GAME II.-Between MM. Jaenisch and Petroff.

(From the same work.)

37. P. takes R., becomes a Queen (ch.), and wins.

*If Black had taken the B. with K. B. P. at this point, the following moves show that he would have equally lost :

34. Q. to K. Kt.'s 3rd (ch.), and wins.

CHAPTER IV.

GAME THE NINTH.

THE GIUOCO PIANO.

AN atentive examination of the eight separate methods of reply to your second move of K's Kt. to B's 3rd in the antecedent games, will have enabled you to understand that four at least of these defences, viz.: P. to K. B's 3rd, B. to Q's 3rd, Q. to B's 3rd, and B. to Q. B's 4th, are untenable and injurious for the game of the second player, and that the remaining four, if not absolutely bad for him, are unsatisfactory, because against the best attack, they leave the balance of advantage in favour of the party playing first.

It is now time to consider the consequences to both parties when Black, abandoning the objectionable or uncertain. modes of play he has hitherto adopted, shall answer with the move which the best authorities at length concur in recommending a3 the proper one, i. e., 2. Q's Kt. to B's 3rd. Upon his playing thus, you have the choice of three good moves: in the first place, to play 3. K's B. to Q. B's 4th, as in the present game; secondly, 3. P. to Q's 4th; and thirdly, P. to Q. B's 3rd. The two latter of which will form the subjects of games hereafter.

WHITE.

1. P. to K's 4th.

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

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

66

BLACK.

1. P. to K's 4th.

2. Q's Kt. to B's 3rd.
3. K's B. to Q. B's 4th.

It is generally admitted that Black's 3rd move is the best he can adopt; and the opening now formed is that which the Italians have entitled the Giuoco Piano;"* an opening, less attacking than many others, but one perfectly safe for both players, and therefore always in request, and which usually generates games of the most solid and instructive kind.

*The leading works to be consulted on this important opening, arc Lolli, pp. 46, 162, 264; Ponziani, 1782, p. 53; Stamma, 1745, pp. 7-19; Lewis (1st Ed.), pp. 94-125; (2nd Ed.), pp. 90-120, 152-170; also in his last Treatise, 1844, pp. 148-189; Mauvillon, 1829; Bilguer's Handbuch, 1843; and the immense collection of games in the Chess. Player's Chronicle, vol. i. to vii.

Instead of this move, he may however play 3. K's Kt. to B's 3rd, or 4. P. to K. B's 4th, both of which will be subsequently examined; 4. Q's P. one is obviously bad for him, by shutting in his K's B., and 4. Q. to K. B's 3rd, a move too frequently adopted by young players, will be touched upor incidentally in the analysis of the former two.

4. K's Kt. to B's 3rd (best)

4. P. to Q. B's 3rd. Your move of 4. P. to Q. B's 3rd is the one most played at this point, because it makes an outlet for your Q. to her Kt.'s 3rd, and enables you at the proper moment to advance the Q's P. to the 4th sq.; but 4. Q's Kt. to B's 3rd, or 4. P. to Q's 3rd (see Game 15th), though less immediately attacking, may also be made with advantage. You may like wise castle at this moment (see Game 14th). Black's answer of 4. K's Kt. to B's 3rd, is the oldest and best defence he can adopt. It is to be found as far back as the time of Damiano, 1512, and modern authorities agree in acknowledging it to be the most secure reply at Black's command. Instead of this move, however, it has been shown in the "Handbuch" of Bilguer and H. der Laza, that he may without any very marked disadvantage, play either 4. Q. tc K's 2nd, or 4. K's B. to Q. Kt.'s 3rd (see Game 13th), both of which will be considered presently, together with 4. P. to Q's 3rd (see Game 11th), the move, commended by the great Italian players, and subsequently by Lewis, but which certainly appears less effective than bringing out the K's Kt.

