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The blue book of chess

Chapter 34: CHAPTER IV.
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.

[A] We have here a position almost identical with the leading one of the "Two Knights' Game."

[B] Transcriber's Note: This move is notated as the impossible 14. B. to K. B's 4th. (ch.) in the original text.



Game IV.—Between M. St. Amant and Mr. G. Walker

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

[TABLE OF CONTENTS]

CHAPTER IV.

THE KING'S GAMBIT.

This opening comprises every variety of the game in which the first player, after 1. P. to K's 4th has been played on both sides, commences the attack by moving 2. P. to K. B's 4th. Should the second player take this Pawn with his King's Pawn, he is said to accept the gambit.

This gambit has many modifications, the names appropriated to which will be found in their proper places in the following pages.

The King's Gambit Proper,
or King's Knight's Gambit.

GAME THE FIRST.

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

You can bring no Piece into action with advantage, while the field is all before him where to choose.

GAME THE SECOND.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to K. Kt's 2d.
 5. P. to K. R's 4th. 5. P. to K. R's 3d. (best)
 6. P. to Q's 4th. 6. P. to Q's 3d.
 7. P. to Q. B's 3d. 7. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
 8. Q. B. takes P. 8. P. takes Kt.
 9. Q. takes P. 9. Q. B. to K's 3d.
10. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.10. K. Kt. to K's 2d.
11. P. to K. R's 5th.11. B. takes B.
12. Kt. takes B.12. P. to Q. Kt's 4th.
13. Kt. to K's 3d.13. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.

You have no adequate compensation for the Piece you are minus.

Variation I.
Beginning at White's 7th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to K. Kt's 2d.
 5. P. to K. R's 4th. 5. P. to K. R's 3d.
 6. P. to Q's 4th. 6. P. to Q's 3d.
 7. Q. Kt. to B's 3d. 7. P. to Q. B's 3d.
 8. P. takes K. Kt. P. 8. P. takes P.
 9. R. takes R. 9. B. takes R.
10. K. Kt. to K's 5th.10. P. takes Kt.
11. Q. to K. R's 5th.11. Q. to K. B's 3d.
12. P. takes K. P.12. Q. to K. Kt's 2d.
13. P. to K's 6th.13. B. takes P. (best)
14. B. takes B.14. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
15. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.)15. K. to his 2d.
16. Q. to K. Kt's 6th.16. Q. takes B.
The advantage is all on Black's side.


GAME THE THIRD.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to K. Kt's 2d.
 5. Castles. 5. P. to Q's 3d. (best)
 6. P. to Q's 4th. 6. P. to K. R's 3d.
 7. P. to Q. B's 3d. 7. Q. B. to K's 3d.
 8. B. takes B. 8. P. takes B.
 9. Q. to her Kt's 3d. 9. Q. to her B's sq.
10. P. to K. R's 4th.10. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
11. Kt. to K. R's 2d.11. P. to K. Kt's 6th.
He has a Pawn more and a strong position.

GAMES

ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE FOREGOING ANALYSES.

Game I.—Between V. H. der Laza and Dr. Bledow.

 WHITE.  (V. H. d. L.)  BLACK.  (Dr. B.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. K. B. to Kt's 2d.
 5. P. to Q's 4th. 5. Q. to K's 2d.[A]
 6. Castles. 6. P. to K. R's 3d.
 7. Q. Kt. to B's 3d. 7. P. to Q. B's 3d.
 8. P. to K's 5th. 8. Q. to her Kt's 5th.
 9. Q. Kt. to K's 4th. 9. K. B. to his sq.
10. Q. to K's 2d.[B]10. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
11. Kt. to Q's 6th. (ch.)11. B. takes Kt.
12. P. takes B. (disc. ch.)12. K. to Q's sq.
13. Kt. to K's 5th.13. R. to R's 2d.
14. P. to Q. B's 3d.14. P. to K. B's 6th.
15. Q. to K's 4th.15. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
16. Q. takes R.16. Kt. takes Q.
And White gave checkmate in six moves.

[A] The proper move is 5. P. to Q's 3d.

[B] This little game is excellently played by White.



Game II.—Between V. H. der Laza and Mr. H. of Berlin.

 WHITE.  (V. H. d. L.)  BLACK.  (Mr. H.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to K. Kt's 2d.
 5. Castles. 5. P. to K. R's 3d.
 6. P. to Q's 4th. 6. P. to Q's 3d.
 7. P. to Q. B's 3d. 7. P. to Q. B's 3d.
 8. Q. to her Kt's 3d.[A] 8. Q. to K's 2d.
 9. P. to K. Kt's 3d. 9. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
10. Q. B. takes P.10. P. takes Kt.
11. R. takes P.11. Q. B. to K's 3d.
12. P. to Q's 5th.12. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.
13. P. takes Q. B. P.13. B. takes R.
14. P. takes Kt. P.14. Q. takes K. P.
15. P. takes R. (becoming a Q.)15. Q. takes Q.
16. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.)16. K. to B's sq.
17. B. takes Kt.17. R. takes B.
18. B. takes Q. P. (ch.)18. K. to K's sq.
White mates in three moves.[B]

[A] Having now your Q. P. protected, and an opening for your Queen, you can advantageously advance the K. Kt's P., and sacrifice your Kt., as in the Muzio Gambit.

