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The blue book of chess

Chapter 31: 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. B. to Q. B's 4th. 2. P. to K. B's 4th.

You have now the choice of refusing or accepting the gambit; the former is the more judicious mode of operating, and the consequences arising from it will be shown in this game, while the result of your accepting the gambit shall be considered in the next.

 3. P. to Q's 3d. 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 4. P. to K. B's 4th. 4. K. P. takes P.
 5. Q. B. takes P. 5. P. takes K. P.
 6. Q. P. takes P. 6. Q. to K's 2d.
 7. P. to K's 5th. 7. P. to Q's 3d.
 8. Q. to K's 2d. 8. P. takes P.
 9. B. takes P. 9. P. to Q. B's 3d.
10. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
You have a better developed opening.


Variation I.
Beginning at White's 3d move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.2. P. to K. B's 4th.
3. P. to Q's 4th.3. P. takes Q. P. (best)
4. Q. takes P.4. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
5. Q. to K's 3d.5. P. takes P.
6. Q. takes P. (ch.)6. Q. to K's 2d.
The game is even.


Variation II.
Beginning also at White's 3d move.

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


GAME THE SECOND.

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


The Queen's Bishop's Pawn's Defence
in the King's Bishop's Opening.

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


Variation,
Beginning at White's 3d move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
1. P to K's 4th.1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.2. P. to Q. B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
4. P. takes K. P.4. Q. to Q. R's 4th. (ch.)
5. P. to Q. B's 3d.5. Q. takes K. P.
6. B. to Q's 3d.6. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
7. P. to K. B's 4th.7. Q. to K's 2d.
8. P. to K's 5th.
The game is in your favor.


GAMES

ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE PRECEDING ANALYSES.

Game I.—Between Messrs. Stanley and Rousseau.

 WHITE.  (Mr. S.)  BLACK.  (Mr. R.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. Q. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
 4. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 4. P. to Q's 3d.
 5. P. to K. R's 3d. 5. Castles.
 6. P. to Q's 3d. 6. Q. B. to K's 3d.
 7. K. B. to Q. Kt's 3d. 7. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 8. Q. Kt. to K's 2d. 8. Q. to K's 2d.
 9. Q. Kt. to K. Kt's 3d. 9. Q. Kt. to Q's 5th.
10. Kt. takes Kt.10. B. takes Kt.
11. P. to Q. B's 3d.[A]11. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
12. Castles.12. P. to Q's 4th.[B]
13. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.13. P. to Q. B's 3d.
14. Kt. to K. R's 5th.14. P. takes K. P.
15. P. takes P.15. B. takes B.
16. Q. to K. B's 3d.[C]16. Q. B. to his 5th.
17. B. takes Kt.17. Q. to K's 3d.
18. Kt. takes K. Kt. P18. Q. B. to K's 7th.
19. Kt. takes Q.19. B. takes Q.
20. Kt. takes R.
Black surrenders.

[A] White gains a move by this exchange of Pieces.

[B] P. to K. R's 3d would have been better play.

[C] This is very finely played, and is an example to young players of the importance of gaining time at chess. Had White paused in his attack to recover the lost Bishop, the adversary might have succeeded in dislodging one or other of the Pieces by which he is beleaguered, or in bringing his own forces to the rescue, and then have ultimately retrieved the game.



Game II.—Between Messrs. Horwitz and Schulten.

 WHITE.  (Mr. S.)  BLACK.  (Mr. H.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. Q. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to Q. Kt's 4th.
 4. B. takes Kt. P. 4. B. to Q. B's 4th.
 5. P. to Q's 3d. 5. P. to Q. B's 3d.
 6. B. to Q. B's 4th. 6. Q. to her Kt's 3d.
 7. Q. to K's 2d. 7. P. to Q's 4th.
 8. P. takes P. 8. Castles.
 9. Q. Kt. to K's 4th. 9. Kt. takes Kt.
10. P. takes Kt.10. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.)[A]
11. Q. takes B.11. Q. to Kt's 5th. (ch.)
12. Q. B. to Q's 2d.12. Q. takes K. B.
13. Q. to K. B's 3d.13. P. to K. B's 4th.
14. P. takes K. B. P.14. B. takes P.
15. Q. to her Kt's 3d.
And Black mated by force in three moves.[B]

[A] Black plays capitally now to the end.

[B] It is rarely in actual play one sees so pretty a mate.



Game III.—Between Dr. Bledow and Von Bilguer.

 WHITE.  (Dr. B.)  BLACK.  (Von B.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 2. P. to K. B's 4th.
 3. P. to Q's 3d. 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 4. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 4. P. takes K. P.
 5. P. takes P. 5. Kt. takes P.
 6. Q. to her 5th. 6. Kt. to Q's 3d.
 7. Kt. takes K. P. 7. P. to Q. B's 3d.
 8. Q. to K. B's 7th. (ch.)[A]  8. Kt. takes Q.
 9. B. takes Kt. (ch.) 9. K. to his 2d.
10. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th. (ch.)10. K. to Q's 3d.
11. B. takes Q.11. K. takes Kt.
12. P. to K. B's 4th. (ch.)12. K. to his B's 4th.
13. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.13. K. B. checks.
14. P. to Q. B's 3d.14. K. R. to B's sq.
15. K. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.15. P. to K. R's 3d.
16. K. B. to Q. B's 2d. (ch.)16. K. to Kt's 5th.
17. K. B. to Q's sq. (ch.)17. K. to B's 4th.
18. P. to K. Kt's 4th. (ch.)18. K. to Kt's 3d.
19. B. to Q. B's 2d. (ch.)19. K. to B's 2d.
20. Q. B. to K. R's 4th.20. K. B. to K's 2d.
21. Q. B. to K. Kt's 3d.21. P. to Q's 4th.
22. P. to K. B's 5th.22. Kt. to Q's 2d.
23. Kt. to Q's 2d.23. K. B. to his 3d.
24. Kt. to K. B's 3d.24. R. to K's sq. (ch.)
25. K. to his B's 2d.25. Kt. to Q. B's 4th.
26. K. R. to K's sq.26. Q. B. to Q's 2d.
27. P. to Q. Kt's 4th.27. Kt. to K's 5th. (ch.)
28. R. takes Kt.[B]28. P. takes R.
29. B. to Q. Kt's 3d. (ch.)29. K. to B's sq.
30. B. to Q's 6th. (ch.)30. B. to K's 2d.
31. Kt. to K's 5th.31. P. to K. Kt's 4th.[C]
32. P. to K. B's 6th.[D]32. P. to K's 6th. (ch.)
33. K. to Kt's sq.
Black resigns.

[A] Transcriber's Note: Original text omitted the "(ch.)".

[B] The terminating moves are admirably played by Dr. Bledow.

[C] It is quite evident that on taking the B., mate would have followed next move.

[D] Beautifully played.



Game IV.—Played between two Amateurs.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. B. to Q. B's 4th. 2. P. to Q. B's 3d.
 3. Q. to K's 2d. 3. Q. to Q. B's 2d.
 4. P. to Q. B's 3d. 4. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 5. P. to K. B's 4th. 5. P. to Q's 3d.
 6. P. to K. B's 5th. 6. P. to Q's 4th.
 7. P. takes P. 7. P. takes P.
 8. B. checks. 8. B. to Q's 2d.
 9. B. takes B. (ch.) 9. Q. Kt. takes B.
10. P. to Q's 4th.10. P. to K's 5th.
11. K. Kt. to R's 3d.11. Castles.
12. Castles.12. B. to Q's 3d.
13. Kt. to K. B's 4th.13. P. to K. R's 3d.
14. Q. to K. B's 2d.14. K. Kt. to his 5th.
15. Q. to K's 2d.15. P. to K. R's 4th.
16. Kt. takes Q. P.16. B. takes K. R. P. (ch.)
17. K. to R's sq.17. Q. to her 3d.
18. Q. takes K. P.18. K. R. to K's sq.
19. Q. to K. B's 3d.19. P. to K. Kt's 3d.
20. B. to K. Kt's 5th.20. P. to K. B's 3d.
21. B. to Q's 2d.21. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
22. Q. Kt. to R's 3d.22. P. to Q. R's 4th.
23. Q. Kt. to Q. B's 4th.23. Q. to her B's 3d.
24. Q. Kt. takes P.24. Q. to Kt's 4th.
25. P. to Q. B's 4th.25. Q. to R's 5th.
26. K. Kt. to Q. Kt's 6th. (ch.)26. Kt. takes Kt.
27. Q. takes P.
Mate.


