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Having seen the results of these methods of play, we may now proceed with the original game, from which we deviated after the 4th move.

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Your best move is now to take the Pawn with the Kt.; but you may also play advantageously K's B. to Q. B's 4th. If, instead of either of these moves, you take the Pawn with K's Pawn, Black will have the better game.

3. K's Kt. takes P. (best)

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

*In the admirable German treatise on the openings, began by Von Bilguer and ultimately so well concluded by Von H. der Laza, the following remarks are made upon this opening, which there is designated "THE COUNTER GAMBIT IN THE KNIGHT'S GAME." "During the summer of the year 1839, five of the best chess-players in Berlin, amongst whom were Von Bilguer, the deceased author of this work, and Von H. der Laza, its editor, agreed to meet weekly, and to select this opening as the subject of their investigations." (The most important variations resulting from these inquiries will be found in the present Chapter.) "The principal authors who have turned their attention to this début are,-Lewis, 1st Ed. (1842) pp. 84, 88; Lewis's Treatise, pp. 117, 122, 236, 239; Walker (1841), p. 186; Greco (Hirshell), pp. 112, 116; Cozio, i. pp. 280, 285, 288, 350, 353; Cozio, ii. pp. 342, 350, 354; Ponziani (1782), p. 105, and in the Palamède of 1843, pp. 19, 26, with the specific title of Gambit en second."" M. Deschapelles, in the match by correspondence between Paris and Pesth, had recommended the move 2. P. to K. B's 4th as the best defence against K's Kt. to B's 3rd of the first player. It was, however, rightly rejected by the committee, and K's Kt. to B's 3rd adopted instead.

The idea of this game is traceable to Damiano, but Greco appears to be its true elaborator.

If he play 3. Q. to K's 2nd, the subjoined moves show you will get the advantage:

He

4. Q. to K. R's 5th (ch.)
5. Kt. takes Kt.'s P.
6. B. to K's 2nd (best)
7. Q. to R's 3rd (best)
8. Q. takes R.

9. R. to K. B's sq.
10. Q. to R's 4th,

4 P. to Q's 4th.

3. Q. to K's 2nd.
4. P. to K. Kt.'s 3rd.
5. Q. takes K's P. (ch.)
6. K's Kt. to B's 3rd.

7. P. takes Kt.*

8. Q. takes K. Kt.'s P. 9. K. to B's 2nd.

With the better game.

4. P. to Q's 3rd.

may also take the K's P. with P. (See the Fourth Varia

tion.)

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

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

This sixth move of Black gives rise to cate manœuvring, in which, without the White's part, he may lose a Knight.

7. Q's Kt. takes K's P. (best)

8. Q. to K's 2nd.

9. Q's Kt. to Q's 6th (ch.)

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

or First Variation. some extremely deligreatest exactness on

7. Q. to K's 3rd. 8. P. to Q's 4th.

9. K. to Q's 2nd.

If he play 9. K. to Q's sq., these moves are likely to follow:

9. K. to Q's sq.

10. Q's Kt. takes Q. Kt.'s P. (ch.) 10. K. to Q. B's 2nd. †

11. Q. takes Q.

12. K's Kt. to Q. R's 5th.

13. Q's B. to Q's 2nd.

14. P. to Q. Kt.'s 4th,

11. Q's B. takes Q.

12. K. to Kt.'s 3rd (best) 13. Q's Kt. to Q's 2nd.

And afterwards Q's Kt. to B's 5th, with a superior game.

Observe here, that it is far from indifferent which Kt. you check with. If you play 9. K's Kt. to Q's 6th (ch.), he may move K. to Q's sq. You reply with 10. Q's B. to K. Kt.'s 5th (ch.); he then moves K. to Q. B's 2nd, and wins one of the Knights. At your 10th move, however, instead of checking with the B. you may play 10. Q's Kt. to K. Kt.'s 5th; Black

*If R. to Kt.'s sq., White replies with Q. Kt. to B's 3rd, or Q. P to Q's 3rd, and then Kt. to K. B's 4th.

If he play otherwise the Knight will secure a retreat.

cannot then take the other Kt. on account of 11. Kt. to B's 7th (ch.), winning the Queen, but he would take your Q. with Q. (ch.), and the game would probably go on thus:

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Should he, for his 15th move, instead of Q's B. to K. Kt's sq., play P. to K. Kt.'s 3rd, you may give up the Knight for the two Pawns; but in the present position the Knight need not be lost.

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WHITE.

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

8. K's B. to Kt.'s 2nd. 9. B. takes K's P. 10. Q's Kt. takes B. 11. Q. to K's 2nd.

12. K's Kt. to Q's 6th (ch.)

BLACK.

6. Q's B. to K. B'a 4th. 7. Q's B. to K. Kt.'s 3rd. 8. P. to Q. B's 3rd. 9. B. takes B. 10. Q. to K's 3rd. 11. P. to Q's 4th.

If now Black take the Knight with his Bishop, you retake with the Q's Kt. (ch.), then exchange Queens, and win the Q. Kt.'s P. He may, however, move 12. K. to his 2nd, whereupon you check with K's Kt. at K. B's 5th, and after. wards liberate your other Kt.

SECOND VARIATION,

Beginning at Black's 6th move.

Arrange the men according to the preceding diagram again.

WHITE.

7. P. to Q's 5th.

6.

BLACK.

K's Kt. to K's 2nd.

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

If at his 7th move he play Q's B. to K. B's 4th, you again attack the B. with K. Kt.'s P., and then play K's B. to Kt.'s 2nd.

8. Q. to her 4th.

9. Q's Kt. to his 5th, gaining a Pawn.

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

THIRD VARIATION,

From Black's 6th move.-(See preceding diagram.)

WHITE.

7. P. to K. B's 3rd (best)

8. P. takes K's P.

9. Q. to K's 2nd.

10. K's Kt. to Q's 2nd.

11. K's Kt. takes Kt.

12. Q. to her 3rd, having won a Piece.

BLACK.

6. Q. to K. Kt.'s 3rd. 7. K's Kt. to B's 3rd. 8. Kt. takes P.

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

P. with P. at his 7th move.

Black's error in this last variation is not taking the K. B's If he take the P. you still have a considerable advantage in position, but he avoids the loss of any of his men. (e.g.)

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If instead of this, he move 5. K's Kt. to K's 2nd, the game is likely to proceed thus:

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Winning at least the Rook, for if he attempts to save it, he must lose the Q. by 9. Kt. to Q's 6th (ch.), &c.

6. B. to B's 7th (ch.) Should he move the K. to Q's sq., if he retake with his R., play 9. winning the Q. in two moves.

7. P. to K. R's 4th. 8. Q. to K. R's 5th.

9. Q's B. to K. Kt.'s 5th 10. Q. takes R.,

and you have an easy game

6. K. to his 2nd. you can take the Kt., and Q's B. to K. Kt.'s 5th,

7. P. to K. R's 3rd 8. K. to Q's 3rd.

9. P. takes B.

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