7.  B-Q2

The pawn sacrifice by 7.  Kt-B3, KtxKP; 8.  Castles! is much more interesting and more in keeping with the spirit of the opening. [Footnote:  The following two short games will give an idea of the various lines of attack which are to be found in this opening: 

a.  Howell-Michell (cable match, England—­America, 1907):  8. ...  BxKt; 9.  P-Q5 (Moller attack), B-B3; 10.  R-K1, Kt-K2; 11.  RxKt, P-Q3; 12.  B-Kt5, BxB; 13.  KtxB, B-B4 (the only chance of a draw would be this:  Castles; 14.  KtxRP, KxKt; 15.  QR5ch, K-Kt1; 16.  R-R4, P-KB4!; 17.  B-K2, Kt-Kt3!; 18.  Q-R7ch, K-B2; 19.  R-R6, Kt-B5; 20.  B-R5ch, KtxB; 21.  Q-Kt6 with perpetual check); 14.  Q-B3,Q-Q2 (BxR; 15.  QxPch followed by Q-K6ch and QxB); 15.  B-Kt5!, QxB; 16.  QxB, P-KB3; 17.  QR-K1, PxKt; 18.  RxKtch and mate in a few moves.

b.  X v.  Y, first 10 moves as before:  11.  RxKt, Castles; 12.  P-Q6, PxP 13.  B-KKt5, Kt-B4; 14.  Q-Q5!, BxB; 15.  KtxB, Kt-R3 (QxKt; 16.  QxPch); 16.  Q R-K1, resigns.] White obtains a quick development and prevents Black from freeing his game by playing P-Q4.  After 8. ...  BxKt; 9.  P-Q5 follows (Moller attack), and after 9. ...  B-B3, White wins back his piece by R-K1 (10.  PxKt would not be good, as Black could free his game by KtPxP and P-Q4).  On the other hand, after 8. ...  KtxKt; PxKt, White in addition gains a move, as BxP is countered by Q-Kt3.

As played here, Black succeeds in playing P-Q4, and the game is even.  Indeed the isolated QP is a weakness in the White position.

7. ...              BxBch
8.  QKtxB           P-Q4!
9.  PxP             KKtxP
10.  Q-Kt3           QKt-K2
11.  Castles KR      Castles
12.  KR-K1           P-QB3

Now the Knight is securely posted in the centre, and Black can accumulate forces for the attack on the White QP, possibly by Q-Kt3, R-Q1 and Kt-B4.

13.  P-QR4

in order to drive the Queen from her Kt3, but this advance is “three-edged,” as Master Gregory would say, and the pawn is sure to prove weak in the end-game.

13. ...  Q-Kt3 14.  Q-R3 B-K3 15.  P-R5 Q-B2 16.  Kt-K4

Kt-KKt5 would seem to be stronger here.  B-B4 would then be answered by 17.  B-Q3.  After BxB, 18.  QxB, White obtains opportunities for a King’s side attack, in which the Rook could co-operate via K4 and Kt4 or R4.

16. ...  QR-Q1
17.  Kt-B5 B-B1
18.  P-KKt3?

This produces weak points at KB3 and KR3, and there being as yet no definite threat in Black’s Kt-B5, should have been avoided.  It is of course difficult to formulate a plan of attack, for there is no weak place in Black’s armour.  In any case White could safely have played QR-Q1 and Q2 in order to double the Rooks on the King’s file or Queen’s file according to circumstances.  But now as soon as a Rook moves to Q1—­and that will have to be done in the end, to support the weak QP—­Black’s B-Kt5 might become awkward.