Quite a different system of opening ensues, when Black does not delay pushing the P to QB4 until after his pieces are developed, but makes the advance on his third move.

Here Black has the advantage of being able to avoid the pinning of his Knight by the opposing QB.

2.  P-QB4          P-K3
3.  Kt-QB3         P-QB4
4.  Kt-B3          Kt-QB3!

Now Black threatens QPxP with an attack on White’s Queen’s Pawn.  If White plays P-K3 we get the position mentioned in connection with Diagram 35.  If he wishes to bring out his QB first, he must anticipate Black’s threat by BPxP.

After

          5.  BPxP KPxP

the third of the typical main positions in the Queen’s gambit ensues, and is given in Diagram 39.  Two continuations must now be considered.  White can either develop his KB at Kt2, and concentrate on the Black QP, which is somewhat weak, or he can place the KB on one of the available squares between B1 and R6.  In the first instance, the KP need not be played at all, and the QB

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

Diag. 39

retains the option of developing at Kt5, B4, and even K3.  In the second, where the K must make room for the KB, White must decide at once between B-B4 or Kt5, and only B4 can be seriously considered on account of

6.  B-Kt5          B-K2
7.  BxB            KtxB

which only furthers Black’s development.  White would only be justified in this course if he could now win a pawn with 8.  PxP, but Black would win it back and have the superior game after

8. ...                P-Q5
9.  Kt-K4             Castles

followed by B-B4 and Q-R4ch.  The correct move in this variation is consequently 6.  B-B4, and a possible continuation would be:  Kt-KB3; 7.  P-K3, B-K3; 8.  R-QB1 or B-QKt5 or B-Q3.

With this we will close the discussion of the variations initiated by 2.  P-QB4, P-K3, and study the reply 2. ...  P-QB3.  The first question which arises in our mind is:  Which file will Black be able to utilise for his Rooks?  An attempt to free the King’s file through P-K4 is conceivable.  But White can prevent this by simply playing Kt-KB3.

Two other possibilities present themselves:  after playing P-K3, Kt-B3 and QKt-Q2, Black could steer into a line similar to the Queen’s gambit accepted with PxP and P-QB4, or he could keep the centre closed with P-KB4 and Kt-B3, with the intention of playing Kt-K5 and using the KB file for activating his Rook via KB3.  Diagram 40 gives the position reached after: