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

WHITE. BLACK.

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

We have long suspected that the force of this form of the attack has been vastly underrated. The following variations are taken from an able a.n.a.lysis by Mr. G. B. Fraser, of Dundee, who has kindly presented the result of his labours in the investigation of this attack at our disposal:--

9. B. to K. Kt.'s 5th.

This move is considered by all the modern writers on Chess to be Black's best reply.

10. Q. to Q. R's 4th. 10. B. takes Kt.

In reply to White's last move, Black may play either 10. Q. to Q's 2d, or 10. B. to Q's 2d, instead of the move in the text. If he adopt 10. Q.

to Q's 2d, White replies with B. to Q. Kt.'s 5th, apparently winning a piece. It has been suggested to us that perhaps Black's best move is 10.

K. to B's sq., to which White might reply with K. Kt. to his 5th; and on Black's moving K. Kt. to R's 3d, advance the P. to Q's 5th. (For B. to Q's 2d, see Variation A.)

11. P. to Q's 5th. 11. B. to K. Kt.'s 5th. (best.) 12. P. takes Q's Kt. 12. P. takes P.

Black might play also Q's R. to Q. Kt.'s sq., whereupon follows,--

13. P. takes P. (dis. ch.) 13. B. to Q's 2d.

14. Q. to Q. Kt.'s 3d, and wins.

13. P. to K's 5th.

White might also with advantage take the Q. B's P. checking, although the move in the text seems stronger.

13. B. to K's 3d.

If he play,--

13. Q. to Q's 2d.

14. P. takes P. 14. P. takes P.

15. Kt. to Q's 5th, and wins.

14. B. takes B. 14. P. takes B.

15. Q. takes P. (ch.) 15. K. to B's sq.

16. B. to Q. R's 3d, with a winning game.

_Variation A. on Black's 10th Move._

WHITE. BLACK.

10. B. to Q's 2d.

11. Q. to Q. Kt.'s 3d. 11. Kt. to Q. R's 4th. (best.) 12. B. takes K. B's P. 12. K. to B's sq.

13. Q. to Q's 5th. 13. Kt. to K. B's 3d.

14. Q. to K. Kt.'s 5th. 14. K. takes B.

15. P. to K's 5th. 15. P. to K. R's 3d.

This is Black's best reply. If he retire the Kt. to his square, or to K's square, or K. Kt.'s 5th, White will obtain a winning game, by 16. Q.

to K. B's 4th. (ch.)

16. Q. to K. B's 4th. 16. P. to K. Kt.'s 4th. (best.) 17. Q. to Q's 2d.

This seems White's most promising move. He may also play 17. Q. takes Kt., upon which Black exchanges Queens with the better game.

17. Kt. to K. R's 2d.

18. P. to Q's 5th. 18. B. to K. B's 4th.

Black might also take p.a.w.n with p.a.w.n, and the game would probably be continued thus:--

18. P takes P.

19. Kt. takes P. (ch.) 19. K. to Kt.'s 2d.

20. B. to Q. Kt.'s 2d. 20. Kt. to K. B's 3d.

21. K. to R's sq. 21. R. to K's sq.

22. P. to K. B's 4th, and will win.

19. P. to K's 6th. (ch.) 19. K. to K's 2d.

20. Kt. to Q's 4th. 20. B. to K. Kt.'s 3d.

21. P. to K. B's 4th, with a fine attack.

Instead of retiring his Bishop to Q. B's 4th, as in Game IV., Black may, though apparently less advantageously, play him to Q. R's 4th.

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 P.

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

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

7. Castles. 7. P. to Q's 3d.

8. Q. to Q. Kt.'s 3d. 8. Q. to K. B's 3d. (best.) 9. P. takes P., with a very fine game.

N.B.--Should Black at his 7th move, instead of 7. P. to Q's 3d, play P.

to Q. B's P., or K's Kt. to B's 3d, you, in reply, advance P. to K's 5th, with a powerful attack.

THE GAMBIT DECLINED.

We now come to consider the consequences of Black's not accepting the gambit p.a.w.n at move 4.

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. to Q. Kt.'s 3d 5. B. to Q. Kt.'s 2d. 5. P. to Q's 3d.

6. P. to Q'S 4th.