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The blue book of chess

Chapter 23: GAMES
By Howard Staunton
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About This Book

This manual teaches the fundamentals and practical play of chess for beginners and intermediate learners. It begins with board setup, piece movements, notation, rules and technical terms, then systematically analyzes recognized openings — including the king's knight and bishop lines, various gambits, the queen's pawn and several irregular systems — presenting principal variations and recommended continuations. Dozens of illustrative, annotated games by noted masters demonstrate typical plans, tactical motifs and departure points from theory, while later chapters cover endgame technique and present problems for practice. The emphasis is on simplifying openings for the learner and providing clear examples of sound attacking and defensive play.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.3. Kt. takes P.
4. Kt. takes P.4. Kt. to K's 3d.
5. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.5. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
6. Castles.6. P. to Q's 3d.
7. Kt. to K. Kt's 4th.7. B. to K's 2d.

Your game is less confined than his, but you have very little advantage.

GAME THE SECOND.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
 5. P. to Q. B's 3d. 5. P. to Q's 6th.
 6. P. to Q. Kt's 4th. 6. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
 7. P. to Q. Kt's 5th. 7. Q. to K's 2d.
 8. Castles. 8. Kt. to K's 4th.
 9. Kt. takes Kt. 9. Q. takes Kt.
10. Q. to her Kt's 3d.10. Q. to K. B's 3d, K's 2d.
11. P. to K's 5th.
You have a fine game.


Variation I.
Beginning at White's 5th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. K's B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th
 5. K. Kt. to his 5th. 5. K. Kt. to R's 3d. (best)
 6. Kt. takes K. B's P. 6. Kt. takes Kt.
 7. B. takes Kt. (ch.) 7. K. takes B.
 8. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.) 8. P. to K. Kt's 3d.
 9. Q. takes B. 9. P. to Q's 3d.
10. Q. to her Kt's 5th.10. P. to Q. R's 3d.
11. Q. to her 3d.11. K. to Kt's 2d.
12. Castles.12. Q. B. to K's 3d.
13. P. to Q. B's 3d.13. Q. to K. B's 3d.
14. B. to Q's 2d.
You appear to me to have the better game.


Variation II.
Beginning at White's 5th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.3. P. takes P.
4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
5. Castles.5. P. to Q's 3d.
6. P. to Q. B's 3d.6. P. takes P.
7. Q. Kt. takes P.7. K. Kt. to K's 2d.
8. K. Kt. to his 5th.8. Kt. to K's 4th.

And he has at least as good a game as you have. This variation serves to prove that your castling on the 5th move is less advisable than the move of 5. P. to Q. B's 3d.

Variation III.,
Beginning at Black's 4th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.3. P. takes P.
4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.4. P. to Q's 3d.

Black now relinquishes the defence of the P. he has gained, but he also in some degree neutralizes your attack.

5. P. to Q. B's 3d.5. P. takes P.
6. Q. Kt. takes P.
You have certainly the advantage in position.


Variation IV.,
Beginning also at Black's 4th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. Q. to K. B's 3d.
 5. Castles. 5. P. to Q's 3d.
 6. P. to Q. B's 3d. 6. P. to Q's 6th.
 7. Q. takes P. 7. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.
 8. Q. B. to K. B's 4th. 8. B. to K's 2d.
 9. Q. Kt. to Q. R's 3d. 9. P. to Q. R's 3d.
10. Q. Kt. to Q. B's 2d.10. K. Kt. to R's 3d.

Your game is better opened, but there is no very striking disparity in the positions.

GAME THE THIRD.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to Q. Kt's 5th. (ch.)
 5. P. to Q. B's 3d. 5. P. takes P.
 6. Castles. 6. P. to Q. B's 7th.
 7. Q. takes P. 7. P. to Q's 3d.
 8. P. to Q. R's 3d. 8. B. to Q. B's 4th.
 9. P. to Q. Kt's 4th. 9. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
10. Q. B. to Kt's 2d.10. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
The game is about even.


GAME THE FOURTH.
Mr. Cochrane's Attack.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. K. B. checks.
 5. P. to Q. B's 3d. 5. P. takes P.
 6. P. takes P. 6. B. to Q. R's 4th.
 7. P. to K's 5th. 7. P. to Q's 4th. (best)
P. to K's 5th is the move adopted by Mr. Cochrane.
 8. Q. takes P. 8. Q. takes Q.
 9. B. takes Q. 9. K. Kt. to K's 2d.
10. K. B. takes Q. Kt. (ch.)10. Kt. takes B.
11. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.11. Castles.
12. Castles.12. K. R. to K's sq.
13. P. to K. R's 3d.
The game is equal.


Variation.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. K. B. checks.
 5. P. to Q. B's 3d. 5. P. takes P.
 6. P. takes P. 6. B. to Q. R's 4th.
 7. Castles. 7. P. to Q's 3d.
 8. P. to K's 5th. 8. Q's B. to K's 3d.
 9. B. takes B. 9. P. takes B.
10. Q. to her Kt's 3d.10. Q. to B's sq.
11. P. takes Q's P.11. P. takes P.
12. K's Kt. to his 5th.

