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

Diagram 19.

After 4.  KPxP, QxP, Black’s position is at least as easy of development as White’s.  In the position set out in Diagram 19, White cannot play P-K5, because Black wins a pawn by PxP without hindering his own development in the least.  The equalising power of Black’s P-Q4 in all KP openings where White has played P-Q4 can be noticed in many variations.  I shall now give a few typical examples, which will show the line of play that can be adopted in many similar cases, and which can often be evolved one from the other by altering the order of the moves.

I. Centre gambit

2.  P-Q4 PxP 3.  QxP Kt-QB3 4.  Q-K3 Kt-B3 5.  Kt-QB3 B-K2 6.  B-Q2 P-Q4!

II.  King’s bishop’s opening

2.  P-Q4          PxP
3.  B-QB4         Kt-KB3
4.  P-K5          P-Q4!

III.  Scotch gambit

2.  Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3.  P-Q4 PxP 4.  B-B4 Kt-B3 4.  P-B3 P-Q4! 5.  P-K5 P-Q4!

IV.  Scotch game

2.  Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3.  P-Q4 PxP 4.  KtxP Kt-B3 5.  Kt-QB3 B-Kt5 6.  KtxKt KtPxKt 7.  B-Q3 P-Q4!

In no case should Black forfeit his chance of playing P-Q4.  It is tempting after 2.  P-Q4, PxP; 3.  Kt-KB3 to cover the pawn at Q5 by P-QB4, but in that case White would sacrifice a pawn by P-QB3, by this means opening the Queen’s file for himself, and so preventing Black from ever playing P-Q4.  Thus, for the loss of a pawn, White has a paramount advantage in position.

For after 4. ...  PxP, 5.  KtxP (Diagram 20) White has developed both Knights, and his Bishops are free, whilst Black has none of his pieces out.  P-Q3 must also be played in order to mobilise the Queen’s Bishop, leaving K2 as the only square for the King’s Bishop; finally the “backward” pawn [Footnote:  A pawn is said to be “backward,” when it cannot move into cover by another pawn.] at Q3 is open to constant attacks and is difficult to defend.

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8 | #R | #Kt| #B | #Q | #K | #B | #Kt| #R |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | #P | #P |    | #P |    | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
5 |    |    | #P |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    |    |    | ^P |    |    |    |