BOOK III.

The King's Bishop's Opening.

СНАРТЕК 1.

THE KING'S BISHOP'S OPENING

Is an important and interesting method of commencing the game, and, according to Philidor, the best that the opening player can select, inasmuch as it requires no initiatory sacrifice, and permits the Pawns to advance without obstruction from their officers. Later authors, however, differ materially from Philidor in his estimate of the King's Bishop's Opening, and general opinion now is in favour of beginning with the King's Knight, as the stronger and more lasting manner of attack.

Most writers concur in recommending 2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th also, as Black's best reply to the Bishop's Opening; but Jaenisch and the authors of the German "Handbuch" unanimously recommend 2. K. Kt. to B's 3rd in preference. Upon this point the latter remark: "We support our opinion not only by the authority of the Nouvelle Analyse,' in which Jaenisch advises the play of the Kt., but by the experience of our friends, the best players of Berlin, who, in two of their games by correspondence, against Magdeburg (1833) and against Posen (1839), played the move 2. K. Kt. to B's 3rd, in reply to 2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th, and won them both."

The leading works to be consulted upon this old and favourite opening are-Lopez, p. 82; Greco (Hirschel's ed.), pp. 56, 100; Ercole del Rio, pp. 37, 63; Ponziani, 1782, p. 112; Cozio (1st vol.), pp. 236, 276, 322, 323, 345; (2nd vol.), p. 301; Pratt's Philidor, 1825, p. 63; De la Bourdonnai pp. 16, 110; Jaenisch (vol. i.), pp. 136-151; "Palamède," 1842, p. 241; Lewis's "Treatise," 1844, pp. 33-92; Walker, 1846, pp. 105-123; and the collection of games in the "Chess-Player's Chronicle." vol. i. to vii.

WHITE.

GAME THE FIRST.

BLACK.

1. P. to K's 4th.

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

1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.

Black has the choice of three good moves and several indifferent ones, in reply to your second move. The unexceptionable answers are 2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th, also 2. K. Kt. to B's 3rd, and 2. P. to K. B's 4th; and upon the two former opinions are so nicely balanced, that it is difficult, and perhaps unimportant, to decide between them. The first of these moves will form the subject of the present Chapter, and the second shall be examined in the next; and 2. P. to K. B's 4th, with those which are more objectionable, will be treated of in Chapter III.

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

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

Instead of P. to Q. B's 3rd, you might play 3. K. Kt. to B's 3rd, and if Black then defended his Pawn with Q. Kt., his best move, you have the Giuoco Piano opening. (See Game the Sixth.) Black has, in the present début, an infinite variety of apparently good moves at his command; and this circumstance would tend to show, I think, that your move of 3. P. to Q. B's 3rd, although the acknowledged "classical" play, handed down to us from Philidor, is not the best the board affords. He may, without much danger, make the move in the text, or Q. to K's 2nd; or, as the Italians recommend, Q. to K. Kt.'s 4th; or P. to Q's 4th, the defence of Mr. Lewis; or Q. Kt. to B's 3rd (See Games Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth), each of which will be examined in its turn. If, instead of any one of these, he play 3. Q. to K. R's 5th, or 3. P. to Q's 3rd, you speedily obtain an advantage; e. g., in the first place,—

4. Q. to K's 2nd.

5. P. to Q's 4th.

6. P. takes P.

7. P. to K. Kt.'s 3rd.

8. Q. takes B.

9. P. takes Q.

10. B. to Q's 5th.

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

3. Q. to K. R's 5th.

4. K. Kt. to B's 3rd.
5. B. to Kt.'s 3rd, or (A.)

6. Kt. takes K. P.

7. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.)
8. Kt. takes Q.

9. Kt. takes R.
10. Q. Kt. to B's 3rd.

Gaining the K. Kt. directly, and having the better game.

(If he play the Kt. to K's 5th or R's 4th, you move 7. P. to K. Kt. ↑ 3rd, and win him.)

Having disposed of these unsafe defences, we can now continue the regular game :—

4. P. to Q's 4th.

4. P. takes P.

If Black, for his 4th move, play B. to Q's 3rd, you take P. with. P., and then advance P. to K. B's 4th. He may, however. play another move, viz., 4. B. to Q. Kt.'s 3rd, and the game proceed thus:

5. P. takes P.

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

And by playing 6. Q. to her 5th, or B. takes K. B. P. (ch.), you gain a striking advantage.

5. P. to K's 5th.

5. P. to Q's 4th.

He may also play 5. K. Kt. to K's 5th, or 5. Q. to K's 2nd; but in either case the result after a few moves will be in you: favour. For example, in the first place,

(You may with equal advantage play 6. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.)

(Your move of the King is much better than interposing a Piece.)

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

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

If he play 8. Kt. to K. B's 3rd, you reply with 9. Q. takes K. Kt. P.. if he move 8. Kt. to Q's 3rd, you play 9. K. B. to K's 2nd; and if he play 8. P. to Q. B's 3rd, you take the Kt., and in every case must have the better game.)

9. Q. to R's 5th (ch.)
10. Q. to R's 6th.
11. P. to K. B's 3rd.
12. B. to K's 2nd.

6. P. takes Kt.

9. P. to K. Kt.'s 3rd. 10. P. to Q. B's 3rd. 11. P. to Q's 4th.

Winning the Kt.

6. P. takes B.

If you retreat the B. to Q. Kt.'s 3rd, or check with him at Q. Kt.'s 5th, the result, according to the best authorities, is an even game; but taking the Kt. appears to me to yield you a slight advantage.

7. P. takes K. Kt. P.

7. R. to K. Kt.'s sq.

If he check with his Q. first, you may interpose Q. B. at

K's 3rd.

Instead of taking the K. Kt. P. at this point, you may play 7. Q. to K. R's 5th, but not, I think, with the samo advantage. For instance :

In the German "Handbuch" the game is now dismissed as favourable to Black; but in what his advantage consists is not clear. I certainly prefer your game. You can now take P. with P., and presently develope your forces, having a Piece more than your opponent, and very little inferiority of position.

If he take the K. B. P. (ch.) instead, you get the better game

(e. g.)

5. K. takes B.

6. P. to Q's 4th.

7. Kt. takes K. P.

8. K. R. to K's sq., &c.

5. P. to Q's 4th.

4. B. takes B. P. (ch.)

5. Q. to her B's 4th (ch.)

6. Q. takes B.

7. Q. to K's 3rd.

5. P. takes P.

He may also retire his B. to Q. Kt.'s 3rd, with a safe though somewhat confined game.

6. Castles.

6. P. takes Q. B. P.

7. B. to Q. Kt.'s 3rd.

Mr. Jaenisch gives this as Black's best move.

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

Your 7th move is a suggestion of Mr. Petroff, and serves to increase the power of your attack. If he take the offered P. with his B., the game is likely to proceed as follows:

8. Q. to R's 4th (ch.)
9. K. B. to Q. Kt.'s 5th.
10. B. takes Kt. (ch.)

7. B. takes P.

8. Q. Kt. to B's 3rd.
9. P. to Q. B's 7th (best)
10. K. to B's sq. (best)

If he retreat the K. to Q's sq., you may take B. with Q., he replies with P. takes Q. Kt. (becoming a Q.), you take this Q. with the Q. R., he then takes the B., and you move Q. to her B's 3rd, with a fine attacking game.)