Queen's Bishop's Pawn's Opening.

GAME THE FIRST.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.1. P. to K's 4th.
2. P. to Q. B's 3d.2. P. to Q's 4th. (best)
3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.3. P. takes K. P.
4. Kt. takes K. P.4. K. B. to Q's 3d.
5. Kt. to Q. B's 4th.5. Q. B. to K's 3d.
6. P. to Q's 4th.6. P. takes P. in passing.
7. B. takes P.
The positions are equal.


Variation,
Beginning at Black's 3d move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to Q. B's 3d. 2. P. to Q's 4th. (best.)
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 4. P. to Q's 4th. 4. Kt. takes P.
 5. Kt. takes P. 5. K. B. to Q's 3d.
 6. K. Kt. to Q's 3d. 6. P. to Q. B's 4th.
 7. P. takes P. 7. Kt. takes P.
 8. Q. B. to K's 3d. 8. Kt. takes Kt. (ch.)
 9. B. takes Kt. 9. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
10. Castles.10. Castles.
Neither party has the advantage.


GAME THE SECOND.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.1. P. to K's 4th.
2. P. to Q. B's 3d.2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.3. K. Kt. takes K. P.
4. Q. P. takes P.4. P. to Q's 4th. (best)
5. Q. B. to K's 3d.
The game is quite even.


GAMES

ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE QUEEN'S BISHOP'S PAWN'S OPENING.

Game I.—Between Captain Evans and an Amateur.

 WHITE.  (Capt. E.)  BLACK.  (Mr. P.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to Q. B's 3d. 2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 3. P. to Q's 4th. 3. P. takes P.
 4. P. to K's 5th. 4. Kt. to K's 5th.
 5. Q. to K's 2d. 5. Kt. to his 4th.
 6. P. takes P. 6. B. to Q. Kt's 5th. (ch.)
 7. Q. Kt. to B's 3d. 7. Q. Kt to B's 3d.
 8. Q. to her 3d. 8. P. to Q's 4th.
 9. P. to K. B's 4th. 9. Kt. to K's 5th.
10. K. Kt. to B's 3d.10. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.
11. Q. to K's 3d.11. Castles.
12. P. to Q. R's 3d.12. B. to Q. R's 4th.
13. P. to Q. Kt's 4th.13. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
14. Q. B. to Kt's 2d.14. Q. B. to Kt's 5th.
15. Q. Kt. to Q. R's 4th.15. B. takes K. Kt.
16. Q. Kt. takes B.16. B. takes K. Kt. P.
17. B. takes B.17. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
18. K. to his 2d.18. Q. R. P. takes Kt.
19. B. takes Kt.19. P. takes B.
20. Q. takes P.20. Q. to Kt's 5th. (ch.)
21. Q. to K. B's 3d.21. Q. to K. B's 4th.
22. Q. R. to Q. B's sq.22. Q. Kt. takes Q. Kt. P.
23. K. R. to K. Kt's sq.[A]23. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
24. K. R. to Kt's 5th.24. Q. to her 2d.
25. P. to Q's 5th.25. Kt. to K's 2d.
26. K. R. takes K. Kt. P. (ch.)26. K. to R's sq.
27. Q. to her 3d.27. Kt. to K. Kt's 3d.
28. R. takes Kt.28. Q. R. to K's sq.
28. K. to B's 2d.[B]29. R. to K's 3d.
30. R. to K. Kt's 3d.30. R. to Q's sq.
31. P. takes R.31. Q. to K's 2d.[C]
32. P. takes P.
Black surrenders.

[A] Black played ingeniously in offering to give up the Kt. If White had taken it, he must have been subjected to an embarrassing attack for some little time.

