The doubled pawn which Black obtains after 2.  Kt-Q5, BxKt; 3.  PxB (or 3.  BxB), Kt-K2; 4.  BxKt, would also be of no help to White.  The apparent weakness created in Black’s game at KB3 and KR3 by the disappearance of the KtP does not assist White in this case, because the pieces which could take advantage of such a weakness, the QB and the Kt at Q5, have been exchanged.  There only remains the KKt and the Q for an immediate attack, whilst the Black Rook will soon get into effective action on the open Knight’s file, e.g. 5.  Q-Q2, K-R1; 6.  Q-R6, Kt-Kt3; 7.  Kt-R4, KtxKt; 8.  QxKt, Q-K2, followed by the doubling of the Rooks on the Kt file.  Considerations of a similar nature would tend to show that 1.  B-Kt5, Kt-K2; 2.  BxKt, PxB is in favour of Black.  The White QB, which is so effective in taking advantage of weaknesses at Black’s KB3 and R3, has been exchanged.  The Queen’s Knight is not available for attack on the KBP, as it would be exchanged or else driven off in time by P-B3.  Compared with the position considered above, which occurs after 1. ...  B-K3, 2.  Kt-Q5, Black has the further advantage of maintaining his QB, which makes it possible to push the weak KBP on to his fourth, and either exchange it or push it still further to B5, a useful and secure position.

Matters would be different were Black to allow his King’s wing to be broken up without getting rid of White’s dangerous pieces by exchanges.  Let us consider what happens, if Black takes no measures against Kt-Q5, but only prevents White’s ultimate Q-B3 by pinning the Knight with B-KKt5.  White gains a decisive advantage by bringing his Queen into play before Black is able to secure himself against the threatened combined attack of Q and B, or alternately Q and Kt by K-R1, R-Kt1-Kt3.  I will give two examples of how the whole game now centres on the attack and defence of the points weakened by the disappearance of the KtP, and how White pushes home his advantage in the one instance with the help of the B, in the other by the co-operation of the Kt.

I. 1.  B-KKt5, B-KKt5; 2.  Kt-Q5, Kt-Q5; 3.  Q-Q2, BxKt?; 4.  BxKt, PxB; 5.  Q-R6, and there is no reply to the threat of KtxPch and QxP mate, except through the sacrifice of the Q. Forcing the exchange of Knights is of no avail, for after 5. ...  Kt-K7ch; 6.  K-R1, BxPch; 7.  KxB, Kt-B5ch; 8.  KtxKt, PxKt; 9.  K-R1, White occupies the Kt file first and wins easily:  9. ...  K-R1; 10.  R-KKt1, R-KKt1; 11.  RxR, QxR; 12.  R-KKt1 followed by mate or loss of the Queen.

II. 3.  Q-Q2, P-B3; 4.  KtxKtch, PxKt; 5.  B-R4!  BxKt; 6.  Q-R6, Kt-K7ch; 7.  K-R1, BxPch; 8.  KxB, Kt-B5ch; 9.  K-R1, Kt-Kt3.  Now Black has succeeded in interrupting the White Queen’s action on the BP.  But it has taken many moves, with the sole result that Black’s Queen’s Knight is better placed.  All the other pieces, however, occupy the positions they took up in the opening.  The Black Knight, moreover, is only supported by the RP until Black