[B] A brilliant and amusing little skirmish.



Game III.—Between Mr. Popert and an eminent Polish player.

 WHITE.  (Mr. Z.)  BLACK.  (Mr. P.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to Q. Kt's 2d.
 5. P. to Q's 4th. 5. P. to Q's 3d.
 6. Castles. 6. P. to K. R's 3d.
 7. P. to K. Kt's 3d. 7. P. to K's Kt's 5th.
 8. K. Kt. to R's 4th. 8. P. to K. B's 6th.
 9. Q. B. to K's 3d. 9. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
10. P. to Q. B's 3d.10. K. B. to B's 3d.
11. K. Kt. to K. B's 5th.11. Q. B. takes Kt.
12. P. takes B.12. K. Kt. to K's 2d.
13. Q. to her Kt's 3d.13. P. to Q's 4th.
14. K. B. to Q's 3d.14. Q. to her 2d.
15. Q. to her B's 2d.15. P. to K. R's 4th.
16. Kt. to Q's 2d.16. P. to K. R's 5th.
17. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.17. Castles on Q's side.
18. P. to Q. R's 4th.18. P. takes K. Kt. P.
19. Q. B. takes K. Kt's P.19. K. R. to his 4th.
20. P. to Q. Kt's 4th.20. K. Kt. takes K. B. P.
21. B. takes Kt.21. Q. takes B.
22. Q. to her Kt's 2d.22. B. to K. R's 5th.
23. B. takes B.23. R. takes B.
24. P. to Q. R's 5th.24. R. takes K. B. P.
25. K. takes R.
Black mates in three moves.


The Cunningham Gambit.

GAME THE FIRST.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. K. B. to K's 2d.
Black's 3d move commences the variation
known as the "Cunningham Gambit."
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to R's 5th. (ch.)
 5. K. to B's sq. 5. K. B. to his 3d.
 6. P. to K's 5th. 6. B. to K's 2d.
 7. P. to Q's 4th. 7. P. to Q's 4th.
 8. K. B. to K's 2d. 8. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 9. P. to K. R's 4th. 9. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
10. K. Kt to K. R's 2d.10. P. to K. R's 4th.
11. Q. B. takes P.11. K. B. takes K. R. P.
12. P. to K. Kt's 3d.12. B. to K. Kt's 4th.
13. Kt. takes K. Kt. P.
You must win.


GAME THE SECOND.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. B. to K's 2d.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
 5. P. to K. Kt's 3d. 5. P. takes P.
 6. Castles. 6. P. takes P. (ch.)
 7. K. to R's sq. 7. K. B. to his 3d.
 8. K. Kt. to K's 5th. 8. B. takes Kt. (best)
 9. Q. to K. R's 5th. 9. Q. to K's 2d. (best)
10. R. takes K. B. P.10. Q. to her B's 4th.
11. R. to K. B's 8th. (dble. ch.)11. K. to his 2d.
12. P. to Q's 4th.12. Q. takes P. (best)
13. Q. B. checks.13. K. to Q's 3d. (best)
14. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.14. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
15. Q. to K. B's 7th.15. Kt. takes K. P.
16. Q. B. to K's 3d.16. K. Kt. to his 6th. (ch.)
17. K. to Kt's 2d.17. Q. takes B.
18. Q. to her 5th. (ch.)18. K. to his 2d.
19. Q. to K. B's 7th. (ch.)19. K. to Q's 3d.
Drawn game.


Variation,
Beginning at Black's 7th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 7. P. to Q's 4th.
 8. B. takes P. 8. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
 9. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.) 9. K. takes B.
10. Kt. takes K. B.10. K. R. to B's sq.
11. P. to Q's 4th.11. K. to Kt's sq.
12. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.12. K. Kt. takes K. P.
13. B. takes Q.13. R. takes R. (ch.)
14. Q. takes R.14. Kt. to his 6th. (ch.)
15. K. takes P.15. Kt. takes Q. (ch.)
He has the better game.


Another Variation.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 7. B. to K'S 2d.
 8. B. takes B. P. (ch.) 8. K. takes B.
 9. Kt. to K's 5th. (dble. ch.) 9. K. to his 3d. (best)
10. Q. to K. Kt's 4th. (ch.)10. K. takes Kt.
11. Q. to K. B's 5th. (ch.)11. K. to Q's 3d.
12. Q. to her 5th.
And wins.

GAME

ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE CUNNINGHAM GAMBIT.

Between two members of the Berlin Chess Club.

