_Variation A. on White's 4th Move._

WHITE. BLACK.

4. B. takes K. B's P. (ch.) 4. K. takes B.

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

6. Q. takes B. 6. P. takes K's P.

7. Q. to Q. B's 4th (ch.) 7. B. to K's 3d.

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

Black has by far the better game.

GAME II.--THE DOUBLE GAMBIT.

WHITE. BLACK.

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

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

3. P. to Q. Kt.'s 4th. 3. B. takes P.

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

His best move. If, in lieu of P. to Q's 4th, he adopt P. takes K. B's P., you reply with K's Kt. to B's 3d, and obtain a fine attack.

5. P. takes Q's P. 5. P. to K's 5th.

If you play B. takes P., Black replies with P. to Q. B's 3d, with the better game.

6. K's Kt. to K's 2d. 6. K's Kt. to B's 3d.

7. Castles. 7. Castles.

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

9. P. takes P. 9. Q's Kt. takes P.

Black has the better game, thereby proving that the Double Gambit, if correctly met, is disadvantageous to the first player.

GAME III.

WHITE. BLACK.

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

2. K's B. to Q. B's 4th. 2. K's Kt. to B's 3d.

3. K's Kt. to B's 3d. 3. Kt. takes K's P. (best.)

Your third move is probably the best on the board; 3. P. to Q's 4th, and 3. P. to Q's 3d, seem much inferior, as Black immediately gains the attack.

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

Your fourth move was introduced two or three years ago, and was first a.n.a.lysed by Mr. Boden, in his "Popular Introduction," where Black's reply, of 4. K's Kt. to B's 3d, is recommended as his best; we believe, however, he can at least as advantageously play 4. Kt. takes Q's Kt., or, as has been suggested to us, 4. P. to Q's 4th.; see Variation A.

5. Kt. takes K's P. 5. P. to Q's 4th.

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

Equal game.

_Variation A. on Black's 4th Move._

WHITE. BLACK.

4. Kt. takes Q's Kt.

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

He may also play 5. P. to K. B's 3d, by which he preserves his p.a.w.n, though with a somewhat inferior position.

6. Kt. takes K's P. 6. P. to Q's 4th.

7. B. to Q's 3d. 7. B. to Q's 3d.

8. K's Kt. to B's 3d. 8. Castles.

9. Castles.

Black has no inferiority of position.

THE KING'S GAMBIT.

GAME I.

This beautiful and brilliant debut, which, as Mr. Staunton observes, gives birth to the most intricate and beautiful combinations the chess-men are susceptible of, has been a universal favourite with every cla.s.s of players from the earliest stages of European Chess up to the present day. In order to facilitate the a.n.a.lysis of this opening, as far as our narrow limits will permit, we shall divide it into its three princ.i.p.al heads; viz., The King's Knight's Gambit, The Allgaier Gambit, and the King's Bishop's Gambit, and afterwards devote a few words to the Gambit Declined.

WHITE. BLACK.

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

2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.

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

This is Black's best move, indeed the only one to retain the gambit p.a.w.n. He, however, may obtain a nearly equal game by 3. P. to Q,'s 4th.

If he play 3. B. to K's 2d, commonly known as the Cunningham Gambit, White replies with B. to Q. B's 4th, and on Black's checking with B. at R's 5th, plays K. to B's sq., with a much better game.

4. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to K. Kt.'s 2d (best), or Var. A.

5. P. to Q B's 3d. 5. P. to K. R's 3d. (best.)

Should Black play the obvious-looking move of 4. P. to Q's 3d, White gains a striking advantage by the following mode of play:--

6. Q. to Q. Kt.'s 3d. 6. Q. to K's 2d.

7. Q. to Q. Kt.'s 5th. (ch.) 7. B. on P. interposes.

8. Q. takes K. Kt.'s P., &c.

6. P. to Q's 4th. 6. P. to Q's 3d.

7. Castles. 7. Q's Kt. to Q's 2d.

This is usually considered his best move, though Q's Kt. to B's 3d, or K's Kt. to K's 2d, are perhaps equally good.

8. P. to K. Kt.'s 3d. 8. P. to K. Kt.'s 5th.