Followed by R. to K's sq., and you appear to me to have a better game than Black.

GAME THE FIFTH.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. K. B. checks.
 5. P. to Q. B's 3d. 5. P. takes P.
 6. Castles. 6. P. takes Q. Kt. P.
 7. Q. B. takes P. 7. K. B. to his sq.
 8. Q. Kt. to B's 3d. 8. K. Kt. to R's 3d.
 9. P. to K's 5th. 9. K. B. to K's 2d.
10. Q. Kt. to K's 4th.10. Castles.
11. Q. to her 2d.11. P. to Q's 3d.
12. Kt. to K. B's 6th. (ch.)
You have an excellent attack.


Variation,
Beginning at Black's 7th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. K. B. checks.
 5. P. to Q. B's 3d. 5. P. takes P.
 6. Castles. 6. P. takes Q. Kt. P.
 7. Q. B. takes P. 7. K. to B's sq.
 8. P. to K's 5th. 8. Q. to K's 2d.
 9. P. to Q. R's 3d. 9. B. to Q. B's 4th.
10. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.10. P. to Q's 3d.
11. Q. Kt. to Q's 5th.11. Q. to her 2d.
12. R. to K's sq.12. P. takes K. P.
13. Q. B. takes P.13. Kt. takes B.
14. Kt. takes Kt.14. Q. to her sq.
15. Kt. takes K. B. P.
And you must win.


GAME THE SIXTH.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. Kt. takes P. 4. Q. to K. R's 5th.
 5. K. Kt. to Q. Kt's 5th. 5. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
 6. Q. to K. B's 3d. 6. Q. Kt. to Q's 5th.
 7. Kt. takes Q. B. P. (ch.) 7. K. to Q's sq. (best)
 8. Q. to K. B's 4th. 8. Kt. takes Q. B. P. (ch.)
 9. K. to Q's sq. 9. Q. takes Q.
10. B. takes Q.10. Kt. takes Q. R.
11. Kt. takes Q. R.

I believe the best answering moves have been made by Black, and now, upon surveying the aspect of the board, there can be no question, I apprehend, that your game is much superior. The Kt. which has captured your Rook, he can never extricate, while, to secure yours in the same position, he must lose many moves, and thus afford you ample time for the development of your remaining forces.

Variation,
Beginning at Black's 5th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.2. Q's Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.3. P. takes P.
4. Kt. takes P.4. Q. to K. R's 5th.
5. Kt. to Q. Kt's 5th.5. Q. takes K's P. (ch.)
6. B. to K's 2d.6. K. to Q's sq.
7. Castles.7. P. to Q. R's 3d.
8. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.8. Q. to K's sq.
9. K. Kt. to Q's 4th.

And again, I believe, with the strangely changed positions of his King and Queen, and the facility afforded you for bringing the Pieces into immediate action, that the game is very much in your favor.

GAME THE SEVENTH.
Varying from the preceding at Black's 4th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. Kt. takes P. 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
 5. Kt. takes Q. Kt. 5. Q. to K. B's 3d.
 6. Q. to K. B's 3d. 6. Q. takes Q.
 7. P. takes Q. 7. Q. Kt. P. takes Kt.
 8. Q. B. to K. B's 4th. 8. P. to Q's 3d.
 9. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 9. Q. B. to K's 3d.
10. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.
And the game is in every respect equal.

GAMES

ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE QUEEN'S PAWN GAME
OR SCOTCH GAMBIT.

Game I.—Played by Telegraph, in the Match between
Philadelphia and New York, in 1858.

 WHITE.  (Phila.)  BLACK.  (N.Y.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. Kt. to K. B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to Q. B's 4th.
 5. P. to Q. B's 3d. 5. Kt. to K. B's 3d.[A]
 6. P. to K's 5th. 6. P. to Q's 4th.
 7. B. to Q. Kt's 5th. 7. K. Kt. to K's 5th.
 8. P. takes P. 8. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
 9. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.[B] 9. Castles.
10. B. takes Kt.10. P. takes B.
11. Q. to Q. B's 2d.[C]11. Kt. takes Kt.
12. B. takes Kt.12. B. to K. Kt's 5th.[D]
13. Kt. to K. Kt's 5th.[E]13. P. to K. Kt's 3d.
14. Q. to Q. B's 3d.14. P. to K. B's 3d.[F]
15. P. to K. R's 3d.15. B. to K. B's 4th.[G]
16. Kt. to K. B's 3d.16. B. to K's 5th.[H]
17. B. to K. B's 4th.[I]17. P. takes P.
18. B. takes P.18. Q. to K's 2d.[J]
19. Castles. Q. side.[K]19. P. to Q. B's 4th.
20. K. R. to K's sq.[L]20. P. takes P.[M]
21. B. takes P.21. P. to Q. B's 4th.
22. B. to K's 5th.22. Q. R. to K's sq.[N]
23. B. to K. Kt's 3d.23. Q. to Q. Kt's 2d.[O]
24. Kt. to K's 5th.[P]24. P. to Q's 5th.
25. Q. to Q. B's 4th.25. B. to Q's 4th.
26. Q. to Q. R's 4th.[Q]26. R. to K's 3d.[R]
27. Kt. to K. Kt's 4th.27. P. to K. R's 4th.
28. R. takes R.28. B. takes R.
29. Q. to Q. B's 2d.29. K. to R's 2d.
30. R. to K's sq.[S]30. B. to K. B's 4th.[T]
31. Q. to Q's 2d.[U]31. P. takes Kt.
32. P. takes P.32. Q. to Q's 4th.[V]
33. R. to K. R's sq. (ch.)[W]33. K. to K. Kt's sq.
34. P. takes B.34. Q. takes K. B. P.
35. Q. to K. R's 6th.35. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
36. B. to Q's 6th.[X]36. R. to K. B's 3d.
37. Q. to K. R's 5th.[Y]37. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.[Z]
38. Q. to K. R's 8th. (ch.)38. K. to B's 2d.
39. R. to K's sq.[AA]And Black resigns.

