Black might also play 3. P. to Q's 3rd, and the position would be the same as in one of the modifications of "Philidor's defence of the Knight's Opening."-In that case the game would probably be followed thus:

(If he take the Q's P. instead, you play 5. K. Kt. to his 5th, and have a much better game than he has.)

(If the Kt. is not taken, you have evidently an excellent position.) 6. Q. to K. R's 5th (ch.) 6. K. to Q's 2nd.

(By interposing the K. Kt. P. he would lose his Rook, and if he played the King to his 2nd, you checkmate him in two moves.)

7. Q. to K. B's 5th (ch.)
8. Q. takes P. at K's 5th.
(This is his only move to
9. P. to Q's 5th (ch.)
(If he move the K. to B's 4th,
10. B. to K's 3rd (ch.)

(Should he play 10. P. to Q. B's

7. K. to Q. B's 3rd.
8. P. to Q. R's 3rd.
avert immediate mate.)
9. K. to Kt.'s 3rd.
mate follows in four moves.)
10. B. to Q. B's 4th.

4th, you take the P. in passing, and then move Q. Kt. to B's 3rd, secure of the game.)

(If he take the Bishop, you may mate him in four moves.)

13. Kt. to Q'a 2nd.

13. P. to Q. Kt.'s 4th.

(If 13. K. t B's 4th, he will be mated in three moves.,
14. R. to K's sq. (ch.) 14. K. to R's 4th.

(It is indifferent where he plays.)

You would play badly at move 4, in taking the K's K. with

your Bishop. (e. g.)

K

Instead of 5. Kt. to B's 7th, you might play P. to Q's 4th and if he took the K. Kt.'s P., move Q. to K. R's 5th (ch.) having a strong attack.

6. R. to K. B's sq.

7. Kt. takes R.

6. P. to Q's 4th.
7. P. takes B.

if you take the Q's P. with B., instead of capturing the Rook, Black, as the annexed moves prove, will have the better game.

and you have "the exchange" and a Pawn advantage.

The foregoing examples will suffice to show that in this opening you obtain a decided superiority by answering Black's 2nd move, P. to K. B's 4th, either with 3. K's Kt. takes K's P. or 3. K's B. to Q. B's 4th. But the result is not so clearly your favour, if in place of one of these moves you substi Cute 3. P. takes K. B's P., as you will see by the following variations.

in

This is Black's best mode of taking advantage of your bad 3rd move, P. takes P. He may also play 3. Q. to K. B's 3rd without danger; for example,-

4. Q. to K's 2nd.
5. P. to Q's 4th.
6. P. takes P.

7. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.
8. P. to K. Kt.'s 4th.
9. Q. B. to K. Kt.'s 5th.
10. P. to K. R's 3rd.

11. K. B. to K. Kt.'s 2nd.
12. P. takes P.

13. K. B. takes R.

14. B. takes K. Kt.

3. Q. to K. B's 3rd.
4. Q. Kt. to B's 3rd.
5. P. to Q's 3rd.
6. P. takes P.

7. K. B. to Q's 3rd.
8. K. Kt. to K's 2nd.
9. Q. to K. B's 2nd.
10. P. to K. R's 4th.
11. P. takes P.

12. R. takes R.

13. P. to K. Kt.'s 3rd.
14. Q. takes B.

(If instead of taking the Kt., you play 14. P. to K. B's 6th, he will move 14. K. Kt. to his sq., and win the Pawn and a better position; and if you take P. with P., he takes again with his Kt., having a fine game.) 15. P. takes K. Kt. P. 15. B. takes K. Kt. P. And he has the advantage.

4. P. to Q's 4th.

5. Kt. to his 5th.

4. P. to K's 5th.
5. Q. B. takes P.

You may also play 5. Q. to K's 2nd, but that would hardly be

so good as the move given.

6. Q. to K's 2nd.

7. Q. to her Kt.'s 5th (ch.) 8. Q. takes Q. Kt. P. 9. B. to Q. Kt.'s 5th (ch.) 10. Q. takes Kt. (ch.) 11. Q. to Q. Kt.'s 7th. 12. Q. takes Q. R. P. 13. Kt. to K. R's 3rd.

14. K. Kt. P. takes B.

6. P. to Q's 4th. 7. Q. Kt. to B's 3rd. 8. Q. Kt. takes Q. P. 9. Kt. takes B. 10. Q. to her 2nd. 11. Q. R. to B's sq. 12. P. to K. R's 3rd. 13. B. takes Kt. 14. Q. takes P.

And he has the superiority in position.

you take his proffered Pawn with P. at your 3rd move, your position is slightly better than Black's.

3. P. takes P. (best)

3. Q. takes P.

This appears to be his best reply. If instead of taking the Pawn, he play 3. P. ts K's 5th, the result will be as follows:

You might also play 8. K's Kt. takes K's P., and the next move place K's R. at K's sq., threatening to take Q. B's P. with the Kt.

9. P. to Q's 4th. 10. Q's P. takes P.

11. K's Kt. takes P.

9. P. to Q. B's 3rd. 10. P. takes P.

Winning or course.

Your success in this variation results from your 3rd move of P. takes P.; if instead of this you take the K's P. with the Knight, it is not so evident that any marked advantage would accrue to you; for instance,

WHITE.

1. P. to K's 4th.

2. K's Kt. to B's 3rd.

3. Kt. takes K's P.

BLACK.

1. P. to K's 4th.

2. P. to Q's 4th.

3. Q. to K's 2nd (best)

This is considered his best move; if 3. P. takes P. the game proceeds thus:

3. P. takes P.

4. K's B. to Q. B's 4th.

4. Q. to K. Kt.'s 4th (best)

5. P. to Q's 4th.

6. R. to K. B's sq.

5. Q. takes K. Kt.'s P.

6. B. to K's 3rd (best)

(If he play 6. B. to K. R's 6th, you may take K. B's P. with your Н (ch.), and then return the B. to Q. B's 4th.)

4. P. to K. B's 3rd. 5. B. takes Kt.

4. P. to Q's 4th. 5. Kt. to his 4th. There is a beautiful but not sound variation on your move at this point, the invention of Mr. Cochrane, which is to leave the K's Kt. and play 5. Q's Kt. to B's 3rd. (See the game "bctween Messrs. Cochrane and Staunton," in which this occurs, at the end of the present Chapter.)

6. Q. takes B.

7. Q. takes Q. (ch.)

6. Q. takes P. (ch.) 7. P. takes Q.

There is no advantage on either side.

From these variations you will gather that when Black adopts the defence of 2. P. to Q's 4th in this game, your best answer is 3. P. takes Q's P., and that any other reply will lead to about an even game.

GAMES

ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE PRECEDING VARIATIONS.

(From the Chess-Player's Chronicle.)

GAME I.-Between Messrs. Cochrane and Staunton.