Black can play Kt-QR4 and exchange the valuable KB.  The pawn at QB3 supports an advance in the centre, and also provides a retreat for the KB.  The QKt can be developed in this way:  Kt-Q2- B1-Kt3 or K3.  Black, however, must try to round off his pawn position on the Queen’s side, by moving his QBP into line.  Black’s pawns at K4 and QB4 then exert a pressure on White’s Q4.  And this pressure threatens to be reinforced by B-Kt5.  From these considerations the following development seems to be natural:  8.  P-B3, Kt-QR4; 9.  B-B2, P-B4; 10.  P-Q4, Q-B2 (to support the KP); it leads to the position in Diagram 23.

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

Diag. 23.

11.  P-KR3

One of the few instances in which this pawn move is justified.  It deprives Black’s QB of its only good square, and saves the KKt, the co-operation of which is urgently needed in the centre.

This system of opening will receive more exhaustive treatment under the heading of “Middle Game.” (Compare Game No. 12.)

In the second main line of defence, of which I shall treat now, Black renounces the maintenance of his KP, and makes an attempt to find compensation by attacking White’s King’s Pawn.  The King’s file, opened by the disappearance of the Black pawn, offers opportunities for that purpose.  After the first few moves we arrive at the following position, which

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

Diag. 24.

may be reached thus:  3.  B-Kt5, P-Q3; 4.  P-Q4, B-Q2; 5.  Kt-B3, Kt-B3; 6.  Castles, B-K2; 7.  R-K1, PxP; 8.  KtxP, Castles.  The exchange on the seventh move is compulsory, because the loss of a pawn after BxKt is in effect threatened, now that the White KP is supported by the Rook.