47. ...  K-R2 48.  K-Kt2 P-R4 49.  R-R6 P-Kt3 50.  R-R4 K-R3 51.  R-QB4 R-Kt7ch 52.  K-Kt3 K-Kt4 53.  R-B3 P-R5ch 54.  K-R3 K-R4 55.  R-B4 R-Kt6ch 56.  K-R2 P-Kt4 57.  R-R4 R-Kt7ch 58.  K-Rsq P-R6 59.  R-QB4 P-Kt5 60.  K-Ktsq P-Kt6 61.  R-B5ch K-Kt3 62.  R-Bsq K-B4 63.  R-Rsq R-Q7 64.  R-Ksq K-B5 65.  R-Rsq K-K6 66.  R-R3ch R-Q6 67.  R-Rsq K-K7
    Resigns.

Game No. 9

White:  Salwe.  Black:  Marshall.

Two Knights’ Defence

1.  P-K4 P-K4 2.  Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3.  B-B4 Kt-B3 4.  Kt-Kt5

This attack may be tempting, as the BP cannot be protected, but it is against that elementary principle which says that no attack should be undertaken in the opening until the minor pieces are mobilised, provided of course that Black also has made sound opening moves.  There is every likelihood that the attack in the present instance will lead to nothing.  It has taken many years to find the correct reply, but now that it is known, the opening has practically disappeared from master practice.  Instead of the move in the text, White can play either P-Q3, leading almost unavoidably to a drawing variation of the Giuoco piano, or Castles which might bring about the Max Lange attack after 4. ...  B-B4; 5.  P-Q4, PxP.

4. ...           P-Q4
5.  PxP          Kt-QR4!

This is a typical position in the Two Knights’ defence.  The former continuation 5. ...  KtxQP has long been abandoned, as the attack that White can initiate by 6.  KtxBP, KxKt; 7.  Q-B3ch, forcing the Black King to K3, is dangerous though the result is uncertain.  The move in the text breaks the attack from the very first, and Black gets the advantage

---------------------------------------
8 | #R |    | #B | #Q | #K | #B |    | #R |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | #P | #P | #P |    |    | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 |    |    |    |    |    | #Kt|    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | #Kt|    |    | ^P | #P |    | ^Kt|    |
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    | ^B |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
3 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^P |    | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R | ^Kt| ^B | ^Q | ^K |    |    | ^R |
---------------------------------------
A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H

Diag. 109

as he can gain time by attacking the two minor pieces which it should be noted, are unsupported, and in addition obtain a speedy development, worth more than the pawn given up for it.

6.  P-Q3

B-Kt5ch is an alternative.  The advantage is Black’s in this case also—­e.g.  P-B3; 7.  PxP, PxP; 8.  B-K2, P-KR3; 9.  Kt-KB3, P-K5; 10.  Kt-K5, Q-B2; 11.  P-Q4, B-Q3 (or PxP e.p. followed by B-Q3); 12.  P-KB4, PxP e.p.; 13.  KtxP, Kt-Kt5 or 11.  P-B4, B-Q3; 12.  P-Q4, PxP e.p.; 13 KtxP, Castles.  Black has an easy game and open lines.