[B] Had he played on the P. (dis. ch.), he could not take the Q. until his King was removed.

[C] Taking the Q. would have been fatal to him.



Game II.—Between Messrs. Cochrane and Staunton.

 WHITE.  (Mr. S.)  BLACK.  (Mr. C.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to Q. B's 3d. 2. P. to Q's 4th.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 4. K. Kt. takes P. 4. K. Kt. takes P.
 5. P. to Q's 4th. 5. K. B. to Q's 3d.
 6. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d. 6. Castles.
 7. Q. Kt. takes K. Kt. 7. P. takes Kt.
 8. Q. B. to K. B's 4th. 8. B. takes Kt.
 9. Q. B. takes B. 9. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
10. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.10. Q. B. to K's 3d.
11. K. B. to Q. Kt's 5th.11. Q. Kt. to K's 2d.
12. Castles.12. P. to Q. B's 3d.
13. K. B. to Q. R's 4th.13. Q. Kt. to K. Kt's 3d.
14. Q. B. to K. Kt's 3d.14. P. to K. B's 4th.
15. P. to K. B's 4th.15. P. takes P. in passing.
16. R. takes P.16. P. to K. B's 5th.
17. K. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.[A]17. Q. to her 3d.
18. Q. B. to K. B's 2d.18. K. to R's sq.
19. K. B. takes B.19. Q. takes B.
20. Q. to her 3d.20. Q. R. to K's sq.
21. K. R. to K. R's 3d.21. Q. to K. B's 4th.
22. Q. to K. B's 3d.22. Q. R. to K's 5th.
23. K. R. to his 5th.23. Q. to K's 3d.
24. P. to Q. B's 4th.24. K. R. to K's sq.
25. P. to Q. Kt's 3d.25. Q. to K. B's 3d.
26. Q. R. to K. B's sq.26. Q. R. to K's 7th.
27. P. to Q. R's 4th.27. Q. R. to his 7th.
28. P. to Q's 5th.28. Q. R. to his 8th.
29. Q. B. takes Q. R. P.[B]29. K. R. to K's 8th.
30. R. takes R.30. R. takes R. (ch.)
31. K. to B's 2d.31. Q. to her R's 8th.[C]
32. Q. to her 3d.32. R. to K. Kt's 8th.
33. Q. to K's 2d.33. Kt. to K's 2d.
34. P. to Q's 6th.
And wins.

[A] But for this move of resource, Black would evidently have gained "the exchange," at least.

[B] An important outlet for his King.

[C] Black has now a very menacing position.



Game III.—Between Capt. Evans and M. St. Amant.

 WHITE.  (Capt. E.)  BLACK.  (M. St. A.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to Q. B's 3d. 2. P. to Q. B's 4th.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 5. P. to Q's 4th. 5. Q. B. P. takes P.
 6. K. Kt. to Kt's 5th.[A] 6. P. to Q's 4th.
 7. P. takes P. 7. K. Kt. takes P.
 8. K. Kt. takes K. B. P. 8. K. takes Kt.
 9. Q. to K. B's 3d. (ch.) 9. K. to his 3d.
10. Castles.10. Q. Kt. to R's 4th.
11. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.11. Q. to her 3d.
12. P. to K. Kt's 4th.12. Q. to her 2d.
13. K. B. to Q's 3d.13. Q. to K. B's 2d.
14. B. to K. B's 5th. (ch.)[B]14. K. to Q's 3d.
15. P. takes Q. P.15. Q. B. takes B.
16. P. takes P. (ch.)16. K. takes P.
17. P. takes B.17. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
18. K. R. to K's sq. (ch.)18. K. to Q's 3d.
19. R. to K's 6th. (ch.)19. K. to Q. B's 4th.
20. Q. B. to K's 3d. (ch.)20. K. Kt. takes B.
21. Q. takes K. Kt. (ch.)21. K. to Kt's 4th.
22. Q. to her 3d. (ch.)22. K. to Kt's 3d.
23. Q. to her Kt's 3d. (ch.)23. K. to B's 2d.
24. R. takes Kt. (ch.) and wins.