This mode of defence is touched on by Damiano, and has been examined, subsequently, by Lopez (1584), pp. 119, 125: Selenus, pp. 25, 267; Cozio (first edition), 212, 214, 312; Greco (Hirshel's edition), p. 36; Ponziani (1782), p. 103; Lolli, pp. 183, 184; Allgaier, tab. iii.; Lewis (first edition), pp. 25, 81, (second edition) 8, 83; Treatise (1844), pp. 111-115; Walker (1841), p. 46; (1846), pp. 46-50; but never received the consideration it was entitled to until Mr. Petroff, the celebrated Russian player, introduced it again a few years back. It has since undergone a complete analysis at the hands of Major Jaenisch, who for some time recommended it as Black's best move, an opinion, however, which he lately qualified, believing now that it gives him a somewhat inferior position to his opponent. 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P. Your third move was suggested by Mr. Petroff. It is perhaps less attacking, Major Jaenisch observes, than taking the K's P. with the Kt. (as in Variation III.), but it leads to many beautiful variations. In reply, Black in place of taking P. with P., may take it with the Kt. (See Variation I.) 4. Kt. to K's 5th (best) 4. P. to K's 5th. He may here play Kt. to Q's 4th, or Q. to K's 2nd; if the latter, the following moves are likely to occur : 12. Q's Kt. to B's 3rd. 12. Q's Kt. to Q's 2nd. And the game is quite even. 5. P. to Q's 3rd (best, 5. Kt. takes P. Instead of taking the Pawn with your Kt., you may play 5. K's B. to Q's 3rd. (See Variation II.) He might also play 5. P. to Q's 4th, or 5. B. to Q. B's 4th, without danger. 6. P. takes P. 7. K's B. to Q. B's 4th. 8. Q's B. to K's 3rd. 6. K's B. takes P. 7. K's B. to Q. B's 4th. 8. Castles. Instead of this move he might take the Kt. Black may play 5. P. to Q. B's 4th, and the result would be an even game. 6. P. to Q. B's 4th. 7. K's Kt. takes P. 8. Kt. to K's 3rd. 9. Castles. 6. P. takes P. 7. Q's B. to K's 3rd. 8. B. to K's 2nd. You have the move, and somewhat the advantage of position. In the former example you now took the P. with the Kt., perhaps your best move, but the following may also be played without harm: 5. K's B. to Q's 3rd. 6. Kt. takes P. 7. P. takes P. 8. Castles. 5. K's Kt. to Q. B's 4th. 6. P. to Q's 3rd. 7. K's B. takes P. 8. Castles. It would not be a good move for Black, instead of castling, to take your K. R's P. (ch.), and then to take the Kt., on account of your check with the B., which would leave his Q. exposed to capture. Black may now adopt the defence given in Cozio, and whick has latterly been brought into vogue by Jaenisch, viz., 3. P. to Q's 3rd. (See Variation IV.) 4. Q. to K's 2nd. 4. Q. to K's 2nd. you evidently win If he retreat the Kt. instead of this move, 5. Q. takes Kt. 6. P. to Q's 4th. 7. P. to K. B's 4th. 5. P. to Q's 3rd. 6. P. to K. B's 3rd. If he take the Kt. you gain a Pawn. (e. g.) 8. B's P. takes P. 8. Q's Kt. to B's 3rd. 7. Q's P. takes Kt. 8. P. takes P. 8. Q's P. takes Kt. He may, however, take with the Bishop's Pawn, but the resuli is also in your favour, as the following moves will show : 9. K. B's P. takes P. 10. Q's Kt. to Q's 5th. 8. K. B's P. takes Kt. 9. P. takes P. 10. Kt. to K. B's 3rd. (If instead of this he move 10. Q. to her sq., you take P. with P.) 11. B. to Q. Kt.'s 5th (ch.) 16. Q. takes Q. B's P. 11. P. to Q. B's 3rd. 16. Q's R. to his 3rd. (If he play 16. Q's B. to Kt.'s 2nd, you take the Q. R's P. with your Bishop (ch.), and follow that by 17. P. takes K's P. (dis. ch.), und win.) 17. B. takes P. (ch.) 20. K. to Kt.'s sq. 21. R. takes B. (ch.) 22. P. takes R. 17. R. takes B. 18. B. to Q's 2nd. 21. R. takes R. Winning the other R. also, or giving immediate mate. 9. Q's Kt. to Q's 5th. 10. Q's P. takes P. 11. P. takes P. 9. Q. to her 3rd. 10. P. takes P. 11. Q. to her B's 3rd. If he take the P. with his Q., you exchange Queens, and then gain the Q's R. by 12 Kt. takes Q. B's P. (ch.). If he take the P. with the Kt., you win the Kt. by 12. Q's B. to K. B's 4th. 12. K's B. to Q. Kt.'s 5th. 12. Q. to her B's 4th. It is quite clear that by taking the Bishop Black loses his Queen. 13. P. to Q. Kt.'s 4th. Winning the Q. At his 12th move, Black might prolong the game by playing 12. Q. to K. Kt.'s 3rd, but in that case you would take 13. Q. B's P. with the Kt. (ch.), then take Q with Q., and afterwards Q's R. with Kt. This defence is found in Cozio, p. 312, but it was reserved for Jaenisch to exhibit the full importance of its bearing upon the opening. (See Palamède (1842), pp. 107, 108, and "Analyse des Ouvertures." vol. ii.) 4. Kt. to K. B's 3rd. 5. P. to Q's 4th. 4. Kt. takes K's P. 5. Your move of 5. P. to Q's 4th, is considered by Jaenisch as the best. If instead you play 5. Q. to K's 2nd, the adversary also moves 5. Q. to K's 2nd, and the positions are strictly equal. 6. K's B. to Q's 3rd. 6. K's B. to K's 2nd. Black's 6th move is commended by Jaenisch.-If he play 6. P. to Q. B's 4th, you reply with P. to Q. B's 4th. If 6. K. B. to Q's 3rd, the following moves will demonstrate that the opening is in your favour. In the careful and elaborate analysis of this opening presented by Major Jaenisch, your move of 9. Q. to her B's 2nd, preparatory to playing her to Kt.'s 3rd, appears to have been overlooked. It first occurs in the admirable game won by the Pesth club, in correspondence with the Paris club; and its success in that case has doubtless had its effect in modifying the opinion M. Jaenisch at first entertained of the defence.) 10. Q. to her Kt.'s 3rd. And you have a very fine game. These moves form the opening of the game alluded to, which will be found complete at the end of this Chapter. 7. Castles. 8. P. to Q. B's 4th. 9. P. to Q. R's 3rd. 7. Q. Kt. to B's 3rd. 8. Q. B. to K's 3rd. 9. Castles. You are now enabled to play Q. to her B's 2nd, and obtain a good attacking situation. The foregoing variations of this opening are chiefly taken from Jaenisch's analysis. Those which follow are derived from the masterly work of Bilguer and H. der Laza |