... 5. Q to R 5: ch.

6. K to B sq. 6. Kt to Q B 3 7. B takes P: ch. 7. K to K 2

Better here, as in most cases, than 7.... K to Q sq., for it keeps an attack upon the B in case the Kt has to move.

8. Kt takes Kt: ch. 8. Q P takes Kt 9. B to Kt 3 9. Kt to B 3 10. P to Q 3 10. Kt to R 4

Black has by far the better position.

THE KIESERITZKY GAMBIT.

Here the opening moves are again: 1. P to K 4, P to K 4; 2. P to K B 4, P takes P; 3. Kt to K B 3, P to K Kt 4. If White plays 4. B to B 4, Black can play either 4. ... B to Kt 2, thus consolidating his King's p.a.w.ns, which are difficult to break up, or 4. ... P to Kt 5, with the consequences shown in the Muzio and Salvio. To obviate this, White plays now 5. P to K R 4.

Black's Knight's p.a.w.n cannot be defended with P to K R 3, the Bishop not being yet at Kt 2. Therefore Black's best course (B to K 2 not being good) is 5. ... P to Kt 5, to which White replies 6. Kt to K 5--the Kieseritzky, or 6. Kt to Kt 5, the Allgaier, to be considered subsequently.

{398}

WHITE. BLACK.

1. P to K 4 1. P to K 4 2. P to K B 4 2. P takes P 3. Kt to K B 3 3. P to K Kt 4 4. P to K R 4 4. P to Kt 5 5. Kt to K 5 5. B to Kt 2

Black has various defences here, the best being the text-move and 5. ... Kt to K B 3.

6. P to Q 4 ...

If 6. Kt takes Kt P, Black replies 6. ... P to Q 4; 7. Kt to B 2, Kt to K 2; 8. P takes P, Castles; 9. B to K 2, Kt to B 4, with the better game.

... 6. Kt to K B 3 7. Kt to Q B 3 7. P to Q 3 8. Kt to Q 3 8. Kt to R 4 9. Kt takes P 9. Kt to Kt 6 10. R to R 2 10. Castles 11. Q to Q 3 11. Kt takes B 12. K takes Kt 12. Kt to B 3

And Black has a good game.

THE ALLGAIER GAMBIT.

Here, as in the Muzio, a piece is sacrificed for an early and strong attack. The opening moves are--

WHITE. BLACK.

1. P to K 4 1. P to K 4 2. P to K B 4 2. P takes P 3. Kt to K B 3 3. P to K Kt 4 4. P to K R 4 4. P to Kt 5 5. Kt to Kt 5 ...

This move involves the sacrifice of the Knight, and const.i.tutes the Allgaier.

{399}

... 5. P to K R 3 6. Kt takes K B P 6. K takes Kt 7. B to B 4: ch. 7. P to Q 4

Black gives up this p.a.w.n to free his Bishop and protect the p.a.w.n at Kt 5.

8. B takes P: ch. 8. K to Kt 2 9. B takes Q Kt P 9. B takes B 10. Q takes P: ch. 10. K to B 2 11. Q to R 5: ch. 11. K to K 2 12. Q to K 5: ch. 12. K to Q 2 13. Q takes R 13. Kt to K B 3

Threatening to win the Queen by 14. ... Q to K 2, and 15. ... B to Kt 2.

14. P to Q Kt 3 ...

To be able to play, in reply to 14. ... Q to K 2; 15 B to R 3. This avoids the immediate danger, but White has no tangible advantage.

An important modification of this is the Allgaier-Thorold, in which White at move 7 advances the Queen's p.a.w.n, instead of at once checking after the sacrifice of the Knight. The following is an example of this Gambit, and a probable continuation.

1. P to K 4 1. P to K 4 2. P to K B 4 2. P takes P 3. Kt to K B 3 3. P to K Kt 4 4. P to K R 4 4. P to Kt 5 5. Kt to Kt 5 5. P to K R 3 6. Kt takes P 6. K takes Kt 7. P to Q 4 7. P to B 6 8. B to B 4: ch. 8. P to Q 4 9. B takes P: ch. 9. K to Kt 2 10. P takes P 10. Kt to K B 3

Black has slightly the advantage. {400}

THE CUNNINGHAM GAMBIT.

This should rather be called the Cunningham Defence to the King's Knight's Gambit. The opening moves are: 1. P to K 4, P to K 4; 2. P to K B 4, P takes P; 3. Kt to K B 3, B to K 2. This defence is less favourable than either the Muzio or the Salvio.

The game may proceed as follows--

WHITE. BLACK.

4. B to B 4 4. B to R 5: ch.

5. K to B sq. ...

This is the best move, which should give the advantage to White. Less favourable is Cunningham's own line of play: 5. P to K Kt 3, P takes P; 6. Castles, P takes P: ch.; 7. K to R sq., P to Q 4, 8. B takes P, Kt to K B 3; 9. B takes P. ch., K takes B; 10. Kt takes B, R to B sq.; 11.

P to Q 4, K to Kt sq., with a good game for Black.

5. ... 5. P to Q 4 6. B takes P 6. Kt to K B 3

THE BISHOP'S GAMBIT.

Here the opening moves are: 1. P to K 4, P to K 4; 2. P to K B 4, P takes P; 3. B to B 4. The Bishop being developed at this stage, instead of the King's Knight, gives the Opening its name. Its special feature is that White exposes himself to a check, which compels him to move his King, and thus loses the privilege of castling without gaining such an immediate attack as in the Salvio. But though White thus gives up the attack temporarily, he is able to rea.s.sume it with intensified vigour, owing to the exposed position of the Black Queen. The check with the Queen is therefore now only {401} resorted to in conjunction with 4. ... P to Q 4, a counter-gambit which furthers Black's development.

WHITE. BLACK.

1. P to K 4 1. P to K 4 2. P to K B 4 2. P takes P 3. B to B 4 3. P to Q 4

Or 3. ... Q to R 5: ch., followed by 4. ... P to Q 4.

4. B takes P ...

Not 4. P takes P, because of 5. ... Q to R 5: ch.; 6. K to B sq., B to Q 3; 7. Kt to K B 3, Q to R 4; 8. P to Q 4, Kt to K 2; 9. Kt to B 3, Castles, with the better game.

... 4. Q to R 5: ch.

5. K to B sq. 5. P to K Kt 4 6. Kt to K B 3 6. Q to R 4 7. P to K R 4 ...

Upon the same principle as in the other Gambits (or, indeed, as in every strong p.a.w.n position), viz., to attempt to break the force of the united p.a.w.ns.

... 7. B to Kt 2

SECOND VARIATION.

Reverting to the position after Black's 5th move, White has two other attacks here--viz., 6. Q to B 3, and 6. P to K Kt 3.

Q to B 3 6. ---------- P to Q B 3

Q to Q B 3[101]