move.

17. Q. B. takes P.

17. B. takes B.

If instead of taking the Bishop he play 17. B. to K. Kt.'s 2d, you win easily by 18. B. takes Q. B. P. (ch.), and 19. Q. takes Kt.; so also if he move 17. Kt. to K. B.'s 4th, you reply with 18. B. takes Q. B. P. (ch.), followed by 19. Q. to K. R.'s 5th, and 20. Kt. takes K. B. P. (ch.), &c.; and if, finally, at move 17, he play otherwise, you can take B. with B., and his game is hopeless.

18. R. takes B.

18. Kt. to Q. B.'s 3d.

I believe he has no better move. If 18. Q. P. one, or 18. Q. B. P. one, or 18. Kt. to K.'s 3d, you can take K. B. P. with R., and the discovered check afterwards is fatal to him, 19. Q. to K.'s sq.

19. R. takes K. B. P.

He has no way of averting the mate.

20. R. to B.'s 8th (dis. ch.)

21. Q. takes Kt.

20. Kt. to K.'s 2d.

Mate.