5. P. takes P.

5. P. to Q's 4th. The question as to which is your best 5th move, has long cccupied the attention of the leading writers. Mr. Lewis has a preference for 5. P. to Q's 3rd; but he remarks, it is diffi cult to decide (see Game 10th); and Bilguer and H. der Laza recommend you to castle-the result of which shall be shown in Variation III. If instead of any one of these three ways, you play 5. Kt. to Kt.'s 5th, the following moves will show that your opponent gains the advantage of position:

5. K's Kt. to his 5th.
6. P. to K. B's 4th.
7. P. takes Q's P. (best)
8. B. takes Kt.

9. Q. to K. B's 3rd.

5. Castles.

6. P. to Q's 4th (best)

7. Kt. takes P.

8. Q. takes B.

9. K's R. to Q's sq. (best)

If you play 9. Q. to K. R's 5th, Black plays 9. Q's B. to K. B's 4th, and the second player should win. Black's 9th move, K's R. to Q's sq., first occurs in a game between the writer and Mr. Horwitz, and it appears to be a satisfactory reply to the attack.

6. P. to K's 5th. 6. P. to Q's 4th (best) You might have played 6. P. takes P., a move the German masters recommend, and the consequences from which will be shown in Variation II. You may also play 6. P. to Q. Kt.'s 4th, and upon the Bishop retreating, take 7. P. with P.; in that case, Black must not take the Kt.'s P. with Kt., on account of your playing P. to K's 5th, which would then give you a capital game.

Black plays the best move he has. If instead, he move 6. Q. to K's 2nd, you castle; if 6. K's Kt. to his 5th, you may take K. B's P. with B., checking, and when the K. takes B., play Kt. to his 5th (ch.), or better perhaps than taking the K. B's P., take Q's P. with P. But, as recommended by some authors, he may play 6. K's Kt. to K's 5th, which will form the subject of Variation I.

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

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

If at move 7. you take the Kt. with K's P., he takes your B. with P., and if then you play 8. P. takes K. Kt.'s P., he replies with 8. K's R. to Kt.'s sq., and has the better game. 8. B. takes Kt. (ch.)

9. P. takes P.

8. P. takes B.
9. B. to Q. Kt.'s 3rd.

Black may check with his B. here; but that is hardly so good as the move given. (e. g.)

10. B. to Q's 2nd.

11. Q's Kt. takes B.

9. B. to Q. Kt.'s 5th (ch.)

10. B. takes B. (ch.)

11. P. to K. B's 4th.

You may now play 12. Q's R. to Q. B's sq., having a slight advantage

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

4. P. to Q. B's 3rd.

5. P. to Q's 4th.

6. P. to K's 5th.

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

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

6. K's Kt. to K's 5th. Kt. takes K. B's P.

7.

If you play 7. Q. to K's 2nd, he moves 7. P. to Q's 4th, and on your playing 8. P. takes P. in passing, he moves 8. Q's B. to K. B's 4th, with a better position; and if you move 7. P. takes P., he then checks with his B., and the game is equal.

8. K. takes Kt.

9. K. to Kt.'s 3rd.

8. P. takes P. (dis. ch.) 9. P. takes Q. Kt.'s P.

The King, at your 9th move, has three squares to move to, each of which has its advocates; the Italian authors recommend K. to his own sq.; Jaenisch, Ghulam Kassim, and Mendheim prefer the move in the text; and Petroff advises K. to B's sq. It may be well to examine the first and last before proceeding with the other.

In the first place then suppose,

9. K. to his sq.
10. Q's B. takes P.

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

12. P. takes P. in passing.
13. Q. takes Q.

14. Q's Kt. to B's 3rd.
15. K. to his 2nd.

9. P. takes Q. Kt.'s P.
10. Q's Kt. to K's 2n.
11. P. to Q's 4th.
12. Q. takes P.
13. P. takes Q.

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

White appears to me to have the advantage.

In the second place suppose you play,—

9. K. to B's sq.
10. Q's B. takes P.
11. Q's Kt. to Q's 2nd.
12. Q's Kt. to K's 4th.
13. Q's Kt. takes B.
14. B. to K's 4th.*
15. Q. to her B's 2nd.
16. Q. takes B.

17. Kt. to K. Kt.'s 5th.

9. P. takes P.
10. Castles.

11. P. to Q's 3rd.
12. Q's Kt. to K's 2nd.
13. P. takes Kt.

14. Q's B. to K. B's 4th.
15. B. takes B.

16. Q. to her 4th.

His best move apparently is to take your Q., and you have then I think

the better game.

*Not B. takes K. B's P. (ch.), because he would of course take with his K.