CHAPTER II.

THE KING’S KNIGHT’S OPENING

WHITE.  BLACK.
1.  P. to K’s 4th. 1.  P. to K’s 4th.
2.  K’s Kt. to B’s 3d.

Your second move gives the name to this opening, which is one of the most popular and instructive of all the various methods of commencing the game.  The Kt., it will be observed, at once attacks the adverse Pawn, and the defence recommended by the best authors and the leading players of Europe, is for Black to reply 2.  Q’s Kt. to B’s 3d.  He has, however, many other ways of playing, and as the examination of these comparatively simple variations will serve to prepare you for the more complex and elaborate combinations of the best defences, it will be advisable to consider them previously.  In the first place, then, Black may sustain his Pawn by playing—­

1.  P. to K. B’s 3d. 2.  K’s B. to Q’s 3d. 3.  Q. to K. B’s 3d. 4.  P. to Q’s 3d.

or, in the second place, he may leave it unprotected, and play—­

5.  K’s Kt. to B’s 3d. 6.  K’s B. to Q. B’s 4th. 7.  P. to K. B’s 4th. 8.  P. to Q’s 4th.

He has thus eight different modes of play at his command, besides the move of Q’s Kt. to B’s 3d, in answer to your second move of K’s Kt. to B’s 3d.  Each of these will form the subject of a separate game.

GAME THE FIRST.

THE DAMIANO GAMBIT.

WHITE.                         BLACK.
1.  P. to K’s 4th.             1.  P. to K’s 4th.
2.  K’s Kt. to B’s 3d.         2.  P. to K. B’s 3d.
3.  Kt. takes K’s P.           3.  P. takes Kt.
4.  Q. to K. R’s 5th. (ch.)    4.  P. to K. Kt’s 3d.
5.  Q. takes K’s P. (ch.)      5.  Q. to K’s 2d.
6.  Q. takes R.                6.  K’s Kt. to B’s 3d.
7.  P. to Q’s 4th. (best.)     7.  Q. takes P. (ch.)
8.  Q’s B. to K’s 3d.          8.  Q. takes Q. B’s P.
9.  Q. takes Kt.               9.  Q. takes Q. Kt’s P.
10.  K’s B. to Q. B’s 4th.     10.  K. B. to Q. Kt’s 5th. (ch.)
11.  Q’s Kt. to Q’s 2d.        11.  Q. takes R. (ch.)
12.  K. to his 2d.             12.  Q. takes K’s R.
and you give mate in two moves.

The foregoing moves are dependent on Black’s taking the Kt., which is very bad play.  His proper move, under the circumstances, is 3.  Q. to K’s 2d, as in the following example:—­

              WHITE.  BLACK.
        1.  P. to K’s 4th. 1.  P. to K’s 4th.
        2.  K’s Kt. to B’s 3d. 2.  P. to K. B’s 3d.
        3.  K’s Kt. takes P. 3.  Q. to K’s 2d.
        4.  K. Kt. to B’s 3d. (best) 4.  P. to Q’s 4th.
        5.  P. to Q’s 3d. 5.  P. takes K’s P.
        6.  P. takes P. 6.  Q. takes P. (ch.)
        7.  B. to K’s 2d. 7.  Q’s B. to K. B’s 4th.
        8.  Kt. to Q’s 4th. 8.  Q’s Kt. to B’s 3d.
        9.  Kt. takes B. 9.  Q. takes Kt.
       10.  Castles. 10.  B. to Q’s 3d.
       11.  B. to Q’s 3d. 
                  You have an excellent position.