GAME II.--PETROFF'S DEFENCE.

WHITE. BLACK.

1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.

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

This defence was brought into notice by Petroff some years ago, and has been approved of by many of the leading players. It is an excellent defence when receiving the odds of a piece.

3. Kt. takes K's P. 3. P. to Q's 3d.

4. Kt. to K. B's 3d. 4. Kt. takes K's P.

5. P. to Q's 4th, (or Var. A.) 5. P. to Q's 4th.

6. B. to Q's 3d. 6. B. to K's 2d, (not to Q's 3d.) 7. Castles. 7. Q's Kt. to B's 3d.

8. P. to Q. B's 4th. 8. Q's B. to K's 3d.

9. P. to Q. R's. 3d. 9. Castles.

10. Q. to Q. B's 2d, with a slightly better game.

_Variation A. on White's 5th Move._

White has another move at this point, which seems at least as good as 5.

P. to Q's 4th; viz., Q's Kt. to B's 3d.

WHITE. BLACK.

5. Q's Kt. to B's 3d. 5. Kt. takes Kt.

6. Q's P. takes Kt. 6. B. to K's 2d.

7. B. to Q's 3d.

White has the better opened game.

GAME III.--THE GIUOCO PIANO.

WHITE. BLACK.

1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.

2. K's Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q's Kt. to B's 3d.

This is recommended by nearly all authors, as Black's best reply. Of late, however, there has been an opinion prevalent among many of our best players, that it is inferior to K's Kt. to B's 3d, or even P. to Q's 3d. For our own part, we incline to the old move of Q's Kt. to B's 3d, but doubt whether there is any defence by which Black can acquire a _perfectly even_ game.

3. B. to Q. B's 4th. 3. B. to Q. B's 4th. (best.) 4. P. to Q. B's 3d. 4. K's Kt. to B's 3d. (best.) 5. P. to Q's 4th. 5. P. takes P.

6. P. to K's 5th, (or Var. A.) 6. P. to Q's 4th. (best.) 7. K's B. to Q. Kt.'s 5th. 7. K's Kt. to K's 5th.

8. P. takes P. 8. B. to Q. Kt.'s 3d. (best.) 9. Castles. 9. Q's B. to K. Kt.'s 5th.

10. B. takes Kt. (ch.) 10. P. takes B.

11. Q's B. to K's 3d, or Q's Kt. 11. Castles.

to B's 3d.

These are the moves given in the Handbook, and the game is dismissed as equal. In actual play, however, we should take Black's game for choice.

_Variation A. on White's 6th Move._

WHITE. BLACK.

6. P. takes P. 6. B. to Q. Kt.'s 5th (ch.)

White's 6th move is recommended by the German masters, and in our opinion is preferable to P. to K's 5th; Black's best reply is to check,--

7. B. to Q's 2d. 7. B. takes B. (ch.) 8. Q's Kt. takes B. 8. P. to Q's 4th.

9. P. takes P. 9. Kt. takes P.

10. Q. to Q. Kt.'s 3d. 10. Q's Kt. to K's 2d.

11. K's R. to K's sq.

We much prefer White's game.

GAME IV.--THE EVANS' GAMBIT.

It would be impossible, in the narrow limits a.s.signed to our treatise, to enter into the merits of this opening; we shall therefore give one or two of the leading variations, and refer learners, who may be desirous of a more comprehensive a.n.a.lysis, to Mr. Walker's excellent articles on this popular opening, in Vol. ix. of the "Chess Player's Chronicle," the "Handbook," and Mr. Boden's useful little work, ent.i.tled "A Popular Introduction to Chess."

WHITE. BLACK.

1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.

2. K's Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q's Kt. to B's 3d.

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

4. P. to Q. Kt.'s 4th. 4. B. takes Q. Kt.'s P.

5. P. to Q. B's 3d. 5. B. to Q. B's 4th.

6. Castles. 6. P. to Q's 3d. (best.) 7. P. to Q's 4th. 7. P. takes P.

8. P. takes P. 8. B. to Q. Kt.'s 3d.

9. B. to Q. Kt.'s 2d. 9. K's Kt. to B's 3d.

Instead of 9. B. to Q. Kt.'s 2d, you may adopt several other modes of play; viz., 9. B. to Q. R's 3d; 9. R. to K's sq.; 9. P. to K. R's 3d; 9.

Q's Kt. to B's 3d. To the two first of these, Black equally replies with Q's B. to K. Kt.'s 5th, with the better game. (For 9. P. to K. R's 3d, and 9. Q's Kt. to B's 3d, see Variations A. and B.)

10. P. to Q's 5th. 10. Q's Kt. to K's 2d. (best.) 11. B. takes K's Kt. 11. P. takes B.

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

White has rather the better game.

_Variation A. on White's 9th Move._

WHITE. BLACK.

9. P. to K. R's 3d. 9. Kt. to Q. R's 4th.

This is the move usually recommended for the defence. Black may however adopt, 9. P. to K. R's 3d, apparently with little disadvantage.

10. B. to Q's 3d. 10. K's Kt. to K's 2d.

11. P. to Q. R's 4th. 11. Castles.

12. R. to Q. R's 2d. 12. K. to R's sq.

13. R. to K's 2d. 13. P. to K. B's 4th.

The game is about equal.