Part 42
3. B to B 4 ...
Clearing the King's side for castling, and posting the Bishop ready for attacking the present weakest point in Black's position--viz., the K B P; weakest because defended by the King only.
... 3. B to B 4
No immediate danger being apprehended, Black brings a piece into play.
These three moves on either side const.i.tute the opening called the Giuoco Piano, whatever be the moves that may follow.
4. P to Q 3 4. P to Q 3 5. B to Q 3 5. B to Kt 3
Better than 5. ... B takes B, because in that case White would obtain an "open Bishop's file," and double his Rooks upon it after castling; and the "double p.a.w.n," which is in the majority of positions a weakness, is strong in the centre.
6. Q Kt to Q 2 ...
The object being to play this Knight to K B sq., and then to Kt 3. This could also be done if White had played 6. Kt to B 3, then Kt to K 2, and Kt to Kt 3. The manoeuvre in the text is generally adopted, because if 6. Kt to B 3, Black could "pin" it with 6. ... B to R 4. {356}
... 6. Kt to B 3 7. P to B 3 ...
Intending to advance the Q P, and thus prepare the formation of a strong centre.
... 7. B to Q 2
Threatening to attack and exchange White's Bishop, by playing upon his next move, if feasible, 8. ... Kt to Q R 4. He could not have done so before, because of White's reply, 8. B to Kt 5: ch., forcing the Knight back to B 3, or leaving it at R 4 out of play.
8. B to Kt 3 ...
White, who does not want to exchange his Bishop for Knight, retires it, so that he may play, should Black attack it (with 8. ... Kt to R 4), 9. B to B 2.
... 8. Q to K 2
In the Giuoco Piano it is not advisable for either player to castle early, and Black wisely makes a waiting move. He is now able to castle on either side, according to circ.u.mstances.
9. Q to K 2 9. P to K R 3
This move is strictly defensive. Black might also have played 9. ... Q Kt to Q sq., and then from Q sq. to K 3, which would have been a better manoeuvre.
10. Kt to B sq. 10. B to K 3 11. B to R 4 11. B to Q 2 12. Kt to Kt 3 12. P to Kt 3
Black's defence is somewhat timid. At a previous stage he intended to exchange his Q Kt against White's B, and now when White "pins" the {357} Knight with 11. B to R 4, he retires the Bishop, so as to avoid a double p.a.w.n. Now he has to prevent White's Knight from moving to B 5, attacking the Queen, but in doing so he weakens his King's position for the purpose of castling on the King's side. _The student should bear in mind that these p.a.w.ns are strongest in their original position._
13. B to B 2 ...
The Bishop is better placed now at B 2. At R 4 it was, owing to the changed position, less useful. At its new post it strengthens the centre.
... 13. P to Q 4
Black antic.i.p.ates White's possible P to Q 4 by himself advancing.
14. Castles 14. P takes P 15. P takes P 15. Kt to Q sq.
Black now executes the manoeuvre which was suggested at his ninth move. But it is not so good at this stage. The position is now as shown in Fig. 7.
Black.
+---------------------------------------+
#R
#Kt
#K
#R
---------------------------------------
#P
#P
#P
#B
#Q
#P
---------------------------------------
#B
#Kt
#P
#P
---------------------------------------
#P
---------------------------------------
^P
---------------------------------------
^P
^B
^Kt
^Kt
---------------------------------------
^P
^P
^B
^Q
^P
^P
^P
---------------------------------------
^R
^R
^K
+---------------------------------------+ White.
FIG. 7.
[POSITION AFTER BLACK'S 15TH MOVE.]
16. Q R to Q sq. ...
It is always good to occupy an open file with a Rook.
... 16. K to B sq.
Black cannot play 16. Kt to K 3, because he would thereby leave his K P _en prise_; he cannot castle, because then his K R P would be _en prise_; and if he were to return with the Kt to B 3, he would have lost a move.
Therefore he has nothing better than to move his King into safety to B sq., and then to Kt 2.
17. Q to Q 2 (?) 17. K to Kt 2 18. P to K R 3 ...
{358}
To prevent Black from playing 18. ... B takes B; Q takes B, Kt to Kt 5, attacking the Queen.
... 18. Kt to B 3 19. Kt to R 4 19. Q R to Q sq.
Occupying the "open file" and defending the Bishop, so as to free his K Kt, which was before fixed, as it had to defend the Bishop.
20. B takes B 20. R P takes B
{359}
It is, in the majority of these cases, better to take with the R P, because it gives an additional "open file" for the entry of the Rook.
21. Q to K 2 ...
White has now lost the attack, and is virtually on the defensive. He is obliged to move his Queen, because Black threatens 21. ... B takes P, discovering an attack upon the Queen with his Rook.
... 21. B to K 3 22. R takes R 22. R takes R 23. B to Kt 3 23. K to R 2
A good move, because White threatens, in case Black should exchange Bishops, to win the Queen with either Kt to B 5: ch., P takes Kt; Kt takes P: ch., K moves; Kt takes Q.
24. B takes B 24. Q takes B
White, having failed in his attack, exchanges pieces, so as to simplify the position, hoping thus to be able to draw the game.
25. P to R 3 25. Q to Q 3
Doubly occupying the "open file," and so preventing White from moving 26. R to Q sq., and forcing his Rook off the "file," or an exchange of Rooks. But he would have done better to play 25. ... Q to Q 2, as White's next move will show.