[A] The best move.

[B] Preparatory to the move of Q. to Q. B's 2d.

[C] Threatening to win Q. B. P. or take Kt. with Kt., winning Q. P.

[D] If Black had played B. to Q. R's 3d, to prevent White Castling on King's side, White would have won a piece by P. to Q. R's 4th.

[E] A premature move.

[F] The best move.

[G] Better than taking Kt., as White would then have opened the Rook's file.

[H] Better than P. takes P.

[I] The best move.

[J] Intending to advance Q. B. P. A strong move.

[K] An impudent move, in the face of such an attack.

[L] A strong move.

[M] P. to K. B's 5th perhaps stronger.

[N] Weak. We cannot see its object. Why not Q. R. to Q's sq?

[O] The best move.

[P] Preparatory to Kt. to Kt's 4th, and then B. to K's 5th.

[Q] Preventing Black's contemplated move with the Q.

[R] With a view of withdrawing the B. and playing the R. to R's 3d.

[S] The first move of a combination, which gave the victory to Philadelphia.

[T] Insures the winning of the Kt.

[U] A powerful move, as it compels Black to take the Kt., and thereby opens White's R's file.

[V] If B. takes P., White would have played Q. to K. Kt's 5th, threatening to check K. and Q. with R., or win the R.

[W] An all important check before taking B., as it prevented an interposition of R. to R's 4th.

[X] A very attacking move. Much better than B. to K's 5th.

[Y] A better move than checking, as it prevented Black's K. escaping to B's 2d, and then to K's 3d. White also threatened P. to K. Kt's 4th.

[Z] Black would have lost the R. had they taken the B. by a check at K's 8th, and afterwards at his 7th.

[AA] The coup de grace.



Game II.—Played by Correspondence between
New York and Philadelphia, in 1857.

 WHITE.  (Phila.)  BLACK.  (N.Y.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 2. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. Q. Kt. takes P.
 4. Kt. takes Kt. 4. P. takes Kt.
 5. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 5. Q. to K. B's 3d.
 6. Castles. 6. B. to Q. B's 4th.
 7. P. to K's 5th. 7. Q. to K. B's 4th.
 8. P. to Q. B's 3d. 8. P. takes P.
 9. Kt. takes P. 9. Kt. to K's 2d.
10. K. B. to Q's 3d.10. Q. to K's 3d.
11. Kt. to K's 4th.11. B. to Q's 5th.
12. Kt. to Kt's 5th.12. Q. to Q. Kt's 3d.
13. Q. to K. R's 5th.13. P. to K. Kt's 3d.
14. Q. to K. R's 6th.14. B. takes K. P.
15. K. R. to K's sq.15. Q. to K. B's 3d.
16. Kt. to K. B's 3d.16. P. to Q's 3d.
17. B. to K. Kt's 5th.17. Q. to K's 3d.
18. Kt. takes B.18. P. takes Kt.
19. Q. R. to Q. B's sq.19. K. R. to K. B's sq.
20. B. to Q. B's 4th.20. Q. to K. B's 4th.
21. B. takes Kt.21. K. takes B.
22. P. to K. B's 4th.22. P. to K's 5th.
23. B. to Q's 3d.23. B. to K's 3d.
24. B. takes P.24. Q. to Q. R's 4th.
25. Q. to K. R's 4th. (ch.)25. K. to Q's 2d.
26. K. R. to Q's sq. (ch.)26. K. to K's sq.
27. K. to K. R's sq.27. P. to Q. B's 3d.
28. R. takes Q. B. P.28. Q. R. to Q's sq.
29. Q. R. to Q. B's sq.29. R. takes R.
30. R. takes R.30. P. to K. R's 4th.
31. Q. to K. B's 6th.31. B. to Q. B's sq.
32. B. takes Q. Kt. P.

And New York resigns, as they must lose their Q., or be mated in a few moves.

Game III.—Between Hon. A. B. Meek, of Mobile, and Mr. Marache.