 WHITE.  (V. H. d. L.)  BLACK.  (M. J.)
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. K. B. to K's 2d.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. B. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
 5. P. to K. Kt's 3d.[A] 5. P. takes P.
 6. Castles. 6. P. takes P. (ch.)
 7. K. to R's sq. 7. K. B. to B's 3d.
 8. Kt. to K's 5th. 8. B. takes Kt.
 9. Q. to K. R's 5th. 9. Q. to K's 2d.
10. R. takes K. B. P.10. Q. to her B's 4th.
11. R. to K. B's 8th. (dble ch.)11. K. to his 2d.
12. P. to Q's 4th.12. Q. takes P.[B]
13. B. to K. Kt's 5th. (ch.)13. K. Kt. to B's 3d.[C]
14. B. takes Kt. (ch.)14. P. takes B.
15. Q. to K. B's 7th. (ch.)15. K. to Q's 3d.
16. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.16. R. takes R.
17. Q. takes R. (ch.)17. K. to B's 3d.
18. Q. to her Kt's 4th.18. P. to Q's 4th.
19. B. to Kt's 5th. (ch.)19. K. to Kt's 3d.
20. Kt. mates.

[A] The correct reply is 5. K. to B's sq.

[B] The best move.

[C] K. to Q's 3d is the proper play.



The Salvio Gambit

GAME THE FIRST.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. K. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
 5. Kt. to K's 5th. 5. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
 6. K. to B's sq. 6. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
It is this move of Black that constitutes the Salvio defence.
 7. Q. to K's sq. (best) 7. Q. takes Q. (ch., best)
 8. K. takes Q. 8. Kt. takes K. P.
 9. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.) 9. K. to his 2d. (best).
10. B. to K. R's 5th.10. P. to K. Kt's 6th.
11. P. to K. R's 3d.11. P. to Q's 3d.
12. K. Kt. to Q's 3d.12. K. B. to R's 3d.
13. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.13. Kt. takes Kt.
14. Q. P. takes Kt.14. R. to K. B's sq.
15. R. to K. B's sq.15. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.
16. Kt. takes P.16. B. takes Kt.
17. B. takes B.17. K. R. to K. Kt's sq.
18. B. takes Q. P. (ch.)18. P. takes B.
19. R. takes B.19. K. R. to Kt's 2d.
You have a Pawn more and an advantage in position.


GAME THE SECOND.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
 5. Kt. to K's 5th. 5. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
 6. K. to B's sq. 6. K. Kt. to R's 3d.
 7. P. to Q's 4th. 7. P. to K. B's 6th.
 8. P. takes P. 8. P. to Q's 3d.
 9. Kt. to Q's 3d. 9. K. Kt. P. takes P.
10. K. Kt. to K. B's 2d.10. Q. B. to K. R's 6th. (ch.)
11. Kt. takes B.11. Q. takes Kt. (ch.)
12. K. to B's 2d.12. Q. to Kt's 7th. (ch.)
13. K. to his 3d.13. Kt. to his 5th. (ch.)
14. K. to B's 4th.14. B. to R's 3d. (ch.)
And he mates you in two moves.


Variation,
Beginning from White's 8th move.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
 5. Kt. to K's 5th. 5. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
 6. K. to B's sq. 6. K. Kt. to R's 3d.
 7. P. to Q's 4th. 7. P. to K. B's 6th.
 8. Q. B. to K. B's 4th. 8. P. takes P. (ch.)
 9. K. takes P. 9. P. to Q's 3d.
10. B. takes K. Kt.10. B. takes B.
11. Kt. to Q's 3d.11. Q. to R's 6th. (ch.)
12. K. to B's 2d.12. Q. to K's 6th. (ch.)
13. K. to B's sq.13. P. to Kt's 6th.
He has a fine attack


The Cochrane Gambit.

GAME THE FIRST.

  WHITE.  BLACK.
 1. P. to K's 4th. 1. P. to K's 4th.
 2. P. to K. B's 4th. 2. P. takes P.
 3. K. Kt. to B's 3d. 3. P. to K. Kt's 4th.
 4. B. to Q. B's 4th. 4. P. to K. Kt's 5th.
 5. Kt. to K's 5th. 5. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
 6. K. to B's sq. 6. P. to K. B's 6th.
In the previous Gambit you will remember Salvio advances this P.
one move later, that is, after his K. Kt. is moved to B's 3d,
or R's 3d sq.
 7. P. to Q's 4th. (best) 7. P. takes K. Kt. P. (ch., best.)
 8. K. takes P. 8. Q. to R's 6th. (ch.)
 9. K. to Kt's sq. 9. K. Kt. to R's 3d.
10. Q. to her 3d.10. Q. takes Q.
11. P. takes Q.11. P. to Q's 3d.
12. B. takes Kt.12. B. takes B.
13. Kt. takes K. B. P.13. B. to K's 6th. (ch.)
14. K. to Kt's 2d.14. R. to B's sq.
15. R. to B's sq.15. B. takes Q. P.
He ought to win.


GAME THE SECOND.